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Today's Little Lift
by Jim Bullington
Many children know that Jesus told a story about a Wise Man and a Foolish Man who built houses with very different outcomes. This story, the parable of the Wise Man and the Foolish Man, is actually the conclusion of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. I have sung the children’s song about the Wise Man and the Foolish Man many times; I have watched and heard others sing it many times over! It is truly a classic; it has action, vivid imagery, and sound effects! However, the message of this story is not primarily intended for children; it is a message for thinking adults who are making life-altering choices. So important were these lessons that Jesus likened those who refused to hear His word to a foolish man whose house was demolished by the violent storm; those who refused to hear were called foolish!
These are not trite little stories; they are truths that determine the eternal destiny of God’s creatures. Directly after recording the parable of the Wise man, Matthew adds a comment that reflects how the message of Jesus was received. When I say the message of Jesus, I do not mean just the parable under consideration; I mean the entire tenor and impact of the Sermon on the Mount. Now here is the commentary that Matthew added: “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). The emphasis here is on His authority and how that was in stark contrast to the manner of the scribes. Our brief study today will focus on this contrast.
Noted biblical commentator, Albert Barnes, had the following to say about this contrast in his classic work, Notes on the New Testament: “The scribes were the learned men and teachers of the Jewish nation, and were principally Pharisees. They taught chiefly the sentiments of their rabbins, and the traditions which had been delivered; they consumed much of their time in useless disputes, ‘vain jangling.’ Jesus was open, plain, grave, useful; delivering truth as became the oracles of God; not spending his time in trifling disputes, and debating questions of no importance; but confirming his doctrine by miracles and argument; teaching as having power, as it is in the original, and not in the vain and foolish manner of the Jewish doctors. He showed that he had authority to explain, enforce, and change the ceremonial laws of the Jews. He came with authority such as no man could have, and it is not remarkable that his explanations astonished them.”
Barnes observed correctly when he said that Jesus “…had the authority to explain, enforce, and change the ceremonial laws of the Jews.” However, the people were accustomed to hearing the rehashed theological Pablum spewed out by their scribes and doctors of the law. To hear such a message in which someone dared to say, “You have heard it said… But I say unto you…” some five (5) or more times must have been refreshing, but at the same time, frightening. Yet, this is what Jesus did so forcefully; He contrasted His teachings with those of the religious establishment in Jerusalem. His mission may not have been popular, but He had no trouble gathering a crowd due only to the authoritative aura that attended His teaching sessions.
Now play a little imaginary game with me. Suppose that Jesus returned to this earth and listened to the party lines of the human denominations that dot our landscape here in America. Obviously some of the teachings prevalent today could not have had their origin with Him; I say they could not else the religious denominations would not exist. After all there was but one faith, and Jesus promised to build but one church! If the people who heard the Sermon on the Mount were astonished, many today with likely die of heart failure if our Lord returned here and began to correct the religious error among us!
Questions:
1. How were the people accustomed to being taught in Jesus’ day?
2. How was the teaching of Jesus different?
3. How important is it that we recognize the power that resides in Jesus?
4. What did Paul mean when he spoke of One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism, etc.? (see Ephesians 4.5ff).
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