Speaking about

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

SPEAK ABOUT

Matt 11:7-10

7 As John's disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: "What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings' palaces. 9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written: "'I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.'  

NIV

Jesus talks more about John, but this is enough for now and plenty for us to chew upon as a life lesson. In talking to the crowd, we would think there were some scribes, or teachers of the Law and Pharisees among them as they were looking for a way to attack him and his teaching. But also the crowd included many people who heard many voices teaching many doctrines. Certainly the teachers of the Law all did not teach the exact same points of the Law or may even have had differing views of the Law. We know the Pharisees believed in the resurrection, but the Sadducees did not. The Pharisees believed in both the written and the oral Law, thinking God also gave Moses the way to interpret the Law orally. The Sadducees did not believe in the oral law, but held strictly to the written law and insisted on a literal interpretation of it. They also incorporated a bit of Hellenism into their lives, which the Pharisees opposed. Then there was also the Essences who thought both the Pharisees and the Sadducees had corrupted the Law and they separated themselves in a monastery type lifestyle. All these voices with so many different ideologies and theologies.  When Jesus asked the people if when they went out to see John did they see a reed swayed by the wind. He was speaking directly to those who are tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine.

Eph 4:14

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.

NIV

This speaks directly to us today. We have so many voices who purpose they have the truth of the Gospel and are preaching in order to attain as many followers as possible. They preach various forms of the truth, just enough to sound good, but we can see their schemes because we have been given discernment by God. We cannot be that reed that sways in the wind. We have been given the same text, the same scriptures as all men have, although a few groups have rewritten scripture to fit their own beliefs. Nevertheless John was no reed blowing in the wind, like the Pharisees and teachers of the Law, or as some people might have been as they listened to the various teachings. He was a steady word who spoke of the truth of the gospel, a forerunner to Christ, to announce the coming of Christ. This is our cause, to be a steady voice rather than a reed. We need to hold fast to our faith in Jesus, not being swayed by those with silver tongues or dress in fine clothes. This was the other example Jesus used. He asked if they went out to see a man in fine clothes. But no those fine clothed men live in palaces. Again this may have been a sting at the fine garments of the Pharisees. But we too have men who address crowds using every media method to reach more, and they wear extremely expensive clothing and live in lavish homes and drape themselves with fine jewelry, all at the expense of their followers with promises that by giving to God,  “them”, they too can have all this wealth. It is not that Jesus is opposed to wealth, but we cannot look to the wealth for the truth. It too is a fleeting moment in time, much like the reed in the wind. But rather a prophet is who they came to see. A man declaring the coming of the kingdom of God. A messenger declaring the way for Jesus. This is who we are supposed to be, a messenger of God, a person who declares the truth of God to the people, making a way for Jesus to come to them. We stay the course, the truth, not be swayed by the fancy voices, or the promises of great wealth. We declare the coming of the kingdom of God. John declared the coming of Christ. Is not that our same message? We declare his coming to each person for their salvation, but also his coming in the clouds to gather his own, and his coming to earth to finish the battle. We also tell the truth of the coming of the kingdom of God, the new heaven and new earth with the new city of Jerusalem where his people, those who have been born again will live eternally with Jesus. This is the way Jesus spoke of John, a steady voice. Will Jesus speak of us that way? Does he speak of us that way?