{"id":28586,"date":"2015-08-20T22:32:17","date_gmt":"2015-08-20T22:32:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.freedomfrommedom.com\/wp3\/?p=28586"},"modified":"2017-05-05T17:24:53","modified_gmt":"2017-05-05T17:24:53","slug":"do-i-know-you-beware-of-dogs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.freedomfrommedom.com\/wp3\/believe\/do-i-know-you-beware-of-dogs","title":{"rendered":"“Do I Know You?” (Beware of Dogs)"},"content":{"rendered":"
by Steven Gledhill\u00a0<\/em><\/span>for FREEdom from MEdom Project<\/span><\/h5>\n

\u201cThere are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, “Thy will be done,” and those to whom God says, in the end, “Thy will be done.” All that are in Hell, choose it. Without that self-choice there could be no Hell. No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it.<\/span> Those who seek find. Those who knock<\/span> it is opened.\u201d <\/em>—C.S. Lewis,\u00a0The Great Divorce<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus made some harsh declarations from what is known as his Sermon on the Mount; particularly as recited by his servant Matthew.<\/p>\n

“For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDo not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.”<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNot everyone who says to Me, \u2018Lord, Lord,\u2019 shall enter the kingdom of heaven… I will declare to them, \u2018I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!\u2019”<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Why would Jesus say things like that? What was his problem?<\/p>\n

I am serious about that. Jesus had a serious problem. I think it is safe to say that he\u00a0would tell you that. Jesus came to earth in the flesh to replace that which is dead, with life. Long before his body would be broken and his blood shed for the ransom for sin for all time, Jesus would face serious opposition, namely from what at that time would be perceived as the “religious right”; religious conservatives not willing to move from what they thought <\/em>or felt<\/em> they knew to be right.<\/p>\n

\"67-mustange-junk-yard<\/a>Jesus came with a message of hope and freedom, yet was embattled with religious leaders (temple priests, Pharisees, Sadducees) that used religion as leverage to govern people as they saw fit. Then there was the matter of devout Jews that refused to believe that their Messiah grew up among them. Not only would most of the aforementioned group reject the person and teachings of Jesus, they would reject their own people should they be associated with the company and teachings of Jesus.<\/p>\n

If you think about it, that’s kind of how it is. When someone whose reputation for greatness precedes him or her, arrives to save the day, or to motivate and inspire us, we look forward with great anticipation to see, hear, or read his or her words with great expectation. Perhaps we are looking forward to their direction and leadership on a topic or way of life when that is what they are known for. We feel honored and privileged to be in their company or in the moment with them.<\/p>\n

When someone meets the Pope or someone presidential,\u00a0it can be awe-inspiring. Maybe it’s a Hollywood celebrity, famous musician or professional athlete that is standing before you, or you are attending their speaking engagement. It’s a big deal!<\/p>\n

What happens, though, once the experience is tainted? Think about having grown up with the person everyone else is in awe of. He’s just a guy who’s let the fame go to his head. You should see her when she is not caked in make up. She’s pretty but doesn’t look anything like the girl on the television screen or magazine cover. What about in the case of Jesus?<\/p>\n

The miracles and the message all were pretty amazing until he started going on and on about being the Son of God, sent from the Father, and all that. Now I have heard and read of the prophecies of the coming Messiah, but sorry brother… You’re not it… You’re not him. We know you. We saw you grow up. You were just a kid. You got on our nerves from time to time. You were no different from anyone else. So you took off for a few years after your dad died, and now your back, spewing all of this nonsense that you’re some kind of king put on the earth to save all mankind.<\/p>\n

Really? Come on! You’re putting us on, right? Who do you think you are? In fact, with that kind of nonsense, I should warn you… You’re going to offend the wrong people. You might consider that before going on and on about what to some seems to border on blasphemy against their God.<\/p>\n

When Jesus had finished telling these stories and illustrations, he left that part of the country.<\/span> He returned to Nazareth, his hometown. When he taught there in the synagogue, everyone was amazed and said, \u201cWhere does he get this wisdom and the power to do miracles?\u201d<\/span> Then they scoffed, \u201cHe\u2019s just the carpenter\u2019s son, and we know Mary, his mother, and his brothers\u2014James, Joseph,\u00a0Simon, and Judas.<\/span> All his sisters live right here among us. Where did he learn all these things?\u201d<\/span> And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Then Jesus told them, \u201cA prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family.\u201d<\/span><\/span> And so he did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief. Matthew 13:53-58 (NLT)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Has that ever happened to you? Something really wonderful has happened in your life and you cannot wait to tell people about it; especially your loved ones. As excited as you are to include those who are important to you in this awesome, amazing… important thing… you tell them, eagerly anticipating their response and then… well… the excitement is not shared by your audience. They are not into it like you thought they would be.<\/p>\n

But how could they not be? They are my family! They are my closest friends. What’s going on, here? Something’s not right.<\/p>\n

“I have healed people, presented inexplicable miracles, and said things that offer them hope.\u00a0I am their healer; their deliverer; their leader.\u00a0The sick and the oppressed are hanging on my every word, dropping everything and following me around. A few of them are here right now. I couldn’t wait to get back to you and give to you whom I love, all of the best of what I have been giving to folks I barely know…<\/p>\n

“What is wrong with you people?”<\/p>\n

The oppositional forces Jesus faced in Jerusalem would be the nemesis that would ultimately secure his destiny as the ransom for sin and lead the kingdom of God into\u00a0victory formation (an American football expression for the winning team running out the game clock once the outcome is inevitable). Through the sacrifice of Christ at the cross and his resurrection into new life, having defeated the power of sin, the kingdom of God is indeed in victory formation.<\/p>\n

But prior to all of that, the Jewish temple priests, pharisees and scribes thought Jesus to be a blaspheming heretic. They were determined to stop him, even if it meant killing him in the end as they did.<\/p>\n

Back to His\u00a0Sermon…<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I asked the question, why would Jesus say some of the things he said that sounded more like threats at times then invitations?<\/p>\n

Jesus had been talking about the futility of worry. He made insightful remarks concerning the common sense of his audience talking about the matter of misdirected attention and how it tends to breed a feeling of discontentment. Jesus spoke on the problem of pursuing material wealth that in the end is worthless. To treasure wealth is to value that which is taken from us anyway because the circumstances of life can be relentless and cruel. Though we have inherited something of immeasurable value, to live as have-nots<\/em> is to lose the peace and the joy that is to be experienced by every one of God’s children. To focus on what is missing is to be consumed with emptiness, when as followers of Christ in relationship with God, we have been given life in abundance, fully satisfied.<\/p>\n

\"67-mustange-junk-yard<\/a>Jesus reminded his listeners that God cares for the birds in the air; that he notices should one fall from the sky… that God is attentive to the flowers in the field; that even they are well-nourished and cared for.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cThat is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life\u2014whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn\u2019t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“If God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Matthew 6:25, 30 (NLT)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTherefore do not worry, saying, \u2018What shall we eat?\u2019 or \u2018What shall we drink?\u2019 or \u2018What shall we wear?\u2019<\/span> <\/span>32\u00a0<\/sup>For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.<\/span> <\/span>But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.<\/span> <\/span>Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is<\/i> its own trouble.”<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Matthew 6:31-34 (NKJV) \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Note: Throughout this chapter, the Temple will be referenced with a capital ‘T’ as representing the Temple at the time of Christ’s earthly\u00a0ministry.<\/span><\/p>\n

Even in this part of Christ’s sermon, he took some shots at the Temple leaders using religion, namely the righteous judgment of God, as leverage to rule the people. The high priest, the Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, scholars, and their minions,\u00a0they had to look the part. They needed to act as if they were on the inside with God while, of course, the lowly people were on the outside looking in, admiring their religious authority figures as holy and far above them in the eyes of God.<\/p>\n

\u201cWatch out! Don\u2019t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven.<\/span><\/span> 2\u00a0<\/sup>When you give to someone in need, don\u2019t do as the hypocrites do\u2014blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cWhen you pray, don\u2019t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you pray, don\u2019t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again.<\/span><\/span> Don\u2019t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!”\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd when you fast, don\u2019t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get.” Matthew 6:1-2, 5, 7-8, 16 (NLT)<\/span><\/p>\n