I read the Bible every day. Commendable, right?
Not so much. Almost every time, I find myself daydreaming, sideswiped by a random thought that pops up and the trail of which I follow. Suddenly I “awake” and go back to re-read the part I had read but hadn’t read. I continue, pressing on.
And find myself daydreaming again.
I really don’t know the Bible very well. The prophets often leave me in a fog. Some of things Jesus said leave me wondering. I forget where passages are. I forget some of the facts I once knew.
However, in all of this, the Lord, by His grace, has shown me some wonderful truths in Scripture, and all of them, I think, have been revealed because He opened them up in context. In addition, I am so very grateful to Him that He has given my wife and me a love for truth—yes, even though I daydream often when I read His Word.
Some of these opened-up contextual readings end up slaying certain sacred cows that I was taught in my Christian upbringing, like the passage from 2 Corinthians 10 brought forward here a couple of weeks ago. So, this leads me to an encouragement to the reader: Please read Scripture in context. Certain forces are at work that hinder Christians from doing this, and they are detrimental to our spiritual maturity.
One of those forces is the use of devotionals. I would advocate to the reader that if he or she has replaced daily Bible reading with a devotional, that the devotional be ditched. The reason I advocate this is because devotionals present only a couple of verses and then thoughts on those few verses. One will not obtain an adequate and helpful understanding of God’s truth in this way.
The second detrimental force is, unfortunately, topical preaching or any preaching that simply inserts some out-of-context verses to give proof to a topic. I am not criticizing the men who preach in this way. The intentions of such preachers/pastors/speakers are not evil. I won’t go into the reasons our preaching has, from my point of view, devolved to this state. That’s for another time, and ample resources are on this site if the reader is interested in diving into this subject.
Below are two passages that I recommend the reader study in context, ones which will require some thought, because one must un-think the way he or she may have been taught. I’ll add a hint or two to spur this thinking along.
“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them” (Matthew 18:15–20).1
The above passage is not about binding bad spirits, nor is it simply about Jesus being in the midst of a gathering, regardless how small. After all, isn’t Jesus with me even when I’m alone? What, then, is it about?
Here’s another passage to take a look at:
“For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world” (1 Corinthians 11:23–32).
This passage is not simply to be read when the church “takes communion” to make sure that the believer has confessed his or her sins before partaking of the bread and cup. These are the verses that precede this passage:
“But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not” (1 Corinthians 11:17–22).
Hints:
Notice 1 Corinthians 11:23 begins with the word “for”. Why?
Notice that Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 11:29, “For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.” What “body” is Paul referring to?
That’s it for this week. These two passages should give the reader adequate pause for serious reflection.
1All Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
9 comments
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May 31, 2017 at 6:02 am
Matthew Perri
Dear JL
The command of Jesus in Matthew 18:15–20 should be applied.
You haven’t shown me my fault in
https://jlthomson.wordpress.com/2017/05/15/my-woe-is-me-i-dont-belong-in-the-tradtional-or-whatever-you-call-it-church-rant/
Paul wasn’t present at the “Last Supper” and he didn’t know what he was talking about. Paul redefined this to signify “proclaiming the Lord’s death until He comes.” That is what Roman Catholics do, every mass.
Jesus said “Do this in remembrance of ME” – one time, according to Luke (Paul’s friend who wasn’t present either.) Not twice like Paul said.
The true Apostles who were present never mentioned that quote – Matthew, John, and Mark writing as scribe for Peter and other Apostles. It was supposed to be an actual MEAL –
(not a religious ritual with one sip of grape juice and one cracker, which is what Paul redefined it to be, helped by Luke…..)
June 19, 2017 at 6:15 pm
blogsense-by-barb
Ha! Jim, you are not nice! Lol I bouggt mysekf a new study Bible fir my upcoming birthday. It arrived today! Guess I get to initiate it tomorrow! Thank you!!!
July 8, 2017 at 12:12 pm
jlthomson
What do you mean that I am not nice? :–) Are you referring to what I wrote about devotionals? Good on ya getting that Bible. But sometimes you have to be careful with study Bibles, as well. (Not saying that appliest to your Bible.) Even plain Jane Bibles, because of where they put subheadings which break up a teaching by Jesus that wasn’t meant to be broken up, interrupting a teaching that was intended to flow. So, I’ve learned that nothing substitutes for reading passages in context. However, I do use commentaries from time to time when I can’t noodle out a passage. Sometimes they’re helpful, sometimes they’re not.
July 8, 2017 at 10:58 am
blogsense-by-barb
Wow, I did make corrections. Guess they didnt take. Hmm, must be a lesson in that! 😉
So would you say that Gal 5 stands beside the Mt 18 passage?
July 8, 2017 at 12:05 pm
jlthomson
Great question, Barb, and it got me thinking about parallel passages. In Matthew 18, it appears that Jesus was talking about how discipline was to be done by Christians in regard to offenses and sins. The “binding” Jesus brings up seems to be about a decisions among believers about such occurences. So, yes, I could see a connection between this and Galatians 5:7-12. There may be other passages as well. One that comes to mind is in 2 Corinthians 10:1-6. Don’t know if there are others.
July 8, 2017 at 2:21 pm
Matthew Perri
Speaking of Galatians 5:14
(and Romans 13:8-10)
compared and contrasted with the teaching of Jesus…….
Jesus was asked twice which Commandment is the greatest or most important one, (Matthew 22 and Mark 12)
Both times Jesus answered quoting the same two commandments, from the Law of Moses.
Jesus said that one of these two commandments is the first and greatest most important one. Which one is it? The one in Deuteronomy 6:4-5, or the one in Leviticus 19:18 ?
“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “ is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ [Mark 12:29-30, Deuteronomy 6:4-5]
Jesus replied: “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.” [Matthew 22:37-38, Deuteronomy 6:5]
Poem – What is love?
Two men came to Jesus
With different motivations
They asked Him the same question
Relevant to all the nations:
Which is the Most Important?
The answer was the same.
Jesus did not manipulate
He was not there to play a game.
“Love the Lord your God” said Jesus
as He quoted from The Law –
To fulfill and not abolish
was His purpose, full of awe.
Jesus did not make all Scripture
Into one new great commandment
He summarized The Law and Prophets
“First and Greatest” and “The Second.”
The Love of God is higher
Than the love of any man.
Receive from God, give back to God-
Then to others, that’s His plan.
The Love of God involves much more
Than simply “love your fellow man.”
Worship, trust, and pray to God,
and obey Him – that’s His plan
To worship and pray to neighbors,
Whoever they may be,
Or trust and obey our enemies
Would be idolatry.
The love of God is first and greatest,
And the love of man is second.
“All we need is love” are words
of dead Beetles on the pavement.
“The entire law is summed up in a single command”
are not the words of Jesus our Salvation.
It’s false teaching of Paul the Pharisee
an “accuser of our brethren.”
“Love” without God is Satan’s word through Paul
in his chapter to the Corinthians.
“I will show you the most excellent way”
is the road to eternal perdition.
Where is God in Paul’s chapter on love?
Nowhere in view of the eye.
Paul sings about himself like a Mexican Mariachi
“I, I, I, I.”
Jesus is The Most Excellent Way
Not the words of a Pharisee.
The words of Jesus are very clear.
Jesus said, “You must follow ME.”
July 8, 2017 at 3:04 pm
jlthomson
Aren’t you the fellow who told me I had an “evil root” because I considered Paul’s letters scriptural? Don’t you remember posting the very same response and poem to a post here, back in May? Are you still pastoring a church, Matthew?
July 8, 2017 at 10:07 pm
Matthew Perri
And your answer to the question:
“Which one of these two commandments is the first and greatest most important one – The one in Deuteronomy 6:4-5, or the one in Leviticus 19:18 ?
is….
I’m still waiting for your answer…..
July 9, 2017 at 7:47 am
jlthomson
I will not contend with you, Matthew Perri. You stir up unnecessary strife and division. Until you repent,change your ways, and accept the full canon of Scripture, you’re out.