Isn't it interesting that Matthew contrasts two stories in the same chapter. The one is how Jesus took a little child and blessed it. The other is about a rich young man who was disappointed by Jesus' teaching on wealth. Jesus' welcome was the exact opposite to each as to what they probably normally received. The little child was welcomed and the rich young man was told to give to the poor and follow Jesus.
We may have all witnessed people pandering to rich people in churches, and being rather dismissive of children or others of similar low social status, who may have little or no money to contribute. Our natural tendency is not to follow Christ's example, but to think of the financial consequences of offending a well to do contributor. It's probably the same story in just about all of our churches. Status counts with us, but Jesus set a different example.
Our culture also often has certain built in presuppositions, assumptions. We often assume that a poor person is that way because of some fault of theirs and that a rich person is blessed by God because they have done something right. Yet, the opposite can also be the truth. A poor person may have suffered loss at the hands of unscrupulous people and the rich person may figuratively have blood on their hands. We simply cannot judge.
In Matthew 19:16 the question asked by the wealthy young man was about what he could do. That is often a problem not just for the wealthy. Rich people in particular can tend to want to salve their consciences by doing something. Perhaps that is one reason why some people, after having climbed over the bodies of others to accumulate, spend the rest of their lives trying to make up for it by philanthropy. Yet, we know that salvation is not gained by what we do, but by following Jesus Christ and allowing him to teach us a new way.
Even Greater Treasure on Earth
Now along came a man who approached a popular televangelist with the question, "Teacher, what good thing shall I do in order to have eternal life?"
The televangelist replied, "If you want to enter into life keep the commandments."The young man replied, "I have kept all these. Where do I fall short?"
The televangelist said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go and give thanks for all you have, send a tenth of it to me, and you will have even greater treasure on earth."
When the young man heard this he went away with great joy, because he already had great wealth and the televangelist had promised him even more.
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Such is the delusion of popular health-wealth teaching which is foisted upon naive and unsuspecting people. If we want the truth on this parody, it is found in Matthew 19:16-26.
The televangelist replied, "If you want to enter into life keep the commandments."The young man replied, "I have kept all these. Where do I fall short?"
The televangelist said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go and give thanks for all you have, send a tenth of it to me, and you will have even greater treasure on earth."
When the young man heard this he went away with great joy, because he already had great wealth and the televangelist had promised him even more.
___________________________________________________________
Such is the delusion of popular health-wealth teaching which is foisted upon naive and unsuspecting people. If we want the truth on this parody, it is found in Matthew 19:16-26.
Children Unwelcomed
After living for some time in Germany, where our children often seemed unwelcomed, imagine our surprise to visit Poland, where our children were not only welcomed, but publicly praised and made the center of attention. Perhaps a lack of child friendliness in religious matters was the reason that the disciples shooed them away from Jesus in Matthew 19. However, Jesus made one of his usual countercultural statements, that the kingdom of heaven belongs to such people.
Children matter in the kingdom of heaven. Yet, how often have we heard in church, usually little old ladies complain about children and their noise! It seems that children are often not made to feel welcomed in our churches. What a contradiction! Children do not conform easily to formalities, and perhaps that is one reason why Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven belongs to such people. Perhaps our stiff and unbending not so child-friendly formalities also have very little to do with the kingdom of heaven.
This experience is often seen as a forerunner of the dedication of children or the baptism of infants. Yet, this informal experience itself seems to totally contradict such later formalities. The laying on of hands as a blessing was certainly widely used throughout Bible history, but this in no way indicates a formal ceremony that now needs to be scheduled into the liturgical life of a child.
Rather than holding any special significance for later church ceremonies like child baptism or infant dedication, perhaps we ought to simply take the lesson at face value, and learn to treat children as Christ would have us do.
Children matter in the kingdom of heaven. Yet, how often have we heard in church, usually little old ladies complain about children and their noise! It seems that children are often not made to feel welcomed in our churches. What a contradiction! Children do not conform easily to formalities, and perhaps that is one reason why Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven belongs to such people. Perhaps our stiff and unbending not so child-friendly formalities also have very little to do with the kingdom of heaven.
This experience is often seen as a forerunner of the dedication of children or the baptism of infants. Yet, this informal experience itself seems to totally contradict such later formalities. The laying on of hands as a blessing was certainly widely used throughout Bible history, but this in no way indicates a formal ceremony that now needs to be scheduled into the liturgical life of a child.
Rather than holding any special significance for later church ceremonies like child baptism or infant dedication, perhaps we ought to simply take the lesson at face value, and learn to treat children as Christ would have us do.
Is it Better not to Marry
After Jesus taught the disciples that generally speaking divorce and remarriage was adultery, they asked the natural question. Is it better then not to marry at all, than marry and be imprisoned in an bad marriage? Yet Jesus answered their wry comment by stating that celibacy is a real option. However, it is not for everyone.
Many Catholics criticize their own church's teaching on celibacy. Although it claims that celibacy is an option, the Catholic Church then adds that in normal circumstances pastors are only chosen from among the celibate, in effect forcing someone who wants to be a priest to start by being celibate. This goes against the grain of biblical teaching on the topic, which make one qualification for eldership, being the husband of one wife. Of course that qualification does not preclude legitimate celibates, who were not coerced into that choice, but does include the presumption that most elders would be married.
However, there is a legitimate choice, made without pressure, to become celibate. Marriage is the norm, but another exception is sometimes described as the gift of celibacy. Coerced celibacy is nowhere supported in the Bible. However, some choose the single lifestyle legitimately, and that choice to remain single for life has the full support of heaven.
Many Catholics criticize their own church's teaching on celibacy. Although it claims that celibacy is an option, the Catholic Church then adds that in normal circumstances pastors are only chosen from among the celibate, in effect forcing someone who wants to be a priest to start by being celibate. This goes against the grain of biblical teaching on the topic, which make one qualification for eldership, being the husband of one wife. Of course that qualification does not preclude legitimate celibates, who were not coerced into that choice, but does include the presumption that most elders would be married.
However, there is a legitimate choice, made without pressure, to become celibate. Marriage is the norm, but another exception is sometimes described as the gift of celibacy. Coerced celibacy is nowhere supported in the Bible. However, some choose the single lifestyle legitimately, and that choice to remain single for life has the full support of heaven.
Jesus' Grounds for Divorce
In recent news from Germany a female legislator wanted to create a legal "trial marriage" of sorts, one that expired after 5 years or so. I don't think that the idea passed, but it shows the attitude of our world towards this sacred institution. What grounds are legitimate in our fallen world then? Although this is not the only passage on the topic, I want to focus on Jesus' statement in Matthew 19:9. Here the only legitimate grounds for divorce are porneia in Greek, broadly translated by sexual unfaithfulness. Divorce in Jesus' day was apparently as easy or even easier than it is today, so we cannot really excuse their society or ours. The only difference was perhaps that in their society, divorce was more often a male prerogative. What is important is the comparison between the phrases "one flesh" and "sexual unfaithfulness." One or other marriage partner has broken the sacred bond. What Jesus did here was demand a complete rethink of what marriage is. The failure ought not be the norm. Divorce ought always have the status of being a lesser evil, never an ultimate good.Moses vs God
Why did Moses permit divorce, when that was not God's original intent? Did Jesus mean to say in Matthew 19:7 that Moses' divorce rule was not inspired by God? Did Moses go against God by allowing divorce?
The passage in question is Deuteronomy 24:1-4. Even though it was not the created ideal for marriage, it was a concession made by God through Moses because of sin. Divorce was allowed so that people could make the best of a bad situation. The problem was not that an exception was made, but that people were making the exception the rule. Sounds a lot like our society today, doesn't it.
Our divorce and remarriage merry-go-round ought not be the norm, but what Jesus stated in Matthew 19:6 "...What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate."
The passage in question is Deuteronomy 24:1-4. Even though it was not the created ideal for marriage, it was a concession made by God through Moses because of sin. Divorce was allowed so that people could make the best of a bad situation. The problem was not that an exception was made, but that people were making the exception the rule. Sounds a lot like our society today, doesn't it.
Our divorce and remarriage merry-go-round ought not be the norm, but what Jesus stated in Matthew 19:6 "...What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate."
Blessing of Lifelong Marriage
If you were God and wanted to bless human beings abundantly, how would you create them? Would you ever in your wildest imagination, think to make them male and female? Imagine creating two loyal lifelong companions designed for perfect compatibility in every way, producing children together, planning a life together, being there for each other in good times and bad, lifting each other up and working as a team within broad based created roles. How much of a blessing would that be?
There is no more powerful union between human beings as that made by God between a man and a woman. One biblical description of marriage is "one flesh," meaning that we are metaphorically glued or welded together. Our bond with our parents is not as strong as that.
Imagine then if that union was broken by disloyalty, disharmony, selfishness, fighting, lust, greed, etc. What are the implications of breaking a bond that God himself describes as the most important physical union in the human family? Marriage is not just a human convention. The reference to the creation means that God joins a man and a woman as one indivisible unit. "Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate." (Matthew 19:6 NKJV) From creation, no other human relationship has ever had such a unique bond or status.
Sadly, the ideal is not lived up to by everyone. Jesus reluctantly gave one ground in this chapter for legitimate divorce, marital unfaithfulness -- a very destructive failure. The marital bond is such an integral part of the created fabric of human society, that to break it destroys humanity at its very core. Have I exaggerated? I frankly don't think so. I wouldn't trade my marriage for anything in this world.
There is no more powerful union between human beings as that made by God between a man and a woman. One biblical description of marriage is "one flesh," meaning that we are metaphorically glued or welded together. Our bond with our parents is not as strong as that.
Imagine then if that union was broken by disloyalty, disharmony, selfishness, fighting, lust, greed, etc. What are the implications of breaking a bond that God himself describes as the most important physical union in the human family? Marriage is not just a human convention. The reference to the creation means that God joins a man and a woman as one indivisible unit. "Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate." (Matthew 19:6 NKJV) From creation, no other human relationship has ever had such a unique bond or status.
Sadly, the ideal is not lived up to by everyone. Jesus reluctantly gave one ground in this chapter for legitimate divorce, marital unfaithfulness -- a very destructive failure. The marital bond is such an integral part of the created fabric of human society, that to break it destroys humanity at its very core. Have I exaggerated? I frankly don't think so. I wouldn't trade my marriage for anything in this world.
Hard Hearted Divorce
In Matthew 19 Jesus discussed the subject of divorce and remarriage with the Pharisees. They asked him why if divorce was so wrong, did Moses give the people permission. His simple answer was that Moses allowed it because the people were so hard-hearted. Why is divorce as prevalent in the Christian community as outside? Are we in the Church as hard-hearted today too?
Marriage is the intended sexual union and chastity before and during make the best marriage. Yet today, are we so hardened that we no longer desire the pure, faithful, lifelong union between a man and a woman that God intended? Granted, some choose to remain celibate singles and that is also a good choice. If the only person you have ever had sex with is your spouse, you have had the best sex on the planet. Ignore the hard-hearted Hollywood propaganda! It is one of the biggest lies on the planet.
How hard are our hearts? Whose morality counts with us? Are our hearts tender enough to listen to God, or do we prefer to listen to stubborn and impious humans who want any excuse for irresponsible and socially destructive divorce?
Marriage is the intended sexual union and chastity before and during make the best marriage. Yet today, are we so hardened that we no longer desire the pure, faithful, lifelong union between a man and a woman that God intended? Granted, some choose to remain celibate singles and that is also a good choice. If the only person you have ever had sex with is your spouse, you have had the best sex on the planet. Ignore the hard-hearted Hollywood propaganda! It is one of the biggest lies on the planet.
How hard are our hearts? Whose morality counts with us? Are our hearts tender enough to listen to God, or do we prefer to listen to stubborn and impious humans who want any excuse for irresponsible and socially destructive divorce?
Original Intent of Marriage
In Matthew 19 some religious leaders came to Jesus asking him to interpret Moses' law on divorce. Jesus cut right through the Gordian Knot of legal technicalities, and went right back to a time before the law, to the original intent. There are many questions that we could ask today that are really answered by the same principle.
Are multiple marriages okay? Is same sex marriage okay? Is premarital sex okay? Is having a mistress okay? Is polygamy okay? Rather than give a legalistic answer to such questions, perhaps if Jesus were here today, he would answer in the same way, by going back to first principles. "Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female...for this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh" (Matthew 19:4-5 NASB)
Perhaps we could expand the discussion beyond marriage to dozens of other topics. What about alcohol, anointing the sick, baptism, church government, communion, dancing, ethics, infallibility, Mary, nuns, prayer, sacraments, tongues, versions of the Bible, worship, xmas, etc. Perhaps a good place to start is not with Augustine, Thomas, Luther, Calvin, or Billy Graham. Pehaps a good place to start is in the beginning, and ask the question, "What was the original intent?"
Are multiple marriages okay? Is same sex marriage okay? Is premarital sex okay? Is having a mistress okay? Is polygamy okay? Rather than give a legalistic answer to such questions, perhaps if Jesus were here today, he would answer in the same way, by going back to first principles. "Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female...for this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh" (Matthew 19:4-5 NASB)
Perhaps we could expand the discussion beyond marriage to dozens of other topics. What about alcohol, anointing the sick, baptism, church government, communion, dancing, ethics, infallibility, Mary, nuns, prayer, sacraments, tongues, versions of the Bible, worship, xmas, etc. Perhaps a good place to start is not with Augustine, Thomas, Luther, Calvin, or Billy Graham. Pehaps a good place to start is in the beginning, and ask the question, "What was the original intent?"
Jesus in Our Midst
One of the toughest decisions that a church will ever make is to disfellowship or excommunicate someone for a grievous sin. Some are so averse to this procedure that they avoid it altogether, prefering that no accusation of the brethren ever take place. Yet, this is not what Jesus instructed in Matthew 18. In fact he taught us to make the accusation but use appropriate caution, by making sure that before it was brought to the church, there were at least two or three witnesses. The demand for two or three witnesses when an accusation is to be made, was also a safety feature under the Old Testament law.
In verses 18-20 Jesus concluded the topic by stating that where those two or three witnesses would be gathered together, he will be in their midst. In another place, Jesus said that he would never leave us nor forsake us. It is especially comforting for Jesus to emphasize that he will not leave us without his help in times when very grave decisions like this have to be made. A similar statement was made to Peter in chapter 16. In this case, the church has the authority from heaven to either forbid or permit someone to attend church based upon such a gross sin.
What wonderful encouragement in times of such awful decisions! Jesus himself will be there among us to help us make the right decision. He is also concerned for the unrepentant sinner, and will be there in our midst throughout the entire disciplinary process. This does not mean that the decision will therefore be infallible, but that, given the safety measures employed, the best and fairest decision possible will be made.
In verses 18-20 Jesus concluded the topic by stating that where those two or three witnesses would be gathered together, he will be in their midst. In another place, Jesus said that he would never leave us nor forsake us. It is especially comforting for Jesus to emphasize that he will not leave us without his help in times when very grave decisions like this have to be made. A similar statement was made to Peter in chapter 16. In this case, the church has the authority from heaven to either forbid or permit someone to attend church based upon such a gross sin.
What wonderful encouragement in times of such awful decisions! Jesus himself will be there among us to help us make the right decision. He is also concerned for the unrepentant sinner, and will be there in our midst throughout the entire disciplinary process. This does not mean that the decision will therefore be infallible, but that, given the safety measures employed, the best and fairest decision possible will be made.
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