The commands of Jesus IX

Hear then ... (MAT 13.18)

.... let him hear. (MAT 13.43)

... you give them something to eat. (MAT 14.16)

... bring them to me ... (MAT 14.18)

... take heart ... (MAT 14.27)

... do not be afraid. (MAT 14.27)

... come. (MAT 14.29)

Hear and understand ... (MAT 15.10)

Let them alone ... (MAT 15.14)

... watch and beware ... (MAT 16.5)

The commands of Jesus VIII

And do not fear ... (MAT 10.28)

Rather fear him ... (MAT 10.28)

Therefore, do not fear.... (MAT 10.32)

Do not think ... (MAT 10.34)

Go and tell John ... (MAT 11.4)

.... let him hear. (MAT 11.15)

Come to me .... (MAT 11.28)

Stretch out your hand. (MAT 12.13)

Either make the tree and its fruit good, or make the tree and its fruit bad. (MAT 12.32)

.. let him hear. (MAT 13.9)

The commands of Jesus VII

... let your peace be upon it ... (MAT 10.13)

.,,  let sour peace return to you . (MAT 10.13)

,.. Shake that dust from your feet ... (MAT 10.14)

... be wise as serpents and innocent  as doves. (MAT 10.16)

Beware of men ... (MAT 10.17)

.. do not be anxious about how you are to speak or what you are to say ... (MAT 10.19)

... when they persecute you in one town flee to another ... (MAT 10.23)

So have no fear of them ... (MAT 10.26)

.... say it in the light ... (MAT 10.27)

... proclaim it on the housetops ... (MAT 10.27)

The commands of Jesus VI

And proclaim at you go ... (MAT 10.7)

Heal the sick ... (MAT 10.8)

... raise the dead ... ;MAT 10.8)

... cleanse lepers ... (MAT 10.8)

... cast out demons. (MAT 10.8)

,.. give without pay. (MAT 10.9)

Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals and 

     a staff ... (MAT 10.10)

... find out who is worthy in it ... (MAT 10.11)

... stay there ... (10.11)

... greet it ... (MAT 10.12)

The commands of Jesus V

... Take heart ...(MAT 9.2)

... Rise, pick up your bed, and go home. (MAT 9.6)

... Follow me ... (MAT 9.9)

... ... Go and learn what this means ... (MAT 9.13)

... Take heart ... (MAT 9.22)

... Go away ... (MAT 9.24)

... See that no one knows about it ... (MAT 9.30)

... pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers ... (MAT 9.38)

... Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans ... (MAT 10.5)

... go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. (MAT 10.5)

The commands of Jesus IV

... knock, and it will be opened to you. (MAT 7.7)

For whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them ... (MAT 7.12) 

Enter by the narrow gate ... (MAT 7.13)

Beware of false prophets ... (MAT 7.15)

Say nothing to anyone .. (MAT 8.4)

.., go, show yourself to the priests ... (MAT 8.4)

... offer the gift that Moses commanded ... (MAT 8.4)

... go; let it be done for you as you have believed ... (MAT 8.13)

... follow me, and and leave the dead to bury their own dead. (MAT 8.23)

Go ... (MAT 8.32)

The commands of Jesus III

You, therefore, must be perfect ... (MAT 5.48)

Since I've already done several from chapter six, I'll just pick up where I left off.

But lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven ... (MAT 6.20)

... do not be anxious about your life ... (MAT 6.25)

Therefore, do not be anxious ... (MAT 6.34)

Judge not ... (MAT 7.1)

... first take the log out of your own eye ...(MAT 7.5)

Do not give what is holy to the dogs ... (MAT 7.6)

... do not cast your pearls before pigs ... (MAT 7.6)

Ask, and it will be given to you ... (MAT 7.7)

... seek, and you will find ... (MAT 7.7)

The commands of Jesus II

it seems I skipped Matthew chapter five entirely, and everything last week was really from chapter six. Sorry 'bout that.

In the same way, let your light shine before others ... (MAT 5.15)

... leave your gift before the altar and go. (MAT 5.24)

First be reconciled to your brother ... (MAT 5.25)

If your right eye causes to sin, tear it out and throw it away ... (MAT 5.29)

And if your right hand causes you to sin, tear it off and throw it away. (MAT 5.30)

... Do not take an oath at all. ... 5.34)

Let what you say be simply "Yes" or "No" ... (MAT 5.37)

Do not resist the one who is evil ... (MAT 5.39)

... but if someone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. (MAT 5.39)

... Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you. (MAT 5.43)

Ten more next week!

The commands of Jesus I

Jesus said some things that he wanted obeyed. Here are ten.

Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them ... (

MAT 5.1)

thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you ... (MAT 5.2)

But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing ... (MAT 5.3)

And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. (MAT 5.5)

But when you pray, go into your room and shut your door and pray to your Father who is in secret. (MAT 5.6)

And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do ... (MAT 5.7)

Do not be like them  ... (MAT 5.8)

Pray then like this ... (MAT 5.9)

And when you fast, do not look gloomy ... (MAT 5.16)

But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face ... (MAT 5.17)

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth ... (MAT 5.19)

(All quotations are from the English Standard Version.) I didn't pick these with any agenda in mind. They're just the first ten in the Gospels. I plan to do the next ten next week, if the Good Lord's willin' and the creek don't rise, and since I live near the top of a mountain I'm not too concerned about the creek.

Next

And that's it for the Schleitheim Confesion. Seven articles, in this case summarized and commented upon. That means that so far on Wednesdays we've covered the Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer, and the Schleitheim Confesion. Next I want to go over some of the commands of Jesus Christ.

The Schleitheim Confesion, Article Seven

The Oath 

No oaths should be taken because Jesus prohibited the taking of oaths and swearing. Testifying is not the same thing as swearing. When a person bears testimony, he is testifying about the present, whether it be good or evil. 

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I was initially confused about the difference between swearing and testifying. An illustration helped me understand. Imagine yourself in a courtroom. There is nothing wrong or sinful about sitting in this witness stand, telling what happened and the effect it's hot. But taking the oath beforehand is wrong and sinful, because our Savior has forbidden it.

The Schleitheim Confesion, Article Six

The sword 

Violence must not be used in any circumstance. The way of nonviolence is patterned after the example of Christ who never exhibited violence in the face of persecution or as a punishment for sin. A Christian should not pass judgment in worldly disputes. It is not appropriate for a Christian to serve as a magistrate; a magistrate acts according to the rules of the world, not according to the rules of heaven; their weapons are worldly, but the weapons of a Christian are spiritual.

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This commitment to nonviolence was one of the things that attracted me to the Anabaptists in the first place. I simply believe that's what the New Testament teaches, and that that's what Christians are called to. It's not cowardice; imagine being beaten to a pulp without even fighting back even to defend yourself, or standing unarmed in the middle of 100 men pointting rifles at you. It's trusting that someone else will do the fighting for you.

the Schleitheim Confesion, Article Five

Pastors in the Church 

Pastors should be men of good repute. Some of the responsibilities they must faithfully carry out include teaching, disciplining, the ban, leading in prayer, and the sacraments. They are to be supported by the church, but must be disciplined if they sin.

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This article deals with the qualifications and duties of pastors. There's no mention of seminary, Bible college, or any education at all. While a pastor is entitled to be supported by the church, he's not entitled to get rich off them or act with impunity. He needs discipline like everyone else.

The Schleitheim Confesion, Article Four

Separation from evil 

The community of Christians shall have no association with those who remain in disobedience and rebellion against God. There can be no fellowship with the wicked in this world; there can be no participation in works, church services, meetings, or civil affairs of those who live in contradiction to the commands of God (Catholics and Protestants). All evil must be resisted including their weapons of force such as the sword and and armor.

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This is an article I both agree and disagree with. There is a desperate need for the Church of Jesus Christ to be separate from the world; they have nothing in common and no reason to be involved with each other. On the other hand, the idea of having no association whatever with non-Christians tends to kill missions and evangelism and create an insular church with a bunker mentality. I also believe a person can be mistaken about some things and not be lost.

The Schleitheim Confesion, Article 3

THE BREAKING OF BREAD 

Only those who have been baptized can take part in Communion. Participation in Communion is a remembrance of Christ's body and blood; the real body and blood of Christ are not present in the sacrament.

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Communion -- or the Lord's Supper or the Eucharist or whatever you call it -- is the central act of Christian worship. It's one of the reasons we're told to gather together. As such it is for Christians only. Allowing others outside the faith to participate in this symbolic act is harmful, not helpful, to them.