Pastor Billington's Blog

Matthew 17

Jesus brings his “inner circle” up on a mountain with Him, He is transformed, and Moses and Elijah appear with Him. Peter is so overcome by what he sees that he suggests that they should stay! Is that the problem, or is it that he seems to be putting Moses and Elijah on par with Jesus? God reminds the disciples (and us) that Jesus is absolutely unique and the one who should be listened to!

Jesus warns them not to say anything about what they saw, and they ask if the scribes are wrong concerning their prediction that Elijah would come first.

Malachi 4:5-6 (WEB) “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of Yahweh comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”

While we believe that another forerunner will come before Jesus returns (Revelation 11:3), Jesus shows us that John the Baptist functioned in that role when he came the first time.

Isn’t it interesting that Jesus asked them not to say anything until he had risen from the dead. It seemed to go right past them!

While they were gone, the rest of the disciples tried to cure a man’s son but couldn’t. Verse 21 is missing in some translations. Many scholars believe that it shouldn’t be there because it’s missing in a few manuscripts, but it’s actually in the majority! It says, “but this kind doesn’t go out except by prayer and fasting.” I believe the verse describes the faith that the disciples are supposed to have. Not just a “I can call on miracles whenever I want” faith, but the kind that has a deep and abiding relationship with God that they can rely on when a particular moment comes. The disciples wanted to turn on the lamp, but it was unplugged, and that’s why Jesus called them faithless and unbelieving. Do we live that way too?

The final event involves the payment of the temple tax. Jesus implies that they don’t have to pay it, but has Peter pay it anyway! There are some very important words for us to live our lives by here: “lest we cause them to stumble.” Living by God’s law is offensive enough to a world that doesn’t believe, so we should do what we can to not offend when it comes to the laws of the land.

Thought for the day: Matthew records Jesus predicting his death, and the disciples are sorrowful. Does the truth of God’s Word ever distress you? It should if you are being challenged by it!

Hebrews 4:12 (WEB) “For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

Matthew 16

Our generation is looking for a sign too, but we receive the same sign of Jonah that they did. The resurrection!

1 Corinthians 15:3-8 (WEB) “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers at once, most of whom remain until now, but some have also fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all, as to the child born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also.”

The disciples are being dense again, and Jesus challenges them about it. “How could you think that I was talking about literal bread? Don’t you think based on what happened before that I could take care of that?!?!” They finally realize that he is talking to them about the false teaching of the religious leadership, and it reminds us to be on our guard as well.

Jesus asks them a question about His identity and Peter makes a remarkable statement! Did he fully understand what he was saying? At the very least he understands that Jesus is the Messiah and that He has a special relationship with God. Jesus acknowledges Peter’s understanding and goes on to say that it will be the bedrock the church is built on. He also gives Peter the “keys” to the kingdom, but those “keys” were also given to the other disciples (Matthew 18:18). By declaring the confession that Jesus is the Messiah they open the door to heaven. They forbid (bind) or allow (release) entrance based on the divine decree that only those who believe can get in (will have been bound/released in heaven). The same is true of us. We present the gospel, we provide the key to a right relationship with God, and if others believe they will be saved!

But as we carry on the mission, we’re reminded that pain is a part of discipleship, and Jesus is our example. Life isn’t perfect, and we have to endure hardship. We take up our cross daily and follow Jesus. Although rebuked here, Peter learned his lesson.

1 Peter 2:21 (WEB) “For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow his steps.”

Finally, how would some of them see Jesus coming in His kingdom? I think that it’s significant that the next thing Matthew records is the transfiguration!

Thought for the day: Sometimes we read something in the Bible, or experience something in life that makes us want to rebuke God too. Don’t do it!

Isaiah 55:8-9 (WEB) ” ‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways,’ says Yahweh. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.’ “

Matthew 15

It’s always a challenge to determine if we do what we do because we’ve always done it that way before, or we’re doing it because we’re obeying God’s Word. The Christian church has always struggled with that, and the Pharisees did too. Here Jesus chastises them because they are concerned about keeping their traditions to the point that they ignore what the Bible says. They claimed that if someone dedicated their resources to God they didn’t have to use them to help out their parents.  In actuality, Scripture is very clear that we should honor our parents.

Jesus continues with a parable that the Pharisees believe is about them, and they’re right! Their tradition teaches that eating with unwashed hands is wrong, but Jesus says that it won’t defile them. What defiles comes out of the heart: evil ideas, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony and slander. If their hearts were in the right place, they’d understand and teach that. He flat out says that the Pharisees are blind guides that shouldn’t be listened to! And that’s one of our takeaways from the passage. How do we guard our hearts and keep from sin? We don’t listen to blind guides! We listen to teachers who are true to the Word of God.

“But He answered her not a word.” Scary words. Worrisome words. But they describe a phenomenon that many Christians have experienced throughout history: the dark night of the soul. Maybe you’ve experienced it too. You cry out, you plead, you are desperate, but the gates of heaven seem closed. That peace of God that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7) evades you. Could it be that God is doing this deliberately? He does here! By not responding immediately and by challenging her, Jesus tests her faith to see if she’ll persevere. As a result, He elicits a greater testimony from her. So, when we find something similar happening in our lives, we can rest assured that God has a purpose in mind.

Didn’t we just read about a miraculous feeding? We did, and it seems that the disciples didn’t learn anything from the first one! Why does Matthew include two? Well, it does remind us that Jesus can provide. But, more than that, I think that he records the disciples being dense for a reason. It gives us hope! When we’re slow to learn important spiritual lessons in our lives, God gives us the opportunity again. And perhaps we do see some progress here. They go from, “send the crowds away,” to “where can we get enough bread.” But note that Jesus prompts them for that – they don’t come to Him because of their own compassion for the crowd. That’s why I think that they are being dense, but at least we see some maturity in their response.

Thought for the day: Are you being dense in any areas of your own life? Does God keep trying to teach you the same lessons over and over?

1 Corinthians 14:20 (WEB) “Brothers, don’t be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature.”

Matthew 14

Herod the tetrarch is Herod Antipas, one of Herod the Great’s sons. He ruled Galilee and Perea after his fathers death. He can function as a warning for us. Steeped in worldliness and sensuality, he ends up killing someone he seems to grudgingly respect because of a hasty promise. And it haunts him. He hears about Jesus, and his thoughts immediately go to John the Baptist, the man he had killed! So, how are our lives? Are they steeped in regret from bad decisions we’ve made? Are we trying to live our lives to bring glory to God, or do worldliness and sensuality control us?

The feeding of the 5000 shows us Jesus’ compassion but it also teaches us an important lesson about ministry. The disciples are overwhelmed with the need and only see the lack of resources. Jesus understands the greatness of God’s resources and the wonder of His grace. We need to see and understand things the way Jesus does! And Jesus fully understands that He needs to nurture His relationship with God. He frequently went off by Himself to commune with the Father. If He needed to do it, how much more do we?

Many focus on Peter’s lack of faith when he saw the wind and the waves, and rightly so, because Jesus rebukes him for it. It reminds us that we shouldn’t allow difficult circumstances in our lives to cause us to doubt God’s goodness, purpose, or love. But at least Peter knew exactly what to do when he felt overwhelmed. He cried out, “Lord, save me!” In effect, we see those at Gennesaret understanding the same thing. They came in droves because they believed that Jesus could help them. What a difference from how those in His hometown behaved!

Thought for the day: Do you go to God first or last when you need help? Is He only a last resort, or is He your first priority?

John 15:5 (WEB) “I [Jesus] am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

Jesus Begins His Ministry
“How Much More?”
Mark 1:14-39

I) Jesus shows us our biggest ___________ in life

     A) His ministry was  _______________

     B) His message calls us to _____________

     C) We are to carry that same ____________

II) Jesus calls us to ________________

     A) There is a reason these disciples are _____________

     B) John serves as their first introduction to ___________

     C) And they ___________ for good here

     D) It can take some time to embrace ____________

     E) And discipleship is a _____________ task

     F) Not everyone is called to service as a ________

     G) But we are all called to fulltime _____________

III) Jesus reveals his victory over the ______________

     A) The demonic is ___________

     B) It seems to ____________ at certain times

     C) One day they will all be ______________

IV) Jesus reveals our ultimate victory over _____________

     A) Not everyone is ____________

     B) Some are blessed in this __________

     C) All believers are blessed in the ___________

V) Jesus reveals where our __________ comes from

     A) People want to see ____________

     B) But He’s  _________!

     C) His ____________ don’t understand

     D) He needs to be with ___________

     E) Which means ______ need to be with God!

Matthew 13

Here Jesus teaches us about the kingdom. Although God does use intermediaries to proclaim the kingdom, it is the ministry of the Spirit that allows people to understand and enter! It is the Spirit who gets the soil of our hearts ready (13:1-23).

John 16:7-11 (WEB) “Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I don’t go away, the Counsellor won’t come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. When he has come, he will convict the world about sin, about righteousness, and about judgement; about sin, because they don’t believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to my Father, and you won’t see me any more; about judgement, because the prince of this world has been judged.”

Unfortunately, we live as a part of the kingdom in the midst of a world of unbelievers. It isn’t until the end of the age that the righteous and the unrighteous are separated (13:24-30).

Revelation 20:11-15 (WEB) “I saw a great white throne and him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. There was found no place for them. I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and they opened books. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works. The sea gave up the dead who were in it. Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them. They were judged, each one according to his works. Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. If anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.”

But we should not despair. God continues to build His kingdom (13:31-32). We see the literal fulfillment of the parable of the mustard seed today. What started out with a few disciples in Israel has grown to millions of adherents around the word (actually billions who identify as Christians), not to mention the believers throughout history!

So, what is a parable anyway? The term “parable” comes from two Greek words: para which means “alongside,” and ballo which means “to throw.” A parable is thrown alongside real life. It is a slice of life that is used to illustrate a spiritual truth. Unfortunately, as we’ve already discussed, the Spirit has to do the illuminating to reveal “things hidden from the foundation of the world.” Jesus fulfills that role here, as the disciples come and ask Him to interpret the parables.

Jesus reveals that the parable of the wheat and the tares illustrates that good and evil will coexist in this world, but one day evil will be punished and the righteous will “shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” The parable of the net has a similar meaning. The parables of the treasure in the field and the pearl of great price are both reminders of the preciousness and pricelessness of the kingdom.

There are two parables that aren’t interpreted by Jesus. The parable of the homeowner isn’t as clearly explained but still reveals a truth about the kingdom. Just as a homeowner shows off both his new and old treasures, someone who believes in Jesus’ teaching about the kingdom rejoices because it is the culmination of what the Old Testament teaches, and they are willing to share that truth. The parable of the yeast describes both the hidden and transformative nature of the kingdom. It starts small but infiltrates everything!

In verses 53-58 we see how difficult it is for people to change their understanding and preconceived notions about Jesus. Even with having been told about His actions and hearing His teaching, they choose not to come to him for help: “He didn’t do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.” There is perhaps a lesson here for us too. When we change, sometimes it’s those closest to us that have the most trouble accepting or understanding it. We may have to quietly persist in our faith until others are finally willing to see the truth about us!

Thought for the day: How is your soil? Is it ready to receive the truth of God? Or is it hard because you’re unwilling to listen and change?

Hebrews 3:12-13 (WEB) “Beware, brothers, lest perhaps there might be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God; but exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called ‘today,’ lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”

Matthew 12

Here Jesus confronts the hypocrisy of the religious leaders. They claim to be experts in the law, and yet they don’t consider the example of David or the priests when it comes to the Sabbath. And they would have more compassion for a sheep on the Sabbath than they would for a man! By his actions and teaching Jesus shows that mercy and love should rule the Sabbath, as well as rule the law:

Romans 13:10 (WEB) “Love doesn’t harm a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.”

Jesus is identified by several names here, all of which point to His authority, dominion, and even divinity! First, He is the Son of Man, which has several implications, with the most important being from the book of Daniel:

Daniel 7:13-14 (WEB) “I saw in the night visions, and behold, there came with the clouds of the sky one like a son of man, and he came even to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him near before him. Dominion was given him, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which will not pass away, and his kingdom one that will not be destroyed.”

Jesus is also the suffering servant from the book of Isaiah (the suffering servant songs in Isaiah are found in 42:1-4, 49:1-6, 50:4-7, and 52:13-53:12). Here Matthew quotes from Isaiah 42:1-4 to explain Jesus’ secrecy, but he also shows that the Jewish messiah will bring hope to the Gentiles! I believe the best understanding of His secrecy is that He has a divine timetable to adhere to, and He’s keeping the Jewish authorities at bay.

Finally, Jesus identifies Himself as the Lord of the Sabbath, which I believe is subtle claim to deity. Yes, He’s claiming authority to declare how the Sabbath should be obeyed, but who has the authority to do that? Only God, because it is His Sabbath (Exodus 31:13; Leviticus 19:3; Ezekiel 20:12; etc.)!

As we continue through the passage, we’re reminded that righteousness begins in the heart and is shown by words and actions (12:33-37). Then we see that people are looking for a sign/reason to believe (12:38-42) and are given the sign of the resurrection! In 12:46-50 we’re reminded that when we believe we become a part of a new family, and we show that we’re a part of that family by following God and His Word!

Let’s take 12:43-45 next. Jesus makes it specific to that generation. They are experiencing the grace of God through Jesus and His ministry (the unclean spirit is gone). If they end up rejecting Him as a nation, then what happens next will be truly horrible. We see that with the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 70 A.D.

I believe this plays into 12:22-32. Jesus is continually challenging the religious leadership and the lack of belief in that generation. In the context of Jesus defending His ministry and pointing out the Pharisees illogical assumptions, Jesus makes a statement about the Spirit:

“Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age, or in that which is to come.”

Jesus makes these comments right after sharing that He is able to cast out demons by the Spirit of God and not by the power of Satan. I have come to believe that the best way to understand this verse is to see it as specific to that time and context. In other words, it could happen precisely because Jesus Christ was physically ministering on the earth at the time in the power of the Spirit, and the Pharisees were saying that He was casting out demons by the power of Satan. If we are worried about an unpardonable sin in our generation, it is simply an unwillingness to believe in Jesus Christ.

John 3:36 (WEB) “One who believes in the Son has eternal life, but one who disobeys the Son won’t see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

Thought for the day: A tree is known by its fruit. What is your fruit?

Galatians 5:22 (WEB) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”

Matthew 11

John isn’t finding Jesus’ yoke easy or load light! He is the greatest prophet from OT times. He is the one who is preaching to prepare the way for the coming Messiah. He is the forerunner, Elijah as was foretold, for those who take his message to heart. And yet he’s in prison, and he’s beginning to wonder if everything he thought about Jesus was wrong. He sends some of his disciples to ask Jesus a question: “Are you the one who is to come?” Jesus responds by reminding them of Isaiah 61:1 (11:4). Jesus is doing exactly what God said the Messiah would do! And that’s an important reminder to us. Whenever we are hurting, whenever we are doubting, whenever we are in despair, we need to turn to the Word. The Word reminds us of who God is and what God does. The Word reminds us that God is at work. The Word reveals fulfilled prophecy, and the Word predicts what is in our future. The Word provides directions for our lives, and the Word provides perspective for our lives. The Word comforts, encourages, and gives us hope!

Jesus also reminds us of another important truth: as great as John was, those who believe are greater! John is a transitional figure between the Old and New Testaments. He is preparing the way for the coming Messiah. The era of law effectively ends with Jesus’ death, and the era of grace begins. John dies before the era of grace begins, so he can only look forward to it without fully understanding everything that it means, and we see that confusion here. We are blessed because we can fully understand and experience that grace in our lives! And there is a warning here: if we refuse to believe and repent, then we’ll face judgment. Are there degrees of judgment suggested here (11:24)? I would suggest that it’s probably just dramatic hyperbole for effect. Judgment is judgment, and it’s not pleasant. No-one should want to experience it.

Thought for the day: Grace means God reveals Himself through Jesus Christ. Grace means we have home with Him. Grace means we don’t need to fear death, hell, and the grave. Grace brings rest!

Matthew 11:28 (WEB) “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Matthew 10

Note that in 10:1 we have the “12 disciples,” and then in 10:2 we have the “12 apostles.” I think that helps us to make a certain distinction between the Twelve and us. The term apostle means “one who is sent,” and can be used as a title on occasion (Acts 13:2). But most often it seems to be used to describe an office: i.e. someone who fulfills a very distinct and specialized role. There seem to be two unique qualifications for those who fulfill the office of apostle. First, they have seen the risen Lord:

1 Corinthians 9:1 (WEB) “Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Haven’t I seen Jesus Christ, our Lord? Aren’t you my work in the Lord?”

Acts 1:21-22 (WEB) “Of the men therefore who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out amongst us, beginning from the baptism of John to the day that he was received up from us, of these one must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”

And second, they must display the signs of an apostle:

Corinthians 12:12 (WEB) “Truly the signs of an apostle were worked amongst you in all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty works.”

Therefore, I believe that the apostolic office was time and situation specific. Revelation 21:14 also seems to support the idea that the Twelve were special and fulfilled a specific role:

Revelation 21:14 (WEB) “The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them twelve names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb.”

While the apostles may have been special, we are all called to be disciples. And although this passage contains much that relates to the specific mission of the Twelve (both immediately and perhaps into the era recorded by the book of Acts), there are specific truths that apply to all disciples:

• All disciples are to share the gospel.
• All disciples are to rely on the Spirit.
• All disciples should expect persecution.

And regarding that persecution, Matthew 10:23 causes a lot of discussion and consternation! “For most certainly I tell you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man has come.” Does this refer to then? Does it refer to the end times? Has it happened? Are we still waiting for it? How are we to understand this verse?

One way that people interpret this verse is to speculate that Jesus might not be talking about His literal return, but the “Son of Man has come” may be a description of the coming judgment of God, and that judgment fell on Israel in A.D. 70 when Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed. The book of Acts would then be seen as fulfilling the description of events in Matthew 10:16-20.

However, I believe there may be a better way to understand it, if we allow for Jesus’ words to be a little figurative rather than strictly literal. He may be speaking to His disciples in a way that would mean something to them then, but in reality also providing hope and encouragement to all His disciples in all ages. He says, “People will dislike you. They will betray you. They may even hate you! You will have to give an account of your faith before authorities. The Spirit will guide you! You will face pain, persecution, and death, but God is with you and cares about you. Continue to witness. Members of your own family will even turn against you. Don’t be afraid of them. Don’t give into them! Some with believe. Some will even be helpful. Be faithful, because I am coming back!“

Thought for the day: Denying Jesus is a big deal. Are you willing to be His witness?

Matthew 10:38-39 (WEB) “He who doesn’t take his cross and follow after me isn’t worthy of me. He who seeks his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.”

Matthew 9

There are people that we know who are as spiritually needy as the paralyzed man was physically needy. Are we willing to go the extra mile to try to introduce them to the one person who can take away sin? After all, those are the kinds of people Jesus is looking for: “Pray therefore that the Lord of the harvest will send out laborers into his harvest.”

The religious leadership was apoplectic that Jesus would claim such a power. Why would they get so upset when Jesus said, “Your sins are forgiven you?” Because only God can forgive sins!

Ex 34:5-7 “The LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the LORD’s name. The LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, ‘The LORD! The LORD, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth, keeping loving kindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and disobedience and sin.”

And yet His ability to heal the man’s condition proved that He could actually do what He claimed!

Jesus’ next encounter with a tax collector further illustrated the lengths He would go to in order to redeem sinners. The religious leadership didn’t know that they needed help. They thought that they had everything under control. It was those who understood that they were sinners who wanted an encounter with Jesus. They were the ones who were ready for salvation, not the leadership who already thought they were righteous.

But it’s not just they recognized religious authorities who question Jesus. The disciples of John even get in on the act! While fasting and prayer are recognized as spiritually good, there was no law that states you have to do them at particular times. The more religious apparently did that twice a week. Jesus tells them that now is not the time for fasting; that time will come (He is alluding to His death). He then goes on to confront them with two illustrations from life. There is a new era coming, and the self-righteous and ceremonial obligations of the old will not fit into it. After the resurrection, everything changes!

Sometimes when we’re busy and are interrupted for one reason or another, we get really annoyed. But Jesus doesn’t! Jesus is busy healing, casting out demons, and is even going to end up raising the dead! And in the midst of it we find people stalking Him, touching Him, and bringing others to Him. In each of the cases, we see Jesus treating the interruptions as divine appointments that also further His mission. How would our lives change if we had that perspective?

Here’s a big question: what is the relationship between faith and healing, and what is our faith in? In other words, is our faith in what Jesus can do, or who Jesus is? We see the blind men confess that Jesus is both “Lord” and the “Son of David,” but we have no mention of how the woman with the discharge of blood views Him. We’re just told that she wants to touch His garment because she believes it will heal her, and Jesus commends her faith. What is she ultimately putting her faith in?

Thought for the day: Are you putting your faith in what Jesus can do for you, or in the nature and character of the one who can do all things? If it’s the latter, then you understand that He will do what is best, and not just what you want.

Luke 22:41-42 (WEB) “He [Jesus] was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and he knelt down and prayed, saying, ‘Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.’ “