Week 25—Sunday Matthew 7:21-23
Week 25—SUNDAY
“YOUR LORD AND TEACHER”
We note an order of statement which is very important: “When he had washed their feet, and taken his garments, and resumed his place, he said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you’” (John 13:12-15).
This correction Jesus made has far-reaching influence: “You call me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher. . . .” Why did he reverse that order? The destiny of his movement hung upon that order. Would his impact be primarily that of a Teacher and secondarily a Lord? Or would it be primarily Lord and secondarily a Teacher? If his order—first Lord and then Teacher—then the gospel is something to be obeyed, then understood. But if it is the disciples’ order—first Teacher, then Lord—then the gospel is something to be understood then obeyed. On the face of it the latter seems sensible. But only on the face of it, for Jesus was profoundly right—it is first Lord and then Teacher—first obey and then you will understand. For the fact is that you know only as much as you are willing to practice: “If any man’s will is to do his will, he shall know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority” (John 7:17). Here, the order is that if you are willing to do the will of God you shall know. But you cannot know if you are not willing to do. So knowledge is through obedience. We know as much as we are willing to practice and no more. The modern dictum of “learning by doing” is in line with this. But modern religious education is out of line: “Know and then you will do.” The Word has to become flesh or it will not even be the word.
Dear Lord and Savior, we thank you for your saving us from the barren intellectualism that makes itself the end. Help us to be willing to do so we can know. For “this is life eternal that we may know you”—as Lord first and foremost. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: It is easier to act yourself into right thinking than to think yourself into right acting.