Matthew 6:25-34

 ““Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky: They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you more valuable than they are? And which of you by worrying can add even one hour to his life? Why do you worry about clothing? Think about how the flowers of the field grow; they do not work or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these! And if this is how God clothes the wild grass, which is here today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven, won’t he clothe you even more, you people of little faith? So then, don’t worry saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For the unconverted pursue these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.”

— ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭25‬-‭34‬‬

So much more difficult to apply than understand what Jesus was saying. Could do background study on socio-economic status of those in northern Galilee. They did not have much. 

These verses fit into wisdom/rabbi tradition. Again, Jesus emphasizes the goodness of the Father. He loves His children and longs to provide for them. He will not forget their needs. 

Are there ever followers of Jesus that suffer from hunger or lack of shelter? Probably, and it would be interesting to have a conversation with them. Their perspective would be enlightening. But that’s still not the point here. God provides for His children, generally, universally. Yes, I would still make this a promise, because it’s emphasized in other places of the Bible, too, but I also allow for experience to inform theology. 

Cognitive dissonance is my phrase of the decade I think. Two things can both be true even though they seem contradictory. I can hold things in tension pretty well. The world is an awful place sometimes, but I can have confidence in God’s power and provision and love.

My responsibility is not to worry. An unbelieving mind/heart is concerned about my needs. My desires. What gets me through the day. 

Jesus says to focus on the kingdom. This is a realm. A real realm where Jesus reigns. This is worth a book, but others have done it. Can’t go extensive now. Probably a theology blog later about the already /not yet nature of the kingdom. It’s invisible now but visible later. It’s growing like a mustard seed (not in a post millennial kingdom sense). 

We pray for the kingdom to come and advance on earth.  The church is not the kingdom, but we are inhabitants of the kingdom. Israel is not the kingdom but believing Israel is also part of the church. Jesus reigns over all and we will see that reign completely enforced one day. 

How do we seek it? How do we focus on it? How do we pursue it? And righteousness…a classic Matthew term. The sermon on the mount will tell us. The law of love, both for neighbors/enemies. A higher morality. Matthew will discuss a commitment to discipleship. But all of this assumes a lack of commitment to me and my needs. Can’t have both.

For more reflection on a personal story of struggles with worry, see Chapter 6 in Too Small to Understand Why.

Romans 3:21-31

 “But now apart from the law the righteousness of God (which is attested by the law and the prophets) has been disclosed – namely, the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. But they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God publicly displayed him at his death as the mercy seat accessible through faith. This was to demonstrate his righteousness, because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed. This was also to demonstrate his righteousness in the present time, so that he would be just and the justifier of the one who lives because of Jesus’ faithfulness. Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded! By what principle? Of works? No, but by the principle of faith! For we consider that a person is declared righteous by faith apart from the works of the law. Or is God the God of the Jews only? Is he not the God of the Gentiles too? Yes, of the Gentiles too! Since God is one, he will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. Do we then nullify the law through faith? Absolutely not! Instead we uphold the law.”

— ‭‭Romans‬ ‭3‬:‭21‬-‭31‬‬

This is major passage for New Perspective on Paul. (And key passage for Romans in general.) 

Debate is whether “salvation” in Romans focuses on individual or more ethnic approach. Since Reformation at least, it’s been more individual. NPP argues at least emphasis is more ethnic/national approach (but not necessarily neglecting individual. 

Nevertheless, in 1:18-3:20, Paul has condemned all people(s). To give good news, Paul has demonstrated how God is completely holy and needs to show how He can accept sinners. But there’s also debate on meaning of “righteousness.” 

Will add later blog later on this. Also debate on “faith in Jesus” vs. “faithfulness of Jesus.” No evidence is concrete, but it may lean slightly toward the latter. Then the object of our faith is proven worthy of of our faith because He himself is faithful.

“All have sinned…” vv. 23 and following are actually one long sentence, including some participles (e.g., being justified), so the “all” that begins v. 23 refers to believers in this context. Otherwise, Paul would be preaching universalism. 

Fall short of the glory of God is probably a reference back to 1:21 where humans fails to glorify God. 

Justification typically refers to a declaration by God that the sinner is righteous. Cf Exod 23:7; Isa 5:22-23 for similar language. God does not justify for a bribe. He justifies freely. 

VV 24-26. Most atonement language uses metaphor, and ransom is another. Many writings about ransom in Greek literature involve price, but other times, even in LXX (Dan 4:34) focus on liberation or deliverance. Here, though a price may be mentioned in Jesus’ blood, the emphasis is on the liberation. 

Mercy seat vs. expiation vs. propitiation. The term could be any of these, but the NET has translated as the mercy seat, the actual place where atonement was made in the OT. Only other place the term is used is Heb 9:5. Propitiation is the satisfying of wrath. Expiation is taking away sin. Mercy seat is the place where all of this occurred. 

In his blood provides a mixed metaphor, because Jesus is now the place of the sacrifice and the sacrifice. 

The main point of this passage is to defend God’s righteousness. He places Jesus forth so that He is able to accept sinners as sons and daughters. There is so much work done on the atonement and what exactly happened. So many theories. I’m currently working through it and rethinking some things. Passages like this are very difficult. Wrath of God and sacrifice of Jesus confused a lot of people. How does this relate to the gift of God and the conquering of death and evil?

VV 27-31 come back or continue the ethnic or corporate salvation themes. All nations come to faith through Jesus, not the Jewish distinctive found in the law or their traditions. Rom 2 is key for condemning Jewish traditions and law keeping. Jews didn’t necessarily think of YHWH as their exclusive God. Paul may be using common theology with his audience to advance his argument.

How do we establish the law? Christ’s faithfulness fulfilled law (just had whole section on that) This vindicates God’s justification and holiness/righteousness. As we follow and abide in Christ, we gain new life. Faith does not prove the law wrong but points us to live the way God intended. Galatians will say we fulfill the law of love.

Romans 1:16-17

 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel from faith to faith, just as it is written, “The righteous by faith will live.””

— ‭‭Romans‬ ‭1‬:‭16‬-‭17‬‬

Gospel is the means God used to save people. It is what He has chosen to do His work. People cannot be saved apart from the gospel (and I’m not going to get into people who haven’t heard… let’s just leave that to Gods character for now).

This verse is key to understand Romans. I try to have balanced approach. Since Reformation, interpretation has been individualistic. New perspective on Paul emphasizes ethnic approach of Jew/Gentile relations. V 16 supports this. I like a both/and but Paul’s main point and throughout first century may be the Jew/Gentile relations.

Righteousness of God is debated: could be his character, believers new identity, or Christs imputed righteousness. Cant solve that here. 

From faith to faith is just as hard bc prepositions can mean different things. Point is that those who enter Gods family or inherit His righteousness do so on the basis of faith, and both Jew and Gentile are equal in this regard.