Reflective Bible Study Gospel Adventure

The Goal of Salt and Light: Matthew 5:13-37

Published September 16, 2022 in Written Journal Entries

Focus Passage: Matthew 5:13-37 (NIV)

¹³“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

¹⁴“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

¹⁷“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. ¹⁸For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. ¹⁹Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ²⁰For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

²¹“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ ²²But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

²³“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, ²⁴leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

²⁵“Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. ²⁶Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

²⁷“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ ²⁸But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. ²⁹If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. ³⁰And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

³¹“It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ ³²But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

³³“Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ ³⁴But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; ³⁵or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. ³⁶And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. ³⁷All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

Read Matthew 5:13-37 in context and/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!

In our passage for this post, it opens by sharing two metaphors for how we are to live in the world. These two ideas are so well known within Christianity that they have almost become meaningless clichés, but even while they have lost much of their impact, they are still challenging to us when we look closer at them.

The first idea is Jesus calling His followers “the salt of the earth” in the opening of verse 13. He is quick to point us to salt’s function – be salty – because if salt looses that which makes it salt, it is no better than dirt or sand. In the same way, if Christians lose the core of who we are, we become just as useless as “unsalty” salt.

The flip side of this first idea is that when we are salty, we blend into just about everything, but we change it and make it different. With salt as the metaphor, Christians should not fear going into any situation and in any situation Christians are in, there should be a clear distinctiveness to their actions that improves and uplifts those around them.

The second idea is that Jesus calls His followers “the light of the world” in the first part of verse 15. This stands in partial contrast to Jesus Himself being the True Light. Calling a Christian or group of Christians “a light” might seem as though we are pulling the spotlight away from Jesus, who is the Light who came into the world, but Jesus started it by drawing this type of attention onto His followers.

The purpose of a light is to not hide, but to be visible and easy to see – just like a city on a hill. As Christians, we should not fear showing our “Christianity” to others. Using this metaphor, some people may prefer darkness and will dislike the Christian light, but others will like it and be drawn to it.

The key goal of being salt or light is found right as Jesus begins to transition to a different topic. He closes out this portion of His message by saying, “let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (v. 16)

The goal of being salty or filled with light is not to draw attention to ourselves, but to bring glory to God. It is to display good deeds that point people towards our Father in heaven. This means that all of us Christians are called to be “lesser lights” that point others to the One true “Greater Light”!

This thought was inspired by studying the Walking With Jesus “Reflective Bible Study” package. To discover insights like this in your own study time, click here and give Reflective Bible Study a try today!

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When Jesus Returns: Mark 13:24-37

Published September 15, 2022 in Audio Journal Entries

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In our last podcast episode, we began focusing in on a question several of Jesus’ closest disciples ask Him about the time of the end, and Jesus began sharing His response. However, Jesus’ response is much longer than one podcast could hold, so we stopped part way through, saving the last section for this episode.

If you missed our last episode, Jesus described a time of intense suffering and a time where we should not believe anyone who claims to be the Messiah or to know where the Messiah has appeared. Even if we see signs, wonders, miracles, or other amazing things, we shouldn’t be fooled, because as we discussed in our last episode, Jesus’ return has a distinctly different goal than His first coming.

In our last episode, we stopped reading before Jesus describes the time of His actual return. Let’s pick back up where we left off. Our passage for this episode comes from Mark’s gospel, chapter 13, and we will read from the Contemporary English Version. Starting in verse 24, Mark continues sharing Jesus’ response:

²⁴In those days, right after that time of suffering,
“The sun will become dark,
and the moon
will no longer shine.
²⁵The stars will fall,
and the powers in the sky
will be shaken.”

²⁶Then the Son of Man will be seen coming in the clouds with great power and glory. ²⁷He will send his angels to gather his chosen ones from all over the earth.

Let’s pause reading here briefly because I want to draw our attention onto what Jesus has just described.

In the days after the time of suffering that God cuts short for the sake of His people, we are warned not to believe any one claiming to have discovered the Messiah, or anyone claiming to be the Messiah. Jesus then describes how the sun will be darkened, the moon will cease to give light, stars will fall, and the powers in the sky will be shaken. All of these things could be describing independent events leading up to Jesus’ return, or they could be describing different aspects of the grand event known as Jesus’ return.

But regardless of these details, verse 27 makes it clear: Jesus “will send his angels to gather his chosen ones from all over the earth.” Nothing in this passage hints at Jesus actually coming to this planet to stay. Instead, as I read this, the events leading up to Jesus’ return might be so dramatic that it makes the earth uninhabitable. With no sun, we would have no light, no warmth, and no vegetation.

Everything Jesus has described leading up to His return is so dramatic that if there is any doubt in your mind regarding Jesus’ return, it is likely a false Jesus coming, rather than the real one. In Paul’s writings, we see him describing Jesus’ return as gathering God’s people together in the clouds with Him. (For reference, this can be found in 1 Thessalonians 4:17.)

Because of this, we can be certain that Jesus is not returning to set up an earthly kingdom, but to bring us home to a heavenly one.

But Jesus isn’t finished sharing. In verse 28, He continues saying:

²⁸Learn a lesson from a fig tree. When its branches sprout and start putting out leaves, you know summer is near. ²⁹So when you see all these things happening, you will know that the time has almost come. ³⁰You can be sure that some of the people of this generation will still be alive when all this happens. ³¹The sky and the earth will not last forever, but my words will.

³²No one knows the day or the time. The angels in heaven don’t know, and the Son himself doesn’t know. Only the Father knows. ³³So watch out and be ready! You don’t know when the time will come. ³⁴It is like what happens when a man goes away for a while and places his servants in charge of everything. He tells each of them what to do, and he orders the guard to keep alert. ³⁵So be alert! You don’t know when the master of the house will come back. It could be in the evening or at midnight or before dawn or in the morning. ³⁶But if he comes suddenly, don’t let him find you asleep. ³⁷I tell everyone just what I have told you. Be alert!

While there is enough in this last section to fill an entire other podcast episode, for our remaining time together in this episode, I want to focus in on three big ideas in three of these verses.

The first big idea is one of the most time sensitive ideas, and it is stated in verse 32: “No one knows the day or the time. The angels in heaven don’t know, and the Son himself doesn’t know. Only the Father knows.” This is important for us to pay attention to because it tells us that setting a date for Jesus’ return is pure, 100% speculation. Setting a date for Jesus’ return when He tells us that the angels don’t know (which also includes Satan and his angels), and even that He doesn’t know tells us that any date that is set is a guess, and it is way more likely to be wrong than right.

Since Jesus tells us that only the Father knows this, we can conclude that even the Holy Spirit doesn’t know the date for Jesus’ return, which then means that any date set is not an inspired action, but a random guess at a number. This sounds more like gambling or picking lottery numbers rather than being inspired by God. Instead of spending mental energy on trying to figure out a date, we should live each day with the expectation that today could be the day, being ready if Jesus comes, while also planning our future lives in case tomorrow happens. In every case but one, tomorrow will come, but we don’t want to assume there will always be a tomorrow, because if we do, Jesus’ return will catch us off guard.

The second verse and idea I want to draw our attention to is found a couple verses earlier, in verse 30, where Jesus tells His followers, “You can be sure that some of the people of this generation will still be alive when all this happens.” While this might be an easier way of translating Jesus’ words in this verse, when we compare this statement to what some of the more literal translations say, we can see a potential misunderstanding or bias appear.

In the New American Standard Bible translation, we find this verse being worded like this: “Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.” The NASB translators also include the note on the word generation, saying that an alternate word they could have used is the word “race”.

This means that Jesus may simply be saying that humanity will not cease to exist before all that Jesus predicted comes to pass. This also subtly suggests that after Jesus returns, there may be a point when this race passes away, and in the context of this idea, we could conclude that Jesus may be referring to the sinful race and sinful generation He often describes in other places in the gospels.

However, another way of understanding this verse is in light of our third big idea, which is a promise that comes in verse 31. Jesus promises us that “The sky and the earth will not last forever, but my words will.” The NASB includes a little bit of wordplay in this promise, saying that “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.”

Jesus promises in this warning about the time of the end that even though heaven and earth pass away, which we know happens when God recreates the new heaven and new earth, Jesus’ words won’t pass away, and Jesus tells the disciples that His words have purified them.

When we listen and apply Jesus’ words into our lives, we will not pass away with the world. Like many of Jesus’ disciples and followers living during the first century, we can look forward to Jesus’ return and a future life with Him that lasts longer than sin, longer than our sin stained earth, and longer than we could possibly imagine. With Jesus’ words in our heart, we will outlive and outlast sin, and we will ultimately be united with Jesus forever!

As we come to the end of another podcast episode, here are the challenges I will leave you with:

As I always challenge you to do, intentionally seek God first and place your faith, hope, trust, and belief in Jesus and His sacrifice for you on the cross.

Continue intentionally praying and studying the Bible for yourself to grow closer to God and Jesus each and every day and let His word challenge your life, your heart, and your mind. Accept and apply God’s word into your mind and your heart to let His love change your life and prepare you for the eternal life He has promised to give all His people.

And while we look forward to the time He returns, and as I end every set of challenges by saying in one way or another, never stop short of, back away from, chicken out of, or give up on where God wants to lead you to in your life with Him!

Year in Mark – Episode 37: While answering His disciples question about when the end will be, Jesus includes a description that makes His return hard to fake.

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An Unlikely Host: Luke 19:1-10

Published September 14, 2022 in Written Journal Entries

Focus Passage: Luke 19:1-10 (NCV)

¹ Jesus was going through the city of Jericho. ² A man was there named Zacchaeus, who was a very important tax collector, and he was wealthy. ³ He wanted to see who Jesus was, but he was not able because he was too short to see above the crowd. ⁴ He ran ahead to a place where Jesus would come, and he climbed a sycamore tree so he could see him. ⁵ When Jesus came to that place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down! I must stay at your house today.”

⁶ Zacchaeus came down quickly and welcomed him gladly. ⁷ All the people saw this and began to complain, “Jesus is staying with a sinner!”

⁸ But Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “I will give half of my possessions to the poor. And if I have cheated anyone, I will pay back four times more.”

⁹ Jesus said to him, “Salvation has come to this house today, because this man also belongs to the family of Abraham. ¹⁰ The Son of Man came to find lost people and save them.”

Read Luke 19:1-10 in context and/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!

The story of Zacchaeus’ encounter with Jesus is one of my favorites. I’m not entirely sure why, but one reason could be because I keep seeing interesting insights in these few verses. In today’s journal entry, I will point out one big idea that l love about this passage, and share an insight into Zacchaeus that you might not have noticed before.

Most every time I read this, I am amazed by the series of events, and how simply wanting to “see” Jesus results in the opportunity to “host” Jesus. Zacchaeus would probably have been content had Jesus stopped walking for a few moments while sharing a key thought in one of His teachings within earshot, but instead, Jesus stops and addresses him by name.

This is the thing that always amazes me: Jesus likes to positively surprise people.

What happens next is interesting. One of the most despised people in Jericho now becomes one of the most infamously popular. As Jesus is walking to Zacchaeus’ house, most of the crowd is torn, wishing they were one of Zacchaeus’ friends, but then at the same time just wishing that Jesus would have chosen a more respectable person to associate with.

But here in this story, Jesus is looking at hearts, not appearances, and Zacchaeus has a heart that is ripe for redemption. It is for this reason that Jesus positively surprises Him.

This idea makes me ask the question: How is my heart from God’s perspective? Is it in need of redemption?

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Footless and Free: Matthew 18:7-11

Published September 13, 2022 in Written Journal Entries

Focus Passage: Matthew 18:7-11 (NASB)

Throughout the gospels, we can find some pretty extreme things in Jesus’ teaching. One of the most extreme is found during Jesus’ teaching about stumbling blocks that we may face.

After focusing on external causes of things that might cause someone to stumble in their faith, Jesus turns His focus onto our own bodies. To emphasize His point, Jesus says, “If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be cast into the eternal fire. If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it from you. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, than to have two eyes and be cast into the fiery hell.” (v. 8-9)

In this description, Mark gets even more specific and descriptive than Matthew, but instead of focusing on the graphic nature of what Jesus is describing, what is Jesus actually trying to teach us? Is Jesus saying that Christians should be the most self-inflicted, disabled group of individuals around? Is Jesus being symbolic or is this literal?

As I read this, it appears as though Jesus is being literal, because nothing in this description sounds symbolic in my mind. However, with that said, I believe that in this teaching, Jesus wants us to realize the importance of personal accountability towards God.

Perhaps it is something that has only happened in recent generations, but it seems that too many people living in the 21st century have developed the attitude of blaming others for their problems. We live in a “not my fault” society. If it is clearly obvious that someone did something, then more often than not, they are quick to shift the blame.

With this framework in place, if a part of our body causes us to sin, and we truly believe it is that part’s fault, then Jesus’ words in this passage apply. It would be like a compulsive thief/murderer blaming their hands for their actions rather than taking responsibility for what they have done. Jesus’ statement in this passage says that it would be better for them to remove their hands rather than continue to sin.

When pushed to this extreme, most people would be willing to “will” their minds into controlling their actions to change their sinful habits. Most people would prefer to change their behavior using their minds rather than lose a hand, an arm, or an eye.

But Jesus also elevates the importance of the future life in this statement. In this extreme, Jesus tells us that we should let nothing get in our way from moving towards heaven. If anything might cause us to miss out on eternal life with God, then that thing – even if it is attached to our temporary bodies – is not worth having.

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