Notes From Matthew

Define "Hubris" ? OK - "Lane doing a book review". Define "height of human arrogance"? Easy - "Lane doing a book review on a Book of the Cannon". But in my defense here, my intention is to only let you know the thoughts, convictions and impressions that the book left-not a critique in anyway, shape or form. You might recall the challenge I presented myself HERE. In lieu of reading what people say about Jesus, I'm just going to read what he says this year. I started with Matthew because, well, it's first. Color me simple. I've completed Matthew and V and I are working on Luke together. Here are some things I picked up from Matthew. Note, I'm not a theologian, scholar, preacher or anything other than a Bible College drop-out. Albeit a rather handsome and charming bible college drop out. So don't read this if you are expecting great insight. You are likely to be in a different place. This is just me typing.

- Something I've always wondered: How did anyone who knew Jesus first hand like Matthew or John manage to remain so objective in their accounts. If it were me writing, it'd be peppered with subjective quotes like "dude, seriously, Jesus fed 5000 that day with, like a couple of fish and some Brown N Serves-it was awesome." or "I'm not sure what kind of cold hearted, self loving/loathing idiot can sit there and read what I'm writing and still not believe that Jesus is God in the flesh and wants you to get to know him. Really, repent. Like, now". But not Matthew, he just gives the facts and lets the Jesus' words and actions speak for themselves without beating the reader over the head. Wish I could do the same sometimes.

- You'd expect - as would most of Jews in Century 1 - that if you were God in the flesh, born as a baby and thus in the line of David, you'd have a who's-who of the Jewish faithful in your Genealogy. But what you have is a list of adulterers, prostitutes, bastard children, faithless, rebellious, liars, cheats and Gentiles. What you have is Grace. Thank God.

- The Sermon on the Mount kills me every time. What a challenge it is not to use it as just another list of instructions on how to be a good Christian. That is nothing more than being a Pharisee. It is a list to show how far we are from God and what to do to get back. I'm poor in spirit. Thank you for blessing me anyway.

- Finally, if there is one overall impression that I never really noticed, or paid much attention to until now, it is this; Every time Jesus spoke to someone, it was meant to enhance His relationship with the other party. What would happen if I made a point of doing the same? What if I every conversation I had, I focused on enhancing my relationship with the other person? How much less would I yell at the children, or split hairs with my wife, or treat the lady behind the counter at the Taco Shop? How would my co-worker's perceptions of me change? What if I added to it, and instead of trying to enhance their relationship with me, what if I tried to enhance their relationship with the Jesus in Matthew's account as well? It's not easy. But I think the main problem I have with myself and humans in general is the fact that 90% of what we do and say is is done and said on autopilot. If I used my head, tried to be more self aware, tried to be more like Jesus in this area, I bet each relationship in my life would change for the better.

I'm working on something about the Temptation, and we'll get it posted - probably after we read it in Luke. Until then....