Listen and Understand?

I am so excited that fall is here and we get back to a regular time for adult Bible Study (disciple making). I personally feed off relationships with other(s). I need social interaction with God and other(s). Everyone has some insight that teaches me something I did not previously know.

As I write this article in my office I am preparing to preach on Matthew 15:10-28 when Jesus got into trouble for not following the traditions of his nation/religious leaders. In Matt. 15:1-2 the Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus and asked him why he and his disciples break the tradition of the elders by not washing their hands before eating (defiling themselves). The religious leaders essentially accuse Jesus and his disciples of caving in to secular culture. Jesus poses a question back to them:

3 He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must surely die.’ 5 But you say that whoever tells father or mother, ‘Whatever support you might have had from me is given to God,’ then that person need not honor the father. 6 So, for the sake of your tradition, you nullify the word of God. 7 You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied rightly about you when he said:8 ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me;9 in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines.’”

In Matt. 15:10 Jesus calls the crowd together to try to explain the deeper truth of faith in God by challenging them to “listen and understand.” Jesus then gives them an analogy that they could grasp (Matt. 15:11). This sounds and reads easily for us. However, how well do we practice what Jesus is asking us to do: listen and understand?

I did my Doctorate in Ministry (D. Min.) based on the only text where there is a story about Jesus in between his infancy and adult call to public ministry (Luke 2:41-52). In this story Jesus is twelve years old and goes to the Temple for Passover with his parents but stays behind (on purpose). After three days of a frantic parental grid search, his parents find him in the Temple sitting in the middle of the great teachers/theologians of faith. What is he doing? Listening and asking questions!

All who heard Jesus were “amazed at his insight and understandings/revelations” (Luke 2:47). Then in that story Jesus tries to explain to his mother his sole definition for being here, defines himself by saying, “Why were you looking all over for me? Didn’t you know that I MUST BE IN MY FATHER’S HOUSE? (Luke 2:49),” but she and Joseph did not understand (Luke 2:50). However, at the end of verse 51 we read that Mary “treasured all these things in her heart.” Luke 2:47. Sometimes it takes us a while to understand. Sometimes it is impossible to fully understand all that God is doing right here and now, but later gain insight... if we ponder it in our hearts!

Finally, I am challenged by Luke 2:52:

52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years and in divine and human favor.

So, Jesus, God with us, grew! Jesus grew in divine and human favor! Have you ever thought about God growing? What do we need to do to grow in divine and human favor? Do better at listening to others — God and all others! There is our story as individuals. There is our story as a part of a defined group (family, ethnicity, national identity, faith group, etc.). Then there are the stories of others that are different than us and our group identity. We need to listen to them too! And, finally, there is God’s story. God’s story is the one that gives meaning and guidance to all other stories!

Jesus grew in divine and human favor! How? By listening and asking good questions. And what does Jesus tell the crowds to do: listen and understand. The same Greek word is used to describe Jesus’ insight in Luke 2:47 and what Jesus wants us to have in Matt. 15:10.

There will be new Bible studies for a variety of groups beginning in September. Come and get involved and listen and understand more and more about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Each and every one of us too has room for more growth and blessings of God’s presence and promise of peace!

Dr. Fitzgerald