Category Archives: BELIEF

Twelve apostles and their mission (Matthew 10: 1-15)

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Bible Summary:

Jesus calls the twelve apostles: Simon (called Peter), Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew (the tax collector), James, Thaddaeus, Simon the Patriot, and Judas Iscariot, who later betrays him. He gives them the mission to drive out evil spirits, heal the sick and lepers, and bring the dead back to life. Jesus tells them to preach the Good News in Israel, instead of the lands of the Gentiles and Samarians. He tells his disciples to leave with nothing but their clothes and not to accept money nor beg. They are to seek shelter in each new town and greet their host with peace. If they are not welcome, they are to “shake the dust off their feet” and move on to the next town. Jesus assures them that an unwelcoming town will receive no mercy on Judgment Day.

My Thoughts:

Characters of the story: Matthew summarizes the characters in his story very succinctly. He mentions the disciples’ relationships as brothers and sons, that Simon is renamed Peter (we learn why later), that Matthew is a tax collector and that Judas betrays Jesus. Mathew then tells us the apostles’ mission: to preach the Good News and heal people.

Reason to believe: Jesus asks a lot of his disciples – to leave with nothing, to expect others to feed and shelter them, and to just keep moving on from town to town, whether the people want to hear the Good News or not. It is interesting that many people use Jesus’ miraculous birth, healing powers, and many miracles to prove his divinity. Frankly, the fact that these twelve people were willing to give up their lives, initially in preaching the Good News and later in fact, with no earthly reward, speaks volumes for Jesus’ closeness to God.

No Gentiles: It was surprising to read that Jesus had the apostles focus on the Jews. I always thought they mainly spoke to the Gentiles. Maybe I’m getting ahead of the story.

Sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9: 35-38)

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Bible Summary:

Jesus visits all the towns, teaches in synagogues, preaches the Good News, and heals people of all diseases. He feels pity for so many helpless people, like sheep without a shepherd. He tells his disciples, “The harvest is large with so few workers. Pray to the owner to send out more workers.”

My Thoughts:

Misguided: people are so misguided in their lives, searching for more money, more cars, bigger houses, extra-marital affairs, … Always searching never satisfied. Jesus has pity on these lost sheep because a life without purpose, a real purpose is no life at all.

More Shepherds: The harvest Jesus speaks of is the crowd of people. He prays to God to send more shepherds, disciples to help guide so many lost sheep.

Jesus helps a man talk (Matthew 9: 32-34)

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Bible Summary:

Next, some people bring Jesus a man who cannot talk. Jesus drives out the demon and the man talks to everyone’s amazement. The Pharisees say the chief of demons gives him that power.

My Thoughts:

Jealousy: The Pharisees were jealous of Jesus’ ability to mesmerize the people of Israel so they try to discredit him. Everything Jesus ever did was to help others – people the Pharisees would not even associate with.

Jesus teaches about belief (Matthew 9: 27-31)

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Bible Summary:

Two blind men show up, follow Jesus and ask him for mercy. He asks them if they believe he can heal them. They say yes. Jesus touches their eyes saying, “Let it happen as you believe!” and they can now see. He tells them not to tell anyone, but they spread the news.

My Thoughts:

Belief: Everything you want in life requires belief and action. These two things can give you everything you have ever dreamed. Believe and act today.

Celebrity: Like all celebrities, Jesus would like just a little break from the onslaught so he asks the blind men not to say anything and of course human nature takes over and they tell everyone.

Jesus heals those with faith (Matthew 9:18-26)

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Bible Summary:

A Jewish official kneels before Jesus and pleads for him to place his hands on his daughter who just died. Jesus and his disciples follow the official. Along the way, a woman who suffered from bleeding for 12 years touches Jesus’ cloak. Jesus tells her to have courage and her faith makes her immediately well. At the official’s house, he tells the funeral group to leave since the little girl is not dead but only sleeping. They make fun of him as they leave. Jesus goes to the girl, holds her hand, and then she gets up. The news of this spreads everywhere.

My Thoughts:

Faith: Jesus rewards people who have the faith that they can be healed. Faith is believing in something when there is no proof it can happen. It can carry you through taunts of others who do not understand. Faith is believing so much that you push a bit harder and with a little help from above everything comes to be.

Year of Restoration (Leviticus 25)

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Bible Summary:

God tells Moses and the Israelites to rest the land of Canaan every seventh year instead of cultivating it. They can eat all the land produces, which will be enough since God will bless the land with a double harvest in the 6th year to last until the 8th year.

On the Day of Atonement each 49 years, Israelites proclaim the 50th year as the Year of Restoration, giving freedom to all people. All property previously sold is restored to the original owner or his descendants, and anyone sold as slave returned to his family. Land and slaves are sold fairly based on the number of years remaining to the next Restoration.

Exceptions:

  • Houses sold in walled cities can only be bought back for the first year, otherwise they become permanent property of the new owners.
  • Levites have the right to buy back any of their property at any time.

Other Considerations:

  • If a neighbor becomes poor, you must give him a job, eliminate interest on his loans, and sell him food without making a profit.
  • If you need slaves, buy foreigners who will be slaves the rest of their lives. But, if an Israelite sells himself, he is freed at the next Year of Restoration.

My Thoughts:

Restoration: Moses created the Year of Restoration so the Israelites would never be permanent slaves again like they were in Egypt.

Care for the poor: Moses puts into law how people are to treat the poor. God gives them dignity by having you give them a job instead of a handout.

New Wine in New Wineskins (Matthew 9:14-17)

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Bible Summary:

Followers of John the Baptist ask Jesus why they and the Pharisees fast often but the disciples do not. Jesus tells them wedding guests need to be happy until the bridegroom is taken away, and then they will fast. He also says no one patches an old coat with new cloth since it would shrink and make a bigger hole, nor pours new wine in old wineskins that would burst. New wine in new wineskins keeps both in good condition.

My Thoughts:

Celebrate: Jesus says the disciples should celebrate while he is with them.

New Message: Jesus’ new message was not taken well by the establishment, so he focused on telling his new message (i.e. new wine) to new people (i.e. new wineskins), including Gentiles.

Matthew follows Jesus (Matthew 9: 9-13)

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Bible Summary:

Jesus meets and asks Matthew the tax collector to follow him. Matthew does right then. Later, Jesus and his disciples eat with outcasts at Matthew’s house. Some Pharisees ask the disciples how their teacher can eat with such people. Jesus overhears and says, “Only those who are sick need a doctor,” and quotes scripture, “It is kindness I want, not animal sacrifices.”

My Thoughts:

Letter of the Law: Jesus knows human nature, that the self-righteous will follow the letter of the law, so he focuses on the outcasts who need him. He jabs the Pharisees about showing a little kindness.

Follow your belief: Matthew drops everything to follow Jesus. How far would you go to follow your belief? Would you quit your job and follow a man you barely know with no guarantee to even have enough food to eat? I believe this gospel story teaches people to follow their convictions, which can give you freedom and strength.

Punishment under Moses (Leviticus 24: 10-23)

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Bible Summary:

A man with an Egyptian father and Israelite mother curses God while quarreling with another man. Moses puts him under guard until God tells him to have the people testify of his guilt and then the community stones him to death. God teaches the principle of a life for a life, an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.

My Thoughts:

Effective Deterrent: These punishments were likely very effective at keeping people in line back then. They seem very extreme today.

I wonder if the term “curse” means the same now as then. Many people have incorporated foul words into everyday language. A curse was likely based more on the intent, like if someone yells or curses at you in anger.

Jesus heals paralyzed man (Matthew 9: 1-8)

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Bible Summary:

Jesus returns to his home town across the lake by boat where some people bring him a paralyzed man. They have such faith, so he forgives the man’s sins. Teachers of the Law whisper about this blasphemy. Jesus asks them why they are thinking such evil, and then proves his authority as the “Son of Man” by telling the man to “get up and walk” and he does.

My Thoughts:

Faith: it is amazing how faith can change anyone’s life. If you believe things will get better, they will.