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Focus Text: Matthew 26.52-56

There is something to be said for the WWJD [What Would Jesus Do?] mentality; however here is an indisputable fact: No one can know what Jesus would do without knowing what Jesus did! In other words, it is fruitless to discuss what Jesus would do in any given circumstance if we do not know with certainty what Jesus did while here upon this earth. Those who brandish the WWJD acronym must either trust the written record of Jesus’ life (i.e. the Bible), or they ought to admit they simply do not know what Jesus would do and are hopelessly left without…  ( Click for more )

What Would Jesus Teach [WWJT]… if someone publicly asked Him a crucial religious question, a question that if left unanswered could result in the loss of a soul? Would He attempt to study in private with the querist, hoping to avoid a public confrontation, but yet capitalizing on the possibility of teaching a lost soul? Would He seize the opportunity to respond to the inquiry, teaching the lost person but at the same time demonstrating His superior knowledge of the subject and impressing other hearers for good? WWJT? The correct answer is, “None of the above” (at…  ( Click for more )

Three well know verses are used to introduce this subject; they are: “And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” (Matthew 7.28-29). “So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, ‘Is this not Joseph’s son?’” (Luke 4.22). “Then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, ‘Why have you not brought Him?’ The…  ( Click for more )

“But He [Jesus] needed to go through Samaria. So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, ‘Give Me a drink.’ For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, ‘How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?’ For Jews have…  ( Click for more )

Sweet words and deeds linger long after the emotion and excitement of the moment have passed. If you stop and think, I almost know that you can remember some kind words and/or deeds that someone spoke or did years and years ago. However, I also know that no words or deeds could be sweeter than those spoken and performed by Jesus as he concluded His meeting with the sinful woman in Simon’s house. See what you think; He said, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” (Luke 7.50).

The most significant result for the woman in her meeting with Jesus was the fact that…  ( Click for more )

I doubt that Jesus had ever personally met the woman, but that is speculation on my part. However, regardless of how it happened, she had learned a lot about him. Moreover, she had thought a lot about herself and her condition. But on this particular day, this woman’s spiritual fortunes would change dramatically; she would never be the same again!

If first words make lasting impressions, the woman must have been impressed for a long, long time with the words of Jesus. After Jesus finished talking to Simon and teaching a great lesson about how God treats sinners (as well…  ( Click for more )

“Therefore I [Jesus] say to you [Simon], her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.’ Then He said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, ‘Who is this who even forgives sins?’ Then He said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.’” (Luke 7.47-50).

Read the focus text again paying particular attention to who is speaking as well as the person(s) being addressed. At first, Jesus was…  ( Click for more )

Jesus asked Simon a question by means of a short parable or real life illustration. Here is the parable, His question, and then the much needed application:

“‘There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?’ Simon answered and said, ‘I suppose the one whom he forgave more.’ And He said to him, ‘You have rightly judged.’ Then He turned to the woman and said…  ( Click for more )

The reading is long, but it has to be taken in at one time to gather its richness.

“Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, ‘This man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.’ And Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Simon, I have something to say to you.’ So he said, ‘Teacher, say it.’ ‘There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing with which…  ( Click for more )

We continue our analysis of our focus text, and for that reason it is repeated today: “Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. Now when the Pharisee…  ( Click for more )

How does God treat sinners? The truth sometimes shocks our sensibilities! To our surprise, and sometimes chagrin, He doesn’t treat them the way we want Him to! Consider our primary question of how God treats sinners as we investigate our focus text.

“Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping;…  ( Click for more )

In our study of how God treats sinners, we are considering the use of the word sinner as it is used in contrast to faithful believers. Contrary to what some religious creeds say, not every thing that sinners do is reprehensible; some things sinners do are actually worthy of imitation. However, in matters such as we consider today, they do not go far enough. Consider the words of Jesus which follow immediately.

“And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those…  ( Click for more )

Who or what groups of people are referred to in the scriptures as sinners other than believers in Christ who inadvertently stray or who temporarily leave the path of righteousness only to return after a short time? Actually, the answer to this question is probably my first response to the query, “Who is a sinner?” I prefer to think of those who have never named the name of Christ as sinners – and most certainly they are. For the next few days, we will examine some usages of the word sinner in the New Testament and how it was used when referring to unbelievers. …  ( Click for more )

Clarification is necessary when it comes to the use of the word sinner(s) in the New Testament. Sometimes the word is used to refer to a group/class of people who live in obvious rebellion to God’s word. At other times it is used to refer to those who live in subjection to God’s will, but who momentarily or inadvertently stray. And as if that were not enough, sometimes the word is used simply to refer to the fact that all of us sin from time to time, and hence, we are all sinners by that definition. As we proceed with this study, we will examine some usages of the word…  ( Click for more )

Someone has observed that one cannot even pronounce the word sin without hearing the heinous hiss of the serpent. Had the serpent not wielded his influence upon mankind, this discussion of how God treats sinners would not be taking place. The hiss of the serpent made the word sin necessary. One thing is certain: If all our information were limited to the first two chapters of Genesis, the time when man lived virtually in God’s presence, we would never know nor need to know how God treats sinners – there would be no such thing! Be that as it may, that condition did not…  ( Click for more )

In considering the question of how God treats sinners, it becomes of paramount importance to know just who is a sinner! If I don’t know anyone who is a sinner, and if I never meet anyone who is a sinner, the scale of importance of the issue drops to virtually zero. However, if I know a sinner or two, or if I am likely to come in contact with a sinner, the degree of importance rises somewhat. In fact, the more sinners I know or am likely to know, the more important the question becomes. I must confess that when I think of sinners, I prefer to think of them in the distance –…  ( Click for more )

“But Now You Say...”

I remember hearing as a kid, “The biggest word in the English language is but!” I may have gotten the gist of the little pun then, but it makes a lot more since now that I have the experienced life as an adult. One of the most significant buts in any conversation was contained in Jesus' closing statement in John while speaking to the self-willed. He said, “But now you say, 'We see.' Therefore your sin remains.” (John 9.41). That is the opposite of justification; it is self-condemnation.

“But now you say...”…  ( Click for more )

"Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because 'All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, But the word of the LORD endures forever.' Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you." (1 Peter 1.22-25). In the text just quoted, Peter identifies…  ( Click for more )

“Your Sin Remains”

“But now you say, 'We see.' Therefore your sin remains.” (John 9.41). These are the closing sad words in the case of Jesus and the blind man. It was not the blind man who couldn't see; it was privileged Pharisees whose sins could not be remedied. There was remedy, but they refused to admit their need!

Dialogue in the Dark is a world exhibit now in the Atlanta area that is designed to raise the awareness level regarding the site impaired. I went there recently with my wife and through that exhibit, I learned things that I could never…  ( Click for more )

For the better part of three years Paul and Barnabas labored in the spiritual fields of Cyprus and Asia Minor. They preached to, exhorted, strengthened, and equipped the new converts so they could stand fast in the faith once they were on their own. As one of the final acts before departing and returning to Antioch in Syria, Paul and Barnabas "…appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting." (Acts 14.23). Once they arrived back at their sending congregation, Paul and Barnabas "…reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened…  ( Click for more )

"If you were blind...”

I have heard it said that some things are worse than death. I think this saying is absolutely true. It is human nature to just wish for life without regards to the quality of life that we might be facing. However at some point in time, the dying realize that there is a fate worse than death and will themselves to cease this life and venture over to the other side.

I have also concluded that there is absolutely a fate worse than spiritual blindness. In fact, those who realize that they are spiritually blind have the hope of salvation; those…  ( Click for more )

“Are We Blind Also?”

In order to fully understand the focus text that will be used for today's devotional, one must read the entire story of Jesus' healing of the blind man in John 9. We have referred to this chapter time and again in this series, but with good reason. The figurative language in the last few verses of this chapter is interpreted by the literal events that precede it. In the closing verses of the chapter, “seeing” doesn't mean “seeing,” and “blind” doesn't mean “blind.”

The Pharisees understood…  ( Click for more )

“For Judgment I Have Come”

The blind man was no longer blind thanks to the miraculous intervention of Jesus Christ. But, there were plenty of other “blind men” in the area who also needed healing! They, however, were suffering from a significantly more dangerous kind of blindness, one which Jesus could also heal but only under certain conditions. One condition was that they admit their spiritual blindness and stop claiming otherwise. We will continue our thoughts along this line after dispensing with an alleged contradiction today.

The following is…  ( Click for more )

God speaks through James: “My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, 'You sit here in a good place,' and say to the poor man, 'You stand there,' or, 'Sit here at my footstool,' have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?” James 2.1-4).

Today's focus concerns…  ( Click for more )