Christ Questions The Conventional

  1. INTRODUCTION:
    1. WORDS FREQUENTLY SEEN ON SIGNS IN FRONT ON CHURCH BUILDINGS:

      2. COMMENT: A look at these and their definitions as taken from "WEBSTER’S COLLEGIATE DICTIONARY"

      1. Traditional.
        1. A belief or practice, that is handed down from the past.
        2. Among the Jews, an unwritten code of law given by God to Moses on Sinai.
        3. Among Christians the body of doctrine and discipline, or any article thereof, put forth or revealed by Christ or his apostles.
      2. Contemporary.
        1. That which belongs to the present time.
        2. Living, occurring, or existing at the same period of time.
      3. Conventional.
        1. General agreement as the basis of that which is done in accordance with present day custom.
        2. A rule, practice, form, etc., which has its sanction by custom or use.
        3. Formed by agreement or compact; stipulated; contractual; -- opposed in law to legal and judicial. Growing out of, depending on, or sanctioned by, custom, or use; Thus the adherence to social customs of the present.
    1. CONSIDER:
      1. Jesus did not fall in with the popular and accepted notions about him.
      2. Jesus often question and rebuked the accepted practices and doctrines of the day.
    2. LET US TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT JESUS IN REGARDS TO THE CONVENTIONAL:
  1. DISCUSSION:

    1. JESUS BROKE WITH THE CONVENTIONAL EARLY IN LIFE.
      1. Luke 2:41-52 = "Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man."
      2. The conventional thing was to be returning with his earthly parents. Luke 2:49 = "And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?"
    2. CHRIST QUESTIONS MAN’S CUSTOMARY ANXIETY ABOUT TOMORROW:
      1. Matthew 6:25-34 = "Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."
      2. Christ’s question: Matthew 6:27 = "Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?"
    3. CHRIST QUESTIONED THE PRACTICE OF BEHOLDING THE SINS OF OTHERS AND NOT SEENING YOUR OWN:
      1. Christ’s question: Matthew 7:3 = "And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?"
      2. COMMENT: If you were to hold a white sheet of paper before an audience with a black spot on it and ask them what they see, they will say, "a black spot". They will never see all the white. Such is true when we look at the lives of others, we see only the bad and not the good.
    4. CHRIST QUESTIONED THE CUSTOMARY PRACTICE OF TREATING OTHERS THE SAME WAY THEY TREAT YOU.
      1. Matthew 5:38-48 = "Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."
      2. Christ’s question: Matthew 5:46 = "For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?"
    5. CHRIST REBUKED THE PHARASAIC PRACTICE OF MAKING A SHOW OF RELIGION TO BE SEEN OF MEN:
      1. Matthew 6:1-18 = "Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly."
      2. Christ’s rebuke: Matthew 6:1 = "Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven."

      COMMENT: A man said to another man that had led prayer, "I did not like your prayer this morning". The man that led the prayer said, "I prayed to God not you."

    6. CHRIST QUESTIONED THE JEWS REFRAINING FROM DOING GOOD ON THE SABBATH:
      1. Matthew 12:10-13 = "And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him. And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days. Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other."
      2. Christ’s question: Matthew 12:11-12 = "And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days."

      COMMENT: Some people are so afraid they will do wrong that they refuse to do good.

    7. CHRIST QUESTION THE WEARING OF SPECIAL RELIGIOUS CLOTHES AND TITLES:
      1. Matthew 23:5-10 = "But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ."
      2. COMMENT: Why would one think it pious to dress in special ways to call attention to themselves; or demand they be referred to by some special title.
        1. The Lord looks not on the outward appearance and neither should we.

          2. 1 Samuel 16:7 = "But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart."

          Matthew 23:27-28 = "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity."

        2. Reverend is only referred to as God. Psalms 111:9 = "He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name."
    8. CHRIST QUESTIONED THE JEWS USING TRADITION AND INSTEAD OF HIS COMMANDMENTS:
      1. Matthew 15:1-9 = "Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."
      2. Christ’s question: Matthew 15:3 = "But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?"
    9. CHRIST REBUKED THE WORLD’S STANDARD OF GREATNESS:
      1. Matthew 18:1-4 = "At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
      2. Christ’s rebuke was directed to His disciples: Matthew 20:27 = "And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:"

  2. CONCLUSION:

    1. JESUS HAS ALWAYS BEEN OBEDIENT TO HIS HEAVENLY FATHER AND HIS WAYS EVEN AS A YOUTH.
    2. JESUS’ VIEWS ON TRADITIONS OF MAN; CUSTOMS, AND CONVENTIONAL MATTERS HAVE NEVER CHANGED:

      3. Comment: We can not change, or altar God’s way to meet the traditional customs of man.

    3. WE MUST REMEMBER THAT THE WORD OF GOD DOES NOT CHANGE:

      4. Matthew 5:18 = "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."

      Matthew 24:35 = "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."

      Luke 16:17 = "And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail."

      John 12:48-50 = "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak."

    4. DO NOT BE CAUGHT UP IN THE SATANIC CHANGES BROUGHT FORTH BY HIM AND HIS FALSE TEACHERS:

2 Corinthians 11:12-15 = "But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works."

Matthew 7:15 = "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves."

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