Good morning, beloved,
Another beautiful morning here, this is the day the Lord has made. Rejoice! No matter your circumstances, no matter the outlook, you have much to be thankful for. We serve a risen Savior! We opened our eyes. We move. We breathe. We are never, ever alone. God has a plan for us, laid out before the foundation of the world. It is a good plan. We can trust in His plan for our lives.
I must say yesterday was relatively quiet until I was drifting off to sleep. I get a report that one child offended the other. I separated the two and struggled through a headache. Then I realized I wasn’t coping well with this headache and off I went in search of ibuprofen. I then met the offender who explained what happened from this point of view. Sigh. So this morning, I will be working again through these verses in Matthew 18 with my children.
The BibleGateway‘s verse of the day speaks clearly to me today: “Hold fast and follow the pattern of wholesome and sound teaching which you have heard from me, in [all] the faith and love which are [for us] in Christ Jesus. Guard and keep [with the greatest care] the precious and excellently adapted [Truth] which has been entrusted [to you], by the [help of the] Holy Spirit Who makes His home in us.” 2 Timothy 1:13-14 AMP
Yes, sound teaching, in all faith and love..found in Christ Jesus. The greatest teacher who ever lived and our Savior, His teachings revolutionize our thinking. My prayer is this teaching we are about to study will revolutionize my children’s lives.
Matthew 18: But if he does not listen, take along with you one or two others, so that every word may be confirmed…
Ah, yes, the part my children like to jump to before dealing with the offender. Mom, my brother…Mom, my sister…rope me in to help deal with the wrong. So I listen, I talk with each and I realize something. They have not dealt with this wrong together. They just bring me in. Wait. Clearly that is not what the Word of God says! Who is going to teach them this? Is there a Veggie Tales?
Back to verse: Matthew 18: 15 If your brother wrongs you, go and show him his fault, between you and him privately. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother.
That is our whole goal, isn’t it? Win back your brother. Win back the relationship. Seek resolution yourself with God’s help.
Jesus is not just pulling this out of thin air, is He? Bless me, no. Instead, let’s look at the Old Testament and see what Jesus is quoting.
Numbers 35:30 Whoever kills any person [intentionally], the murderer shall be put to death on the testimony of witnesses; but no one shall be put to death on the testimony of one witness.
Deuteronomy 17:6 On the evidence of two or three witnesses he who is worthy of death shall be put to death; he shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness.
Deuteronomy 19: 15 One witness shall not prevail against a man for any crime or any wrong in connection with any sin he commits; only on the testimony of two or three witnesses shall a charge be established.
For a conviction, according to these verses, we need more than just one witness. This is for the protection of all, wouldn’t you agree? Of course the case of Naboth, the vinekeeper in 1 Kings 21. Ahab set his sights on poor Naboth’s vineyard. Naboth said nope. So, Ahab was moping (he was already upset because the Lord’s message to him). Jezebel swooped in and saved the day. Set Naboth up by..well, let’s read it.
1 Kings 21:
8 So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal and sent them to the elders and nobles who dwelt with Naboth in his city.
9 And in the letters she said, Proclaim a fast and set Naboth up high among the people.
10 And set two men, base fellows, before him, and let them bear witness against him, saying, You cursed and renounced God and the king. Then carry him out and stone him to death.
11 And the men of his city, the elders and the nobles who dwelt there, did as Jezebel had directed in the letters sent them.
12 They proclaimed a fast and set Naboth on high among the people.
13 Two base fellows came in and sat opposite him and they charged Naboth before the people, saying, Naboth cursed andrenounced God and the king. Then he was carried out of the city and stoned to death.
So Ahab has his vineyard. Was it worth it? Ahem…the Lord was watching over all and vengeance was His alone.
17 Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,
18 Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel in Samaria. He is in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone to possess it.
19 Say to him, Thus says the Lord: Have you killed and also taken possession? Thus says the Lord: In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick your blood, even yours.
So does Ahab get his just desserts?
27 When Ahab heard those words of Elijah, he tore his clothes, put sackcloth on his flesh, fasted, lay in sackcloth, and went quietly.
28 And the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,
29 Do you see how Ahab humbles himself before Me? Because he humbles himself before Me, I will not bring the evil in his lifetime, but in his son’s day I will bring the evil upon his house.
His son. Evil will come upon Ahab’s son. Generational sin. So what in the world does this have to do with my kids? They need to be taught as I do I how critical it is that we learn to deal with one another honestly, forthrightly and judicially.
So to review:
- An offense occurs. Our response? Not letting the sun go down on our anger. Not telling everyone but the offender.
- Go and show him his fault. Not with a pointed finger. Not with an uppity attitude. Humble, seeking as our only goal, to win your brother back. If your goal is to win your brother back, think how differently you will speak. I will speak. They will speak.
- Privately.
- If this does not work, THEN, bring in two or three witnesses.
- Then the word can be confirmed: confirmed…“to stand, to make to stand,” is rendered “abode” in Jhn 8:44, AV; “continue,” in Act 26:22. In these places the RV corrects to “stood” and “stand.” This word is suggestive of fidelity and stability. It is rendered “lay . . . to the charge” in Act 7:60.
- What is the attitude to be here? One of reconciliation! One of seeking to win back your brother! This is kindness. This is restitution.
So, with my kids, my husband and I would act as the witnesses. I think we don’t take the squabbles seriously. We should. Why? The bitterness, the resentment builds up. And family is our training ground in the years to come. And we know that as adults, we need to learn conflict resolution early. How many of us struggle with how the Lord wants us to deal with conflict?
Pray on, beloved, pray on.
Related articles
- Bible Spotlight : Naboth’s Vineyard (A Real and Relevant God) (lccyouthablaze.wordpress.com)
- Speak the Word (africanaprincess.wordpress.com)
- “Is There A Wrong Way To Be Right?” (carrythecross156.wordpress.com)
- That’s a Lot of Forgiveness”! (liverightdevo.wordpress.com)
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