John 21:15-17
15So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16He saith to him again the second time, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 17He saith unto him the third time, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
I love this portion of scripture. It is one of my favorites. I have seen a lot of teachings on it that have been valuable, yet the full meaning of the scripture is often not seen. I decided to flesh it out a bit but looking up the original Greek. Specifically, the words I looked at are lovest, knowest, feed, lambs, and sheep. What I found is that while many versions of the translate "Feed my sheep" the same way twice, the original Greek did not use the same words.
Two words for love are used by Jesus and Peter. One is agapao. According to Strong's Concordance, this translates as:
"properly, to prefer, to love; for the believer, preferring to "live through Christ" (1 Jn 4:9,10), i.e. embracing God's will (choosing His choices) and obeying them through His power. 25 (agapáō) preeminently refers to what God prefers as He "is love" (1 Jn 4:8,16). See 26 (agapē).
With the believer, 25 /agapáō ("to love") means actively doing what the Lord prefers, with Him (by His power and direction). True 25 /agapáō ("loving") is always defined by God – a "discriminating affection which involves choice and selection" (WS, 477). 1 Jn 4:8,16,17 for example convey how loving ("preferring," 25 /agapáō) is Christ living His life through the believer."
Phileo is the other word that is used. This translates as:
"affectionate friendship") – properly, to show warm affection in intimate friendship, characterized by tender, heartfelt consideration and kinship."
Next, I looked at the words for lambs and sheep. The word used for lambs is arnion. This translates as:
"properly, a young lamb, "a little lamb" (J. Thayer); (figuratively) a person with pure (innocent), virgin-like (gentle) intentions."
The word used for sheep is probaton. This translates as:
"sheep; (figuratively) someone easily led, one way or the other (like a sheep)."
I then looked at the word feed. This translates in two different ways. The first word is bosko. This translates as:
"properly, feed (graze); (figuratively) spiritually nourish by feeding people the Word of God (Jn 21:15,17). While 4166 (poimḗn) focuses on "shepherding" the flock of God (caring for them)"
Feed also translates to the word poimaino. This means:
"focuses on "tending" ("shepherding") (WS, 274), which includes guarding, guiding, and folding the flock and is only provided (ultimately) by Jesus Christ – the Shepherd, who calls under-shepherds (such as elder-overseers) to guard and guide His people by His direction (1 Pet 5:1-5)"
Finally, I looked at the word knowest. This also translates two different ways. First, this translates as eido, which means:
"properly, to see with physical eyes (cf. Ro 1:11), as it naturally bridges to the metaphorical sense: perceiving ("mentally seeing"). This is akin to the expressions: "I see what You mean"; "I see what you are saying.""
This also translates to the word ginosko, which means:
"I am taking in knowledge, come to know, learn; aor: I ascertained, realized."
So, with all of this said, allow me to write this out a little bit closer to the original Greek.
15So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, [son] of Jonas, do you long for me with a Godly Love? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou physically see that I strongly like thee. He saith unto him, Spiritually nourish with the Word of God my people with pure virgin-like intentions. 16He saith to him again the second time, Simon, [son] of Jonas, do you long for me with a Godly love? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou physically see that I strongly like thee thee. He saith unto him, Guard, guide and fold into the flock my people that are easily led. 17He saith unto him the third time, Simon, [son] of Jonas, do you only strongly like me with a brotherly love? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, do you only strongly like me with a brotherly love? And he said unto him, Lord, thou are aware of all things; thou have perceived that I only strongly like thee. Jesus saith unto him, Nourish my easily led people with the Word of God.
So, with all of this, why does it matter that the text is different from what is seen at face value? First, the same thing is not said back and forth between Jesus and Peter three times. I think it is important to note that Jesus does not waste words in this conversation.
To me, one of the most important things is that we are called to follow Christ with an unwavering, fully committed love. Even when we don't have the relationship with Christ that we should, we are still called to nourish, guide, and guard those that are easily led. We are also called to nourish the young and innocent believers. How do I know that what Jesus said to Peter applies to us as well? Romans 2:11 tells us that God does not show favoritism.
Until next time,
Derek
Saturday, December 3, 2016
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
Secret Sins
I have been thinking a lot lately about secret sins. Those things that we do alone or with a certain group of people that we don't want people to know about. Those things that we know if our family or coworkers found out about, we would regret what we had done.
Now, I could cite many verses that warn us against these types of sins. If we go to Proverbs 28:13, we see that "He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion." I could take you over to Psalm 90:8 where it says "You have placed our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your presence." If you wanted to see a verse in the New Testament, I could even take you to Ephesians 5:11 that says "Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them."
All of these are true, but I have learned my greatest lessons by the mistakes that I have made. I've heard it asked why make my own mistakes when I can learn from the mistakes of others? In the spirit of this, I wanted to look at a few stories of how secret sin has hurt a few individuals throughout scripture.
Turning back to Noah, we see in Genesis 9 where he had gotten drunk on the wine from his vineyard. We are not given a lot of detail on this story, but we do see where Noah was upset that Canaan advertised his nudity and his overindulgence in alcohol. Perhaps he did not know this would happen, but it is a good example of how alcohol can bring regret.
For an example of sins of lust and murder, we can look at King David. We go to 2 Samuel 11 for this story that there is so much to draw out of. We see that David was back home when he should be off at war. (2 Samuel 11:1) David looked at Bathsheba and slept with her and she became pregnant. This shows his sin of lust. He tried to hide this by inviting Eliam to sleep with her, but he refused to do so because he would not go home when other soldiers were fighting for his King. David then plotted to murder Eliam and tried to hide this by having the army hold back while Eliam was killed by David's enemies. In spite of these and other sins, David repented and this man is called a man after God's own heart. We see in scripture that David will rule with Christ during the millennium. (Ezekiel 37:24) With this, there were still consequences to David's sin that included his son Absalom plotting to betray David. (2 Samuel 15-19)
Lastly, I want to take you, the reader, to an instance of greed, pride and deception in the New Testament. As we read Acts 5:1-11, we see a couple named Ananias and Sapphira lie to their church leaders that they have given all of their money from the sale of their house to the church when they actually held part of it back. I believe they did this because they were afraid to trust God fully and wanted to be looked at as being as generous as others. We see that the result of their deception here was death.
Above are just a few examples of secret sin to be found in the Bible. These are chased after for many reasons. Maybe they are done to fit in with a crowd. Maybe it is to fill a desire, but we have so many wonderful examples in the Bible of people like Solomon who have had everything that he could possibly want, tried everything there was for him to try, and determined that it was all meaningless. We believe that the one perfect drink or person or score will fulfill us, but we deceive ourselves and fall into a trap of our enemy. Solomon said it best at the end of Ecclesiastes where he wrote in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14:
Now, I could cite many verses that warn us against these types of sins. If we go to Proverbs 28:13, we see that "He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion." I could take you over to Psalm 90:8 where it says "You have placed our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your presence." If you wanted to see a verse in the New Testament, I could even take you to Ephesians 5:11 that says "Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them."
All of these are true, but I have learned my greatest lessons by the mistakes that I have made. I've heard it asked why make my own mistakes when I can learn from the mistakes of others? In the spirit of this, I wanted to look at a few stories of how secret sin has hurt a few individuals throughout scripture.
Turning back to Noah, we see in Genesis 9 where he had gotten drunk on the wine from his vineyard. We are not given a lot of detail on this story, but we do see where Noah was upset that Canaan advertised his nudity and his overindulgence in alcohol. Perhaps he did not know this would happen, but it is a good example of how alcohol can bring regret.
For an example of sins of lust and murder, we can look at King David. We go to 2 Samuel 11 for this story that there is so much to draw out of. We see that David was back home when he should be off at war. (2 Samuel 11:1) David looked at Bathsheba and slept with her and she became pregnant. This shows his sin of lust. He tried to hide this by inviting Eliam to sleep with her, but he refused to do so because he would not go home when other soldiers were fighting for his King. David then plotted to murder Eliam and tried to hide this by having the army hold back while Eliam was killed by David's enemies. In spite of these and other sins, David repented and this man is called a man after God's own heart. We see in scripture that David will rule with Christ during the millennium. (Ezekiel 37:24) With this, there were still consequences to David's sin that included his son Absalom plotting to betray David. (2 Samuel 15-19)
Lastly, I want to take you, the reader, to an instance of greed, pride and deception in the New Testament. As we read Acts 5:1-11, we see a couple named Ananias and Sapphira lie to their church leaders that they have given all of their money from the sale of their house to the church when they actually held part of it back. I believe they did this because they were afraid to trust God fully and wanted to be looked at as being as generous as others. We see that the result of their deception here was death.
Above are just a few examples of secret sin to be found in the Bible. These are chased after for many reasons. Maybe they are done to fit in with a crowd. Maybe it is to fill a desire, but we have so many wonderful examples in the Bible of people like Solomon who have had everything that he could possibly want, tried everything there was for him to try, and determined that it was all meaningless. We believe that the one perfect drink or person or score will fulfill us, but we deceive ourselves and fall into a trap of our enemy. Solomon said it best at the end of Ecclesiastes where he wrote in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14:
13 Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the duty of all mankind.
14 For God will bring every deed into judgment,
including every hidden thing,
whether it is good or evil.
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the duty of all mankind.
14 For God will bring every deed into judgment,
including every hidden thing,
whether it is good or evil.
Tuesday, October 18, 2016
Forward
I have been thinking lately of Wisconsin’s motto. It is simply forward. Wisconsin chose this because it has a goal of being the top state in the nation. To do this, the goal is to be continually improving and moving in a forward direction.
We, too, should constantly be moving forward. Forward in our walks with Christ, with our relationships with family, and with education to better ourselves. So many times, I have been afraid to step out in faith instead of stay in the safe confines of what is familiar. Yet Proverbs 3:5-6 clearly says:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Paul also talks about running a race in Hebrews 12:1-2a:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.
Not only do we see the importance in this verse of casting off weights and sins, but also the importance of looking to Jesus as He is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. It can be so easy to remain in what is comfortable. To go through the motions of going to work, coming home, watching some television, going to bed, and repeating. To spend time with family on the weekends but not really change or advance over time.
What has God put on your heart to do that you know you should? Maybe it isn’t stepping out in faith but rather stepping out in obedience. This blog post is an example of this for me. After stepping away from working on this blog for seven years, the Lord prompted me to write this post.
If there is something on your heart to do, ask if it is good. Ask if it will glorify God. What you want may take effort, but simply making the effort and stepping out speaks volumes to others of the character within you. We are admonished in Colossians 3:23-24 that:
23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
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