2021-02-06 – Considering the Bible

Because of the Cross

Thanks for returning to this series on “Judge Judge Judge” and my feeble attempt to understand a believers responsibility and right to make judgments.

Another purpose of this series hopefully is to understand the believers restriction on judgement.

What can a Christian judge? How is he to judge? What is prohibited in the Christian life to judge. So many questions and concerns.

Our ninth greek word related to judging is…

dikastēs

δικαστής – dikastēs – judge

This word is found 2 times in 2 verses within the New Testament. A full listing of all verses will be included in this study.

This greek word is synonymous with arbitrator, or even an umpire. It is the more dignified and official term to be used. Someone who makes a decision based on information, facts or counsel from (trusted) sources.

Luke 12:14

And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?

Jesus was asked by one in the crowd – Master speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.

First off, I believe that is the duty of the Jewish courts, to uphold the law in relation to the inheritance codes of Israel. It is obvious, by the way the Master continued his teaching, that this fellow was looking for some quick cash, some influence from the Master in order to gain some coin.

He will have none of that.

His question to the covetous man – who made me a judge or a divider over you? speaks volumes. If the man realized who he was talking to, he would understand that Jesus is a Judge and a Divider over him, and not that of his brother.

But the question is to be focused on who made Jesus the judge?

Mr Covetous – get your head right. God has made Jesus judge over you, and that question you spat out reveals your (my) foolish covetous heart.

Psalm 119:36

Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!

Mr Covetous at least had the backbone to reveal himself. So often, I fear we as Christians wrap our covetousness, that is our idolatry, in religious terms, even claiming that God wants us to be rich, that He died in order for us to be rich.

What utter nonsense.

Twist the scriptures in order to satisfy the flesh. The modern church has teaching that feeds the desires of the flesh, lying to us and feeding our covetous hearts. He wants you to have a new Cadillac, or Rolls Royce. After all, you are a Kings kid, and you should live as royalty.

I am no one’s judge, and I have much to answer for in many areas. I love the Lord and His free gift of life that leads us to Him.

But I have to tell you that this prosperity teaching, so prevalent in the church, scares me. It is like a cancer that gnaws on the inner man, filling him with doubt, causing him to loose focus on the Master and look only to “things”. As the faithful fall into this teaching, they give to get, and when the getting isn’t happening, they give more and more.

What a scheme!

For the wages of prosperity teaching is poverty, not only financially, but more importantly spiritually, since the “promise” of God to supply ($$) bountifully was not kept. How can I trust Him with my soul, if He can’t even double my givings.

Alas, the prosperity adherent is filled with doubt, eventually becoming hardened to the real message of God’s love and forgiveness, His sustaining in times of trial and trouble, His mercy in the midst of struggles and disappointments.

He is good. Life can be hard. Trust in Him. (Not his gifts!)

Acts 7:27

But the man who was wronging his neighbor thrust him aside, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us?

Acts 7:35

“This Moses, whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’—this man God sent as both ruler and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush.

These last two sets of verses speak of the same message that Steven preached to the hardened Jews, just before they threw him to his death, hurling rocks and boulders on his body to kill this saint.

Lets compare what the Israeli described Moses as, and what the Christian Steven actually defined him as.

Both said he was a ruler.

The Israeli called Moses a judge, and in Moses ministry to the fledgling nation of Israel, he certainly became a judge, and to the nation of Israel as a whole, the greatest judge to have lived.

Steven though, changed the term judge to redeemer. What? Did Steven try to push some revisionist history? Was he trying to rewrite the books, making Moses something the Israelis did not believe?

Steven emphasized a greater, more positive aspect of Moses ministry.
He was a judge that is true. I don’t think Steven is arguing that. I think Steven is declaring a greater truth, a truth that emphasizes Moses ministry as a redeemer of the nation from the clutches of Egypt.

Moses was a judge, a revered man of God who was elevated to the highest of honors. As a judge of Israel, he had no peer, until the Greater One appeared.

And the Greater One is not only the ultimate Judge, deserving of all respect and honor, but the Deliverer and Redeemer, without Whom we would have no hope.

Thanks for joining me in this study. Hope to visit with you in our next post as we look at the Greek term δίκη which is commonly translated vengeance, judgment, punish in the New Testament.

Be Blessed.

I look forward to comments and discussion. May the Lord give you an understanding heart and a willing spirit to consider the Bible and all it’s wealth.