February 14, 200818 yr Constantly I hear about this all-loving, Mr. Rogers type Jesus. But here in Matthew stands Jesus' words that fall in contrast to the all-loving Jesus. To me these are very hard words to read. Someone wanted a Bible Study, so I thought I would throw out these words from Jesus for everyone's view. I have bolded the parts that are very strong statements. Matthew 10 32"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. 34"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35For I have come to turn " 'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her motherinlaw— 36a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.'[e] 37"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 40"He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. 41Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward. 42And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward."
February 14, 200818 yr Constantly I hear about this all-loving, Mr. Rogers type Jesus. But here in Matthew stands Jesus' words that fall in contrast to the all-loving Jesus. To me these are very hard words to read. Someone wanted a Bible Study, so I thought I would throw out these words from Jesus for everyone's view. I have bolded the parts that are very strong statements. Matthew 10 32"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. 34"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35For I have come to turn " 'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her motherinlaw— 36a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.'[e] 37"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 40"He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. 41Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward. 42And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward." If you read it literally it is tough, however, if you read in context and in light of Jesus' other teachings, as you often teach me to do, you know that Jesus is saying that HE must be first. It will not be good enough to follow him after you have taken care of your family or after you have made yourself comfortable but first. He also teaches us to honor our father and mother. So either He contradicts himself, or HE is using Hyperbole to make his point very clear. I am going with Hyperbole over direct contradiction Consider the bolded, He also tells us to love our enemies. He is just making a point.
February 14, 200818 yr Author Didn't the Apostle Peter deny/disown him??? He then repented from that stance and took Christ and the Holy Spirit into his life.
February 14, 200818 yr Doesn't this describe the challenges and trials of the early church? People found their own families rejecting them for their faith and they had to place Jesus above those old ties of family and culture. It happens today in cultures that are blatantly anti Christian. We in America have no idea of what real persecution for faith is like. There are people who know exactly what this text means and live it every day. BTW, I've always lobbied that this statement by Jesus is why Peter's sin was just as great as Judas' that Thursday evening. But Peter took the harder path of repentance and Judas did not stick around to see what God's grace might have done for him.
February 14, 200818 yr Author Doesn't this describe the challenges and trials of the early church? People found their own families rejecting them for their faith and they had to place Jesus above those old ties of family and culture. It happens today in cultures that are blatantly anti Christian. We in America have no idea of what real persecution for faith is like. There are people who know exactly what this text means and live it every day. BTW, I've always lobbied that this statement by Jesus is why Peter's sin was just as great as Judas' that Thursday evening. But Peter took the harder path of repentance and Judas did not stick around to see what God's grace might have done for him. I had always been told that sin is sin is sin is sin. There is not varying degree of sin except the one that is unpardonable.
February 14, 200818 yr I had always been told that sin is sin is sin is sin. There is not varying degree of sin except the one that is unpardonable. Hey, I'm not arguing that except that if you READ the text what does IT say? It says, here is the sin, and here is the consequence.
February 14, 200818 yr Didn't Jesus deny his own family? So, along the same lines, should we? Also Jesus might be the most cotriversal (sp), so the idea of the sword does not suprise me. Finally, Jesus does love us, enough so he will even give us the choice of heaven and hell.
February 14, 200818 yr He then repented from that stance and took Christ and the Holy Spirit into his life. :thumb: I was just trying to make a Statement about denying him, nothing more... Didn't mean he was a bad man. Isn't that what Christ died for?? So his/ours/everyones forgiven??? So we don't go to :fire:
February 14, 200818 yr The scripture in Matthew where Jesus is saying chose me or go the other way. Man has a choice...yes/no.
February 14, 200818 yr Jesus also called Peter...Satan. "Get behind me Satan". I'm sure he didn't mean a certain football coach who I've heard some reference to with the same name. I've used the same term to some folks, but I'm quick to point out what I was doing. Momma and myself were having a go around with some Bible issues and I told her the statement and she said "What did you call me?"
February 14, 200818 yr Constantly I hear about this all-loving, Mr. Rogers type Jesus. But here in Matthew stands Jesus' words that fall in contrast to the all-loving Jesus. To me these are very hard words to read. Someone wanted a Bible Study, so I thought I would throw out these words from Jesus for everyone's view. I have bolded the parts that are very strong statements. Matthew 10 32"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. 34"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35For I have come to turn " 'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her motherinlaw— 36a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.'[e] 37"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 40"He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. 41Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward. 42And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward." I will pick out verses 34 and 35. I think Jesus knew his coming would not bring peace because his teachings were so much different than what people of that time had ever heard before. The sword to me would be the unfiltered true word of God. Jesus knew his teachings would split the closest of people. I know it is imposible to know for sure but I would imagine that a lot of families had major trouble in those days with some members still believing in the LAW that Moses brought and some wanting to follow the teaching of this new Jesus who was nothing more than a carpenters son. Even today very few things draw a line in the sand faster than the name of Jesus. This is why religion is one those things your not supposed to talk about because tempers will flare fast. Jesus is trying to get this point across. If I believe Jesus is my Savior and decide to follow him. Then I must be willing to turn against any influence that tells me other wise. In other Words if my father then tells me no son you dont have to believe in Jesus...worship this statue and it will get you to the promised land. If I love my father more than I love Jesus then his words could lead me astray.
February 15, 200818 yr ^What you posted is how I've always interpreted that verse. You can imagine the division it would cause in a strict Jewish family for one or more of the members to abandon the faith they had practiced for generations to follow the teachings of Christ. My mother-in-law knows a Jewish person who converted to Christianity and their family had a funeral for them...that may shed some light on the family against family statements. I don't know if this is a common thing, or just something this family did, but I trust the story I was told...in any case, it gives you an idea of how this is received among strict Jewish families.
February 15, 200818 yr Author Jesus also called Peter...Satan. "Get behind me Satan". I'm sure he didn't mean a certain football coach who I've heard some reference to with the same name. I've used the same term to some folks, but I'm quick to point out what I was doing. Momma and myself were having a go around with some Bible issues and I told her the statement and she said "What did you call me?" So for future reference, what did you do to get out of the doghouse and how long did it take you to get out of the doghouse?
February 15, 200818 yr Author To me, it is hard balancing the knowledge that the message we have will be a divisive issue and how we are supposed to be accepting at the same time. Hard balancing act to know that we have to stand firm on Jesus message on the dangers of sin while at the same time accepting people.
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