Hello
Friends,
Welcome
back to Prepared Hearts for June 22, 2014. This week’s lectionary texts
include: Genesis 21:8-21; Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17; Romans 6:1b-11, and Matthew
10:24-39. I’ll be preaching from Matthew. The text is below, followed by
starter thoughts.
Matthew
10:24-39 (NRSV)
24
“A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master; 25 it is
enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master.
If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they
malign those of his household! 26 “So have no fear of them; for nothing is
covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become
known. 27 What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear
whispered, proclaim from the housetops. 28 Do not fear those who kill the body
but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in
hell.
29
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the
ground apart from your Father. 30 And even the hairs of your head are all
counted. 31So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows. 32 “Everyone
therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my
Father in heaven; 33 but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny
before my Father in heaven. 34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to
the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to
set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law
against her mother-in-law; 36 and one’s foes will be members of one’s own
household. 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me;
and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and
whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Those
who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake
will find it.
STARTER
THOUGHTS
One of
the Bible commentaries I use divides the scripture above into two sections
entitled: “The Call to Courageous Confession” (verses 24-33) and “The Cost of
Discipleship” (verses 34-39). I would have probably lumped them together and
entitled it all “Confusing and Disturbing Teachings of Jesus.”
Are any
of the rest of you confused and/or troubled by his comments here? One moment he
seems to be sharing something I find very profound (“Do not fear those who kill
the body…fear him who can destroy both soul and body”) and the next minute he doesn’t
sound like Jesus at all (“I have not come to bring peace, but a sword”).
This
scripture raises SO MANY questions, I hardly know where to begin! First of all,
what do you make of this passage? What do you like/dislike/understand/find
confusing?
How do
you handle scripture that is difficult or contradictory to other passages of
the Bible (i.e. Prince of Peace with a sword)? Also, how do you address
scripture that contradicts your own belief system (children being set against
their parents)? What is your measuring stick for determining what the critical
themes of scripture are for you?
The
first portion of the text is about letting go of one’s fear, especially of
letting go of the fear of proclaiming the Gospel. Do you struggle to claim your
faith and to declare/share it with others? Do you think the church does a good
job of preparing disciples to acknowledge God before others?
This
text reflects a reality that existed in Matthew’s church that people sometimes
had to choose between their family and their faith. Even today, some people
find closer ties within the family of God than they do with their natural
families. How is the church like a family? Do you think, as a family, we
encourage each other to let go of fear of what others may think and place our
loyalty to God above all else?
I look
forward to your thoughts and reflections. Feel free to email me or post a comment here.
Peace,
Amee
No comments:
Post a Comment