Reflective Bible Study

Part way through Jesus’ ministry, as He is visiting Jerusalem for a festival, the gospel of John records a powerful discussion Jesus has with some Jews about Him and His ministry. In this discussion, we find Jesus pushing this crowd, and them missing Jesus’ point on several different points.

While talking about the truth setting people free, the Jews responded that they have never been slaves and that they are Abraham’s children. This statement might speak to their immediate lives, but not to the history of the Jewish nation, where slavery had been present on a number of occasions.

Picking up on this, Jesus tells this crowd a couple verses later: “I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word. I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.” (v. 37-38)

The crowd responded by saying, “Abraham is our father.” (v. 39a)

Knowing what they were saying, but knowing how untrue they were, Jesus counters their statement by saying, “If you were Abraham’s children, then you would do what Abraham did. As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. You are doing the works of your own father.” (v. 39b-41a)

Becoming more irritated at Jesus, the crowd protested, “We are not illegitimate children. The only Father we have is God himself.” (v. 41b)

Now that Jesus has their focus exactly where He wants it, He tells them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (v. 42-44)

In this challenge, Jesus calls these people out for being unable to hear what He is saying. Jesus attributes this to those present being children of the devil and not children of God the Father like they claimed to be. Jesus also challenges these people in regard to them looking for a way to kill Him. Jesus points out that because they are looking for a way to kill Him, they are more closely aligned with the devil, who is a murderer and a liar.

This conversation draws us to pay attention to an important point: Our actions speak louder than our words, and even though we can claim to follow God like these Jews, if our actions do not reflect God, we might have fallen into the trap these Jews fell into and be children of the devil. Jesus invites us out of sin and into a new life with God, and part of this new life is learning to reflect God accurately in our own lives.

Part way through Jesus’ ministry, while describing to the disciples what it means to be the greatest person, Jesus invites a child to stand beside Him. When describing how He wants each of His followers to become more like a child with regards to their spiritual lives and their faith, Matthew’s gospel includes Jesus making one of the strongest, harshest warnings we can find in the entire collection of gospels.

In Matthew’s gospel, we find Jesus telling those present that “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” (v. 6)

From what Jesus tells us, children who believe in Him may very well be His most cherished possession. In this verse in Matthew, there are two different ways we can understand the little ones Jesus is describing.

The first and most basic way to understand Jesus’ words is to frame Jesus describing those who are young who have chosen to believe in Him. These “little ones” are little because they are simply young in age, and over time, they will grow in both age and life experience.

The second way we can understand Jesus’ words is by understanding “little ones” to refer to those who are young in their faith – regardless of their actual age or time alive on earth. While Jesus ministered in the first century, people of every possible age came to believe in Him and His ministry, and we could say that many of these people, depending on their backgrounds, could be called “young in their faith”.

Whichever way Jesus means when He references His warning to those who cause others to stumble, we can agree that God does not like to see people causing others to fall away from their faith in Him. This warning does not mean that those who believe in Jesus will never face problems. This warning actually suggests that problems are inevitable for those who believe in Him. However, it does mean that we should be intentional about not being the one causing spiritual or faith problems for others.

While reading this miracle event, I happened to notice a parallel concept that I had never seen before, and in this miracle that involved food, we see this parallel much more directly than the other “feeding the crowd” miracle that Matthew includes in his gospel.

For this miracle, Jesus takes seven loaves of bread and a “few” (read insignificant amount) small fish, and He turns it into a meal that had more than enough for everyone present – and it resulted in seven large baskets of leftovers.

The connection I saw is that there is one basket of leftovers for each original loaf that was donated.

This makes me think about God’s incredible level of generosity and blessing. When we are willing to give Him “a loaf” (i.e. our time, talent, or treasure), He can take it, satisfy all our needs, and give us a large overflowing basket that we can then use to bless others.

The trap we often fall into is thinking that God’s blessing is for only our own benefit. If we take what God has blessed us with and hoard (i.e. “save”) it all away for the future, we are actually showing a lack of trust in God. If God can take what little we have today and use it for something great, why couldn’t/wouldn’t He do it again in the future?

This then means that the blessings He shares are given so that we can bless others. Jesus didn’t multiply the disciples snack into a huge meal for only the disciples. Instead, He did it to feed not only the disciples, but the whole crowd present.

With this insight, I don’t believe that saving is bad, but instead that saving without sharing is the problem. If we share some, save some, and then use what is left for us, I believe this is a better representation of God’s character.

Our natural tendency is to hoard our blessings and/or use it only for ourselves, but God has given an example of extravagant generosity: when we give Him the little we have, He can multiply it into so much that there are baskets full of leftovers. One loaf in God’s hands became one basket of leftovers at the end of a giant, satisfying meal.

Nearing the end of Jesus’ ministry, He shares a strategy about how His followers should deal with conflict between each other. This strategy contains the various stages conflict should move through for it to be dealt with in a healthy fashion. However, at the conclusion of this process, Jesus gives an instruction that could be understood in two different ways – both of which are correct.

Matthew’s gospel includes Jesus’ teaching on this point and Matthew tells us Jesus said: “If your fellow believer sins against you, go and tell him in private what he did wrong. If he listens to you, you have helped that person to be your brother or sister again. But if he refuses to listen, go to him again and take one or two other people with you. ‘Every case may be proved by two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church. If he refuses to listen to the church, then treat him like a person who does not believe in God or like a tax collector.” (v. 15-17)

In each progressive stage of a conflict, more people are brought into the situation, but the real mastery of this strategy is that in each conflict, resolution is attempted at each stage with the fewest possible people. The first stage of conflict tries to resolve the conflict with only two people involved. If this doesn’t work, then one or two others are brought into the discussion. If the small group cannot come to a resolution, then the matter is brought before the church, and if the issue cannot be solved at this level, then we are to treat that person as one who does not believe in God or like a tax collector.

The challenge if you are the one who has felt wronged is that as soon as others are brought into the picture, they might side with other party. This has happened to me, and it is no fun. If the issue is brought before the church, it’s possible that the church will side with the other party. Again, this has happened to me and it is not pleasant either. While I will say that I was not kicked out of a church for having a conflict that was brought before the church, I no longer attend the church where that conflict took place.

However, the twist in Jesus’ instructions comes at the end. When the church cannot help solve a disagreement, then the instruction is to treat the person who has done wrong like they are someone who doesn’t believe in God, or like a tax collector.

On the surface, this sounds like Jesus basically says to kick them out of the church, but treating someone like they don’t believe in God doesn’t mean that they really don’t believe. Treating someone like a tax collector might simply mean exercising caution when around them, but it does not mean disassociating yourself from them. Jesus invited a former tax collector to be a part of His group of disciples, and He praises Zacchaeus, another tax collector.

In some ways, church is designed for those who are deciding whether to believe in God or not, so simply not believing in God does not immediately disqualify someone from being a part of a church. This might mean that if a conflict of this sort happens, then it would be good to exercise caution if the person in question holds a leadership position. If the conflict cannot be resolved, it might make sense to invite the individual to step down from their place of leadership – but that is a far cry from asking them to leave a church.

There are times when a person should part ways with a church, but in almost every case, it should be the person’s decision unless the person is putting the church in physical or legal danger.

I see Jesus’ instructions conclude with a call to treat those who a resolution cannot be reached as someone who is brand new to the idea of believing in God/Jesus. Practically speaking, this involves being friendly, listening, socializing together, and intentionally building a community of friends around the person. These actions should have nothing to do with the issue at hand, but should instead simply be shown as a way to love someone who may be feeling burned by others (and perhaps even God). If the person doesn’t want the church’s love, then the person is free to leave – but then it becomes that person’s issue.

Jesus does not call anyone to hate or push others away. Instead, He calls us into community, and everything about His method for dealing with conflict helps support relationships and build a stronger community with other followers. When we deal with conflict like Jesus, we will ultimately grow closer even if not every issue is solved.