The Challenges of His Sayings

Many of the sayings of Jesus were very controversial because they did not fit in with popular traditions. Even today some of the words of Jesus seem hard to follow and difficult to apply to our "normal" way of life. Controversial issues over these unusual sayings should be avoided as we attempt to apply the principles behind the words to our everyday lives.

His sayings are challenging because they expect a radical change in us. He was not a pulpit that massaged the soul; His [message] was a message that demanded transformation and often death to the past.

The life of self denial [Anyone who does not carry his cross cannot be my disciple] and the service of Love [Be thou perfect [merciful], as your Father is perfect [merciful]]

Marriage and Abstinence

Mathew 19: 3 -12

+Pharisee question: "Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?"[v3]

+"Whatever God hath joined, let not man put asunder"[v4-v6]

+Refer to Moses about divorcement certificate. [v7]

+" ... it was because of the Hardness of your heart"[v8]. Jesus reply to v7

+"..Except for fornication, adultery, if leave your wife, if marry the one left, thou doest commit adultery"[v9]

+"If this is a case, it is not good to Marry"[v10], Disciples reply

+"Not all men can receive this saying, the one who is able let him receive"[v11, v12]

Lesson Discussion

"The Instructions given to Abraham touching the sacredness of the marriage was to be a lesson for all ages. It declares that the rights and happiness of this relation are to be carefully guarded. Even at great sacrifice" (Patriarchs and Prophecy, The Test of Faith, Ch 13, page 148)

Marriage relation will continue to hold it sacred status as given from the creator. Human principles, culture, norms and our traditions cannot alter the sacredness of marriage. The LORD designed a man will leave his father hold and cleave unto his wife and the twain will become one flesh. This design will continue throughout all ages. It is impossible to reverse the plan of God.

What the Bible says about Divorcement?

The Pharisees were pointing to Moses that it is written, the same happens when Satan tempts Jesus in the wilderness It is written. But Jesus state openly that divorcement it was not a plan of God but it is due to our corrupted experience. There are lot to learn from the relationship existing between Christ [Husband] and His Church [Wife, me and you]. If Jesus could apply the divorcement certificate to His only wife [Church] I do not know where could be our fate me and you.

Let our marriages be controlled with Love, Sympathy and forgiveness. By doing so we would close all the gates of the adversary to enter our Homes. And in such Home Jesus will love to tarry. [Message to Young People. A Christian Household Ch.107]

Forgiveness

Mathew 18: 21, 22

>Forgiveness must be full from the heart

>There is no limit in forgiveness

Lesson discussion

Forgiveness is what makes Christian life possible; the gospel is God's message of forgiveness. It plays a significant part in Christian's teaching. There is room for revenge in Christian life.

The Christian behavior should be characterized with forgiveness, if God's love dwells in one heart such love can do what is human impossible.

In the Lord's Prayer in Mathew 6, "Forgive us as we forgive others" this is a character of Heaven. All those who are not ready to forgive are disconnecting themselves from the one who is the sources of forgiveness.

We are not called only to forgive others but to provide a room for them to see light, we should not be angry with what people offend against us but we should understand is the power of that mighty foe, examples in the Bible

>Jesus: "Forgive them for they not know what they are doing"

>Joseph: "God sent before you to save you with a great deliverance"

>Stephen: "Forgive them for they not know what they are doing"

This is to say forgiveness is to cross beyond humanity, to see what cannot be seen, from these examples we learn the following:

>We should not see the offender but Satan who drives that person.

>We should pray for those who offend us for a change. By Jesus prayer we are saved, by forgiveness heart of Joseph Israel were saved and nourished, by Stephen's prayer Saul and many were converted.

Whatever we are doing, has its result in good or evil, nothing of our act will run idle without proving the result among the two [good/evil]

Wealth and Giving

Luke 12: 32 -34

"Sell your possessions and give to the poor, provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted"

Lesson Discussion

>Whatever we have even ourselves is God's property.

>Money has being the big obstacle between ourselves and Salvation. (Luke 18:22). The story of Lot well explains the danger of centering our hearts in perishable things of this world. The result of this, Lot lost his daughters in law, He lost his wife. Many never attain the noble standards of life because they have corrupted the principles with the perishable things of this world.

We should take wise the teachings of Jesus, note

>Jesus little group seemed to have had funds [Judas was a treasure]

>Early church sold their possession and surrendered them on the feet of apostles. [Orderly but voluntary]

>Early church (beyond the book of Acts) there we no wholesale of property.

We should ask wisdom from above, how to control our wealth. We should not direct our wealth in idleness and to things which do not give glory to God. Every act which we do by our wealth let it glorify God and be a blessing to the society, by doing so many will see Jesus through our wealth.

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given". James 1:5

About Perfection

"Be perfect, as your father is perfect" Mathew 5:48

"Be merciful, as your father is merciful" Luke 6:36

Lesson Discussion

Many have tried to attain the highest state of perfect by their own means. Some have tried keeping laws by using their power, some have gone to pilgrimages, and some have afflicted their bodies. The question comes is this what Jesus meant?

Points to note:-

> Our call requires us a life of self denial. Mathew 10: 34 -39 and Luke 14: 26, 27

> Our Father in Heaven will give us good (we are not to focus on material, Luke is pointing to the Holy Spirit) for them who asketh Him. Mathew 7: 17 and Luke 11: 9 - 13

> Merciful as our Father is merciful, the service of love, beyond humanity, love should extend to even those who evil mistreat us. Mathew 5: 48 and Luke 6: 32 - 36

In Mathew [Perfection] and in Luke [Merciful], the verse of being perfect [merciful] preceded by talk of love to enemies, prayer for those who mistreat us, and about God sending rain equally on the righteous and the wicked. Jesus thus wanted to encourage us to be just like our Father who is kind to all and shows no partiality. That is what perfection in this context means. It is a high order, to be sure, but what higher ideal can a Christian strive for?

About Family

Mathew 10: 34-37. "I came to bring a sword, a man's foe they of his own household.... He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worth of me and He that loveth son or daughters more than me is not worthy of me."

Mathew 12: 46-50. "For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister and mother".

Luke 9: 59-62. "Let the dead bury their dead, but go thou and preach the kingdom of God."

Luke 12: 49-53. "I came to pose onto a division"

Lesson Discussion

There is nowhere in the Bible we find the authority to hate some. In this context "hate" means "love less". According to Mathew 10:34-37. [The use of more]

Our priority should be God first.

Oftentimes, our family bonds are the strongest earthly bonds that we know, and rightly so, why, through, must God always come, even before family, if need be?

LESSON OF DISCOVERY

In Everything God should be first, nothing to disturb [interrupt] our relationship with our creator. Had we taken time to mediate what He hath done to us, we would find no room for wandering.

Discipleship is not the result of a direct miracle, but self denial. (Conflict and Courage, EGW, Ch. 68, Blessed Partnership). We should be ready to leave our past experience and surrender whole to Jesus.

We might mislead Jesus teachings if we take only a verse as it is solitary with respect to the rest of the whole word of God.

We have to render the service of love as our Father in Heaven has rendered a service of love toward us.

Copyright

Written by Ndimangwa N Fadhili

Phone: +255 78 7 313 279

Email: ndimangwa@gmail.com

Available also: http://ndimangwa.blogspot.com/

Comments, additions, corrections, challenges are allowed. You may edit this as you wish but whatever you do must comply with the standards of the Word of God.