Tag Archives: Matthew 7:15-29

January 9, 2015 Bible Study — Judge a Tree By Its Fruit

For today, One Year Bible Online links here.

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Proverbs 2:16-22

    It is wisdom that will keep you from entering into a sexual relationship with an immoral man or woman. If they were willing to break their promises to former promises, what makes you think they will keep their word to you? That lifestyle leads to loneliness and death. Instead of following after the immoral, follow the example of the righteous. It is the righteous who will live a good life, dying surrounded by those who love them.

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Psalm 9:1-12

    I will sing praises to the Lord and tell anyone who will listen about the marvelous things He has done. God will shelter the oppressed and offer refuge when trouble comes. Whatever troubles you face, God will offer you a refuge and solace for your sorrow. This psalm words it so well. I cannot do it justice.

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Matthew 7:15-29

    Jesus tells us that we can identify false prophets by their fruits. This passage is often used to say that we should judge people by their actions, not by their words. While I agree that we should judge people more by their actions than their words, that is not what I see Jesus as saying here. I believe that Jesus is telling us that we should judge people, especially those who preach and teach, by the results they produce rather than the intentions they claim. And when it comes to judging a preacher, this is not just a matter of judging the results of their actions, but the results of the actions of those they acknowledge as their disciples. If someone claims to preach peace, but numbers from among their followers keep turning to violence, we can judge that they are not really teaching peace (at least, not the way most people define peace).

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Genesis 20-22:24

    We know that Abraham was a man of great faith. Yet on two occasions, he was afraid that the local ruler would kill him so as to take his wife Sarah. This passage recounts the second of those occasions, when Sarah was 90 years old. Rather than trust in God’s protection, Abraham told the partial truth, that Sarah was his sister (actually, she was his half-sister). As a result, the local ruler, Abimelech took Sarah to be one of his wives. Despite Abraham’s lack of faith in this instance, God intervened to return Sarah to him completely unharmed. This is a reminder to us that everyone has shortcomings, even Abraham did. Yet, God will act on behalf of those who love Him and seek to serve Him.

January 9, 2014 Bible Study — You Will Know Them By Their Fruit

     I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. In order to make that possible I read the passages and write my thoughts a day, or more. in advance. My work schedule has recently changed, meaning that I may not have time every day to complete these. As a result, I am trying to get several days ahead. I hope this does not negatively impact the quality of these posts (if that is possible). If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.

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Genesis 20-22:24

     We are told again and again throughout the Bible that Abraham was a man of faith and a man of God. Yet here in this passage (and in others) we see how his faith and his actions fell short of what we should admire. People often forget that just because Abraham and others are held up in the Bible as persons to be emulated, that does not mean that the Bible is telling us that everything they did was good. Rather, we are to recognize that as flawed as they were, they still strove to serve God. In this passage, Abraham deceived Abimelech about his wife Sarah, telling him that she was his sister and leaving out that she was his wife. Later in the passage, Abraham turns out Hagar and his son, Ishmael, to appease Sarah, who was angry over Ishmael’s attitude towards Isaac. In both cases, God acted to prevent Abraham’s actions from causing harm to others.
     Up until here, God has repeatedly told Abraham that His various promises to Abraham will be fulfilled through Isaac and his descendants. In this passage, Abraham feels led by God to take Isaac and offer him as a burnt sacrifice to God. Offering a son as a burnt sacrifice was a common practice among the people who lived in the area where Abraham was now dwelling. They would have thought that if Abraham was truly as devoted to his God as he claimed, he would offer up his son as a burnt offering. When Abraham arrived at the mountain where he felt such a sacrifice should be made, he built an altar and prepared the wood of the sacrifice. As he was about to sacrifice Isaac, he became aware of a ram caught by its horns in the thicket nearby. He offered that ram instead of Isaac.
     I am downplaying the moments when the account mentions God speaking directly to Abraham because I think there are lessons for us to learn from reading the passage in this manner (I am not saying that there are not lessons to be learned from paying close attention to God’s direct words to Abraham, just that another lesson can be more readily seen when we pay less attention to them). I see this passage as illustrating, for all time, that God does not desire human sacrifice. The passage also demonstrates Abraham’s willingness to surrender the thing which was most valuable to him, his son Isaac, if that was what God required of him.

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Matthew 7:15-29

     Jesus continues His sermon by warning us against false prophets, against those who claim to speak in the name of God and goodness but are really speaking for their own interests. He tells us that we can recognize them by looking at the results of their actions. We are not to judge people on the basis of what they claim is their motivation, rather we are to judge people on their results, on their fruit. You can claim that something is a grape vine, but if it does not produce grapes and makes me itch when I touch the leaves, I will know that it is poison ivy. You can claim that something is a thistle, but if it produces wine-berries (similar in appearance to raspberries), I will know that it is a good plant. In the same way, someone can claim to want to help the poor, but if their actions only enrich themselves, or their allies, while making life harder for the poor, I will know that they are not working to help the poor. Do not judge people by what they claim about themselves, nor by what others claim about them, judge them by the results of their actions.
     Jesus continues by telling us that it is not enough to claim that we are acting in His name. We must actually do the things which God directs us to do. If we want to build something which will last for eternity, it is not enough to listen to Jesus’ teaching, we need to also put it into practice. You can put up a quite beautiful appearance by parroting Jesus’ teaching and putting on a facade of righteousness, but when trouble arises, your life will collapse around you.

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Psalm 9:1-12

     I will praise the Lord with my whole heart. If you want to be filled with joy, tell others about the marvelous things which God has done. He rules the world and judges everyone with justice. He avenges murder and aids the helpless. He will take action in response to the cries of the suffering.

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Proverbs 2:16-22

     Wisdom will save you from the immoral and the promiscuous. Sexual immorality will lead to death and destruction. It will undermine any other good which you may have accomplished. Stay away from those who practice it. Instead follow the example of the godly and walk in the path of righteousness. Such a course will lead to a long and productive life.

January 9, 2013 Bible Study — Have I Built My Life On the Bedrock Or the Sand?

     I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them. I hope that the Spirit is moving in others through these posts as the Spirit has definitely been convicting me.

Abandoned House In The Woods
Abandoned House In The Woods

Genesis 20-22:24

     Once again Abraham moves into an area where he is afraid of the rulers, so he agrees with Sarah to tell the people that she is his sister. Once again, the local ruler (named Abimelech in this case) takes Sarah as his wife and once again God intervenes and warns the ruler against actually sleeping with her. Abimelech confronts Abraham about his deception and Abraham tells Abimelech that he was afraid that they would kill him in order to take his wife Sarah. Abimelech gave Sarah back to Abraham along with a large amount of wealth and offered Abraham his choice of land to live on. It is interesting that for a second time Abraham misled a ruler about his wife and for second time he received a large amount of wealth for doing so.
     Shortly after this Isaac was born. Abraham was 100 years old at the time and Sarah was 90. When Isaac was weaned, Sarah saw Ishmael mocking him and demanded that Abraham send Ishmael and his mother Hagar away. Abraham did as Sarah requested and sent Hagar and Ishmael away. When the food and water that Abraham provided ran out, Hagar thought that they were going to die. However, God reassured her that He was with her and Ishmael and revealed to her a nearby well.
     About this time Abimelech came to Abraham and made a treaty with him. As part of the treaty, Abraham requests recognition that a well that Abimelech’s men had taken from him actually belonged to Abraham. There are two possible translations of the name “Abimelech”. The first is “My father is king.” The second is “My father is Moloch” (later prophets condemned the act of sacrificing children to Moloch). This is significant because the next part of the passage is about Abraham taking Isaac to sacrifice him. If Abimelech means “My father is Moloch” it suggests that Abraham was living among a people who sacrificed some of their children to Moloch. Which in turn explains why Abraham felt obligated to sacrifice Isaac to God, it was the way that those around him expected a godly man to behave. Abraham took Isaac and the wood to offer a sacrifice and went to the mountain that he had been told was the place to offer the sacrifice. As he approached the place with Isaac, Isaac asked his father where the sacrifice was. What were they going to sacrifice when they got there? They had the wood and fire, but no animal to sacrifice. Abraham replied that God would provide a sacrifice. Now there are different ways to interpret this, but I believe that Abraham was looking for God to provide a way out. Abraham believed that he should be willing to sacrifice his son to God and he was willing to perform this sacrifice, but he felt that that probably did not represent God’s will. The people he was living among kept saying to him, “How can you claim that you are truly dedicated to this God you claim to serve when you won’t even offer Him your son? Look we sacrifice from our children to our god.” When Abraham got to the mountain he bound Isaac on the altar and prepared to perform the sacrifice. At the last moment God spoke to him and told him to not sacrifice Isaac, showing Abraham a ram caught in the thicket. God did provide. Abraham was able to return and tell the people of the land that he lived in that his God did not desire him to kill his children. Rather Abraham’s God provides alternate sacrifices. God desires that we raise our children to serve Him.

Amaryllis In Winter
Amaryllis In Winter

Matthew 7:15-29

     In today’s passage Jesus concludes the Sermon on the Mount with three final teachings. In the first He tells us to be wary of teachers who come with wonderful sounding teachings who are teaching in order to benefit themselves. He tells us that we can judge the value of their teachings by evaluating their actions. Just as we would judge a fruit tree by the quality of its fruit, so we should judge those who claim to teach righteousness by the quality of their actions. You can judge how much someone cares about people in general by looking at how they treat people in particular. Does someone speak eloquently about how important it is to do things to assist those who are less fortunate, yet never seems to have time for anyone who cannot offer them something? Or does someone speak coldly about facts and figures, yet repeatedly interrupts their own pursuits to help those in distress? We are to judge a person’s words by their actions, not judge their actions by their words.
     Jesus goes on to say that it is not enough to say that we are doing things to glorify God. It is not enough to do mighty works in Jesus name, we have to actually do the will of God. Finally, Jesus says that it is not enough to hear His words, we have to actually follow them. If we put Jesus’ words into practice we will be building our lives on solid footing and we will be able to withstand all of the storms that come upon us. On the other hand, if we do not follow Jesus’ teachings, we will be washed away when the storm winds of life come upon us.

Rock Wall Covered In Snow
Rock Wall Covered In Snow

Psalm 9:1-12

     I will tell of God’s wondrous deeds. I will praise His name. He will provide a shelter in times of trouble. I can trust in Him because He has never forsaken those who seek Him. He avenges murder and cares for the helpless. God answers the cries of those who suffer, let me never be the cause of their cries.

The Feast Laid Out
The Feast Laid Out

Proverbs 2:16-22

     Wisdom teaches that putting sexual gratification ahead of right behavior leads to misery and death. Rather follow the path of righteous living to a stable and contented old age.