ODJ: pandora?


April 4, 2013 

READ: Matthew 5:17-20 


If you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great (v.19).


Pandora is one of the musical marvels of the Internet age. It’s an algorithm-based website that allows you to listen to any musical artists, bands and songs that you like. By each song you can click a ‘thumbs up’ or a ‘thumbs down’ sign. When you click the ‘thumbs up’ sign, it plays more music like what you just heard. If you click the ‘thumbs down’ sign, Pandora will take that song out of rotation or skip that song and bring up a different song for you to judge.


To prevent His disciples from developing a ‘thumbs up’ and ‘thumbs down’ approach to the Scriptures, Jesus taught them to have a high view of the Word. Near the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said His purpose in teaching was not to weaken the interpretation and application of the written Scriptures but to complete His disciples’ understanding of it (Matthew 5:17). To show His high view of Scripture, the unchanging nature of God’s Word and the indistinguishable principles of what the rabbis called “light” and “heavy” commandments, Jesus said heaven and earth would sooner disappear than even the smallest stroke of the ink found in the Scriptures (vv.18-19).

For Jesus, a light commandment (do not be angry or bear hatred in your heart) is just as important as a heavy commandment (do not murder). Jesus wanted His disciples to understand that God had not given them the freedom to customise His Word to their own liking.

As believers in Jesus, let’s internalise all of His teachings, not just the ones we like. When we accept and obey all of His Word, He empowers us to instinctively live out ‘thumbs-up’ obedience to what it says—even the difficult teachings. —Marvin Williams

2 Samuel 9:1-13 ‹

MORE
Read James 1:19-25.
What are the conse-quences of hearing but not obeying God’s Word? What are the results of hearing and obeying 
His Word? 
NEXT
To what parts of God’s Word do you tend to give a ‘thumbs up’ or a ‘thumbs down’? What needs to change in your heart so that you can obey all of Jesus’ teachings?
 
5 replies
  1. Diane Blackwell
    Diane Blackwell says:

    So glad I can get these daily readings on my iPad along with the Bible as cannot always carry the books. Thank you.

  2. Jennie Afman Dimkoff
    Jennie Afman Dimkoff says:

    Awesome article. Regarding Jesus purpose in “completing his disciples understanding of the Scriptures” I read this morning in Luke 24:45 “He opened their minds to understand the Scripture.” It struck me that I could pray for God to open MY mind to understand the Scriptures. That we all should. Wow. What do we miss because we don’t ask?

  3. min xiong
    min xiong says:

    Lamentations3:22,26
    Thank God for opening our mind to understand Bible teaching,also give thank ,able to worship him this week,for give us,renew our mind,spirit,soul,body.May Lord Jesus be with us,protect us,filled us with Holy Spirit in our work ,home,Church and activities,pray in the mighty name of Lord Jesus,Amen.

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