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Hey everyone! Welcome to another edition of "Dig into God's Word" where we look ahead
to the upcoming week's readings from the lectionary.
Last week we took a little side trip back in time to see another example of Jesus fulfilling
all parts of the law. We're back on track with our normally scheduled readings this
week. We'll hear God speaking in Isaiah about how his people are to live because they are
his people. Paul addresses the wise debaters of his time and reminds us where true wisdom
comes from. And Jesus calls his disciples salty lights. Ok maybe not quite like that,
but he gives them their new identity which is meant to draw all people to him.
Our Old Testament reading for this week is from Isaiah 58. We're back in the book of
Isaiah after taking that quick side trip last week into 1 Samuel. Here we hear God speaking
and repeating a complaint that he's heard from his people before he responds to them.
They were fasting and humbling themselves and were complaining that God didn't recognize
what they were doing. God responds that while they were fasting, they were still doing whatever
they wanted as well as fighting and oppressing other people.
God tells them that they must also break the bonds of the captives, feed the hungry, house
the homeless, and clothe the naked. This is the holistic view of life as God's children.
Not either/or, but both/and. They are to both fast and discipline their own bodies, as well
as to care for their neighbors and the oppressed. Sound familiar? What does Jesus come to do?
All of these things. He does them perfectly in our place since we still tend to seek our
own recognition and fail to always look out for others. One other interesting thing to
note is that the Hebrew phrase that Isaiah uses at the end "Here I am" is only used by
a servant to a master and yet God humbles himself into a servant's form and uses the
phrase as he serves his people.
The Epistle reading is from 1 Corinthians 2. We're back to reading through 1st Corinthians
this week. Paul is writing to people whose entertainment options included rhetorical
speakers who came and spoke or argued in the town square in order to entertain people rather
than to actually make a point. Paul is telling the Corinthians that he doesn't come as one
of these rhetorical speakers with flowery language to entertain them, but rather he
comes with the message of Jesus Christ, Crucified for the sins of the whole world. Paul says
that his message isn't persuasive because he's a good speaker. In fact he says that
he was a weak preacher who spoke to them with fear and much trembling. Instead, it is persuasive
due to the power of the spirit working through the word. Paul goes on to point out that the
wisdom of this world is short sighted and pales in comparison with the wisdom that is
revealed through Christ. Paul ends this section with an interesting comparison. Who knows
what a person is thinking except for the spirit of the person unless that person tells you
what they are thinking. In the same way we are unable to know or understand God unless
his spirit, that which knows what he is thinking, reveals it to us. The natural person, that
is the person without the spirit of God, doesn't know or understand these things. Paul says
they are a folly -- or in terms of other words we use today -- foolishness, stupidity, idiocy,
madness, and the list could go on. God and his works don't make any sense unless he reveals
them to you. Ultimately here, Paul is arguing against the rhetorical speakers of his time,
not that we should be anti-intellectual, or anti-rhetorical, but simply that message is
supreme and that the rhetoric should serve the message. Just because something is shiny
and professional looking doesn't mean that it is true. The message of Christ crucified
for the whole world is what needs to be maintained.
Our gospel reading for this week is from Matthew 5. These verses come immediately after the
Beatitudes which we would have looked at last week if we hadn't taken the brief sidetrack
into Mary's purification and Jesus' presentation. Now there are people smarter than I am (ahem,
Dr. Gibbs) who say that the first part of this text is pretty easy and the second part
is rather challenging so let's dive right in. The first part of this text, verses 13-16,
have to do with salt and light. This may be a familiar portion of scripture to you. Here
the disciples of Jesus receive their identities. What is salt good for? It preserves things
and adds flavor. Those with faith in Jesus salt the earth, calling others to repentance
and proclaiming that the kingdom of God is at hand. If disciples refrain from doing this,
they have lost their saltiness and no longer salt the earth.
Jesus also identifies them as light for the world. Light in darkness draws others unto
itself. Jesus uses some pretty obvious examples that people can't disagree with -- first that
you can't hide a city that is on a hill and second that no one lights a lamp and then
covers up the light. The light from these two examples can't help but shine outward
toward other people.
You are salt and light for others through the activities in your daily life. Your vocation.
You are called to be recognizably different because you are rooted in Christ. Through
your love and service to your family, your neighbors, and even your enemies, Christ's
love and light will shine through causing them, as Jesus says, to give glory to your
Father in Heaven.
The next part, verses 17-20, is more difficult. There are many well-argued positions regarding
what Jesus meant. Jesus begins by clarifying what his relationship is with the teachings
that the people have known for generations. He's not there to get rid of everything that
they have been taught and commanded, nor is he just there to repeat everything again.
Rather, he is there to fulfill everything. Scholars suggest that with the death and resurrection
of Jesus, all things have been accomplished and the new heavens and the new earth begin
to be manifest in the risen Jesus. There is continuity between the Torah and Jesus' teachings
even though there has been a change. Now Jesus sends his disciples out to teach everything
that he has commanded them. While they are on their way they will not only teach but
also do good works that flow out of their connection with Christ. So that if the scribes
and Pharisees are doing "good works" according to the world's standard apart from Jesus,
how much more will the disciples do by virtue of being connected with him.
This was just a basic overview and there's so much more that could be said. Join us for
worship on Sunday morning where you can here more about our readings. And again, like always,
If you have any questions or comments please feel free to leave them in the comment section
below. Blessings on your study of God's word this week!