(remember, these are unedited/draft show notes, not a transcript — listening is always better…and if you listen AND follow along below, you’ll see how)
Focus Question:
What are the two possible responses to Jesus?
Intro:
More red words! Today wraps up Jesus’ teaching known as the Sermon on the Mount. Toward the end you’ll hear a story that introduces some contrast, and it’s there I want you to keep an ear out for the answer to today’s question, What are the two possible responses to Jesus?
New Testament segment:
Passage: Matthew 7
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 29
Words: ~613
As you heard, there are two choices —
Matthew 7:14–27 forms the concluding warning. There are only two possible responses to Jesus’ preaching—obedience or rejection. The narrow versus the wide roads (vv. 13–14), the good versus the bad fruit (vv. 15–23), and the wise versus the foolish builders (vv. 24–27) illustrate this warning in three parallel ways. Professions of faith without appropriate changes of life-style prove empty. But mere works by themselves do not save; a relationship with Jesus is needed. On Judgment Day many will cry, “Lord, Lord” and appeal to their deeds. Christ will reply, “I never knew you” (7:23). (1)
Today’s OT segment is the whole book of Joel, and one thing you’ll hear repeated 5 times are the words, “day of the Lord.” These words only appear 13 times in all the rest of the prophets.
The day of the Lord refers to a decisive action of Yahweh to bring his plans for Israel to completion. (2)
This might be over-simplified, but ‘day of the Lord’ is going to be mighty uncomfortable for the unrepentant, so one’s standing with God is something to consider.
Old Testament segment:
Passage: Joel
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 73
Words: ~1895
We must recognize the paradox that the day of the Lord is at the same time one event and many events. Joel does not present some events (e.g., the locust plague) as a mere foreshadowing of the day of the Lord. Rather, the locust plague is the day of the Lord. But the invasion by the northern enemy is also the day of the Lord, and so is the pouring out of the Spirit and also the judgment of all nations. The day of the Lord is not exclusively any specific period of tribulation, deliverance, or final judgment. But each of these events can rightly be called the day of the Lord.(2)
God called his ancient people in love and mercy, he preserved them to be the vehicle through which he poured out his Spirit on all kinds of people (2:28–32), and he will preserve them against all who seek to destroy them (ch. 3). In all of his care for them, he aims for “torn” hearts, and not just torn garments, from his people (2:12–14), that they might love him with their whole hearts. (3)
Wisdom segment:
Passage: none today
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses:
Words: ~
The bottom line:
Remember that Joel was directly quoted by Peter during his first big sermon after Pentecost when 3000 people were saved. It appears as though Peter recognized that the response to Jesus, like we’ve already talked about — he’s a righteous judge who will be perfectly fair with all, and that itself is a scary thing without Jesus’ covering of grace. Choose your own adventure!
Love you!
Roger
ForTheHope is a daily audio Bible + apologetics podcast and blog. We’ve got a passion for just keepin’ it real, having conversations like normal people, and living out the love of Jesus better every single day.
Roger Courville, CSP is a globally-recognized expert in digitally-extended communication and connection, an award-winning speaker, award-winning author, and a passionately bad guitarist. Follow him on Twitter -- @RogerCourville and @JoinForTheHope – or his blog: www.forthehope.org.
Sources and resources:
(1) David S. Dockery, ed., Holman Bible Handbook (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 1992), 548.
(2) Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1644.
(3) Duane A. Garrett, Hosea, Joel, vol. 19A, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1997), 306.