Family Priority

A would-be disciple of Jesus asked to go and bury his father before following him (Matthew 8:18-22). The Bible says to honor our parents. So, Jesus' response was shocking. He told the man to let the dead bury their dead. Jesus was not teaching to dishonor our parents, but rather that following him is a greater obligation. Anything that gets in the way of unqualified commitment to Jesus, must be set aside.* Family is one of life's highest priorities. However, family cannot be allowed to take a higher priority over our commitment to Jesus (Matthew 10:37-39; Luke 14:25-26). This requires wisdom and the application may not always be easy. What's in it for you? Are you willing to place Jesus as first priority in your life, even above honor to parents and family responsibility?

* Michael J. Wilkins, "The NIV Application Commentary - Matthew," Zondervan (2004): 350.

Confronting Evil

Many people today do not accept the existence of a devil or demons. Yet, humanity acknowledges the shocking reality of evil every day in the news. The Bible reveals unseen spiritual forces so foul and sinister that the whole world is deluded and troubled by them. Christians are called to confront the evil around them with good. Sometimes evil is so confronting that we are forced to face it. How do we handle ourselves when good confronts evil? Jesus' confronted two violently insane people who inhabited a graveyard southeast of Lake Galilee (Matthew 8:28-34). The exchange revealed that Jesus is superior to evil.  In fact, Jesus has the power and authority from heaven to conquer all evil. He will some day triumph over every evil in the world. Will we let him defeat the evil in our lives now?

Storms of Discipleship

Lake Galilee has been well-known for its sudden violent storms anciently as well as in modern times. Crossing in an open boat with some of his first disciples, Jesus was sound asleep. Meanwhile, huge waves suddenly threatened to drown them all (Matthew 8:23-27). Some would-be disciples had decided not to follow Jesus because his was an itinerant ministry and he could not promise them a comfortable, established vocation. Those disciples that did follow him immediately ran into a life threatening situation. When they awoke Jesus, he instantly calmed the storm by a divine miracle. Discipleship sometimes leads us into stormy situations. At such times it may be important to remember Jesus' words to his first disciples. Why are we so afraid? Do we have so little faith? Let's remind ourselves that even the winds and waves obey him.

Jesus vs Established Ministry

Jesus replied to a would-be disciple that foxes and birds have established places, but the Son of Man has nowhere (Matthew 8:19-21). What does that say to our established churches today with beautiful buildings, music and wealthy finery? Jesus indicated that his ministry would not yield an institution with cozy benefits.* This is a warning for us today. There is a grave danger in being an established church. We can become comfortable, materialistic, afraid to let the truth of the Gospel upset the apple cart. We may be men-pleasers, not wanting to offend major financial supporters, unwilling to preach against sin, afraid to speak the truth plainly. Preachers are tempted to speak "smooth things" and prophesy deceits (Isaiah 30:10). Are we willing to follow Christ wherever he leads, even if it means that you will be uncomfortable?

* Jack Dean Kingsbury, "On Following Jesus: The 'Eager' Scribe and the 'Reluctant' Disciple (Matthew 8:18-22)," NTS 34 (1988): 47-52

Bigotry over Celibacy & Poverty

Peter left fishing to follow Jesus, but Matthew 8:14-15 shows that he did not give up everything. He owned his own house, with a wife and family. Celibacy is an honorable choice, but it is not something Jesus demanded. Voluntary poverty is also an  honorable choice, but is not something Jesus demanded. Peter had a mother-in-law. He was married and he had a house. Peter took his wife along with him (1 Corinthians 9:5). It is not necessary to give up all earthly things for the kingdom of heaven. Paul did encourage celibacy under certain circumstances. It is an honorable alternative. However, an attitude of unconcern about material things is what's really important, placing them low on our list of priorities. Living an ascetic or celibate life was never a biblical requirement, not even for an apostle.

Ethnic & Religious Bigotry

Matthew 8:5-13 challenges us. Why is there an attitude of exclusivity in some churches? Does belonging to an exclusive group guarantee you God's blessings more than others? Is salvation only available in one particular church? People used to believe it was only available in the ancient nation of Israel, also called the church in the wilderness. Jesus' healing of a Roman soldier's servant showed several things. Healing does not need a person's touch to be accomplished, because Jesus just said a word and it was done. Also, the door to the kingdom of heaven is open to those who believe, whether or not they belong to a particular faction. Exclusive thinking can be spiritually dangerous, because it produces a certain kind of laziness, that relies more on membership of a particular group than faith in Christ.

Bigotry against the Sick

In Matthew 8:1-4 Jesus touched a diseased man and healed him when others would not have touched him at all. Jesus told him not to tell anyone. This was no healing show staged for attention. It was a normal part of New Testament church life. However, taboos of the law such as not touching a sick person, interpreted in the letter, could provide an excuse to avoid visiting and serving the sick. Jesus was the God of the Old Testament. That's why he is called Lord. He authored the law, and did not interpret it in the letter, but in the spirit. Rather than merely pronounce healing, he touched the leper first and then healed the man. For us, it can also be an act of faith to visit and serve the sick and pray for their healing.