27 Pentecost

27 Pentecost – Sunday

Habakkuk 1:1-4 (5-11) 12-2:1, Why the wicked afflict the righteous

Philippians 3:13-4:1, Christian maturity

Matthew 23:13-24, The rich man and Lazarus

Habakkuk, a prophet, probably in the period of 608-598 B.C.,* had a dialog with God concerning the just government of this world by God. Why do the righteous cry for help and justice, and God does not seem to hear and intervene. Why do bad things happen to good people? The wicked subvert the law and the righteous do not receive justice.

The Lord replies that he is working and accomplishing his will through the Chaldeans (people of Babylon; worldly people) although hard to believe (compare Acts 13:41). They are a terror and a violent power who do not fear or respect any earthly ruler. There is no earthly fortress secure from their power. They idolize their own military power.

God is eternal and will preserve his people from death. The Lord allows the Chaldeans to execute the Lord’s judgment upon the wicked. Why does the Lord, who abhors the sight of wickedness and evil, allow the wicked to afflict the righteous? God allows the people of earth to be like fish in the sea, exploited by the wicked and powerful. The wicked delight in their power over people. They worship their nets and the tools that allow them to exploit people. Their wealth and luxury is at the expense of the poor and helpless. Will they be allowed to prey upon the weak forever? The prophet anxiously awaits the Lord’s reply.

Paul was making disciples of Jesus Christ in obedience to the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) which Christ gave to his disciples who had been “born-again” by the gift of his Holy Spirit (John 3:3, 5-8; Luke 24:47-49; Acts 1:4-5, 8). Paul taught the Philippians by word and example (as Jesus had taught his disciples). Paul wasn’t smug about his own Christian maturity. But Paul was letting go of the worldly things in his past, and pressing forward, like a disciplined athlete, to the things of God which are eternal and are the reward of obedient discipleship. Serious effort is required of those who seek spiritual maturity. Vigilance and diligence are required to retain what we have acquired.

Paul exhorted the Philippians to follow Paul’s example (as Paul was following Christ’s example), and they were urged to make note of those living in accordance with the example of Christ and his disciples. Paul warned them sadly that many who professed to be Christians actually lived as enemies of the Cross, which symbolizes self-denial, and complete surrender to God’s will. In contrast the professing “Christians” actually worship their own physical appetites, they focus their minds on worldly things, with no sense of shame, and their eternal destiny is destruction. But those who live according to the example and teaching of Jesus and his disciples recognize that their citizenship is in the eternal kingdom of Heaven, and they await the return of the Savior and eternal King, Jesus Christ, who will transform our physical bodies to be like his eternal spiritual body by his sovereign power over everything.

Paul urges Christians like the Philippians, who he loves as brethren, who he considers his joy and reward, to stand firm in faith and fellowship in the Lord.

Jesus told a parable of a rich man and a beggar. The rich man dressed in fine clothes, lived in a mansion, and ate sumptuously every day. A poor beggar, hungry and covered with sores, sat by the rich man’s gate. The poor beggar longed to eat the crumbs fell from the rich man’s table. The rich man’s dogs not only got the crumbs, but they tormented the beggar by licking his sores. The poor man died and was carried by angels to heaven to be in the presence and fellowship of Abraham, but the rich man died, was buried and found himself in hell.

The rich man saw the poor beggar far off with Abraham, and asked Abraham to send the poor man to dip his finger in water and cool the tongue of the rich man who was in the eternal fire of hell. But Abraham told the rich man that he had received good things in his earthly life while the poor man had received evil; now each was being repaid according to their deeds in earthly life. Furthermore, heaven and hell are separated so that it is impossible to go from one to the other.

Then the rich man asked Abraham to send the poor man to his father’s house on earth to warn his five brothers, so that they might not wind up in eternal torment. Abraham told the rich man that his brothers had all the warning they needed from Moses and the prophets (the Old Testament scriptures). The rich man replied that that wouldn’t be enough, but they would repent if someone came to them from the dead. “He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if some one should rise from the dead’” (Luke 16:31).

From the very beginning God intended to create an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly trust and obey him. God has created this temporal world with the potential for evil as well as good, so that people can have free choice whether to trust and obey God’s word or not. But the temporal world will not continue forever; God will act to give justice to the oppressed and to punish the wicked. God’s justice is on an eternal scale.

God knew that we would have to learn by trial and error to trust and obey him, He consigned all disobedience of God’s word to sin, and all have sinned and fall short of God’s righteousness (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). The penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). Jesus Christ is God’s only provision for forgiveness and salvation (Acts 4:12; John 14:6), and Jesus Christ has been “built in” to the very structure of creation (John 1:1-5; 14; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).

God accomplishes his will even through those who refuse to acknowledge, trust and obey him. The Chaldeans represent worldly people who make their own physical and military power their idol. They choose that role for themselves and will reap the consequences, but God uses them to discipline his own people as he did Judah when they were carried off to Babylonian Captivity by Nebuchadrezzar (Nebuchadnezzar) from 597** to 517 B. C.***

God is eternal and promises to preserve his people from (eternal) death. God allows us to choose wickedness or righteousness, and allows the wicked to exploit the righteous like fish in the sea. Jesus Christ is God’s answer to Habakkuk’s question why the wicked are allowed to exploit the righteous. Jesus came to demonstrate that to succeed spiritually in this world we must submit in obedient trust in God’s word and repay evil with good. Jesus is the power and wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:17-25; 2:4-8)

The purpose of this lifetime is to come to a personal knowledge of and fellowship with God (Acts 17:26-27), which is only possible through Jesus Christ. We are to learn to trust and obey the Lord and to be “reborn” (John 3:3, 5-8) spiritually to eternal life through the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Christ gives (John 1 32-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey him (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

Paul was “making disciples,” teaching them by word and example to let go of worldly things and ways and to press on and grow to spiritual maturity by the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit of Christ within them. Commitment and perseverance are required. If we’re not pressing forward we are either standing still or backsliding.

Paul told the Philippian Christian disciples to follow Paul’s example and to note others who were living in accordance with the teaching of Jesus, because there are nominal “Christians,” who profess Christ but do not apply and practice his teachings. They are actually enemies of the Cross of Christ, which is the symbol of self-denial and obedient trust in God’s word. Instead of self-denial they pursue their own human appetites and worldly goals. They are no different than worldly unbelievers, and their fate will be destruction with the wicked (Matthew 7:21-25).

Christian disciples are to live as citizens of God’s eternal kingdom, although in exile in this fallen temporal world. Jesus Christ is our King, and we are to be his obedient servants, awaiting his return when he will transform our physical bodies into spiritual bodies like his, and restore us to his presence in his eternal kingdom in heaven. The eternal kingdom will be the perfect creation this world was in the beginning (Genesis 1:31), but without the possibility of sin and evil.

The parable of the rich man and the beggar describes the circumstances of this world. The rich and powerful exploit the poor and weak. God created this world to provide for physical needs of all. The reason there is hunger and poverty is because the resources are not shared equitably. Instead of loving the beggar as much as the rich man loved himself and his dogs, he indulged his carnal appetites, and didn’t even restrain his dogs from tormenting the beggar.

Both the exploiter and the exploited face the Day of Judgment where they will be accountable to the Lord for what they have done in this life. Will the Lord commend the rich man for indulging his selfish appetites while ignoring the need and suffering of his brother?

Mankind has been given the stewardship of earth, and we will be accountable for the way we’ve allocated resources. Is America the “rich man” in a world of hunger, sickness and poverty? Are we choosing oil for SUV’s, missions to Mars, and spaceflight for the rich instead of fighting starvation and aids in the poor countries of the world? Do the rich, who benefit most from our government and economy, avoid paying a proportionate share of the costs, and exploit poor foreign laborers, while feeling no obligation to provide American sons and daughters a decent job?

In torment in Hell, the rich man prayed that at least someone should return from the dead to warn his rich brother, so that he would not wind up in Hell, too. But someone has returned from the dead, Jesus Christ, testified to by over five hundred eyewitnesses (1 Corinthians 15:1-8) and by every “born-again” Christian disciple through the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, including Paul (1 Corinthians 15:8), and yet many still refuse to believe and obey.

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13;

Ephesians 1:13-14)?

*The Oxford Annotated Bible, Revised Standard Version, Ed. by Herbert G. May and Bruce M. Metzger, Introduction to Habakkuk, p. 1136, New York, Oxford University Press, 1962.

**ibid, 2 Kings 24:10-17 n. p. 491.

***ibid, Ezra 6:15n, p. 580

27 Pentecost – Monday

Habakkuk 2:1-4, 9-20, Pronouncement of woes

James 2:14-26, Faith and works

Luke 16:19-31, The rich man and Lazarus

Habakkuk the prophet asked the Lord why the wicked persecute the righteous, and then waited for the Lord’s reply. The Lord told Habakkuk to write down the vision he was given as a warning to those who read it. The vision will be fulfilled in the proper time; it is not a lie. It may seem slow in coming but we must wait for it; it will not be delayed. “He whose soul is not upright within him will fail, but the righteous shall live by faith’ (Habakkuk 2:4).

Woe to those who benefit from evil; who use ill-gotten gain to secure security and protection. In doing so they bring shame on their families; by destroying many people they have forfeited their own lives. The stones and beams of their houses will testify against them

Woe to those who build towns at the cost of others blood, and those who establish a city on iniquity. It is the Lord who will cause the wicked to receive fire as repayment for their labors; wicked nations will receive only weariness for their efforts. The time is coming “when the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord,” as waters fill the seas.

Woe to those who make their neighbors bear their wrath and force them to drink from the cup of shame. They will be repaid with contempt instead of glory. They will be forced to drink the cup of God’s wrath. It is the wicked who will be put to shame. They will be overwhelmed by the destruction of man and beast, houses and cities in God’s judgment against the blood of people slain and the violence done to the earth by the wicked.

What gain is there from idolatry? An idol is the creation of mankind. It is a teacher of lies, and the workman trusts in his own creation. Woe to those who seek help and salvation from a mute (and inanimate) thing of wood or stone Can such idols give spiritual revelations? Even covered with gold and silver there is no breath (or Spirit) within them.

“But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him” (Habakkuk 2:20)

The author of the Letter of James asks what benefit faith (which he would define as intellectual assent) has if it doesn’t lead to “works” (which he would define as action; not salvation by “keeping” the Law). One cannot be saved by “faith” unaccompanied by “action.” If a brother or sister lacks clothing and food, simply agreeing that they need clothing and food does not relieve their need. The author concludes that real “faith” does not exist apart from “action.”

Some may (falsely) claim to have faith without the actions which confirm and demonstrate faith, but our actions reveal what we truly believe regardless of what we say we believe. (I prefer to define faith as “obedient trust,” which I believe agrees with Paul’s definition). One who claims to believe that God is the only true God (or who “believes” in Jesus Christ), but who does not act in obedient trust are no more “righteous” or better off than demons, who all “believe” in God and in Jesus Christ, but do not obey them (James 2:19; Mark 5:7-8). Faith without corresponding action is barren (it does not produce the fruit of salvation within the “believer”).

Abraham trusted and obeyed God and it was demonstrated by his actions: he offered his son Isaac as a sacrifice (Genesis 22:1-14; note that Abraham was obedient to the Lord by faith before the Covenant of Law was given; Galatians 3:6-19). Abraham acted according to his faith, and his faith was completed by action. “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6; Romans 4:3-25).

The poor man died and was carried by angels to heaven to be in the presence and fellowship of Abraham, but the rich man died, was buried and found himself in hell. The rich man saw the poor beggar far off with Abraham, and asked Abraham to send the poor man to dip his finger in water and cool the tongue of the rich man who was in the eternal fire of hell. But Abraham told the rich man that he had received good things in his earthly life while the poor man had received evil; now each was being repaid according to their deeds in earthly life. Furthermore, heaven and hell are separated so that it is impossible to go from one to the other.

God’s intention has always been to create an eternal kingdom of his people who will willingly trust and obey him. This present world is a temporal creation; it will not continue forever. The possibility for sin (disobedience of God’s word) and evil (the result of disobedience of God’s word) is part of the design for this temporal creation, in order for us to have free choice whether to obey God’s word or not, but God has also “built in” his one and only provision for our forgiveness and salvation through Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12; see God’s Plan of salvation, sidebar, top right).

There is a time limit built into this present creation, so that sin and evil will not continue forever; the new creation which follows will be eternal, but it will not allow the possibility of sin and evil. Those who live in the new creation of God’s eternal kingdom will have learned that God’s will is in our very best interest, and will be glad to live in obedience to God word.

The Lord warns through his prophet, Habakkuk, that the eternal souls of those who live in disobedience of God’s word will be eternally destroyed (in Hell), but the righteous (who do what is right in God’s judgment, according to God’s word) shall live eternally by faith (obedient trust -in Jesus Christ, God’s word fulfilled, embodied and exemplified; John 1:1-5, 14).

God’s word warns that those who benefit from evil, those who build earthly security by oppressing others and by ill-gotten gain, and who destroy others lives will forfeit their own (eternal) lives.

God’s word warns that those who build cities and worldly kingdoms by the oppression, persecution and slaughter of others will be repaid at the Lord’s judgment and condemnation by eternal fire in Hell.

Those who have treated others with anger, violence or contempt will receive God’s anger, violence and contempt on the Day of Judgment; they will be eternally accountable for the violence they have done in their lives in this world.

Idolaters (those who love any thing or person as much as or more than God), are trusting in things which are the work of their own hands and imaginations, which are powerless and unable to provide guidance, help and salvation from calamity and destruction. Modern examples of idols are wealth, power, success, security, career, pleasure, family, and home.

This temporal world is our only opportunity to seek and come to personal knowledge of and fellowship with God (Acts 17:26-27) which is only possible through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (John 14:6), through the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Christ gives (John 1:32-34) only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17).

The author of James was dealing with the meaning of faith, and with people within the Church who claim to believe in Jesus without obeying Jesus’ teachings. The problem still exists in the “Church” today. One example is the doctrine called Dietrich Bonhoeffer called “Cheap Grace,”* which is the false teaching that salvation is by grace (God’s unmerited favor; a free gift) without the requirement of discipleship and obedience to Jesus’ teachings. In contrast, salvation is by grace, which is appropriated and received by faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), which is “obedient trust,” or as the writer of James would say “faith accompanied by action.”

If one truly believes in Jesus he will do what Jesus says. Faith which doesn’t result in obedient trust and produce “works” (Ephesians 2:10) is barren and won’t result in salvation (from God’s condemnation to eternal death).

The rich man in Jesus’ parable was a Jew, a member of the congregation of Israel, not that it is necessary for the condemnation of God’s judgment, but to illustrate that being a member of the people of God (the Church) doesn’t save anyone. Saving faith is faith which results in action and produces “works” which bear the “fruit” of salvation and eternal life.

Notice that the rich man condemned to Hell still though only of himself and his own needs and considered the beggar his servant, one to cater to the rich man’s desires. He asked that the beggar bring him water to cool the rich man’s tongue; then asked the beggar to be sent to warn his brothers. The rich man had not learned to trust and obey God’s word.

*See: The Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Collier Books, Macmillan Publishing Co., NY 1963 ISBN 0-02-083850-6.

27 Pentecost – Tuesday

Habakkuk 3:1-10 (11-15) 16-18, The prayer of Habakkuk
James 3:1-12, The tongue
Luke 17:1-10 Forgiveness and faith

This is a psalm describing the coming of the Lord in judgment to save his people. The psalmist says that we (God’s people) have heard of the mighty works of the Lord and that we fear and respect God. He prays that the Lord will make his works known, and that he will temper his wrath with mercy. He describes the coming judgment of the earth with plagues and earthquakes. In the awesome Day of the Lord, God’s people will be saved, and the wicked will be destroyed. Although fearsome to contemplate we will wait quietly for that day to come. We will rejoice in the Lord, even in hard times, for he is the God of our salvation.

The author of the Letter of James says that those who are leaders and teachers in the Church will be judged with greater strictness. In our human nature we all make many mistakes, but we should grow in self-discipline of our bodies. As horses are guided by a bit in their mouths and ships are guided by a rudder small in comparison to the size of the vessel, so we also should keep our tongues under self-control. Great forests can be destroyed by what begins as a small flame. Likewise, great disaster can be caused by a few intemperate words.

The tongue is like a flame, and is an unruly member within our bodies which contaminates our whole body; it is kindled by hell and can destroy our entire lives. All animals can be tamed and taught to obey humans, but the tongue is a beast that resists our control; “it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison” (James 3:8b). The same tongue is used to bless and to curse. We should not allow that to happen. A spring produces either fresh or foul water, and we expect a fruit tree to bear fruit according to its nature; figs from a fig; olives from an olive; grapes from a grapevine.

Jesus told his disciples that temptations are an inevitable part of life in this world, but that we should avoid causing temptation for others if we want to avoid the penalty (the penalty for sin is eternal death; Romans 3:23). It would be better to die the worst imaginable physical death than to experience eternal destruction in Hell by causing spiritually young believers to sin. We will be held responsible for our own eternal souls, but we are also to care for our brothers’ (and sisters') souls, rebuking sin and offering forgiveness to the penitent. Forgiveness is abundantly sufficient to meet all our needs without limitation.

The apostles (the 12 original disciples designated by Jesus to be missionaries of his gospel) asked Jesus to increase their faith, and Jesus replied that only the tiny “mustard seed,” the “yes,” of faith (obedient trust) was necessary to accomplish the greatest of spiritual works. The servant is to serve the master; not the other way around. The servant should not expect to be commended for merely doing his duty.

The prophet foresees the coming Day of Judgment; God’s people rightly fear, have awe and respect for the power and authority of God. The coming judgment will be terrible for the wicked and unbelievers, but God’s wrath is tempered with mercy. So God’s people can wait quietly for the coming of the Lord, even in hard times, confident in our salvation in our Lord.

The author of James is discipling Christians, teaching them to bring their human natures under self-control, and to grow to spiritual maturity. Christians witness by their example as well as by words. Christians will be judged with greater strictness, not only by the Lord but also by the world. It is the Lord’s judgment we need to be concerned with, but we are accountable to the Lord for our concern for the lost, as part of our own personal responsibility.

Professing Christians who are not living in obedient trust in Jesus’ teachings are not only hurting themselves but working against the ministry of the Gospel. Leaders and teachers in the Church who are not living as disciples and teaching others to be disciples are hurting the Church and the ministry of the Gospel. Church members who have been given the scriptures and the Gospel of Jesus Christ who don’t learn and apply it themselves will be judged more strictly on the Day of Judgment than those who are outside the Church.

Jesus warned his disciples that we are to continue Christ’s mission to bring the Gospel of Salvation to our brothers and sisters inside and outside the Church, rebuking sin (disobedience of God’s word) and offering forgiveness and restoration to the penitent. We must be careful not to say or do things which might tempt others to sin. We need to be as concerned about the souls of others as we are for our own.

Christians are “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciples (Acts 11:26c) of Jesus Christ who trust and obey him (Matthew 7:21-25). There aren’t degrees of faith; faith is the “mustard seed,” the simple “yes” of commitment to trust and obey Jesus.

Christians are to be servants of the Lord, Jesus Christ. “Religion” is mankind’s attempt to get God to serve us and to do our will. Christianity can be confused with “church membership,” “recruitment” and “promotion” for a congregation or denomination; that’s “churchianity. Genuine “Christianity” is “born-again” Christian discipleship and servanthood for Jesus Christ, our Master, guided and empowered by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Genuine Christians are to be “born-again” disciples making “born-again” disciples(Matthew 28:19-20); that’s not some optional ministry for a special category of “super-Christians,” like pastors; it is merely the duty of every genuine Christian. Only “born-again” disciples can make “born-again” disciples.

27 Pentecost – Wednesday

Malachi 1:1. 6-14, Priests who have despised God

James 3:13-4:12, Godliness versus worldliness

Luke 17:11-19 Ten lepers cleansed

God's word commands that "a son honors his father and a servant his master" (Exodus 20:12). If God is our father and master, how can we do things which dishonor him? If he is God how can we not fear (have awe and respect for his power and authority) him. The Lord indicts priests who have despised the Lord's name. They ask God to document their disrespect and God asserts that they have offered unworthy offerings. God deserves offerings of the best of what he has given us; not what is left over or no good for anything else. If they did that to their civil ruler would he be pleased? Will God be inclined to respond favorably to their entreaties, when they bring him defective gifts?

The Lord wishes that there were one among the religious leaders who would close the doors of the house of God against vain worship. The Lord has no pleasure in those who offer such defective offerings and false worship, and will not accept them. The Gentiles (heathens) have more respect and offer purer offerings to God than his own chosen people's religious leaders. God's name is held in greater honor among the Gentiles than it is among the priests of Israel. God's people profane God's name when they think God's altar is polluted and that offerings upon it may be despised.

Those who are truly wise and understanding will be revealed by their good lives and their good deeds; their wisdom will be demonstrated by humility. Jealousy and ambition are not admirable or in accordance with the gospel truth. That kind of “wisdom” is worldly rather than divine; it is unspiritual and devilish. Jealousy and selfish ambition produce disorder and evil, but divine wisdom produces pure, peaceable, gentile, reasonable, merciful, good fruit without uncertainty or insincerity. Righteousness is reaped by those who sow peace.

Wars and fighting are caused by lusts at war in our bodies of flesh. The lust to have causes murder. Covetousness leads to war. Our lack is because we have not asked, and we have not received because we do not ask rightly but selfishly to indulge ourselves. Those who love this world are in opposition to God. God has given his spirit to govern us and he is jealous when we allow other spirits to dominate us.

The proud will be opposed by God, but the humble will receive grace (unmerited favor; free gift). We must learn to submit to God’s will and resist the temptations of Satan. If we desire closeness with God we must draw near to him. We must cleanse our hearts and hands. If we desire reconciliation with God we must recognize our failings and mourn our sinfulness. Let us not rejoice in our sinfulness but humble ourselves and he will restore and exalt us.

Jesus was at the border between Galilee and Samaria, on his way to Jerusalem. As he entered a village, ten lepers stood at a distance and called to Jesus, addressing him as Master, and asking him to have mercy on them. Jesus responded by telling them to go and show themselves to the priests. “And as they went they were cleansed” (Luke 17:14b). One of the lepers, a Samaritan (regarded as racially and religiously corrupt), when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, praising God and worshiped and gave thanks to Jesus. Jesus asked why the other nine (who presumably were Jews, "God’s chosen people") had not also returned to give praise to God, and told the Samaritan that his faith had healed him.

The religious leaders of God’s chosen people were allowing the people to give less than their best offerings to God. God’s people were giving God their leftovers, what was blemished and therefore considered worthless. Their worship was false and futile. The Lord blamed the religious leaders for allowing false worship and polluted offerings. God’s name was honored more by Gentiles than by the priests of God’s people.

The Jews in the day of Malachi wanted God to give them what they asked without giving God what he asked. James was dealing with the same problem in the first-century church. The nine lepers had the same problem; they wanted Jesus to heal them physically without a commitment to serve and please Jesus; without becoming his disciples. The nine lepers came to the Lord for help with worldly problems, without recognizing and acknowledging their spiritual problem.

Only Jesus can cure spiritual blindness, and only Jesus can cleanse and heal us spiritually. That healing only begins when we hear his commands and begin to trust and obey them. It was as the lepers acted in faith on Jesus’ command that they were healed. Nine of the ten, who regarded themselves as God’s chosen people, received physical healing, which is only temporary, but missed eternal spiritual healing. They called Jesus Master, but they didn’t turn to him and worship him as Lord and make themselves available to his further service; they had received all they wanted from him. In contrast, the Samaritan leper, who Jews regarded as spiritually corrupt and inferior, received spiritual sight and spiritual healing as well as physical healing. The Samaritan is an example of a ‘foreigner” who honored the Lord more than the Lord’s own “chosen” people.

True people of God are willing to accept correction from God’s word, and willing to acknowledge our failings and repent humbly so that we can be restored. We must be willing to learn from and be guided by God’s Spirit and God’s word of divine wisdom. Do we put as much effort into pleasing and serving the Lord as we do to our boss or our spouse? Do we go to church to truly worship and glorify the Lord, or merely to obtain God’s favor or worldly approval? Do we give the Lord our first and finest offerings of time, effort and resources, or merely what’s left over? If we want God to do what we ask, we must be willing to do what he asks, and what we ask must be in accordance with his will.

27 Pentecost – Thursday

Malachi 2:1-16, Warning to priests

James 4:13-5:6, Worldly pride and riches

Luke 17:20-37, The end of the age

God's word warns religious leaders that if they do not glorify God with their words and actions, they will receive a curse instead of a blessing from the Lord. God has already cursed them because they did not take God's word seriously and obey it. God will rebuke their offspring and pollute the unholy priests; God will remove them from his presence. God is faithful to his covenant of life and peace with Levi (the priestly tribe). Levi respected the Lord's name (character, power and authority) and taught God's word faithfully and accurately. He was not guilty of any false doctrine. He lived in obedient trust in the Lord, and resisted temptation to sin (disobedience of God's word).

A priest should guard God's truth and true knowledge, and people should seek instruction from him as a messenger of the Lord. But the unfaithful priests have turned from obedient trust in God's way, and have caused others to stumble spiritually by false instruction. The unfaithful priests have corrupted the covenant of Levi. The Lord declares that he will bring dishonor and shame upon the unfaithful priests, because they have not obeyed God's ways and have not faithfully and accurately taught God's ways.

Is not God the one creator and father of all? Then why are we profaning the covenant of our ancestors by faithlessness to one another? Judah (the remnant of Israel) has been faithless and has committed abominations in Israel (the congregation of the people of God), and in Jerusalem (the Holy City of God). Judah has profaned the Lord's house, his temple. God's people have married heathen wives (contrary to God's word). God commands that no one who has married a heathen should be allowed to be a witness, or to teach, or to make an offering to the Lord.

The unfaithful weep and mourn because God refuses to accept their offerings and give them favor. Marriage is to be a sacred covenant between two believers; those who violate and are unfaithful to the marriage covenant cannot expect God's favor and approval. God has given and sustained our lives so that we can produce Godly offspring. So God warns us to be careful not to violate the marriage covenant, because the Lord hates divorce and violence. God warns us to take heed his warning and not be unfaithful.

It is human arrogance to make plans for the future, when we cannot know what tomorrow will bring. We can make plans, but we can fulfill them only by God’s will. Instead of boasting about what we intend to accomplish, we would do better to acknowledge, seek, and be guided by God’s will. “Whoever knows what is right to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin” (James 4:17).

Those who are rich in worldly, material possessions are warned that miseries and mourning are coming upon them. Their riches will rot, their fine clothes will be moth-eaten, their gold and silver will turn to rust, and their rust will testify against them. Their flesh will be consumed by fire; they have stored up fire (punishment; James 5:3b RSV note “e”) for the last days. The rich have become rich at the expense of their servants. The cries of the poor have been heard by the Lord. Those who have lived in luxury and pleasure on earth have fattened themselves for slaughter. Those who are rich and powerful in this world have condemned and killed those who are righteous, because the righteous put up no resistance.

The Pharisees asked Jesus when the kingdom of God was coming, and Jesus replied that the coming of the kingdom would not be with outward signs showing its approach, nor will it come in a specific location. The kingdom of God is in our midst (and within us).

Jesus told his disciples that the time is coming when they will be eager to see the coming of the kingdom of God, but that they are not to be misled by those who will claim that the kingdom can be found in a certain location. When Jesus returns it will be sudden and visible to all as a flash of lightning which lights up the whole sky. Jesus said that before his return he had to suffer and be rejected.

Christ’s return will be like the time of Noah; the people of earth will be living worldly lives unprepared and not seriously believing God’s warning until the moment it happens, and will be swept away like the wicked in the flood. The Day of Judgment will be like the example of Sodom. Lot heeded (heard and obeyed) God’s word and was saved, but the wicked in Sodom continued living their wicked lives until fire and brimstone fell from heaven and destroyed them. So it will be on the Day of Christ’s return.

As Lot’s wife was destroyed as she turned to look back, so we must not look back with longing for our worldly lives, or try to hang on to our worldly possessions. Those who try to save their worldly lives will loose them, but those who are willing to loose their worldly lives will live eternally in God’s kingdom. The separation of the saved from the lost will be extremely precise; of two people sleeping in the same bed, one will be taken and the other left. People asked Jesus where those who were taken were going. In reply, Jesus said, “Where the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together” (i.e. “where the carcass is, the vultures will be gathered;” in other words, in that day they won’t have to seek their eternal destiny; it will come to them; Luke 17:37).

God’s word warns us not to be led by religious teachers who do not live according to God’s word. Levi was the example of a faithful priest who honored God in his word and behavior and taught God’s word faithfully and accurately.

Believers are responsible to know and live according to God’s word fulfilled embodied and exemplified in Jesus Christ. The author of the letter of James is an example of a religious teacher who faithfully and accurately taught God’s word, and made disciples of Jesus Christ who sought and lived according to God’s will.

Paul, the prototype “post-resurrection” “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciple and apostle of Jesus Christ, warned that the time was coming when people would not endure sound teaching but would get for themselves teachers who would teach what the people wanted to hear, and would turn from following the truth and stray into myths (2 Timothy 4:3-4). Unless people read the Bible completely for themselves, they have no standard by which to judge their leaders teachings. Unless they read it daily, seeking the Lord’s guidance for each day, they cannot know and live according to God’s will.

Jesus warns that the kingdom of God is coming subtly, gradually and individually, as each individual hears Jesus and begins to follow him in obedient trust. Jesus has promised to give the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit to his disciples who trust and obey him (John 14:15-17). The kingdom of God begins now and is present now in “born-again” disciples of Jesus Christ. The gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). It is possible for one to know with certainty whether one has received the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Acts 19:2).

But the kingdom of God is also coming suddenly, unexpectedly and universally. Those who have believed and acted in obedient trust on God’s word will be gathered into God’s kingdom, and those who have refused to hear, trust and obey will be swept away to eternal destruction. Jesus is God’s only provision for our salvation from eternal death (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right). Jesus is the embodiment and fulfillment of God’s word (and God’s only begotten Son; John 1:1-5; 14). Jesus warns not to believe false prophets and not to be deceived by false “messiahs” (false “christs”). The question is not where we can go to be saved, or how long before we need to prepare. Now is the time to prepare by becoming Jesus’ disciple, learning to trust and obey Jesus, and seeking the new life through the gift of the Holy Spirit.

27 Pentecost – Friday

Malachi 3:1-12, The Lord’s messenger

James 5:7-12, Patience and steadfastness

Luke 18:1-8 The parable of the unjust judge

The Lord promised he would send his messenger to prepare for his coming, and the Lord whom we seek will come suddenly. The messenger of the covenant in whom we delight is coming. “But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears (Malachi 3:2a)?

The Lord is like refiner’s fire (driving off impurities with heat) and like fuller’s soap (scrubbing and bleaching fabric to make it white;’ Malachi 3:2b). The Lord will sit as a refiner of precious metals, and will purify the sons of Levi (the priestly tribe) like silver and gold, “until they present right offerings to the Lord” (Malachi 3:3). Then the offerings of Judah (the remnant of God’s people) and Jerusalem (the Holy City of God), will be pleasing and accepted by the Lord as in days of old.

The Lord will draw near for judgment; he will quickly witness against sorcerers, adulterers, false witnesses and liars, and those who, without fear of the Lord’s judgment, oppress the poor, widows, orphans and sojourners.

The Lord is faithful and unchanging; he has been forbearing with his people, but since the days of their forefathers, Israel has turned aside from obedient trust in God’s commands. God promises that if they return to him God will return to them. His people ask in what way they have departed from the Lord, and the Lord declares that they have robbed God; they have not given their full tithes (a tenth of everything they have) and offerings.

The Lord says to bring the full tithes into the “storehouse” (of the temple) so that his house (his household; his servants; his family) may have food. The Lord tells them to test God’s faithfulness in this, and they will see the windows of heaven opened to pour out overflowing blessings upon them. The Lord promises that if they will give their full tithes, God will restrain the devourer, the worldly forces which cause things to wear out and limit the yield of fruits of the soil, vine and field. Then the nations will acknowledge that God’s people have been blessed, and their land will be a delight.

The author of James is a disciple of Jesus Christ making disciples of Jesus Christ, and teaching them to obey what Jesus teaches, in obedience to Jesus’ Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). In closing his teaching he urges his hearers to wait patiently for the (second) coming of the Lord. Like farmers, Christians must wait patiently for the harvest until it has received the early and later rain. We should settle in our innermost self to wait patiently and expectantly for the Lord’s return. Let us not grumble against one another, so that we do not come under the Lord’s judgment, for the righteous judge is at the very door. We should follow the example of patient endurance which we have in the prophets of the Lord. It is those who are steadfast in faith who will find real happiness. Remember the steadfastness of Job, and remember the compassion and mercy of the Lord in dealing with his people.

Above all, let us not swear by anything in heaven or on earth, or with any kind of oath; let your response be simply yes or no, so that we don’t fall under condemnation.

To illustrate the effectiveness of persistent prayer, Jesus told a parable of an unrighteous judge. The judge didn’t fear God or care for other people, but there was a widow who kept coming to him asking him to give her justice in a legal dispute. The judge at first refused, but because she kept bothering him, he finally did what she asked only to be rid of the nuisance. God is the ultimate righteous judge who cares for his people, so we can be assured that, if we are in the right and obeying his word, he will not delay long in vindicating us. “Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes (on the Day of Judgment) will he find faith” (Luke 18:8b)?

The prophecy of Malachi was fulfilled once at Jesus Christ’s first advent (coming), and it will be fulfilled again at Jesus’ Second Coming in the Day of Judgment. John the Baptist was the fulfillment of the promise of a messenger to prepare for the coming of the Lord (John 1:19-34). Jesus was the “messenger of the new covenant,” the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and his disciples are to warn people to prepare for Christ’s return. An apostle is a messenger of the Gospel.

The Holy Spirit is the refiner’s fire that will refine and purify the disciples of Jesus Christ, so that they will present right offerings which will be pleasing and acceptable to the Lord. The right offerings are our obedient trust, allowing him to be Lord of every aspect of our lives.

Throughout the history of God’s dealings with Israel, he has been faithful and unchanging, patiently forbearing the shortcomings of his people who have often strayed from obedient trust in God’s word. God is always willing to receive those who sincerely return to obedient trust in him. God has given us everything we enjoy, and he asks us to return a tithe to him to be used for his house, his kingdom. The tithe is not just a monetary offering; we should give him the first and best of our time, energy and resources.

God promises that when we obey his word, he can control fertility and decay, so that those who keep his commandment will prosper while those who don’t will work harder and harder for less and less return for their labor. The Lord will bless his people, so that the rest of the world will see that God’s people are blessed. If we have strayed from obedience to God’s word we are urged to return to him, and his blessing and presence will return to us.

Christian disciples are urged to wait patiently and expectantly for the Lord’s return, being careful to live in accordance with his teaching in obedient trust. We can be encouraged to endure patiently by the Biblical examples of steadfast faithfulness.

The Lord is the ultimate righteous judge, in contrast the worldly, unrighteous judge. The unrighteous judge had no regard for God or other people; he was motivated by his own selfish interests. Persistent pleading produced the desired result, not because the unrighteous judge was interested in justice or the widows plight, but simply to be rid of a nuisance. The Lord is the one righteous judge who is truly just and merciful. If we are doing what is right, according to God’s word, we can be sure that we’ll be vindicated before long.

Jesus left the earth two thousand years ago, entrusting to his disciples the completion of his mission of forgiveness and salvation from eternal condemnation. He gave us his gospel and the method, discipleship, of “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciples making “born-again” disciples who trust and obey Jesus (Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 24:45-49). Are we working harder and harder for less and less? Have we lost a sense of his presence with us? When Jesus returns, will he find faith (obedient trust)? Who will endure and stand when Christ returns? Those he finds doing what he taught us to do; trusting and obeying Jesus, and making Christian disciples who will do likewise (Luke 12:42-48).

27 Pentecost – Saturday

Malachi 3:13-4:6, Return of Elijah

James 5:13-20, The prayer of faith

Luke 18:9-14, The Pharisee and the tax collector

People have spoken in opposition to the Lord. They have said that it is futile to live according to the commands of the Lord; why should won live as in mourning? Apparently it is the arrogant and evildoers who are well-regarded; they not only prosper, but seem to escape God’s judgment. But those who fear the Lord encourage one another and meditate on his name (character power and authority), and the Lord has noted and recorded them in his book of remembrance. Those are they who the Lord desires for his special possession, on the day of his judgment, and the Lord vows to spare them as a man spares an obedient son. In that day we will again learn to distinguish and value those who are righteous over those who are wicked; those who serve God over those who do not.

The Day of Judgment is coming; it will be like a burning oven. All those who are arrogant and all evildoers will be like stubble for burning after the harvest. The Lord will leave neither root nor branch. But for those who fear (honor and obey) the Lord, “the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wing” (Malachi 4:2). God’s people will tread down the wicked like ashes in the Day of the Lord. The Lord commands his people to remember his Law (i.e. the Scriptures) given to Moses at Mt. Horeb (Sinai) and wait for the return of Elijah, the prophet, heralding the “great and terrible day” (Malachi 4:5) of the Lord. “And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the land with a curse” (Malachi 4:6).

Christians are exhorted to be patient and steadfast. If suffering, let us pray. If cheerful, let us give praise to the Lord. If sick we should call the elders of the church to pray for us and anoint us with oil; “and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven” (James 5:14-15). Christians should confess their sins to one another and pray for one another so that they may be healed. “The prayer of a righteous [person] has great power in its effects” (James 5:16). Elijah shared our same human nature, and his fervent prayer for drought was heard and answered (because it was according to God’s will and for his glory). And then Elijah prayed again and the drought was ended, and the earth again yielded fruit.

If a Christian strays from the truth we should try to bring him back. Know assuredly that whoever brings a sinner back from sin will save his own soul from eternal death and his righteous deed “will cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:20b).

Jesus told a parable about a Pharisee (a legalistic Jew) and a tax collector (a sinner; a Jewish collaborator with the Roman government), as a warning to correct those who trusted in their own righteousness and despised others. The Pharisee and the tax collector both went into the temple to pray. The Pharisee stood (rather than bowing in reverence and humility) and “prayed… with himself” (Luke 18:11), saying that he thanked God that he was better than other people, because he was not an extortioner, adulterer, unjust or even like the tax collector. He was proud that he fasted twice a week and tithed (gave ten percent to God) of all he received.

But the tax collector bowed and beat his breast (an act of sincere mourning and repentance), and prayed, acknowledging that he was a sinner and requesting God’s mercy. Jesus declared that the tax collector returned home forgiven and accepted by God, but the Pharisee was not forgiven or accepted by God. Jesus declared, “...everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 18:14).

In our worldly culture the arrogant and evildoers do seem to prosper and are well-regarded by society, while the righteous people of God are ridiculed and persecuted. The wicked and Godless only seem, for the moment, to have escaped God’s judgment. God knows our deeds and he is recording for remembrance those who trust and obey him, to be saved and vindicated on the Day of Judgment. It is those who are obedient to God’s word who he chooses to be his “chosen” people. The wicked and Godless will be considered as stubble and chaff; refuse from the harvest of the righteous, to be burned with eternal, unquenchable fire (Matthew 3:12).

Jesus is the “Sun of Righteousness” who has risen (been revealed to the world; risen from death to eternal life) and who gives the light of righteousness and life (John 1:4-5) to the world (John 8:12), as the Son of Righteousness, Almighty God. The Lord has commanded his people to remember God’s word, first given in the Law to Moses on Mt. Sinai, and to await the coming of “Elijah,” heralding the Day of the Lord. That prophesy was first fulfilled in John, the Baptizer (Luke 3:1-22; John 1:19-34); it continues to be fulfilled, beginning on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the disciples and Peter preached the Gospel (Acts 2:14-42), and it continues through every “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) Christian who proclaims the imminent Second Coming of Christ and the Day of Judgment.

Christians are to wait for Christ’s return, seeking encouragement, confession and forgiveness of sins, and healing within the Church, the spiritual community (and in God’s word, the Bible). The Church is to guide the members in discipleship to spiritual maturity, and to restore those who are straying from obedient trust in God’s word. We receive forgiveness of our sins so that we can share God’s forgiveness and salvation in Jesus Christ with others who have sinned (sin is disobedience of God’s word).

The prayer of the righteous is powerfully effective (see Conditions for Answered Prayer, sidebar top right). Elijah is an example of one who trusted and obeyed God’s word, and whose prayers were heard and answered, because Elijah’s prayers were according to God’s word and for his glory.

Jesus’ parable is a picture of the “Church.” The Pharisee considered himself righteous, because he was a “member” of the congregation and kept the “rules.” He considered himself good because he hadn’t murdered or blackmailed anyone, or committed adultery. His prayers were selfish and self-serving. He was praying with himself because the Lord did not accept and listen to the Pharisee’s prayer, and the Pharisee did not receive forgiveness, because he didn’t acknowledge that he was a sinner and confess his sins (see Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10; God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right). He was arrogant before the Lord and contemptuous of “sinners,” instead of concerned and ministering the forgiveness, restoration and salvation of the Lord to the “lost” and “straying.”

The one who receives the Lord’s forgiveness and salvation is the one who is humble, recognizes and confesses his sins and asks for God’s mercy and forgiveness in Jesus Christ. Just going through religious ritual won’t save us. Just because we put Jesus’ name at the end of our prayers doesn’t mean God has to hear and answer them.