Did the Fruit Defile Adam and Eve or Was It Their Disobedience?

# 438 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 7:17,18 “When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable. So He said to them, "Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him,

Parable? I thought a parable was an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. Not always. Sometimes the broader sense of the word can mean an adage or a saying.

The saying of Jesus that the disciples couldn't grasp was found in verse 15, "There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man.” They really had a tough time with this saying because the traditions of the religious leaders were so ingrained that they had replaced the Word of God.

If someone tells you long enough that your dirty hands make you unclean or eating pork makes you unclean, and you don't square it up with the Word of God, pretty soon you start to blame the dirt and the pork for your uncleanness. The disciples had come to believe that it was the dirt and the pork's fault. It never is, and it never was. The core issue is always disobedience to God's commands.

Did the fruit defile Adam and Eve or was it their disobedience?

I'm Duane Matz and that's Today's Living Word.

True Defilement

# 437 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 7:14-16 “When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear Me, everyone, and understand: "There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man. "If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!"

The Pharisees charge against the disciples of eating food with unwashed hands has been answered by Jesus. The Pharisees having left, Jesus once more turns His attention to the crowd and He uses the incident a s a teachable moment for the crowd. He really wants the people (and us) to understand what He is about to say “Hear Me! Understand Me.” denotes special emphasis.

It's not the dirt on your hands that touches the food that enters your mouth that defiles you. It's the rebellion that starts in your heart and manifests itself in thoughts, words and deeds that defile. Jesus wasn't giving the green light here for everyone to go out for baby back ribs. The Old Covenant was still in place and that would be rebellion against God's commands concerning unclean food. These food restrictions of the Old Testament would be lifted soon enough.

But He was telling the people that the man-made safe-guarding traditions of the Pharisees concerning cleanliness, could in no way protect a man's heart from defilement or sin. Germs cannot contaminate your soul, but sin can. Guard it against any and all things that lead to sin.

I'm Duane Matz and that's Today's Living Word.

Shirking Christian Duty

# 436 - Today 's Living Word comes from Mr 7:10-13 "For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.' But you say, 'If a man says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban"-' (that is, a gift to God), "then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, "making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do."

Jesus now presents a very grave charge against the Pharisees. They were allowing the God commanded care of parents to be shirked for the sake of lining the church treasury.

By the tradition of the Jewish elders, parental care could be abandoned if the resources set aside for their care were dedicated to God. “hey mom, I picked up some more dog food for you to eat today and on my way to the store I gave a thousand dollars to the church in your name!” Sound ridiculous? That's what they were in effect doing.

This set-up sounds like a sweet deal for the religious leaders, the children, and even God,....except God doesn't want your money at the expense and loving care of others, especially members of your own family.

1Ti 5:8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Don't get me wrong here. We are to support our church family too in much the same way. It should be the primary use of our weekly offering. We need to provide for our own spiritual leaders, our own widows, and our own poor within the walls of our congregation, within the Body of Christ, and even beyond.

Sadly, in most congregations such provision is usually relegated to the leftovers.

I'm Duane Matz and that's Today's Living Word.

Lying In the Reject Pile At Menards

# 435 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 7:8,9 "For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men--the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do." He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.”

Have you gone to a lumber yard to pick out wood for a project? Typically you haul out several pieces, eying them up for defects. You may even lay them side by side for comparison. Eventually you keep the ones you want and put the rest back in the pile. That's what's going on here.

The Pharisees have taken the two by fours of God's Word and the two by fours of their traditions, eyed them up and opted for the warped quality of their traditions, casting aside the Word of God. Jesus said they do this “all too well,” and because they instill their traditions in the people so well, they “reject” or the Greek word here means they “frustrate” the Word of God.

The byproduct of frustration is discouragement, and these nit picking rules of the Pharisees discourage people from following God Word and benefiting from its intended impact. It's not that God's Word is impotent, it's the sad truth that in treasuring traditions over God's Word, God's Word is never opened, it's cast aside, lying in the reject pile of Menards.

But I wonder how often we do the same thing. Not so much with traditions, but certainly we often lay the world's way next to God's way and settle for that which is inferior.

I'm Duane Matz and that's Today's Living Word

The True Hypocrite

# 434 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 7:5-7, “Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, "Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?" He answered and said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: 'This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'”

Hypocrite. An easy term to throw around as we look at the lives of those who profess to be Christians. It's usually thrown around when according to our opinion someone's walk doesn't match up with their talk. But we need to be careful with that definition, because it makes every believer a hypocrite at times, for who can walk perfectly before the Lord?

Isaiah defines hypocrisy as a matter of the heart and only God can see the heart, and that's why Jesus is able to call these Pharisees hypocrites. We would all do well to tend to our own heart in this matter of hypocrisy and the key to tending our heart is to keep it near to Jesus.

The heart that is near to Jesus treasures Him and His Word. The heart that is near to Jesus sees it's sin sickened condition, confesses it's sinful state and actions, and pleads for the Lord's mercy. Unless we come to this point of humility, and remain at this point, we are hypocrites and our worship of the true God is in vain.

I'm Duane Matz and that's Today's Living Word

A Path To Spiritual Blindness

# 433 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 7:5-7, “Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, "Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?" He answered and said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: 'This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'”

Isn't Jesus amazing? He never needs a Concordance to find an applicable Scripture to a situation! The scribes and Pharisees were upset because they could see that Jesus' disciples didn't buy into their traditions which were in reality the commandments of men.

Since Jesus quotes from Isaiah 29:13, let's go back to that part of Isaiah and see what else is being said about these hypocrites.

In Isaiah 29:16 we read, “You turn things upside down! Shall the potter be regarded as the clay? (In other words, should we mold God into our image, our ideals, our behaviors? Should we really try to improve on God's standards?)

The point is, in essential spiritual matters, man does not have the right to invent “Thou shalts, and thou shalt nots.” And when we do, look what happens according to Is 29:14! ”the wisdom of their wise shall perish and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden.”

Discernment disappears, spiritual vision becomes clouded and you wind up with what Jesus called the blind leading the blind. “And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. (Mt 15:14)

Spiritual discernment comes from the Holy Spirit, and it's only fitting that He should withhold it from those legalists who who think the commandments of men are on even par with God's Word.

I'm Duane Matz and that's Today's Living Word.

Baptizing A Couch?

# 432 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 7:4 When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches.

What word sticks out like a sore thumb in this passage? The answer is couches. Cups, pitcher, copper vessels, are all things you could wash in the kitchen sink, but then we find the word, “couches.” Try putting your sofa in the kitchen sink next time you're doing the dishes! Why would couches have to be washed?

A quick example would be if the woman whom Jesus had healed of a bloody issue had sat on a couch while she suffered from her malady, it would've made the couch unclean.

Now, there is also something very instructive here connected with the manner of baptism. The word “washing” here in the Greek is the same word used for baptism. While cups, pitchers, and copper vessels can be immersed in order to be baptized, it's highly unlikely that a couch would be baptized or washed by immersion.

While baptism by immersion is a beautiful picture of the drowning of the old Adam and the raising of the new, the strict use of the word does not have to mean immersion. Baptism can be accomplished through sprinkling as well. It's the water and the Word not the methodology that makes baptism effective.

I'm Duane Matz and that's Today's Living Word.

The Ultimate Movie Guide

# 431 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 7:2,3 “Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault. For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders.

Perhaps you've seen television shows of doctors preparing for surgery. They wash their hands in a special way, all the way up to their elbows. This was similar to the “special way” the Jews had prescribed for washing their hands before a meal.

It was an attempt to remain undefiled in keeping with Mosaic Law. These laws about washing, and laws about Sabbath keeping seem silly to us, but there was a very good reason they were in effect. The Jews used them as a security fence around the real Law of God. (Let's not just wash our hands, let's wash up to our elbows!)

The logic seemed to be, if these silly laws were followed, then there would be no way that the real Law of God could be violated. They were meant to be safeguards, and safeguards can be a good thing.

For instance, it is wise to not expose yourself to the sexually explicit materials and foul language found in today's movies. They can harden the heart and make the unacceptable appear acceptable, leading to serious violations of God's Law. God has given us His Word and the Holy Spirit. Listen to them! They are the only movie guide you'll ever need.

But be careful, to elevate prohibition against all movies to an equal status with God's Law puts us in the hand washing camp of the Pharisees.

I'm Duane Matz and that's Today's Living Word.

Will God Check Under Your Fingernails?

# 430 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 7:1,2 “Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem. Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault.”

Jesus had been staying away from Jerusalem, but the Jewish rulers had been keeping an eye on Him and His ministry and now they felt they had found something to discredit Him and His popular ministry, so they come to Him with their accusation.

They felt He was a false teacher and not a true follower of God, and their proof? His disciples did not wash their hands according to the Jewish tradition. Can you see God on Judgment Day, like a mother examining her child's hands before supper time, checking for dirt under your fingernails before He lets you into heaven? “Sorry, you can't come in here. You didn't wash your hands.”

It seems laughable But I wonder how many times we have done the same thing because of our own traditions? We are wary of how large and popular that church down the street has grown. They don't do things the way “we've always done them,” and so we often seek to find fault with them, trying to discredit and disqualify them just as the Pharisees sought to discredit Jesus.

There is nothing wrong with traditions, every congregation has them, but when they become part of a checklist for salvation, a line has been crossed. In Rom 14:20a we read, “Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food.” We could say, “for the sake of tradition,” and not lose the meaning of this passage.

Learn from this! Don't check salvation credentials of others against your traditions, check them with the Word of God!

I'm Duane Matz and that's Today's Living Word

An Emergency Room Nightmare

# 429 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 6:53-56 “When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there. And when they came out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him, ran through that whole surrounding region, and began to carry about on beds those who were sick to wherever they heard He was. Wherever He entered into villages, cities, or in the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made well.”

Another location, but the same story. Jesus is recognized as a miracle worker and the desperate people in need of healing for their loved ones flock to Him dragging their sick on stretcher like litters. They line them up in the marketplaces.

The Greek word here for marketplace is not the idea of a farmer's market but that of a gathering place such as a town square. It's a place that Jesus would likely have to go through as He entered a town. It would have ample room for all the stretchers.

Now imagine that sight as Jesus enters through the city gate. Back to back stretchers of helpless people in need of physical healing. This is a first century triage. An emergency room nightmare.

Now think of all the people in your family, your neighborhood, your workplace, your city, your nation, your world, who need spiritual healing! Paralyzed by sin, they need to know of His forgiveness. Will you see how you might bring them to Him?

It starts with prayer and continues with your own godly example of Christ-likeness, and finishes with the proper application of the medicine of God's Word as it is spoken into their lives.

Prayer alerts the Great Physician of your concern for the wounded. Expression of Christ's love proves the genuineness of your concern and gets you into the emergency room where you have the opportunity to apply the medicine of God's Word. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.

I'm Duane Matz and that's Today's Living Word

A John Madden Moment

# 428 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 6:51,52 “Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled. For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened.”

Again in reading the other gospel accounts of this event more details are included. This was the same event in which Peter walked on the water and if that added miracle wasn't enough, John's gospel tells us that as soon as Jesus got in the boat, it was miraculously transported to their destination. One spectacular occurrence after another! The feeding of the 5,000. (Bang!) The walking on the water. (Bif!) Peter walking on the water, (Pow!) and the boat transported immediately to shore! Can you imagine John Madden describing all of this on a telestartor?

But why this chastisement about the loaves and the hardening of heart? It's not the same hardening of the heart in the sense of the Pharisees and their unbelief, but rather their “hard” reaction to Jesus just being God and doing miraculous things for those He loves. By now their reaction shouldn't be one of amazement, but rather of delight as He uses His power to bless.

We could learn from this. Stop being amazed at answered prayer, or mummified by the miraculous! Rather learn to thankfully delight in it! Lu 12:32 "Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

I'm Duane Matz and that's Today's Living Word

Fear Out Cheer and Courage In

# 427 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 6:49,50 “And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw Him and were troubled. But immediately He talked with them and said to them, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid."

I f you lived in a culture that believed in ghosts as these disciples did, and you were physically exhausted and it was the middle of the night and you saw someone resembling Jesus walking next to your boat, what would your reaction be?

Would you not believe this was a ghost? Remember these disciples had not yet fully grasped all that Jesus as the Son of God was fully capable of. And if this was a ghost of Jesus, well, ....what had the people done to Him after they left? Ghosts are associated with the dead, not the living. No wonder they were troubled, so many disturbing thoughts occupying their minds.

But Jesus immediately puts them at ease. He says in essence, “Let your courage return to you! “It is I, in the flesh, recognize Me and let go of your fears” I like the way the Lutheran commentator Lenski puts it, “Fear out, cheer and courage in.”

It's what happens when we recognize the presence of Jesus. May God grant such recognition to you today and every day in which fear raises up to steal your cheer and courage. It is I, Jesus, perfect love, and “perfect love casts out fear, “ 1 Jn 4:18

I'm Duane Matz and that's Today's Living Word.

He Took His Own Sweet Perfect Time

# 425 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 6:47,48 Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land. Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by.

What time did Jesus come to His disciples? “About the fourth watch.” So, when is that? Well, the first watch is from 6 to 9 p.m., the second from 9 to midnight, the third from midnight to 3, and the fourth watch from 3 to 6a.m. Let's do the math.

The disciples began their trip across the lake in the first watch and were virtually stuck as they could make no progress against the wind and the waves. They have been in the water for about 7 hours and the idea of “straining against the oars” is that of being “put to the test by torture.” These guys were physically exhausted!

Jesus, in His omniscience, knew they were in trouble, in His omnipotence, He defied gravity and walked on the water, yet He walked. He didn't transport Himself supernaturally. He walked. He took His own sweet perfect amount of time. And even though His disciples couldn't see Him take that first step on the water, help was on the way.

Are you going through a tortuous time in your life right now? Don't give up, keep straining at the oars knowing that Jesus is on the way. He sees your situation. He knows what you need and He will arrive on time.

I'm Duane Matz and that's Today's Living Word

Take Time To Pray

# 424 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 6:45,46 Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the multitude away. 46 And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray.

It seems whenever we read of Jesus “getting away from it all,” in order to pray, something monumental is about to happen, or He is facing some kind of temptation.

He prayed all night before He chose His disciples. He rose early in the morning to pray when it was time to leave Capernaum, perhaps facing temptation to stay instead of moving on to other towns. Here, the people were about to declare Him as their earthly king, “Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone. (Jn 6:15

How much easier it would've been to follow the earthly king route, rather than the way of the cross which He knew loomed before Him, and let me remind you that he did it for you and for me.

Are you facing temptation today? Is there something happening in your life that is tempting you to take the worlds way out rather than following the Word of God? Is there big decision looming in your life? Is there a victory to be thankful for? Learn from Jesus. Take time to get away and pray. Dismiss the pressing concerns around you for a time and get alone with your Abba Father. He wants to hear from you!

I'm Duane Matz and that's Today's Living Word

Flee Temptations Immediately

# 423 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 6:45,46 Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the multitude away. And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray.

Immediately! What's the rush Jesus? It's at times like these that it is very important that we use our cross-references in our Bible to see what the biblical references can tell us about a specific event. This is good policy whenever reading in Scripture. Cross references can greatly enhance our understanding of Scripture and can keep us from drawing erroneous conclusions.

So, after Jesus has fed the 5000, why the urgency for his disciples to get out of there? The answer is found in the account of this incident given in the Gospel of John. In Jn 6:14,15 we see that the people were so impressed with this miracle that they were about to force him to become their king!

Where have we heard that before? Was it not one of the temptations that the devil presented to Jesus in the wilderness? Having failed in the wilderness, the devil “departed from Him until an opportune time.” (Luke 4:13) Well, here was a more opportune time and Jesus pulls out still another biblical tool to deal with temptations. “Flee.” When? Immediately! It's a God-given tool for the believer. Use it!

I'm Duane Matz and that's today's Living Word.

Why Twelve Baskets Of Leftovers?

# 422 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 6:43,44 And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fish. Now those who had eaten the loaves were about five thousand men.

When one considers that the figure of 5000 people just includes the men, one has to wonder how many women and children were also fed! They all must've done a good job of cleaning off their plates because out of those thousands of people only twelve baskets of leftovers were gathered!

But why twelve? The answer is fairly simple. The disciples were distributing the food. They had nothing to eat, and so Jesus provided for them as well. Here's a lesson for the church.

Who provided for the 5,000 plus people? The answer of course is Jesus. Who provided for the twelve with what Jesus had provided for them? The people. The number twelve is symbolic of the church and here we see the principle of giving a percentage of what the Lord has given you back to Him. (He is the embodiment of the church.)

Unfortunately, we miss the point if we think in terms of the disciples gathering leftovers. That's what's wrong with most church giving today. The church gets what's left over.

These weren't leftovers, these were fragments, and fragments speak of percentages, and a good percentage to start with is the tithe. God has provided for you and I, and we should thankfully give a fragment (a tithe) of His provision back to His church.

I'm Duane Matz and that's Today's Living Word.

The Bread Of Life Is Not To Be Wasted

# 421 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 6:43,44 And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fish. Now those who had eaten the loaves were about five thousand men.

Bread is a gift from God and it is not to be wasted. In Johns account of this miracle we read the command of Jesus given to His disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” ( Jn 6:12) By the way, the entire sixth chapter of John is devoted to the theme of bread. If you want to take the time to count, you will find the word “bread” mentioned 17 times. It begins with bread in the physical sense as necessary to strengthen and sustain physical life in the feeding of the 5,000, and moves to bread in the spiritual sense as embodied in the Son of man, (Jesus) who describes Himself as the bread of life that is necessary to strengthen and sustain spiritual life.

The Bread of Life is not to be wasted. The Roman Catholics provide a beautiful picture of this as they take extreme measures to gather any crumbs that may fall to the ground during the Lord's Supper. Now you may or not agree with their theology concerning the Lord's presence at the table, but the point being made is this.....nothing of Jesus is to be wasted. He is the Bread of Life sent from God, and so we receive Him with thanksgiving, and receive the Word that He embodies with the same attitude. Nothing is wasted. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable. (2 Tim 3:16)

I'm Duane Matz and that's Today's Living Word

The Thanks Weight Loss Plan

# 420 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 6:43,44 And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fish. Now those who had eaten the loaves were about five thousand men.

Remember when your mom used to tell you to eat everything on your plate? Apparently not all people got that message as there were enough leftovers here to fill up another twelve baskets! Still, only twelve baskets after what is conservatively estimated as a crowd of 10,000....not bad!

This gathering of leftovers is not an unusual occurrence after a meal in this Jewish culture. This gathering of the scraps was in a sense an expression of thanksgiving. Because “bread” or food was rightly acknowledged as a gift from God.

I’m ashamed to think of how much food I toss in the garbage can every day, and how flippant and rote my table prayers are as I sit before a table that overflows with the goodness of God.

When I think of my own eating habits and the habits of Americans I see why we are so overweight. Maybe if we would adopt the attitude of Jesus toward food, that is, a deep appreciation of where it really comes from, we would be less likely to wolf it down and gorge ourselves. Maybe if we realized that the food from our tables could be cut off in an instant if God so chose, maybe we would be more thankful and less wasteful. Maybe giving heartfelt thanks and savoring our food would be the best diet of all!

I'm Duane Matz and that's Today's Living Word

Completely Satisfied At the Lord's Table

# 419 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 6:41,42 And when He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and the two fish He divided among them all. So they all ate and were filled.

We get a little glimpse into the miracle itself here with the use of the imperfect tense associated with the phrase, “gave them to His disciples.” The idea being one of continuous action. The bread multiplied in His hand. It kept coming and coming and coming. The bread and the fish multiplied so much that all ate and all were filled.

The word filled here means that they were completely satisfied. Have you ever had a meal like that? Wouldn't you agree that it is a wonderful experience to leave a table completely satisfied?

Well, you know, it's how the Lord wants you and I to leave the table when we celebrate the Lord's Supper. He wants us to leave completely satisfied, secure in the knowledge that God is completely satisfied with the shed blood of Jesus as the price for our sins. For Jesus Himself said, “This is My blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. (Mt 26:28) And as the bread kept coming and coming, so His forgiveness keeps coming and coming to us as we celebrate this meal until He comes again.

I'm Duane Matz and that's Today's Living Word

Memorable Table Prayers

# 418 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 6:41 And when He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and the two fish He divided among them all.

Five thousand people, not counting the women and children, And there's Jesus standing above them all on the mountain holding the entire buffet in His hands. Five loaves and two fish. He looked to heaven and blessed the food, that is, He gave thanks for it.

Wouldn't you have loved to be present when Jesus gave table blessings? They must've been very memorable events. Think about it, when He walked with the disciples on the road to Emmaus they didn't recognize Him until He gave the table blessing.

“When He was at table with them, He took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized Him.” (Luke 24:30,31)

Are your table prayers memorable? Honestly, most of the time mine aren't. I hate to admit it, but I often find myself, (1) praying a rote table prayer, or (2) trying to impress others with my words and piety, or (3) thinking more about tearing into my food and sometimes so much so that I even forget to pray!

What to do? When Jesus prayed, He connected with His Father, and this is what made His prayers memorable. It's not about words, it's not about show, it's about an unmistakable connection of a thankful heart to a loving benefactor. So when you pray simply acknowledge God as your all providing Father and sincerely thank Him. It's that simple.

I think one of the reasons Jesus' table prayers were so memorable is that He had an appreciation of everything that went into God's providential creativity to bring that food to table. That should be enough to evoke sincere thanks from all of us!

I'm Duane Matz and that's Today's Living Word.

Why the Multiples of Fifty?

417 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 6:38-40 “But He said to them, "How many loaves do you have? Go and see." And when they found out they said, "Five, and two fish." Then He commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in ranks, in hundreds and in fifties.

The disciples have given their excuse for not attempting to feed the crowd, so Jesus proceeds with the miracle. His command to have the throng sit down in groups of fifty is reminiscent of the time He commanded the servants to fill the water pots and bring them to the master of the wedding at Cana. The seating arrangement meant that He intended to feed them and I suppose the disciples were wondering what He was up to but like the servants at the wedding they did it anyway.

Why the multiples of fifty? I don't know. I do know that the idea of sitting in ranks is like the orderly rows of a garden. Perhaps the idea of ranks is connected with the church as individual congregations. Here on the mountain side we can picture the individual congregations, like individual garden plots. All being strengthened by the teaching of Jesus, then miraculously fed by Him, much like what we see in a worship service that includes the Lord's Supper. It's a great picture isn't it?

I'm Duane Matz and that's Today's Living Word.

Simple One Word Commands

# 416 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 6:37 But He answered and said to them, "You give them something to eat." And they said to Him, "Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?"

Have you ever thought about the sheer simplicity of the commands of Jesus? Many times His commands can be summed up in one word! For example, when He beckoned Peter to come out of the boat and walk to Him on the water, He simply said, “Come.”

Let's think of some others. The great commission is “Go!” The greatest commandment is “Love,” and there are many other simple one or two word commands in Scripture. It seems we are the ones who try to complicate them by attaching our own personal riders.

Here Jesus simply says, “Give.” The disciples seek to add the rider, “give only when you have enough on hand to meet the need.” I've got news for you folks, apart from Jesus, you will never have enough.

The poor will always be with us. (Mt 26:11) And if you wait till you have enough, you will never give. Jesus command is simple. “Give”

A good place to start is the tithe. Ten percent of your income given to your church. Mal 3:10 says, “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,” Again a simple command “Bring.” Don't sit on it. Bring it to your church. Bring it to the storehouse.

Why the storehouse? Read the rest of the verse. “That there may be food in My house,” We bring to provide food, and when we “bring” we are promised a great blessing in the latter part of this passage.

And try Me now in this," Says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.(Mal 3:10b).....”Bring,” and be blessed

I'm Duane Matz and that's Today's Living Word

Really?

# 415 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 6:35-37, “When the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him and said, "This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late. "Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat." But He answered and said to them, "You give them something to eat." And they said to Him, "Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?"

It's interesting to read John's account of this event because he includes a detail not found in Mark. Listen: Joh 6:5-7, “Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?" But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do. Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little."

Jesus brought the matter up of feeding these people BEFORE He began to teach, and He did it in order to test Phillip and the others. They failed. They looked at the size of the crowd, (5,000 men, not counting women and children) and declared that even if they had 200 days wages, it would not be enough to feed this crowd!

How soon they had forgotten how He had sent them out with nothing and supplied their every need. How soon we abandon obedience and faith in time of crisis. Jesus' command was simple, “You give them something to eat.” They delayed because they didn't believe.

Perhaps there is a lesson here for the church today. The physically and spiritually hunger are ever before us. Their numbers are astounding. Nonetheless Jesus tells us, “You give them something to eat.” But we delay because we start to reason that we don't have the resources...............really?

I'm Duane Matz and that's Today's Living Word.

Yearning Bowels

# 413 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 6:34, “And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.

The word compassion as found in the Scriptures literally means “yearning bowels.” I love that definition because even though it may seem a little crass, it describes perfectly the idea of true compassion.

Think about it. Our physical body is made in such a way that when our bowels “yearn,” we have no choice but to find an avenue of relief. This was the impetus for the action of the Good Samaritan. He had no choice in the matter, he was compelled to act on behalf of the man in the ditch. Jesus likewise couldn't help it here! He saw a need and responded accordingly.

To resist these yearnings is to set yourself up for the spiritual constipation of a hardened heart. Pity the priest and Levite who ignored the need of the man in the ditch, there is no joy in the rigors of constipation, either physical or spiritual.

Oh Lord, we live in a fast paced world and it is easy to say, “I don't have time, or let someone else do it,” Help us to be more sensitive to the Holy Spirit's prompting in the area of compassion. You didn't give us grace to bottle it up, grace, by its very nature flows. Let it flow through us as we respond to the opportunities that You place before us today. In Jesus name, Amen.

I'm Duane Matz and that's Today's Living Word

A Lack of Discipline

# 412 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 6:32-34, “So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves. But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him. And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.

The crowd saw Jesus and His disciples departing and they figured out that He was heading for a deserted place and so they took off on land in hot pursuit. They gathered more and more people as they went through the cities. The final total was 5,000 men plus women and children.

From Johns account of this event found in Jn 6:3-5, we are assured that Jesus and His disciples indeed did make it to their “deserted” place. He was able to spend a little time with His disciples at the top of a mountain and when the crowd arrived they appeared before Him from His vantage point on top of the mountain and then climbing the mountain, came together to Him.

Why was Jesus so moved by this crowd? What did HE see as their need? They were like sheep without a shepherd! Think about it. Jesus looks down from the mountain and sees this mass of humanity much like a huge flock of sheep and they have no leader!

They had come to Jesus literally running (v33) picking up people as they went through the cities and most of the people in this kind of mob mentality really don't know who or what they are chasing after. They just follow the crowd.

So what does He do? He began to teach them many things. He began to straighten them out! Honestly it seems we have the same kind of a problem today. People flock to what and who is fashionable. We flock to this teacher and that teacher, this book and that book, this program and that program, and what we really need is to be taught by the Master.

We too need to be straightened out! We need to be taught by the Holy Spirit working through the Word of God. We don't need teaching that justifies our unbiblical behavior, rather we need those truths of Scripture that seek to sanctify our behavior.

Don't believe me? Observe the majority of the sheep today. How many are practicing the spiritual disciplines of prayer, fasting, and giving to the poor? How many are following the biblical guidelines for sexual purity?

Let's face it, for the most part, we are undisciplined....like sheep without a shepherd. But there is hope.

Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

Come back to the Good Shepherd! Allow Him to take your iniquitous meanderings on Himself, and then seek to live according to His voice in the power of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God.

I'm Duane Matz and that's Today's Living Word.

The First Church Retreat

# 411 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 6:31 And He said to them, "Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.”

Consider the situation. Jesus and His disciples have just received the news of the death of John the Baptist. (An emotional low.) The disciples are riding an emotional high as they have returned from their first excursion into the world as the church and had great success! But there was no time to take any of it in. No time to mourn, no time to rejoice. In fact as we read, they had no time to eat because the people kept coming to Jesus for His touch.

This is the lot of the work of the church. It is filled with emotional highs and lows, and physical demands. This roller coasting living takes its toll. And Jesus calls for the first church retreat.

This is another model that we would do well to implement in our churches today. The practice of holding regular church retreats. He said, “Come aside by yourselves,” indicating they should go off together to a deserted place for the purpose of resting and recharging their spiritual and physical batteries.

Praise God for Christian camps and retreat centers. They provide an opportunity for such rest. Pray for them, support them in any way you can, and most importantly use them! It's what Jesus urged His church to do.

I'm Duane Matz and that's Today's Living Word.

What Are Your Sent Out Ones Teaching?

# 410 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 6:30 Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught.(Mr 6:30)

Having filled us in on the details of the death of John the Baptist, Mark now takes us to the return of the apostles from their initial foray against the gates of hell.

Jesus had given them the message to preach (repentance) and empowered them to cast out demons and heal diseases. (v12) He had sent them out with no provisions to teach them to rely on Him, and now they were reporting back to Him.

In this verse, we have an example of accountability from the Good Shepherd that we would do well to follow today. Pastors, elder boards and the like need to know what their “sent out” ones are doing and teaching. I don't know how many times I have read this account and never paid any attention to the fact that the disciples also reported to Jesus what they had been teaching.

It's easy to get caught up in the excitement of all the spectacular things that were happening, but what were the disciples teaching when they went out? What was their message? You see, doctrine does matter! The Bible is rife with warnings against false teaching, and this kind of accountability for Sunday School teachers, Bible Study leaders, and missionaries is a great method for keeping all “sent ones” on track.

I'm Duane Matz and that's Today's Living Word

Peer Pressure

# 409 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 6:24-29, “So she went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask?" And she said, "The head of John the Baptist!" Immediately she came in with haste to the king and asked, saying, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter." And the king was exceedingly sorry; yet, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard of it, they came and took away his corpse and laid it in a tomb.

The power of peer pressure! That strong desire to be esteemed by others. Even though Herod was EXCEEDINGLY sorry for what he was about to do....he did it anyway.

The devil knows how prone we are to this kind of pressure and that's why we pick up on the urgency of the moment. Note the words, “immediately, with haste, and at once” in the text. If the guests leave, Herod may change his mind, and John may be spared, so the pressure is on to do it immediately!

Teens aren't the only ones susceptible to peer pressure, and when peer pressure comes, pray that God will give you the faith and the sense to remain faithful to Him. To fall for peer pressure is to be concerned about your glory rather than God's.

I'm Duane Matz and that's Today's Living Word.

Herod Might As Well Have Been At A Strip Club

# 408 - Today's living Word comes from Mr 6:21-23, “Then an opportune day came when Herod on his birthday gave a feast for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee. And when Herodias' daughter herself came in and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the girl, "Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you." He also swore to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom."

“An opportune day came,” chilling words. Herodius was so angry at John that she patiently waited for her opportunity to do him in. It turns out, this was the day.

Understand this about the devil. He is very angry at God and if you are a child of God, he is very angry with you and he too will wait for opportune moments to get you to fall.

There are fewer opportunities well suited to cause someone to fall then free flowing wine, and uninhibited displays of eroticism. Herod might as well have been at a strip club. Caught up in the moment he makes a foolish oath and signs the death warrant of John the Baptist.

The next time an opportune moment to sin presents itself in your life, remember your sin not only has consequences for you, but also for others. Then by the grace of God submit yourself to God. James 4:7 says, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

I'm Duane Matz and that's Today's Living Word

Bitterness or Betterness?

# 407 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 6:19,20 “Therefore Herodias held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not; for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.

When the Law is preached, and specific sins are brought to our attention, we have several choices. We can, (1) blow it off and say, well, John, that's YOUR opinion.” We can, (2) get angry at the preacher. we can, (3) allow that Law to actually change our attitudes and guide our behaviors. Or most importantly of all, we can, (4) allow the Law to drive us to the cross and Jesus.

At the cross, we see how far short of perfection we all fall in relationship to the Law of God, and we realize that Jesus is our only hope for forgiveness. The Law can make us “bitter,” or “better.”

There must have been some unusual tension in this household as Herodias was made “bitter” by the preaching of John and Herod was actually trying to be made “better.” We read here that Herod did many of the things that John's preaching called him to do and gladly heard him.

What will you do with the Law of God? Will you (1) Blow it off? (2) Stop up your ears? (3) Use it as a moral guide? (4) Allow it to drive you to the cross? The first three always lead to bitterness. The fourth always leads to “betterness.”

I'm Duane Matz and that's Today's Living Word.

Divorce and Remarriage

# 406 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 6:17,18 “For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; for he had married her. For John had said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."

One of the mistakes made in the interpretation of this passage concerning the sin of Herod is we lock onto the phrase, “not lawful to have your brother's wife.” Immediately, we dismiss his lawless deed as incest. But that's not the issue here. John was talking about the sins of divorce and remarriage after a divorce.

Later on in the gospel of Mark, we will read of the time the Pharisees asked Jesus about the matter of divorce. Jesus replied, “What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” and then He went on to say, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her, and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.” (Mr 10:9,11)

This was the sin of Herod, and it is a sin that is still with us today. Divorce, and remarriage after a divorce, are prevalent in our society and in the church. And if John the Baptist were alive today, he would be preaching against it and it likely would cost him his head (figuratively speaking of course)

Well, he's not alive, but God's Word is alive and it says divorce and remarriage are sins. Likely, many reading this right now have been down this road of divorce and remarriage. What to do? Well, what do we do with any sin that we have been convicted of? We confess it, receive God's forgiveness and just like the woman who was caught in adultery, we go and sin no more.

It's all that John was asking Herod and Herodias to do, and it's all God asks us to do as well.

I'm Duane Matz and that's Today's Living Word