Monday, May 5 – Mark 9, Matthew 18

1. Why couldn’t the disciples cast the demon out of the boy? (Mark 9:28–29)

2. Who did Jesus set as an example for those entering the kingdom of heaven? (Matthew 18:2–3)

3. How often should we forgive our brother? (Matthew 18:22))

We have the joy and privilege of spending glorious moments in communion with God. There are also very special moments of worship within the congregation. As glorious and meaningful as these moments are, we cannot stay there. Peter’s suggestion to build tabernacles and remain on the Mount of Transfiguration was not well thought out. Mark explains it this way: “He did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid.” (Mark 9:6)

We must follow Jesus down into the valley, for the mission lies in the pain and need of humanity. If we build shelters to stay on the mountain, we risk losing Jesus’ companionship.

There is praise, revelation, glory, and joy on the mountain. In the valley, there is pain, concern, and struggle. Serving with Jesus in the valley requires fasting and prayer. A Christian’s healthy life is rooted in the right balance between the mountain and the valley.

Even though they walked with Jesus, the disciples did not understand many of His deepest and most important statements. They didn’t grasp what He said about His death or resurrection, and they didn’t dare ask, perhaps because they preferred to remain in the realm of their own expectations. Rather than focusing on the significance of His words, they were caught up in their agenda, contemplating their positions in the kingdom they envisioned.

It is worth asking ourselves: Do we want to understand God’s plan? What occurs when we are surprised that God doesn’t act as we expect? Where does the issue lie when God does not perform according to our expectations?

Mark 9 concludes with important lessons:

It is a grave offense before God to be a stumbling block to souls, particularly to the young in faith, children, and the vulnerable. Let us exercise great caution.

We must be radical in avoiding sin, in our actions (the hand), places we go (the foot), and our focus (the eye). It is better to sacrifice a job, a benefit, a position, or a social event than to lose our soul because of them.

Jesus isn’t speaking literally. He isn’t commanding self-mutilation, because the issue isn’t in the hand, foot, or eye, but in the soul and the mind that controls them. Jesus uses hyperbole to convey the seriousness of His message.

When He refers to “their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched,” He also employs hyperbole for the same purpose.

The lesson isn’t that one should literally cut off an arm or a foot. Nor is Jesus teaching that hell contains eternal worms and unquenchable fire. The word He uses for hell is “Gehenna,” derived from “Gehinnom,” which refers to the Valley of Hinnom, a well-known place outside Jerusalem where fires were always burning to consume waste. The name conveys evil and judgment due to the abhorrent practices once associated with it.

Jesus’ teaching on final punishment is that it results in eternal consequences (see Matthew 25:46). The punishment for the wicked is eternal death, not eternal torment.

We must diligently live out and apply the rule Jesus established when dealing with someone who has sinned. Doing this brings healing and blessings to the church while neglecting it leads to pain and problems. (Matthew 18:13–17)

“To circulate reports concerning what “thy brother” may have done will make it more difficult, perhaps even impossible, to reach him. Here, perhaps more than in any other aspect of personal relationships, it is our privilege to apply the Golden Rule (see on ch. 7:12). The less publicity that is given to a wrong act, the better. SDA Bible Commentary, Matthew 18:15

“Someone has said that the best way to dispose of our enemies is to make friends of them. The talent of influence is a sacred trust, one for which we will inevitably be called upon to give account in the day of judgment. “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God” (see on ch. 5:9). SDA Bible Commentary, Matthew 18:15
It is my prayer that you have a very blessed day today.