Opening the Bible – Page 42 – A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green

Crumbs From The King

Jesus is not acting very “Jewish” in Matthew 15. He goes on record as saying (in front of the Pharisees no less), that food does not defile (v. 10-12). He then withdraws into Gentile territory (v. 21), where He is pursued by a Canaanite woman (v. 22). Is Matthew is trying to tell us something?Continue reading “Crumbs From The King”

Clean Hands vs. Clean Hearts

Matthew 15 presents us with a discussion between three groups of people: Jesus, some Pharisees from Jerusalem, and Jesus’ disciples. The section begins in 14:1ff with Herod’s “witness” to Jesus: his guilty conscience is attributing the miracles Jesus is performing to John the Baptist (whom he had put to death). Despite Herod’s confusion, Matthew wouldContinue reading “Clean Hands vs. Clean Hearts”

Sincere Faith

Quick question: What would Paul have been without Timothy? Timothy was Paul’s helper for almost twenty years. What did he do for Paul? Basically, whatever Paul needed to have done. Paul left him at Ephesus to deal with some problem teachers while he went to Macedonia (1 Timothy 1:3ff). He sent him to Thessalonica fromContinue reading “Sincere Faith”

Called And Claimed (2)

There’s a bit more to Matthew’s story though. Maybe it would be more accurate to say that there’s a bit more of Matthew in the wonderful story he’s have us to know about Jesus. At the center of Matthew’s story of the Messiah is his own story that reflects what lies at the heart of Jesus’Continue reading “Called And Claimed (2)”

Called And Claimed (1)

Matthew was a tax collector! Tax collector was on no one’s list of What I want to be when I grow up. It would have been bad enough if they collected taxes from their people (the Jews), for their people. Then he would have been the equivalent of an employee of the IRS. But this wasn’t the case. HeContinue reading “Called And Claimed (1)”

Built To Withstand

Matthew’s gospel is the second most popular book of the Bible (Psalms is first). Part of the reason for its popularity is what we refer to as the Sermon on the Mount, which is recorded in chapters 5-7. Jesus’ teaching begins with an introduction that features the Beatitudes and transitions into a commission to beContinue reading “Built To Withstand”

A Sense Of The Sacred

Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces (Matthew 7:6). Jesus’ words are commonly understood to mean that His disciples are to show discernment in who they share the glorious good newsContinue reading “A Sense Of The Sacred”

A Heart Set On Worship

Matthew tells us of Magi from the east who came to see the Christ child. They brought with them gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. William Barclay suggests that gold is what you would give a king; frankincense is for a priest (it was offered on the altar of incense in the holy place—Exodus 30:34); andContinue reading “A Heart Set On Worship”

Democracy And The Kingdom Of God (2)

So why does God have different roles for men and women when it comes to church? The better question to ask might be, why not? Once we get past the equality/ability issues, why wouldn’t God have different roles for us? Does everyone in your family have the same role? Why not? If this is so,Continue reading “Democracy And The Kingdom Of God (2)”

Unshakeable

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:28-29) We all need something unshakeable in our lives, don’t we? We have this requirement because the sober reality is that our families and relationships, jobs,Continue reading “Unshakeable”