MIND VERSUS HEART
The Lord Jesus strove to challenge even the religious leaders to believe in Him. He sometimes used difficult questions. While discussing the Christ, Jesus asked “Whose son is He?” They responded, “the son of David.” Then He references Psalm 110:1 with a profound question. If they answered correctly, it would open their understanding of the Messiah. Let me paraphrase: King David wrote Psalm 110 in the power of the Holy Spirit. Yahweh (Lord) said to David’s Adonai (Lord) to sit while Yahweh defeats Adonai’s enemies. Jesus was revealing that the verse was not referencing David’s victories as king. David is not Adonai here. But how could a descendant of King David be Adonai over the patriarch David? The religious leaders left - either they did not know or dared not to answer.
If the religious leaders used their minds and thought “outside the box,” they agreed Adonai must have been born of the human lineage of King David. But to be greater than King David, Yahweh must have also been Adonai in David’s lineage. The truth, a descendant of David, being fully God and fully man (as also testified by Jesus in other discussions) must have “blown their minds.”
But Jesus next focused on the heart issues of the religious leaders in Matthew 23. It was a rebuking discourse, but not because of their mental difficulties about Psalm 110:1. Sometimes we should also review our heart attitudes.
The widow gave all she had as an offering, a tiny coin
and the religious leaders did not see it.
Do we befriend the poor?
The religious leaders gave large tithes
And they made sure the people saw their tithe.
Do we tithe as an act of worship?
The religious leaders taught an impossible relationship with God,
The people were overwhelmed by details.
Do we “make much of Jesus?”
The religious leaders promoted themselves as Father, Teacher, Leader;
The people were forced to respect them.
Do we humbly lead by putting others first?
As Christians it’s easier to strive to do the right things but our heart attitude is not always right. We need to first covet our relationship with our daddy Father. Then we humbly serve God by purposely serving with love our brothers and sisters. It is a heart issue. Yes, I would use my mind above my heart to figure out Psalm 110:1. But to love the Word with our mind it also needs our hearts to lovingly move us. See the marginalized, make Jesus known to all kinds of people, be a servant-leader called by all “my brother” or “my sister."
If the religious leaders used their minds and thought “outside the box,” they agreed Adonai must have been born of the human lineage of King David. But to be greater than King David, Yahweh must have also been Adonai in David’s lineage. The truth, a descendant of David, being fully God and fully man (as also testified by Jesus in other discussions) must have “blown their minds.”
But Jesus next focused on the heart issues of the religious leaders in Matthew 23. It was a rebuking discourse, but not because of their mental difficulties about Psalm 110:1. Sometimes we should also review our heart attitudes.
The widow gave all she had as an offering, a tiny coin
and the religious leaders did not see it.
Do we befriend the poor?
The religious leaders gave large tithes
And they made sure the people saw their tithe.
Do we tithe as an act of worship?
The religious leaders taught an impossible relationship with God,
The people were overwhelmed by details.
Do we “make much of Jesus?”
The religious leaders promoted themselves as Father, Teacher, Leader;
The people were forced to respect them.
Do we humbly lead by putting others first?
As Christians it’s easier to strive to do the right things but our heart attitude is not always right. We need to first covet our relationship with our daddy Father. Then we humbly serve God by purposely serving with love our brothers and sisters. It is a heart issue. Yes, I would use my mind above my heart to figure out Psalm 110:1. But to love the Word with our mind it also needs our hearts to lovingly move us. See the marginalized, make Jesus known to all kinds of people, be a servant-leader called by all “my brother” or “my sister."
by Steve Sagué, Elder
Posted in Read Through the Bible
Recent
Archive
2024
January
A FRESH STARTPOSTURE OF FAITHHEAVENLY BODIESTHE BLESSINGS OF THE RIGHTEOUSI AM WILLINGGOD'S SOVEREIGNTY OVERRULES MAN'S DYSFUNCTIONJESUS IS LORD OF THE SABBATHLIVE OUT WELL THE TEACHINGS OF JESUSHOLD IT CLOSEOPEN MY EYESWHO DO PEOPLE SAY WE ARE?NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GODWHAT IS YOUR IDOL?GOD'S CHOOSING
February
March
2023
January
WHO WANTS TO LIVE FOREVER?RESOLVING CONFLICT AND DEALING WITH EVILWHAT KIND OF FRUIT DO YOU HAVE?GOD IS PROUD OF HIS SONPEACE IS A FUNCTION OF FOCUSTHE HEALING POWER OF JESUSGOD CALLS YOU BY NAMESMOKE AND MIRRORSBE A LIGHTWISE WORDSEXODUSCHOOSING THE RIGHT PATHGOD SEES AND HEARSWHO IS THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM?WARNING AGAINST FOLLY
February
March
HE HAS A PLAN FOR YOUTHE PLACE OF COMFORT AND SAFETYIT'S THE LITTLE THINGSBE ALERTMY GOD IS NOT TOO SMALLWHEN TO SPEAK AND WHEN NOT TO SPEAKGOD IS GRACIOUS TO USKEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUTSTAND STRONG FOR YOUR FAITHOUR HOPEDO I DO WHAT THE LORD ASKS OF ME?DON'T BE A SCHEMERA TREASURE HUNTLISTEN AND FOLLOWWORDS OF COMFORT OR WARNINGTHE POSSESSOR OCCUPIES AND FILLS THE POSSESSEDUNDIVIDED LOYALTY TO GODONE CONCESSION STAND
April
OUR GOD IS HOLY AND JUSTA CAUSE FOR OBEDIENCETELL THE COMING GENERATIONTHE PARABLE OF THE RICH FOOLSHINE YOUR FACE UPON USLISTEN UP!CHECK WITH GOD FIRST - HE KNOWS MORE THAN WE DOPSALM 86THAT IS ENOUGH SAIDDO YOU REMEMBER?TRANSITIONSSERVE ONE ANOTHERPROVERBS“Insignificant Does Not Equal Insignificant” (Judges 6)
May
JESUS IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU!FINISHING WELLARE YOU THE TEACHER OF ISRAEL AND DO NOT UNDERSTAND THESE THINGS?FORGETTING GOD IS DANGEROUS TO YOUR HEALTHREPENTANCE BRINGS MERCYGOD'S SOVEREIGN TIMING IS ALWAYS RIGHTWHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF?A GODLY FATHERJESUS CARES FOR US - HE'S OUR SHEPHERDWHO DO YOU LISTEN TO?CARELESS SPEECHCONTINUE TO SERVE GODUNDIGNIFIED, HUMILIATED, AND GLORIFYING GOD!CLEAR PROMISES
No Comments