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Context Matters: I Never Knew You; Depart From Me

April 26, 2019 By Peter Krol

Perhaps you’ve heard that not everyone who calls Jesus “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven (Matt 7:21). And that Jesus will blindside such folks on the last day when he claims not to have known them, and he commands them to depart from him (Matt 7:23). Have you ever feared finding yourself among that number of woefully deluded souls?

Context matters. When we learn to read the Bible properly—and not merely as a collection of isolated quotes or arbitrary threats—we’ll find that some of our most familiar sayings have more nuance or qualification than we typically assume.

The Text

The warning Jesus issues near the end of his Sermon on the Mount is, in fact, rather sobering. Anyone unmoved by it ought to be the first to fear:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ ” (Matt 7:21-23)

It is clear that calling Jesus “Lord” is not enough, on its own, to gain a person entry into the kingdom of heaven. Neither is speaking prophesy, nor casting out demons, nor doing mighty works in the name of Jesus.

And these facts ought not surprise anyone who has read the Bible.

Balaam spoke true prophecy from the Lord (Num 23-24), but did not end well (Num 31:8, 16).
Saul had his demons cast out (1 Sam 16:23). Judas Iscariot, along with the other 11 disciples, was authorized to cast demons out (Mark 3:14-19).
Solomon did mighty works of wisdom (1 Kgs 3:16-28) and temple construction (1 Kgs 6:1, 7:51). Yet he did not stay the course (1 Kgs 11). (Though it’s possible that Ecclesiastes represents Solomon’s repentance in old age.) We could also cite Jonah, Joab, King Uzziah, Demas, and Judas Iscariot as examples of those who did “mighty works” but arguably may not have entered the kingdom of heaven.
Of course, Judas is our chief example of one who called Jesus “Lord” without membership in the kingdom.

So the warning is real, and particular examples can be given. But what does the warning mean, and who exactly should tremble at it?

Preceding Context

In the preceding paragraph, Jesus sets an expectation that his community, his kingdom on earth, will consist of a number of wolves dressed up like sheep. These are what he calls the “false prophets” (Matt 7:15).

Jesus says two times that “you will recognize them by their fruits” (Matt 7:16, 20). The nature of the fruit matches the nature of the tree. Good fruit comes from good trees. Grapes come from vines. Thorns come from thorn bushes. You can’t pick up a fig and conclude it came from a thistle.

And the trees that fail to bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire (Matt 7:19). This is exactly what John said when describing the coming judgment (Matt 3:10b).

So the argument goes like this: The new community of Jesus will have false prophets within it. You will recognize them by their fruits, which prove what sort of tree the person is. And the unfruitful tree will be burned.

This paragraph demands a “so what” question: So what kind of fruit signals that one presenting as a sheep is in fact a wolf? What exactly is the fruit of a false prophet?

A Preliminary Answer

Matt 7:21-23 begins to answer that question by explaining what we are not looking for. Jesus thereby flips the question around. Instead of defining the fruit of a false prophet, he first defines what is not the fruit of a true sheep:

Calling Jesus “Lord”
Speaking prophecy in Jesus’ name
Casting out demons in Jesus’ name
Doing mighty works in Jesus’ name

Such fruit does not guarantee that the apparent sheep is an actual sheep. There could still be a wolf lurking underneath the wool dressing gown. They are called “false prophets” for a reason!

A Fuller Answer in the Subsequent Context

So we look to the next (and final) paragraph of the Sermon to get the answer we’ve been looking for.

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock… And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.” (Matt 7:24, 26)

Here is now something observable. Does the person not only hear Jesus’ words, but do them? This is the mark of a true sheep. Does the person only hear his words but not do them? This is the mark of a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

And the “doing” he refers to cannot be the “doing” of theatrical rituals, such as naming Jesus’ name, speaking prophecy, or casting out demons. The “doing” almost certainly refers back to everything Jesus has covered in this Sermon.

Being poor in spirit, meek, peacemaking, etc. (Matt 5:2-16). Honoring God’s law from the heart and not merely outwardly (Matt 5:17-48). Avoiding ostentation in the practice of piety (Matt 6:1-18). Seeking the kingdom instead of money and possessions (Matt 6:19-34). Living generously and graciously in community (Matt 7:1-12).

These are the folks, the true sheep, who “enter by the narrow gate,” which is hard but leads to life (Matt 7:13-14).

And they know how to recognize the “many” who try entering through the wide gate that leads to destruction. The fruit of the false prophets is the outward exercise of religion divorced from the personal and private transformation of the heart to love God and love his people.

Conclusion

If this warning from Jesus doesn’t cause you to tremble, you are most likely in danger from it. Please re-examine whether your religion is any deeper than outward conformity to a set of public practices. If your life doesn’t change when you hear this word of Christ, yours will be a pitiable case on the day of judgment.

But if your heart quails at the thought of ever missing your Lord Jesus and his kingdom, you’re probably already well on your way down that narrow road toward eternal life (Matt 5:3-6).

Context matters.

Thanks to Bonnie S for the idea for this post.

For more examples of why context matters, click here.

Context Matters: All Things Work Together For Good

September 7, 2018 By Peter Krol

Perhaps, when you went through a tough spell, a friend or mentor reminded you that all things work together for good for those who love God. Perhaps you’ve reminded others of the same thing in their tough spells. And such comfort may be in line with what the Apostle Paul hoped to achieve in Romans 8:28. But do you understand why? Do you understand what is the “good” for which all things work together? This verse is not a promise to remove or alleviate suffering. Nor does it require us to take a noble or pious perspective about suffering, as though, if you love God, all things that happen to you must be seen as “good” things.

Because context matters. If we learn to read the Bible for what it is—and not as a collection of independently assembled proverbial sayings—we’ll discover that some of our most familiar passages say something slightly different from what we’ve always assumed.

Basic Observation

Let me first address one wrongful use of Romans 8:28. I’ve sometimes heard people refer to this verse to suggest that all things are good for those who love God, as though we should be happy or pleased with the suffering we endure. As though suffering is a good thing.

But the verse doesn’t say “all things are good for those who love God.” It says, “all things work together for good for those who love God.” Simple observation should clear out our thinly veiled reincarnations of stoicism or asceticism. Your suffering is not good. It will not last forever. One day, every tear will be wiped from your eyes, if you love God and have been called according to his purpose. Your suffering is bad, a product of living in a fallen world.

But God still uses it to work together for good. But how?

Train of Thought

To understand Paul’s argument in this part of Romans 8, we need to see that he’s talking about not only suffering but also glory. Rom 8:18 tries to compare the present suffering with the coming glory—and finds such a comparison be not worth our time. Rom 8:30 ends with the sure result of God’s calling: not only justification but glorification. These two references to glory (Rom 8:18, 30) create an inclusio that marks off a unit of thought for us. Let’s trace it accordingly.

The main idea (Rom 8:18): Our present suffering is not worth comparing with the coming glory. (Note: This unit unpacks Paul’s conclusion from the previous section (Rom 8:17): that we who are children of God are also his heirs, if indeed we suffer with him in order to be glorified with him.)

Julia Manzerova (2010), Creative Commons

How does Paul prove these things aren’t worth comparing? First, he addresses the present suffering we can see.

The creation suffers (Rom 8:19-21): It waits, it endures futility, and it’s bound to corruption.
- The creation groans (Rom 8:22): like a woman in the second stage of labor, groaning that she’s got to push this baby out!
- So also we groan (Rom 8:23a): inwardly, despite having the Spirit as the firstfruits of God’s promise
So also we suffer (Rom 8:23b-25): We wait with patience, we anticipate final redemption, and we can’t yet see what we hope for.

Second, he addresses the hope we have for glory we can’t see.

We do not groan alone (Rom 8:26-27): The Spirit, who knows both our desperate weakness and the will of God, takes our concerns directly to the Father on our behalf.
We do not suffer without purpose (Rom 8:28-30): God determined before the ages began to make his people like his Son. This means they don’t only suffer with him; they’re also glorified with him.

In the rest of the chapter, Paul gives 5 questions we should ask (“What then shall we say to these things?”) to help us appropriate the unseen, coming glory in the midst of our visible, present suffering:

If God is for us, who can be against us (Rom 8:31)?
Won’t he also graciously give us all things with his Son (Rom 8:32)?
Who can accuse us (Rom 8:33)?
Who can condemn us (Rom 8:34)?
Who can separate us from Christ’s love (Rom 8:35-39)?

Conclusion

Romans 8:28 does not say that suffering is a good thing. Nor does it promise to alleviate suffering here and now. Rather, the verse gives us a sense of purpose in our suffering: It shows us that God is making us to suffer like Jesus now so we can be glorified in resurrection like him on the last day. Jesus’ life sets a pattern for those who love him. This is God’s good purpose, which he is working out while we, along with the creation, wait patiently for the redemption of our bodies and the revealing of us as heirs of God.

Context matters.

Bible Study: Fast and Slow

July 9, 2018 By Ryan Higginbottom

Jeremy Bishop (2017), public domain

It’s July, and we’re up to our knees in summer. The pace of this herky-jerky season always astounds me.

Some summer moments happen in a flash: the pop of fireworks, the sting of a bee, the crack and boom of a late-afternoon thunderstorm, and the cool thrill of jumping in a pool. The whole summer, in fact—I’m amazed every September at how quickly the months disappeared.

Other parts of summer seem to stretch on and on: the long hours of daylight, humidity that suffocates the region for weeks, and lightning bugs that aren’t in a hurry to be anywhere in particular.

Just like summer, studying the Bible can sometimes feel like a slip-and-slide or a long hike in the woods. Faithful students of the Bible will set their expectations and effort accordingly.

The Fast

Some aspects of Bible study happen in an instant. We sit down, read a passage, and God gives immediate insight.

We grasp part of God’s character. We are in awe of our Creator. We bend the astonished smile of our soul toward God in praise.

We see our sin. We’re exposed and guilty. We fall on our face before God in confession and repentance.

We recognize the work of Jesus. God’s mountainous mercy casts us in its deep, loving shadow. We thank God for adopting us as his children.

A promise of God lands flush between our eyes. We sense the strength of the Holy Spirit in our weakness. We bless God for the hope and encouragement he gives.

These moments happen because some portions of the Bible are straightforward. We need no advanced degrees or hours in a monastery—God has made the meaning of this text plain, he has sent his Spirit, and his word lands with power.

We should anticipate, savor, and remember these moments. I fear that older Christians are prone to forget just how radical, beautiful, and simple some aspects of following Christ can be.

The Slow

However, not every encounter with the Bible is all snaps and flashes. Sometimes we need to take the long, uphill path to the summit to see the spectacular view.

It takes time to study the Bible well. Since we are removed from the original audience by years and miles, we must put in work to understand the meaning of the text.

But the work is worth it! The understanding that comes through hours of effort is no less valuable than that which comes in a moment. In fact, we’re more likely to remember and internalize those truths we must sweat to unearth.

The Bible rewards this work. It doesn’t take superior intelligence, sophisticated tools, or months away on a retreat. There are simple steps to studying the Bible that are available to everyone.

Observe. Read the text carefully and notice what you read. Write down your observations. Every word of the Bible is inspired by God, so it is right for us to pay close attention to what is written.
Interpret. Ask questions of your observations. Interrogate the text. Track the author’s reasoning through the passage and attempt to land on the main point. How would the original readers/hearers have understood this?
Apply. Bring the biblical truth home. How should this truth affect you? How should it change your church? Your neighborhood?

Bible Study is for Plodders

Anyone that sets out to run a race must train. As a runner gradually builds technique, endurance, and grit, the miles get easier and the half marathon isn’t as intimidating. And throughout the training, she is actually running, making progress and doing good for her body.

Bible study is, in one respect, for plodders. Give yourself to the Scriptures regularly, and you’ll gradually build the skills you need to understand and apply God’s word. And as you grow in these skills, you’ll grow more and more into the person you were created to be.

Wisdom Delivers for the Long Haul

January 7, 2013 By Peter Krol

We’ve seen how wisdom delivers from evil and adulterous people in Proverbs 2:12-19. Now we see what it delivers us for.

So you will walk in the way of the good
And keep to the paths of the righteous.
For the upright will inhabit the land,
And those with integrity will remain in it,
But the wicked will be cut off from the land,
And the treacherous will be rooted out of it (Prov 2:20-22, ESV).

Deliverance FOR endurance on the right path (20-22). When you become wise and keep seeking wisdom, you will persevere on the paths of the righteous (Prov 2:20). The Lord promises to preserve you to the last day, when he will judge the wicked and treacherous (Prov 2:22) but stabilize the upright in his kingdom forever (Prov 2:21).

“Holy Land – Pool of Bethesda, Jerulsalem” by Jenny King Mellon (2009), shared under a Creative Commons Attribution License

Solomon here describes those who “inhabit the land,” referring to God’s treaty with Abraham and his offspring to give them a good land (Gen 12:1, 7; 13:15-17, etc.). They wearied of living in tents and wanted to establish roots in a land of their own. About 500 years later, Joshua pioneered this promised frontier on behalf of Abraham’s descendants. Yet after another wait of more than 1000 years, Jesus the True Joshua (“Jesus” and “Joshua” are the same name in Greek and Hebrew respectively; like “Peter” and “Pedro” in English and Spanish) led those who would believe in him to find ultimate and lasting rest (Gal 3:16). We who trust in Jesus now find stability “in the land,” resting from our works as God did from his (Heb 4:8-11). In other words, we don’t need to do anything to make God happy; by living the life we ought to have lived and dying the death we deserved to die, Jesus already did it all for us.

This last point is critical, for our hope in becoming wise must not be in getting everything “just right.” We’re all guilty of failing to listen, doing crooked things, and entertaining ungodly sexuality. Our own brokenness condemns us, and the consequences of our choices gnaw at us. But it’s never too late to turn around. We’re never beyond the reach of God’s rich mercy in Christ. The only way to qualify is to realize that we’re not qualified. This weakness will strengthen us in wisdom. We’ll quit depending on ourselves, and instead turn to the Lord of wisdom. As we trust in him, we’ll draw closer to him and become more like him. In short, that’s how to become wise.

The process for becoming wise is really quite straightforward. Get in the habit of listening to advice and seeking out help. Trust in the Lord and become more and more like him. Then you’ll become a different person who loves what God loves; you’ll make choices that take you away from evil and immorality and toward righteousness and stability.

Do you think it’s worth it to become wise?