Insightful Musings on theScriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

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22 Jan 12
            Good evening, dear nice people.
            It has definitely been a stimulating weekend.  We only made it to a couple sessions of the Mission Connexion Northwest yesterday, but they were definitely powerful.  Then we attended terrific services this morning at Salem Alliance Church and re-connected with friends that were with us in the Pacific for many years.  We had a good time over lunch.  We had to hurry home to our Gospel Sing thing at Pheasant Pointe at 3pm.  Good time.  Big group.
            With the rain pounding on the roof again, I hope you’re staying dry…and blessed.
                        Love, Dad/Ray
 
22 January
Passage: Matthew 15:1-28
Focus: “Then the disciples came to him and asked, ‘Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?’”  Matthew 15:12.
            Have you noticed that the disciples were not always on the same page with Jesus?  We have one such case in the verse quoted above.  The disciples were actually filing a kind of complaint with Jesus.  May I use my imagination and paraphrase their intent?  “Jesus—we were really squirming when you spoke so harshly to the Pharisees.  Are you aware that you actually called them ‘hypocrites?’  You know they had to be pretty offended.”  Jesus’ implied reply is something like this: “So what!?  I came to speak TRUTH, not to make arrogant elitists feel good.”
            Here’s another clash of ideas: Peter was representative of the other disciples when he asks Jesus for clarification as to what Jesus really meant when He spoke of what defiles a man.  Apparently Peter, like the Pharisees, really thought that the tradition of ceremonial washing was equal with a law of God.  To prod Peter into thinking more clearly, Jesus seriously rattled his cage and said, “Are you still so dull?”  (15:16).  In other words—“Come on, Peter—use your noodle!” Ouch! 
            One more mismatch appears in verse 23 of this reading where the disciples are irritated with the Canaanite woman who persisted in begging Jesus to deliver her daughter of demon possession.  The disciples wanted to send her away.  I don’t really know why Jesus appears to be so reluctant in answering her for a time—I think it was a kind of test.  He proceeds to actually scald her with what seems to be an ugly statement of prejudiced bigotry—“It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs” (v. 26).  Wow!  At this point, however, this woman reveals that she is more on the same page with Jesus than were His own disciples.  After all she had connected some vital dots and addressed Him as “Lord, Son of David”—meaning Messiah. Jesus finally commends her with the words, “Woman (She’s no longer a “dog.”), you have great faith.  Your request is granted.”
            While the disciples give lots of other evidence that they were not entirely with Jesus all the time, they were getting there.  So are we.  And so we should.