Matthew 17 - 8.15.24
Matthew 17:1-9
S –After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
O - He was transfigured before them: The word transfigured speaks of a transformation, not merely a change in outward appearance. The effect was extremely striking; Jesus became so bright in appearance that He was even difficult to look at (like the sun). Blue letter bible.org
Undoubtedly, the purpose of the transfiguration of Christ into at least a part of His heavenly glory was so that the “inner circle” of His disciples could gain a greater understanding of who Jesus was. Christ underwent a dramatic change in appearance in order that the disciples could behold Him in His glory. The disciples, who had only known Him in His human body, now had a greater realization of the deity of Christ, though they could not fully comprehend it. That gave them the reassurance they needed after hearing the shocking news of His coming death. (gotquestions.org)
The Transfiguration was a foretaste of heaven; the participants (who had been dead a very long time) were doing something worth noting – talking together. In God’s world, interactions count highly. People are individuals, with minds, hearts, and opinions. People are also part of a wider whole, connected by relationships built on sharing between whole persons. Friendship is the key. Make time and opportunities to talk with others. Good conversations act as training for eternity.
Jesus is more than a great leader, a good example, a good influence, or a great prophet. He is the Son of God. When you understand this profound truth, the only adequate response is worship. When you have a correct understanding of Christ, you WILL obey him.
A – My application may be a stretch but I felt the need to share. (Side note two of my computers stopped working after typing this SOAP and another post was to be posted instead. I took the computer to the Geek Squad and it miraculously worked fine! So, I’m sharing.) On Tuesday evening we attended a memorial for someone we didn’t know all that intimately but who touched our lives through several brief conversations over the years while doing work around our house. This man, Louis Godman (which I always told him was such an appropriate name because he was such a bright presence), had an infectious smile and way about him that made everyone who encountered him feel like his longtime friend. It may sound odd when I say that most of the time, I actually enjoy attending a Celebration of Life, and this one was definitely one I enjoyed and will remember for a very long time. Not because of the loss of course, or the sadness, but because of discovering more about who he was, and being able to meet so many of the people whose lives he had touched in some way. And there were MANY-it was standing room only. I have never seen a memorial put together with such love and intricate detail. From the décor, the music, the poems read, the eulogy, the raw, yet composed emotions from his partner and her adult children as they spoke, to hearing the stories from the woman who introduced him to us years ago. It was inspiring to catch a glimpse of how he impacted each of their lives and how we were all brought together on this occasion, as part of their journey, and to see the hand that God had played out through all of it was just amazing! There were so many things spoken that were clearly the hand of God throughout his 2 year battle with colon cancer (including the surgery that was never supposed to happen that bought him that extra time). Even in the end, he was a positive force. Louis left behind a lot of aching hearts, but more than that, he left a legacy of a whole lot of joy! He inspired and he brought a smile to everyone who met him.
My “observation” today came directly out of my study bible, but what touched me was “In God’s world, interactions count highly. People are individuals, with minds, hearts, and opinions. People are also part of a wider whole, connected by relationships built on sharing between whole persons. Friendship is the key. Make time and opportunities to talk with others. Good conversations act as training for eternity.
To know that we will one day be able to interact with those we have lost, and even those we had briefly touched, makes me want to be a better person and to transform my own life into someone who leaves others inspired and in awe of what God has done for me. To know that having constant connections and interactions are important to God, and will be a part of eternity, we should be doing everything in our power to reach out to others. You never know whose life you may inspire, impact, or touch in some way. Or what seed you have planted that leads them to salvation or a deeper understanding of WHO God really is.
P – I pray that I myself, and my church family, would be aware of the joy it brings God to see His people come together, bringing comfort and joy to one another. I pray we would be aware of the special moments he puts before us to make those connections, and I pray that we turn to Him in honor and praise for being the one true SON OF GOD who deserves are complete adoration no matter what the world and Satan may be throwing at us. I pray we would seek the glory of God and revel in His amazing presence. And SHARE OUR STORIES!
Amen!
- Crystal Flory
Matthew 16 - 8.14.24
Scripture
Matthew 16:23
“ … You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
Observation
Over and over again, Jesus is trying to get his disciples to understand spiritual concepts – to view things through God’s eyes. But they get stuck on the literal – what they see with their eyes instead of seeking God’s guidance and direction. They bring it back to themselves and how it affects them.
Application
Jesus tells the disciples to be on their guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Saducees and they think – he’s talking about yeast – it’s because we didn’t bring any bread.
Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? Do you still not understand?
Jesus explains to his disciples that he will be persecuted and killed. Peter rebukes him – this shall never happen to you!
Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
Can you imagine Jesus himself telling you something and your response is, “No – you’re wrong.” And yet I think we are frequently guilty of this. God tells us he’s in control - but we don’t believe it. He tells us to believe for big things – but we tell him that’s too big, it’s not possible. He gives us direction and asks us to step out in faith – and we justify why we can’t do it.
When Jesus asks the disciples who people say he is and who they (the disciples) think he is, Simon Peter responds, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hade will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Prayer
Please forgive me for the many times when I refuse to see how you are working and things you are trying to tell me. Forgive me for my lack of faith. Work in my heart and open my eyes to see things as you see them instead of focusing on myself. Reveal yourself to me. Like Peter, use me to build your church.
- Debbie Dunn
Matthew 15 - 8.13.24
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 15: 10 - 20
10 Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. 11 What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”
12 Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?”
13 He replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. 14 Leave them; they are blind guides.[d] If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”
15 Peter said, “Explain the parable to us.”
16 “Are you still so dull?” Jesus asked them. 17 “Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? 18 But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. 20 These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.”
OBSERVATION
The Pharisees and teachers of the law had just come to Jesus, in verse 2, and the disciples to questioning why they “break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!”. See the Pharisees and teachers were looking for every opportunity to catch Jesus and the disciples in some act that would disprove them as being from God. They were also looking at the external and Jesus was looking at the internal. Jesus ends up calling them out in verse 8 – 9:
8 “‘These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
9 They worship me in vain;
their teachings are merely human rules.”
In verse 10 – 20, Jesus explains it’s not about what goes into a body but what comes out.
The Disciples couldn’t understand and were more concerned about offending the Pharisees and teachers. They thought it’s important to alert Jesus that these esteemed leaders were offended by what Jesus said. They were all used to the Old Testament teachings about what goes into the body. Jesus explains it’s not about what goes in with food or lack of washing hands but it’s more about what’s in their heart that comes out. Jesus told them to leave the Pharisees alone – saying they were blind, not planted by God and would be pulled out at the root. Yikes!
Then Jesus makes it even more evident:
Jesus answers Peter with “Are you still so dull?” Jesus is basically telling Peter are you dense and blind? Whoa!! What an eye opening statement to help them understand the bigger picture. Peter’s example, just like we all might have thought, is that he’s still thinking in the physical as opposed to the spiritual inner heart of humans.
APPLICATION
I recently had a conversation with my new daughter-in-law about cursing. She warned me about a new movie that had a lot of cursing and knew I wouldn’t like it. I proceeded to tell her that in my younger non-Christian days, I had a potty mouth and could curse like a sailor. Once I became a Christian, seeing that God healed and changed me from the inside out, foul language became something foreign and obnoxious to me. This only comes from the inward transformation Jesus does to those who accept the transformation.
Ephesians 4:29
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Jesus is specifically calling out true transformation comes from inside the heart and isn’t about following external rules and regulations. Once a believer gives their life over to Jesus, that’s when the internal transformation begins and continues each day we give our life over to Christ. Just like a caterpillar that transforms into a butterfly, we are changed from the inside.
2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
Jesus mentions several sinful thoughts and actions that come from within. I think he brought these up not only because many can identify with the sins but possibly to also speak to the Pharisees and leaders who were walking one way in their life and doing something completely opposite. No matter what, the list explains those who do these things is evidence of an inward heart issue. Jesus is the only one who can transform the inner heart.
PRAYER
Lord, I come before you and ask forgiveness for any internal thought or external action that displeases you. Help me, Lord, to see that changing sinful actions can only start with changing our heart towards You. It’s only through Your eyes, your Word, prayer, and the Holy Spirit, that can change a heart to your ways. In Jesus name I pray. Amen!
- Mary Oberg