Amos 7-9; Matthew 15
Amos 7-9
The reaction of people to God's word often expresses itself not in obedience but in attempts to silence His messengers. It's astonishing that in the case of Amos, the one complaining to the king is a priest who should know God's law and encourage listening to it: "Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, 'Amos has conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel. The land is not able to bear all his words.'" (Amos 7:10)
Amos refuses to be silent despite threats, asserting that he is called and sent by God: "Then Amos answered and said to Amaziah, 'I was no prophet, nor a prophet's son, but I was a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore figs. But the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, "Go, prophesy to my people Israel." '" (Amos 7:14-15)
God's word will not always be available to people: "They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, to seek the word of the Lord, but they shall not find it." (Amos 8:12)
Prophesying about God's judgment, Amos, like other prophets, speaks of a future restoration of Israel: "In that day I will raise the booth of David that is fallen and repair its breaches, and raise its ruins and rebuild it as in the days of old," (Amos 9:11)
Matthew 15
Formal religiosity has always been a significant problem. Matthew highlights this in describing Jesus' interactions with the Pharisees. The main dangers include:
- Human traditions are elevated above God's commandments: "He answered them, 'And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?'" (Matthew 15:3)
- External religiosity replaces heartfelt worship: "This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me;" (Matthew 15:8)
- Our lives are determined by the state of our hearts, not external factors: "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander." (Matthew 15:19)
Matthew contrasts this with the sincere faith of the Gentile woman: "Then Jesus answered her, 'O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.' And her daughter was healed instantly." (Matthew 15:28)
The reaction of people to God's word often expresses itself not in obedience but in attempts to silence His messengers. It's astonishing that in the case of Amos, the one complaining to the king is a priest who should know God's law and encourage listening to it: "Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, 'Amos has conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel. The land is not able to bear all his words.'" (Amos 7:10)
Amos refuses to be silent despite threats, asserting that he is called and sent by God: "Then Amos answered and said to Amaziah, 'I was no prophet, nor a prophet's son, but I was a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore figs. But the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, "Go, prophesy to my people Israel." '" (Amos 7:14-15)
God's word will not always be available to people: "They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, to seek the word of the Lord, but they shall not find it." (Amos 8:12)
Prophesying about God's judgment, Amos, like other prophets, speaks of a future restoration of Israel: "In that day I will raise the booth of David that is fallen and repair its breaches, and raise its ruins and rebuild it as in the days of old," (Amos 9:11)
Matthew 15
Formal religiosity has always been a significant problem. Matthew highlights this in describing Jesus' interactions with the Pharisees. The main dangers include:
- Human traditions are elevated above God's commandments: "He answered them, 'And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?'" (Matthew 15:3)
- External religiosity replaces heartfelt worship: "This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me;" (Matthew 15:8)
- Our lives are determined by the state of our hearts, not external factors: "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander." (Matthew 15:19)
Matthew contrasts this with the sincere faith of the Gentile woman: "Then Jesus answered her, 'O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.' And her daughter was healed instantly." (Matthew 15:28)
Posted in Reading Bible Together