Pluck Them All Out... Now!

One popular reason why people don’t believe in God is because of the evil that is evident in the world. People ask: If God is real, why are there so many wicked people walking around freely?

The Parable Of The Wheat And The Tares gives a good explanation. The parable goes like this: A man sowed good seed in his field. An enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat. When the grain produced a crop, the tares appeared also. The servants asked if they should pull out the tares. But the master said:

“No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, ‘First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.’ ” (Matthew 13:24-30)

Such is the world that we live in today. People who do good, and people who practice lawlessness live together in this world. Because society is inter-dependent on one another, “pulling out” all the wicked people at once from the face of the earth will have a serious repercussion on the world’s affairs. The world, which is already not in a very good condition – politically, economically, socially, and morally – hangs on a very delicate balance that still makes the world a livable place to be in.

Zapping away all the unrighteous people indiscriminately will greatly affect the course of this world. People who are morally deviant may still be the main players in the world today. They are the rich ones, the powerful ones, the ones that influence the world’s course of history. Suddenly uprooting all of them and getting rid them will alter the world’s game at too high a cost – at the cost of those who seek to live righteously as well.

The message of this parable is clear. God allows the righteous and the unrighteous to coexist together for now. They are temporarily inseparable, because “lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them.” Although God permits godless and morally deviant people to have their time of day for now, it doesn’t mean that God condones their actions. The “time of harvest” will come when all mankind will be judged before God. During that day, the tares will be “bound and burnt in the fire”, while the wheat will be “gathered into the barn.” The ultimate day of reckoning will come for everyone. But that day has not yet come.

What is our attitude about this matter? It is hard to live a life with godly standards. It is often easier to live with the world’s standards, where morality is a relative matter. It is true that “nice guys finish last”. But well… At least that happens only in this world, not in the world to come.

It is also easy to develop a hateful attitude towards the lawless and the unrighteous. We can choose to think that they have done us wrong, and blame them as the cause of every mess in this world. Either that, or we can adopt God’s attitude of graciousness. God, in His grace and mercy, still “makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:45) God lets His blessings overflow to the good, and also to the evil. Thus also, shall we view our enemies. After all, without God’s grace, we are no better than the wicked. All the more, the wicked have a greater need for the grace of God.

It is hard to live in this world, isn’t it? You have to coexist with people who make your life difficult. And yet, you have to love them with the love of God. Can’t live with them, can’t live without them.

More Than Words

“For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:34-37)

There is this old song that goes, “Words… Don’t come easy to me…” For me, words are not a problem. In fact, I weary some people with my wordiness! Hence, this blog is created, to put my wordiness to good use – both for myself, and for my readers as well. Better to write about things that edify, rather than hedonistic ramblings about things that do not matter.

A person’s words tell a lot about one’s character. Imagine a bottle that is bottled up to its brim. If the contents of the bottle are good, the abundance of the goodness in it will overflow when its cap is opened. If the contents of the bottle are bad, the abundance of its rottenness will spill everywhere when its cap is opened.

The same it is with us. The contents of our heart are shown when we open our mouth. If our heart is filled with goodness, our words will edify the people around us. But if our heart is bad, our speech will betray us by the words that spew out of our mouth.

There is no greater test for the purity of the heart than the test of the tongue. As James aptly puts it, “If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.” (James 1:26) Any form of godliness a person may have will mean nothing if his tongue is unguarded. Because the tongue will reveal the real contents of a person’s heart, and reduce any façade of religiousness to nothing.

It may not be so bad if a person’s speech merely serves as a revelatory tool of a person’s heart. A revelation of a person’s character may bring shame. If all our speech does is reveal the contents of our heart, it is still not so bad.

But unfortunately, it goes further than that. The bible says that our speech can also cause an active, negative effect. In fact, our words can potentially be detrimental to ourselves! Our words can actually harm us and defile our own being. For “those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man…” (Matthew 15:18-20)

Be very careful then, how we speak. Jesus gives us a solemn warning. He says, “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Our words will affect the outcome of our lives. Either they will prove the good condition of our heart, or they will testify against us and set the course of our lives on fire.

Think about this: The intent of our words will be judged, even if they are strung together in a civilized manner. Imagine how much greater will the judgment be, if our words are strung together with vulgarities.

Snakes & Ladders, Anyone?

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:7-11)

I gave the Father’s Day message using this passage of Scripture during Sunday School not too long ago. Put them all into stitches of laughter as usual. But behind the jokes, laughter, and humor, there lies a subject that many of us question: If we will always receive what we ask for, seek what we find, and get the door to open whenever we knock, why is it that God sometimes seems to say no?

Generally, God answers in 3 ways when we ask of something from Him: Yes, wait, or no. We definitely don’t have a problem with God saying “yes”. We can understand why God says “wait”. But the problem comes when God says “no.” This is what we find difficulty accepting. There are 2 possible reasons why God sometimes says no.

1) It is a “no” because it is not good for you.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights.” (James 1:17)

God only gives us things that are good and perfect for us. Therefore, if God doesn’t give us what we ask for, one possibility is because we are asking for something that is not good for us. Therefore God withholds it from us for our own good.

The tricky part here is the definition of “good”. To us, the things that we want, or the things that we think we need are good in our eyes. But to God, the things we perceive as good may not be as good as we think they are. God, in His goodness, ultimately knows what is good for us and what is not. And He knows how to give us what is good in His wisdom. He will not give us something which we think is good, but which is in actual fact, bad for us.

But the question arises when we say: How come God doesn’t grant my request, even though what I ask for is benevolent in nature? This brings us to the second possibility:

2) It is a “no” because it is not according to His will.

“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” (1 John 5:14, 15)

This verse accurately balances the factor of human persistence with the factor of God's sovereignty. It points out that God is in no way obligated to give an affirmative answer for all our requests. If God has to say “yes” to all our requests, who is the real God then?

The bible says that we can be confident of receiving what we ask of Him “if we ask anything according to His will”. Accepting and recognizing God’s sovereign will in all our affairs is one of the most important lessons for any child of God to learn. The pill of God’s absolute sovereignty is often the hardest pill to swallow.

The question that arises is: How then, do we know that we are praying according to His will?

The only way we can pray according to His will is when we know what His will is. In order to know what God’s will is, we have to live in a close relationship with Him, keeping in step with the Spirit. When our lives are in tune with the Spirit’s leading, our lives are aligned to what God wills for us. And when our lives are aligned to what God wills for us, we will automatically want the same things that God wants for us. Therefore, we will know how to pray according to His will, and be sure of the affirmative answer. The greatest joy for a Christian is to discover what God’s will is, and finding delight in it.

In the end of the matter, one thing is clear though. God will NEVER answer in a way that harms us. As I told the kids during Sunday School: When you ask your father for Snakes & Ladders, he will either say “yes” and give it to you, or “no” and don’t give it to you. But he will NEVER give you ladders... and rattlesnakes to go with it! If our earthly, imperfect fathers know how to give good things to you, “how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”

Covert Ops Briefing

“But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly”

“But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”

"But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly."

(Matthew 6:3-18)

The bible exhorts us to be bold in our faith in many ways. We are supposed to be not ashamed of the gospel, and to courageously declare the kingdom of God. We are called to be faithful witnesses in our confession of His name. To be open about our love for God. To live righteously before God not only in our private lives, but also in our public lives.

Yet, Jesus instructs us to play it low key when it comes to 3 things – charity, prayer, and fasting. In each of those deeds, He teaches us to do it in secret, so that “your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.” Why is Jesus telling us to be so secretive in those 3 practices?

Jesus always has a thing against a false sense of holiness. We see how He always comes down hard on the religious leaders because of their “holier than thou” attitude. In Jesus' eyes, real piety should not be seen by man. A truly pious person never feels the need to prove his piety before man. Instead, he hides from being portrayed as a pious man, because he realizes that his own unworthiness is not worth any public recognition. Such humility and awareness of one’s own fallen state can only be found in the life of a truly pious person. In fact, a truly pious person resents being called pious! Paradoxical, but this is the attitude that is displayed by a real man of God.

Those 3 areas of Christian discipline are the easiest ways to draw the public’s attention towards a person’s piety. Yes, we can be public in our works of charity, prayer and fasting and still be sincerely genuine at the same time. Well and true. But Jesus, who always champions the higher standard, puts us to a test. If we are truly sincere and genuine in those 3 areas of Christian discipline, then let us do it in secret! Because if we are indeed sincerely genuine, it will be of no difference to us whether or not people see what we do. The effectiveness of those 3 acts is not affected or dependent on the number of eyes who sees it.

In certain areas of our lives, the Lord compels us to be public about it. But in some other areas, the Lord challenges us to use covert operations tactics.

Believe The Yes... No?

“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.” (Matthew 5:34-37)

Ever had this paranoia of making people promise whenever you are going to tell a secret? Felt the urge to make a person promise over and over again, or utter curses that will happen to himself should he violate his promise to keep it zipped?

Jesus always has a higher standard for His followers. During the past, making oaths are common. But with Jesus, He says “do not swear at all,” but “let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ ”

Making oaths “to the Lord” is a very strong oath, because any oath with God’s name in it is legally binding. The tricky part is, any oath without God’s name in it is NOT legally binding! That is why Jesus says do not swear by heaven, or earth, or Jerusalem, or any object, or any place, or any anatomy of your own. Firstly, since such oaths are not legally binding, the maker of the oath is not bound by the law to fulfill it. So why make a redundant oath, or trust in someone who makes such an oath? Secondly, using such oaths will only serve to lessen the credibility of a person’s simple “yes” or “no”. Once it becomes a habit, nobody will believe a person’s "yes" or "no" anymore, because his frequent use of oaths implies that he lies all the time unless an oath is uttered.

Jesus is not forbidding solemn, official oaths. Legal oaths still has its place in the community. Jesus is saying that oaths should not be made in common speech. Making oaths, be it with God’s name in it or not, could be used misused a cover-up for falsehood. Such casual oath-taking suggests that a person’s normal words cannot be trusted.

Therefore, Jesus was imparting a higher standard here. He is telling His followers not to lie under any circumstances, be it under oath, or not under oath. Instead of resorting to making oaths to reinforce truthfulness, it is better to build up an on-going reputation for truthfulness in one’s words. If a person is known to be a man of his word, he does not need to make any strong oaths or promises to add more credibility to his words. His simple “yes” or “no” is believable and trustworthy enough to be taken for what it is.

It is great folly to have a habit of making oaths in common speech. Not only does it imply that a person’s normal speech cannot be trusted. Casual oath-taking will reduce a person’s character as a believable person. Besides, it is not wise to make rash oaths, because God takes into account every oath that is made by the mouth of man. The maker of oaths puts himself under a burden to carry out that oath. Why reduce your own reputation and put yourself under the yoke of oaths? As the bible aptly puts it, “Better not to vow than to vow and not pay” (Ecclesiastes 5:5)

So… I’m going to tell you a secret. Do you promise not to tell anyone? Swear?

Reconciliation Before Sacrifice

“Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:23, 24)

The greatest commandment is to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” All of us know that one. The second is to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39). We know that one too. Fine and dandy.

However, we miss the underlying point that underscores the second one. Loving our neighbor refers to loving unbelievers AND believers alike! Out of our pious benevolence, we never forget to love unbelievers to show them the love of Christ. But in looking too far, we overlook those who are closest to us – our own brothers and sisters in the Lord.

We go great lengths to show our love for God. We take pains to ensure that our love for unbelievers cannot be faulted. We justify ourselves by our devotion to God and our care for the needy. But we forget that loving our neighbors also means loving our brothers and sisters within the family of Christ itself.

By turning a blind eye towards the grievous sins or grudges we may hold against one another inside the brotherhood of believers, we are placing an obstacle on ourselves that hinders us from fully serving God. Taking pride at the sacrifices we make for God at the altar and being blameless before the community around us may be the best façades to hide the animosities that we may have within the brethren.

Matthew points out that making sacrifices to God while strife is evident among the family of God is not acceptable. The gift that we intend to offer to God must be left “before the altar”, even though it may look awkward and weird for it to be left there. People may stare, start to ask questions, and even wonder what is going on. But the bible tells us to go our way and “first be reconciled to your brother”. No matter how long or how hard that process of reconciliation takes, it must be done. And the gift must be left before the altar until reconciliation is made complete. When our relationship with that brother is finally restored, “then come and offer your gift.”

What an important principle this is when it comes to our service for God. God honors our sacrifice not only when we are right before Him, but also when we are right before man. We are called to be children of God. “If someone says ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?” (1 John 4:20)

How often have we let strife among our brothers and sisters get in the way of our relationship with God? Our growth in service for God and fellowship among the saints can be perfected when we see the importance of our relationship among our brothers and sisters.

A Misplaced Prophecy

“And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene.” (Matthew 2:23)

There is nothing wrong with this verse. But there is a certain mystery imbedded within it.

Notice the phrase “which was spoken by the prophets”? Why the plural noun? Why isn’t it singular? Does Matthew mean that a few prophets said the same, exact utterance about Jesus? Which prophet says that Jesus will be a Nazarene?

My bible has the advantage of in-built cheat codes. Usually, an asterisk (*) appears beside words or phrases that need special attention. Usually, when a prophecy is quoted in the New Testament, an asterisk points out a cross reference passage to refer me to the origin of that prophecy. A few flips of the bible’s pages will be able to reveal the prophet from whom the prophecy came from. But in the case of the prophecy quoted in Matthew 2:23… No asterisk is given!

Not only is an asterisk not given. An exhaustive search of the entire Old Testament reveals that the specific words of this prophecy are not found anywhere! Isn’t that strange? Where then, does that prophecy come from? The plot thickens…

One possibility is that the prophecy may have been taken from an apocryphal source. Another possibility is that Matthew may have made a mistake or misquote. We know that the infallibility of Scriptures cancels out the 2nd possibility. I thought I’d settle for the 1st possibility, until another feature of my bible’s cheat code revealed a better explanation. Not just one, but two possible explanations.

1st explanation: The metaphoric explanation. Apparently, when traced to the original Hebrew, the word “Nazarene” means “branch” or “shoot”. Isaiah 11:1 says, “There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.” Isaiah 53:2 says, “For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant (shoot), and as a root out of dry ground.” The words “branch” and “shoot” are used as metaphors to describe Jesus.

Therefore, the “prophecy” of Jesus being a Nazarene is referring to a metaphor with which Jesus is likened to. It is not a specific prophecy uttered word for word by any particular prophet. In other words, “He shall be called a Nazarene” means that “Jesus shall be called a branch or a shoot.”

2nd explanation: The geographical explanation. The town of Nazareth housed the Roman garrison in northern Galilee. The Jews hated the Romans so much that most Jews avoided any association with Nazareth. People who lived in Nazareth were thought of as “consorting with the enemy.” At that time, calling anyone a Nazarene indicates utter contempt for that person. Even Nathanael once said, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46).

Therefore, the “prophecy” quoted by Matthew does not refer to a specific prophecy uttered word for word by any particular prophet. Rather, it refers to a particular concept that pertains to the humble origin and character of Christ. Jesus’ humble background and character fits several Old Testament prophecies about Him. The “prophecy” quoted by Matthew is generally saying that the Christ will be despised by many people, especially the Jews. In other words, “He shall be called a Nazarene” means that “Jesus shall be despised by the Jews.”

The 14 Link

Abraham – the man with whom God made the Abrahamic covenant. The first member of the patriarchs. God promised to make him into a great nation and to bless all nations through him. God promised to multiply Abraham’s descendants and to give Canaan to them forever. The calling of Abraham to leave Ur and go to Canaan had great significance. It signified God’s sovereign choice in calling out Abraham and his offspring to be a chosen people to be called His own. God calls Himself, “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” (Matthew 22:32). Even in His identity, God describes Himself through His relationship with His people. God’s chosen people have an outstanding history. And it all started with Abraham.

David – the man after God’s own heart. The man with whom God made the Davidic covenant. The most outstanding king of Israel. The man who was inspired by the Spirit to make numerous messianic Psalms. The man who was a prophet, who spoke about the resurrection of Christ. The man who was mentioned in Hebrews’ “hall of fame”, as someone "who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises… escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness (was) made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of aliens” (Hebrews 11:32-34). The man, from whose line came the Christ.

The captivity in Babylon – the most testing time for the people of God. The Israelite community was reduced to a tiny minority in exile among the Babylonians. God’s people struggled to understand its place during this time of severe trial. Many questions and doubts played in their minds. Had God’s promises to Abraham and David been revoked because of the nation’s sins? Was there any hope of reviving David’s dynasty? Could Judaism survive without the temple? Was there still a future for God’s people?

Christ – the answer to all those questions and doubts. No, God’s Abrahamic and Davidic covenants have not been revoked. God is still faithful to His promises. Christ is the fulfillment of the law. The future for God’s people is bright because of the coming of Christ and His finished work on the cross. Not only for the Jews, but for the Gentiles as well. The One who satisfies the needs and aspirations of sinner and of sage.

How is Abraham, David, the Babylonian captivity, and Christ linked together? Matthew gives an amazing connection to join them all together.

“So all the generations from Abraham to David are 14 generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are 14 generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are 14 generations.” (Matthew 1:17)

Abraham, David, the Babylonian captivity, and Christ are linked beautifully together in a timeline, separated by 14 generations each. What are the odds of that happening? This amazing connection goes to show one thing: God is the supreme master-planner of all things. In God’s hands, nothing happens by fluke. God, in His infinite and divine omnipotence and omniscience, has made all things and caused all things to happen according to a spectacular design. A design that can only be arranged by a supernatural, almighty Creator, to the praise of His glory.

Jesus... Baptised?

Why was Jesus baptized? Did it ever occur to you as a weird event?

In order to understand the “weirdness” of Jesus’ baptism, we must first understand the meaning of baptism. There are 2 kinds of baptism. The baptism of John the Baptist, and the baptism of the church.

The baptism of John is the "baptism of repentance" (Acts 13:24). He cries, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” As the one whose task is to “prepare the way of the Lord,” John makes people aware of their sins, and preaches repentance. John’s ministry is important to “make His paths straight”, because Jesus’ death on the cross, forgiveness, and redemption will mean nothing if the people do not know that they are sinners in the first place. John prepares the people to accept Jesus as the Messiah by propagating an awareness of sin. People who are baptized by John show that they have realized, and have repented of their sins. (Matthew 3:1-3)

Is there any sin in Jesus? No. Therefore, Jesus does not fit in John’s baptism.

The baptism if the church is an act of identification with Christ. Water baptism is a symbol of spiritual union with Christ. It shows that the believer is “buried with Him through baptism into death,” and is also identified with Christ in His resurrection “just as Christ was raised from the dead.” The act of baptism is a believer’s public announcement to the world that he has placed His trust in Christ, is willing to say goodbye to the world, and is willing to “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3,4) It is every believer’s desire to go through the waters of baptism as “the answer of a good conscience toward God” (1 Peter 3:21)

Does Jesus need to go through the baptism of the church? No. Jesus does not need to be identified with Christ, because Jesus IS the Christ! Besides, it is also chronologically illogical for Jesus to fit in the baptism of the church.

So then, why is Jesus baptized? Only Matthew’s account of the gospel provides a fitting answer.

When Jesus went to John to be baptized, Matthew records that “John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” (Matthew 3:14,15)

By saying that His baptism fulfills all righteousness, Jesus is not saying that He needs to be baptized because of His sins. Jesus is saying that He has to be baptized because he has to do the right thing at the right time. Jesus has to go through the waters of baptism for 3 reasons:

1) Jesus is joining the believing remnant of Israel who has been baptized by John. Jesus is getting baptized as “one of the Israelites”. He is taking the step to show that although He is truly God, He is also truly man. He is trying to declare that in His humanity, he is being identified as a man who will take away the sins of man. Jesus’ deity enables Him to work wonders as God’s Anointed One, whereas Jesus’ humanity permits Him to be a worthy sacrifice for man’s sins.

2) Jesus is confirming John’s ministry as The Baptist. Jesus is saying that John’s ministry of “preparing the way of the Lord” is instituted by God. Later, Jesus approves of John in Matthew 11:7-19, and indirectly defended John’s ministry in Matthew 21:23-27.

3) Jesus is fulfilling His Father’s will. Jesus is being obedient to God’s will by going through the waters of baptism. Immediately after Jesus came up from the water, God thundered from heaven in a voice, saying “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Because of Jesus’ obedience, God the Father proudly declares His favor on Jesus. God the Father makes known His relationship with Jesus by calling Jesus as “His beloved Son.” (Matthew 3:16, 17)

Purpose Of Parables

Why does Jesus speak in parables? A simplistic way of to view this is to say that Jesus used parables as analogies or illustrations. Jesus lived among a story-telling people. Therefore, Jesus used parables to relate to His listeners, so they can understand what He is trying to say. Parables are useful tools to make Jesus’ message clearer. Is this view entirely accurate?

The question here is, are parables meant to reveal or to conceal? There are 2 schools of thought.

Matthew 13:10-15 presents the 1st school of thought, which states that parables are meant to conceal. Jesus disciples asked Him, “Why do you speak in parables?” Jesus answered, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given… Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled…”

Why then does Jesus intend to conceal the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven? There are 2 reasons.

1) To fulfill prophecy. Jesus spoke in parables so that “it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: 'I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world.' " (Matthew 13:35)

2) To demonstrate God’s sovereignty as the revealer of truth. For there is no one who can “know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.” (Matthew 11:27) Calvinism will support this view of God’s total sovereignty in determining who will know God.

The 2nd school of thought states that parables are meant not only to conceal, but to reveal as well. Parables are used to test the attitude of Jesus’ listeners. Whether or not the message of the parables is revealed or concealed depends on the attitude of His listeners.

It is best to illustrate this point of view with an analogy. Jesus parables are like wrapped gifts. The gift wrapper will either serve to distract, or captivate. The gift wrapper conceals the content of the gift. The shape of the gift can be seen, but its content still remains unknown until the gift is opened. The revelation or the concealment of the parables depends on which kind of listener you are. There are 2 kinds of listeners:

1) The meaning of parables is concealed to the proud, e.g. the religious leaders. They can see the shape of the gift. They can sense that they will not like what they will find beyond the gift wrapper. Therefore, their pride hinders them from unwrapping the gift to see the truth that speaks out against them. They dulled their hearts, stopped their ears and closed their eyes because they do not want to discover the uncomfortable truth.

2) The meaning of parables is revealed to the humble. They can see the shape of the gift. And they are willing to find out the content of the gift to learn from it, even if it speaks out against them. Their humility in unwrapping the gifts enables them to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. When discovered, the valuable lessons of the parables will change their lives.

Arminianism will support the 2nd view, because the 2nd school of thought shows the role of man in finding God.

Which school of thought do you subscribe to?

If you understand Jesus parables, I will rejoice with you. We should be thankful because the Lord has made known His mysteries to us, when “many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.” (Matthew 13:17) It is not as thought we earned the understanding of God’s secrets on our own accord. God has graciously chosen to reveal it to us.

Doctrine Of Election In Matthew

The doctrine of election is one of the most hotly debated mysteries in Christianity. Theologians have pondered on what predestination means in the context of human salvation.

Does our salvation come through a sovereign choice made by God, or does it come by our own choice? Please don’t say both, because this convenient point of view completely misses the point, and will make the discussion very boring! So just take a side before you read on! Hehe...

If you believe that human salvation comes through a sovereign choice made by God, then you are a Calvinist. French Reformer John Calvin understood that God already knows who his elect are even before they came into existence, because He has an intimate knowledge and love for His elect. From the Calvinistic perspective, it is God’s sovereign choice, not a person’s exercised faith, that determines who the elect are. Calvinists define election as the sovereign, unconditional choice of God that is the cause of our faith.

If you believe that human salvation comes by our own choice, then you are an Arminian. Dutch pastor Jacobus Arminius understood that those who choose to accept salvation are the elect. From the Arminian perspective, it is a person’s exercised faith that determines who the elect are. God looked through the corridors of time and foreknew who will make the choice of accepting salvation. Arminians define election as the conditional choice of God, that is the result of our faith.

Both schools of thought have equally convincing arguments. The biblical defense of their respective standpoints are also equally as solid. Are you sure of where you stand now? Feel like switching sides?

Now, try this exercise. Let’s see what Matthew has to say about the doctrine of election. First, try to look at the verses as a Calvinist. Then try to look at them again as an Arminian. You’ll realize why theologians never reached a conclusive agreement in the end.

Matthew 11:27. “Nor does anyone know the father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”

Matthew 22:14. “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Matthew 25:34. “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”

Regardless of one’s stance on the matter of election, one thing remains clear: God is infinitely omnipotent and omniscient, and also infinitely good. He is always just in His dealings with humans. We, as sinners, are deserving of death and judgment. But God, in His mercy, graciously saves us.

Regardless of whether you are Arminian or Calvinist, both parties have equal cause to give thanks for. If you are an Arminian, your thanksgiving to God goes, “God, thank you for saving me!” If you are a Calvinist, your thanksgiving will go, “God, why me?”

Hope you enjoyed the exercise!

Teacher, teacher...

“But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ.” (Matthew 23:8-10)

Yesterday, I took a walk down memory lane and visited my alma mater, Penang Free School. I am a Free at heart, and always shall be. I almost half expected to be wished “sir” as I wandered along the corridors. I had to remind myself that I am no longer temping there. As I was leaving, a boy came up to me and said “Sir! You said you will be coming back when I am in form 5! Will you be?” I was his form teacher when he was in form 1. He is form 4 now. He actually remembers!

I aspire to teach the truths of God’s word and speak of it whenever I can. I aspire to be a teacher. I also aspire to be a father one day. But what is Jesus talking about when he says “do not be called ‘Rabbi’ ”, “do not call anyone on earth your father,” and “do not be called teachers”? Does Jesus have something against religious teachers, fathers, and teachers?

Jesus has nothing against the universal application of these titles. What Jesus has against these titles is how people seek these titles for the prestige and power and goes with them. Bearers of those titles are purposed to use their position to serve others, not to gain honor and recognition for themselves.

Why do you want to be called a Rabbi? Is it because you “love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi’ ”? You should be liberating people to know the truth and freedom that God’s word brings, not “bind heavy burdens” on those who don’t know any better.

Why do you want to be called a father? Is it because you love the unquestionable authority you can have over your children? You should be bringing up your children in the fear of the Lord, not in the fear of yourself. Why seek to be called by titles, such as “holy father”? We are weak representations of holiness, and there is only one Father who is truly holy.

Why do you want to be called teachers? Is it because you love the “ego trip” when people acknowledge that you are superior to them by calling you “teacher”? Being a teacher means holding the responsibility of shaping the lives of your students to make them better than yourselves, not to make them feel small.

Jesus sets a supreme example for us. A young man comes to Jesus and calls Him “Good Teacher.” Jesus, in all humility, says, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.” (Matthew 19:16,17)

The young man approaches Jesus as a human teacher, and calls Him good. Jesus refuses to be known as a good teacher, because He is being referred to as a human teacher. He points out that no human can ever deserve to be called good. Regardless of whether or not he is a teacher. Only God alone can be rightfully described as good.

That is what we are called to do. To be signposts to point to God, because we are never good enough to be a reference point for goodness.

The Unpardonable Sin

“Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.” (Matthew 12:31,32)

There is actually such a sin called “the unpardonable sin”. This is mentioned only in Matthew and Mark. What is so different about this sin that makes it unpardonable? Why is speaking against the Holy Spirit so offensive, that God will never forgive the offender? Does it mean that, if we poked fun at the Holy Spirit and apologized to God later, He will still hold it as a grudge against us? Is God such a sensitive fellow?

It is against God’s nature to be unforgiving, after the finished work of Christ on the cross. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit must be something fundamentally different from all other sins. First of all, we have to understand what “blasphemy against the Spirit” means.

In both accounts where the unpardonable sin is mentioned, it is important to note the portion of Scripture that comes just before that. In both accounts, Jesus spoke about the seriousness of blaspheming against the Holy Spirit directly after He was accused of casting out demons “by Beelzebub, the ruler of demons”. The unpardonable sin must be seen in its context.

The Pharisees was attributing the work of Christ to Beelzebub. The words and works of Christ were spoken and performed by the power of the Holy Spirit. To attribute Jesus’ work to Satan is to call the work of heaven a work of hell. There is no remedy for such perverse belief. A person who persists to degrade the work of Christ by insulting His work or attributing it to Satan is pushing himself to a point of no return.

How can someone be forgiven of his sins, if he keeps thinking that Christ’s work is a work of the devil? His refusal to accept Jesus as God’s Anointed One, and his insistence that Jesus works through the power of Satan places himself outside the redeeming grace of God. Certainly God cannot forgive him if He doesn’t believe that God is working through God’s power. It is similar to the case of not believing that Jesus is the Christ.

So, why is Jesus so solemn when it comes to the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit? It is not a case of God being overly sensitive, or over-reacting just because “He couldn’t take a joke.” The kind of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit mentioned here is unpardonable because it is not just a single act of defiant behavior. It is a continual state of opposition against the work of Christ.

Of course, if a person realizes the error of his ways and pleads for forgiveness for his perverse thinking, he will be forgiven. But as long as he continues to think that Jesus works through Beelzebub, then he will never be forgiven.

Jesus' Confession

Have you ever asked yourself why Jesus was so secretive about His real identity? Have you ever felt so frustrated, seeing Jesus playing it low key? Why doesn’t He just come right out and say it? Just say it once and for all, that He is the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One? Won’t that make things so much easier? Why must He keep it all in to Himself? Won’t He find so much relief by just being direct on who He really is?

Matthew 8:4. Jesus cleansed a leper. But He said, “See that you tell no one.”

Matthew 9:30. Jesus healed 2 blind men. But He said, “See that no one knows it.”

Matthew 11:5. John’s disciples asked Jesus, “Are You the Coming One?” Then Jesus replied, “The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” I mean, why can’t Jesus just give a simple, direct answer? He sounds as though He is beating around the bush, reluctant to make His identity clear to everyone.

Matthew 12:16. Jesus healed great multitudes. Again, “He warned them not to make Him known.”

Matthew 16:20. When Jesus asked his disciples who they thought He was, Peter said “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Then, Jesus “commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ”. I mean, what’s wrong? Is Jesus shy?

Matthew 17:9. Peter, James and John witnessed Jesus’ transfiguration. But yet, Jesus commanded them, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.” Come on... Why the secrecy, if He had to bring 3 people to witness the transfiguration?

When is He finally going to confess who He really is? The sigh of relief comes at Matthew 26:63-64. The high priest charged Jesus under oath, “Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!”

Check out Jesus’ reply: “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Finally! If you are one of those people who feels frustrated at Jesus discreet behavior to remain inconspicuous, this line from Jesus’ mouth must bring you great satisfaction.

There are reasons why Jesus chose to remain inconspicuous. The explanation can be quite lengthy. In a nutshell, Jesus had to do the right thing at the right time. All in His good timing.

Judas - Friend Or Foe?

Imagine if Judas Iscariot has an advocate. His advocate may have a lot to say in his defense. He may argue from 3 fronts:

1) Judas is God’s agent. By betraying Jesus to the chief priests and to the scribes, so that He will be condemned to death, Judas is carrying out God’s will for Jesus. How can an agent of God who had a part to play in God’s plan of salvation be judged as a transgressor? Didn’t Jesus say, “He who does the will of My Father in heaven” shall enter the kingdom of heaven? (Matthew 7:21)

2) Judas is the catalyst for the fulfillment of prophecy. Jesus’ death on the cross happened because Judas started off a chain of events that led to His crucifixion. Judas should be deemed innocent because he was pre-appointed by a higher power to be the fulfillment of prophecy. Therefore, Judas should not be bearing the blame for what he did.

3) Judas is carrying out his purpose. Judas must have been planted among the 12 apostles for a reason. Only someone from Jesus’ inner circle could’ve betrayed Jesus. Judas was merely doing what He was put there to do. In fact, Judas should be commended, because he carried out his purpose, which is to do the most uncoveted task of all!

Has Judas’ advocate convinced you, if you were the jury? But don’t make a conclusion yet. Jesus still has His piece to say.

“The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” (Matthew 26:24)

Judas’ advocate must be jumping off his seat if he hears these words. The advocate will scream, “But that’s just so unreasonable! If Jesus’ betrayer has not been born, who will betray Jesus and bring about the fulfillment of prophecy?”

As the trial proceeds, you will see why Jesus was not being unreasonable.

After Judas saw that Jesus had been condemned, he “was remorseful” (Matthew 27:3). Why would Judas be remorseful after performing his act of betrayal? One possibility is, Judas felt remorse because he had not planned for Jesus’ execution to happen. He may have betrayed Jesus in order to force Him to take action against His enemies and inaugurate His kingdom. But Judas may not have willed for Jesus to die. There may be a possibility that Judas was trying to betray Jesus for a “better good”, in his own way.

Nevertheless, whatever motive Judas may have had in betraying Jesus, the deed was done. God’s character is unchanging. God will never tolerate sin. But He is also always gracious to those who repent.

The fact is, Judas could have pleaded for forgiveness. His soul could’ve been saved if he indeed was genuinely remorseful and repentant of his sin. But Judas sealed his own doom when he “went and hanged himself” (Matthew 27:5) Not only did he violate the sanctity of life by committing suicide. He ended his life without setting his life rightly before God. Therefore, the guilt of his sin remains in him.

Later on in Acts, when Peter preached in Solomon’s Portico, Peter charged the Jews for what they were guilty of. For Jesus was whom the Jews had “delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate.” The Jews had “denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted” to them, and they “killed the Prince of life”. Committing these acts makes the Jews as guilty as Judas was. This puts the Jews and Judas in the same boat.

But Peter continued, “Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.” (Acts 3:13-19)

Yes, it’s true, that Jesus murderers could’ve done it in ignorance. Yes, it’s true, that the murder was the fulfillment of a pre-appointed prophecy.

Nevertheless, the Jews could still be forgiven for their sins, although they played a part in putting Jesus to death. So could Judas. Some of the Jews heeded the word and believed, and were saved. Judas could’ve done the same. But he didn’t.

An Unfair Parable

If you read the Parable Of The Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) at a glance, you may find it to be unfair on 3 counts. Let me describe how.

The master gave 5 talents to the 1st servant, 2 talents to the 2nd servant, and 1 talent to the 3rd servant.

With the 5 talents that the 1st servant had, he made another 5 talents. His master was happy with him. With the 2 talents that the 2nd servant had, he made another 2 talents. His master was equally happy with him.

1st hint of injustice: Why is the master equally happy with the 2nd servant? Shouldn’t he be happier with the 1st servant for bringing in a bigger profit?

With the 1 talent that the 3rd servant had, he hid it in the ground and did not make any extra talents. He was scared of risking his only talent, because he was afraid of his master, whom he “knew to be a hard man, reaping where (he has) not sown, and gathering where (he has) not scattered seed.” If indeed the master was such a man, isn’t it reasonable for the 3rd servant to play it safe?

The master actually admitted that he was a hard man by saying, “You knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.”

2nd hint of injustice: Instead of apologizing for his hard nature, the master called the 3rd servant, “You wicked and lazy servant!”

3rd hint of injustice: Not only did the master call the 3rd servant wicked and lazy, he took the only talent that the 3rd servant has, and gave it to the 1st servant who has 10 talents. Why does the master delight in increasing the gap between the rich and the poor?

A deeper examination of that parable will explain the “injustice” seen in it.

The 1st accusation of injustice does not hold water. The 1st and 2nd servants increased their initial amount of talents by the same factor of multiplication. Therefore, it is not unfair for the master to be equally happy with both servants. Both have been equally industrious, considering the amount initially given to them.

To answer the 2nd hint of injustice, we have to see the parable from the angle of a sovereign God relating to man. The 3rd servant rightfully deserved to be called wicked and lazy, because he has no fear of his master. He knows that his master is a hard man, but yet he does not act on that knowledge. He does not lift a finger to be accountable for the talent given to him.

If the 3rd servant does not know that his master is a hard man, he can plead innocence because he does not know any better. But by saying that he knows his master is a hard man, his knowledge makes him unable to plead innocence of his master’s character.

Even if it is true that the master is a hard man, as the 3rd servant puts it, the master has every right to be hard. Because after all, he IS the master!

The fault lies with the 3rd servant for his lack of accountability. The keyword here is accountability. God rewards a servant based on the faithfulness he shows on the things entrusted to him, not on the size of the responsibility. God’s favor lies with the servant who shows a sense of accountability as a steward, who is faithfully responsible for the things entrusted to him.

As for the 3rd hint of injustice, the master’s aim was not to make the rich, richer and the poor, poorer. In fact, the master was merely doing the most logical thing any reasonable master would do. He took the 1 talent from the 3rd servant and gave it to the 1st servant who has 10 talents, because the 1st servant has proven himself to be “faithful over a few things”. Therefore, it is only deserving of the 1st master to be made “ruler over many things”.

Case closed. God is still a “God of faithfulness, without injustice. Good and upright is He.”

The Parable In Young & Dangerous

Surprise, surprise! The bible can be found in a gangster movie! The pastor’s rebellious daughter in Young & Dangerous III has quite a point there. When questioned by her father on when she will change her ways, she quoted the Parable Of The Workers In The Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16). It goes like this.

A landowner “went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.” The landowner “agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day.”

The landowner went out at the 3rd hour (9am), and hired more laborers. Again, he went out at the 6th hour (12pm) and hired more laborers. He made another recruitment drive at the 9th hour (3pm) to hire more laborers. At the 11th hour (5pm), he made his last employment, with only 1 working hour to go for the day.

At the end of the day, all the laborers were called in. All the laborers received the same payment, which is 1 denarius.

In the movie, the pastor’s rebellious daughter reasoned, “Why should I try to be good now, when I can turn good later at the 11th hour of my life? After all, the reward is still the same.” Poor pastor. He had to resort to the nearest convenience store to buy a book about parenting.
Let’s deal with the issue one by one. Starting with the outcry of injustice from the laborers.

First of all, the landowner did the laborers no wrong. The landowner reasoned, “Did you not agree with me for a denarius?” This was the deal that the laborers agreed with when they started working. So they can’t complain.

This scenario is very similar to the “deal” we accepted when we decided to follow Christ. We know full well that following Jesus will mean having to carry our cross. We know full well that we will face hardship until the final hour of our life. But yet, we accepted the agreement and entered a covenantal relationship with God. We cannot complain for having to endure hardship longer just because we started to follow Christ earlier. The deal was made clear from the very beginning.

Now, coming to the pastor’s daughter. She shows strong reasoning on her point. But she forgets the most important factor prior to following Christ – genuine repentance.

If someone can come up to you and say, “I will come back to God when I have reached my 11th hour”, then the authenticity of his planned repentance is under question. A person cannot “plan” his repentance. If repentance is real, its response should be immediate and instantaneous. Not planned, plotted, or extrapolated.

If a person “plans” to repent only at the 11th hour, essentially he is saying, “I want to be good in the end. But first, I want to be bad while I can” In other words, he is basically saying, “I want to be righteous to go to heaven, but I also want to live a life of sin without having to go to hell.” Isn’t that contradictory?

One cannot “plan” to be a sinner, then “plan” to convert into a saint later on in life. If the person is no stranger to the concept of sin and righteousness, delaying repentance is open rebellion. Performing an act of repentance after that period of delay is plain pretense. How can you tell God that you want to be sinful now, and follow Him on the 11th hour just so you can go to heaven? You are not truly repentant of your sins. You are only hoping to ride on a free ticket to heaven. The artificiality of your intentions will be made bare before the Lord.

God is no fool, He cannot be mocked. Nobody can cheat his way into heaven. Nobody can have the best of both worlds. Planning to repent on the 11th hour of life is not only foolish. It is the riskiest thing to do with one’s soul. Only God knows those who are his.

Young & Dangerous IV, anyone?

Galilean Cursing?

Here’s a light one. Taken from Matthew 26:69-74.

While Jesus faces the Sanhedrin, Peter sits outside in the courtyard. He feels fidgety. A servant girl makes a private statement to Peter. She said he was one of those with Jesus. “But he denied it before them all.” A private statement evokes an exaggerated response from Peter. He makes a public denial.

Anxiety grows in him by the second. Peter gets a bit queasy, and starts to move towards the gateway. This time, another girl announces Peter’s connection with Jesus. She said it publicly to an audience. “But again he denied with an oath.” His denial gets stronger now. Amplified with an oath.

Peter’s skin starts to crawl. Imagine this. A small gang comes up against Peter, and accuses him because of his Galilean accent. Without skipping a beat, Peter shoots back. “He began to curse and swear”! Galilean style! *bleep* *bleep* *bleep* (censored). Wahlau… A Galilean accusation evokes a Galilean response! Hehe...

Hmmm… I wonder how Galilean curses and swear words sound like. All the more, Peter cannot possibly be the first pope!

Jesus On Oral Exam

US Presidents must have 1 gift in common – oratory skills. By wise words, they win a nation’s support. By careless words, they betray themselves. Their speeches are heard by millions. Every single word that leaves their mouth have great implications on their administration, and on their people.

Jesus faced an oral exam by those who plotted to “entangle Him in His talk.” (Matthew 22:15-46) The Pharisees and Sadducees got together to test Jesus with tough questions. If Jesus were to falter in their oral questioning, His words will not only cause His ministry to stumble greatly. His faulty words will also be recorded in the bible for many generations to see, thus disqualifying His inerrancy.

Jesus was tested thrice.

In the 1st test, He was asked, “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” Replying with a “yes” will make Jesus lose favor with the Jewish masses, who despised paying taxes under Roman oppression. Saying “no” will make Him guilty of inciting insurrection against the Roman government. Jesus gave a one-liner: “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Amazing.

In the 2nd test, the Sadducees asked Jesus a riddle to make His teaching about resurrection and the afterlife look preposterous. Jesus not only answered their riddle, but He proved the reality of resurrection with these words: “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” Such few words, aptly spoken, with astonishing implications.

In the 3rd test, Jesus was asked by a lawyer, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus quoted 2 verses from the Torah, and his questioners were silenced.

Finally, this is the best part. Jesus gave a question of His own. He gave a question regarding His own identity. Such a fitting question to the audience around Him, who was trying to prove that He was not the Christ. Jesus asked, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?” The Pharisees fell right into the trap. They said “The Son of David”. Jesus quoted a verse from the Psalms, and gave a one-liner: “If David then calls Him ‘Lord’, how is He his Son?” In those few words, Jesus not only proved that He was the fulfillment of a messianic prophecy. Jesus also proved His claim to deity, by pointing out the absurdity of an ancestor to call his descendant “Lord”.

After that, the bible records that “no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore.”

Amazing. Imagine if Jesus walked and talked among us during our time.

Ministry Is Not A Way Out

“For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father and mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God” – then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.” (v 4-6)

Jesus once said “If anyone come to Me and does not hate his father and mother… he cannot be My disciple”. These words of Jesus, when misconstrued, is a convenient excuse for a child to mistreat, neglect, or dishonor one’s parents.

But when Matt 15:4-6 is read, it comes slam bang into the face of anyone who seeks to find a way out from being filial to one’s parents. It is very noble to say “what I have intended to give to my parents, I can’t give to them. Because I am giving it to the Lord.” The Lord points out the fallacy in such an attitude, which would otherwise sound pious to an uninformed crowd. One cannot use his ministry unto the Lord as a reason to worm his way out from giving what is due to his parents. One’s father and mother is to be honored. Using the Lord’s name as an excuse from giving proper honor to one’s parents is profanity to the commandment of God.

It is hard to be a child. It is even harder to be a Christian child. A Christian child’s ministry, however potential or promising he might be, will not be honored by the Lord if proper honor has not been bestowed upon his parents. One may purpose in his heart to give his all to the Lord. But if he doesn’t give what is proportioned to his parents, then all that he intends to give to the Lord is not pleasing to Him. Worse will it be, if he uses his devotion to the Lord as an excuse to neglect his parents. The Lord Jesus has this word to describe people such as him – Hypocrites!