“Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” (Matthew 16:28)

There is a lot in this verse, but I’d like to draw your attention to the phrase “taste death”.  The Bible uses many different sayings to describe death, all of which have their own unique flavor (pun intended).  Death is compared to sleep. There are several connections to be made between our nightly slumber and the “big sleep”. It is referred to as “going the way of all men” or “resting with our fathers”.  Each of these analogies lend themselves to pointing out a particular aspect of death worth considering.

Here death is compared to a food that is to be tasted.  Taste is an interesting aspect of being human.  Two people may both taste the same thing and come to different conclusions.  One person likes the taste of lemon; another finds it bitter and unappealing.

In the case of death, some will find the taste sweet as they will enter into the joy of their Master. Others will gnaw at their tongues because of the bitterness of regret and the finality of their separation from their Creator.  We must all taste death, but the flavor will differ according to the life you have lived.  It is as if death is an acquired taste, like coffee, that only becomes enjoyable through effort.  Perhaps this is why Christians are called to “die daily” for the cause of Christ (see 1 Corinthians 15:31)… perhaps it is that our daily sacrifices for Him help prepare our tastebuds for the feast of eternity.  I don’t know that such is the case, but it is a thought that helps propel me toward greater discipline and sacrifice.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

“But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.” (Matthew 15:9)

All worship is not equal, and all worship is not pleasing to God.  There is a type of worship that God despises.  It is the worship that is according to man’s desires, instead of God’s precepts. A ‘precept’ is a rule intended to regulate behavior.

God has rules for worship, and our behavior should be regulated by those rules.  Christianity’s rules for worship can be found in the commands and examples of the New Testament.  The New Testament is intended to regulate our worship so that it does not become a vain idolatrous act.  These regulations, by definition, set boundaries upon how we may worship God.  At times, these regulations can feel restrictive, but just like the rules of the road, the restrictions keep us safe, allowing everyone to get to their destination in one piece.

We must all ask ourselves, “Where do I get the precepts for my worship?” If our worship is regulated by tradition instead of Scripture, it is worthless.  If our worship is unregulated, then it might be passionate, but it is also dangerous.

Only true and doctrinal worship found in the New Testament can bring both joy to us, and more importantly, glory to God.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

“Having been prompted by her mother, she said, ‘Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.’” (Matthew 14:8)

We are told that children are like arrows in the quiver of their parents (see Psalm 127:4).  Herodias sure pointed her daughter in an awful direction.  Can you imagine prompting your child to ask for a man’s head as a gift?  Can you imagine finding joy in murder?

Can you imagine prompting your child to watch violence and find it entertaining? Better watch your television choices.

Can you imagine prompting your child to hate and envy others? Better guard your tongue from gossip and slander.

Can you imagine prompting your child to hate the church and despise what Jesus died for? Better speak kindly of the brethren.

Can you imagine prompting your child to be an idolater who is apathetic toward God? Better make sure you aren’t making excuses to skip worship for less worthy tasks.

We all prompt our kids by our actions and our examples.  Point your arrows faithfully.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

“For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.” (Matthew 13:17)

It is easy to forget how good we’ve got it.  Things that we take for granted just one or two generations ago were unheard of.  Less than four generations ago, nothing traveled faster than a horse.  Less than three generations ago, most people didn’t have indoor plumbing.  Two generations ago existed without microwaves, and just one generation ago, we didn’t have the internet or any other instant information technology.

Most of human civilization lived without the gospel of Jesus Christ.  No Sermon on the Mount.  No message of heaven and forgiveness in Christ.  No hope and anchor for the soul.  They were left to wait for the Messiah who hadn’t yet been revealed.

We are blessed with what prior generations would have never imagined possible.  Don’t take for granted the gift.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

“But the Pharisees went out and conspired against Him, as to how they might destroy Him.” (Matthew 12:14)

Do you know what we call when people conspire together? We call it a conspiracy.  There was a conspiracy amongst the wicked to destroy Jesus, and it wasn’t a theory.  It was a reality.

Do you think there might be conspiracies to attack Jesus and His people today, too?  I’m thinking it is more than a theory.  Jesus said that if they persecuted Him, they will persecute His servants, too (see John 15:20).

Ever feel like there seems to be a concerted effort to attack Christian values? Or destroy godly homes? Or label our faith in Christ as ‘hate’?  Just because you are paranoid, doesn’t mean they aren’t out to get you.

Yet, take courage, the forces of wickedness in the heavenly places have always rattled their sabers and plotted their conspiracies.  They did against our Lord, but the tomb was still empty on Sunday morning.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

“What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?” (Matthew 11:7)

The appeal of John the Baptist was his conviction, not his conformity.  Jesus understood this.  Jesus spoke of the greatness of John, and He began by praising him as a man who stood in the gap and didn’t move with the times like grass in the breeze.

It is a difficult thing to have principles.  The world around us is constantly nudging us toward compliance.  Watch reeds in the wind and you will see that all the reeds look the same; they bend in a way that allows them to not buckle under the pressure of the climate around them.  It is an ingenious design – bend, conform, adapt, and survive.

This is the temptation for all mankind.  The wide path is the one that is paved, and it is where the traffic is flowing.  The narrow path is uphill and against traffic.  To be a person of conviction is like trying to re-enter the stadium after the game lets out… lots of dirty looks, plenty of pressure, and much effort for minimal progress.

John chose to be a man of principle, unyielding to the pressures of his day, and he received praise from Jesus for it.  Go and do likewise.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

“Freely you received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:8b)

When Jesus gave authority to His apostles to heal sicknesses, diseases, and cast out demons, He also instructed them in the degree to which they should perform them.

Should they only save these abilities for the very sick? Or should they only be used on those deemed most worthy of healing?  Should they only cast demons out of young people? Would it be all right if they avoided the demon-possessed who were in remote places?

Jesus’ answer is simple: “freely you received, freely give.”  This principle is reiterated in Galatians 6:10 when we are all told to do good “as we have opportunity.”  Our efforts should be focused on whatever opportunities are in front of us.  We should be lavish in our desire to serve and do good to others.

As a point of clarification: this is not permission to be foolish and enable bad behavior through feeding addiction, foolishness, or laziness.  The principles of stewardship still apply.

However, we better make sure that we aren’t confusing stewardship with a desire to just do nothing because helping others is inconvenient.  Jesus has freely given us life and done good to us far beyond what we deserve – we are called to do likewise.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

“As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called Matthew, sitting in the tax collector’s booth; and He said to him, ‘Follow Me!’ and he got up and followed Him.” (Matthew 9:9)

The common theme to the calling of the apostles was their immediate obedience in following Jesus.  Peter, James, and John dropped their nets, and Matthew left his booth.  Seemingly without hesitation, these men left one life to pursue Jesus.

They understood He would lead them into a new and exciting adventure, but they had no idea what this future life would look like.  They left the old without yet seeing the new.  All they saw was Him.

The apostles couldn’t fathom the road ahead (and considering the suffering and persecution they endured along the way, that is probably for the best), but they knew that a life without Jesus wasn’t worth having.  He was their world and following Him was their road.

This is faith.  To follow Jesus is to not know where you are going but to know He is worth leaving where you are.  Follow Him.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

“And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw Him, they implored Him to leave their region.” (Matthew 8:34)

When they saw Jesus… they implored Him to leave.  What a sad story this is.  Why would an entire city beg Jesus to leave?  To understand these words, we must connect them to the region and the events immediately preceding.

Jesus is on the east side of the sea of Galilee, a region commonly referred to as the Decapolis, the place of ten cities, and it is a region that is a non-Jewish territory (hence the pig farming – something you would never have seen done amongst the Jews who considered pigs unclean).  This is one of the few times Jesus leaves the land of Israel for a Gentile territory.

Having entered this part of the world, He comes across two men possessed by demons.  Wickedly violent and dangerous, these men had been terrorizing the region in such a manner that no one could even pass through where they dwelt.  Jesus healed the men and cast the demons into a herd of pigs.  The pigs ran directly into the sea of Galilee and drown themselves.  These events evoked a sense of awe and wariness of Jesus’ might in the eyes of the people… but it was awe without knowledge.  Thus, they begged Him to leave.  The demon-possessed men were terrors – how much worse a Jewish man who overpowered them?!

We sing a song entitled Do You Know My Jesus, and it is a good reminder that we must know who Jesus is, or we will miss all that matters.  If they had known who wielded the power to cast out Legion, they would have sought Him instead of fled.  We will never draw near to a God we do not understand.  We must seek to know Him and understand Him.  Only then will we draw near with confidence.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

“Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:3)

We all respect those who can admit their own faults.  We consider it a strength, but we often fail to show it ourselves.  Jesus gives us the rule – always notice your own faults before speaking to others about theirs.  In every situation, I should consider my own failings and sins before moving on to anyone else’s.

By following this rule, we will save ourselves countless heartaches and also be better-equipped to help our brother or sister with their speck, having dealt with our own junk first.  The most powerful tool you have to change the world around you is a good long look in the mirror.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites