Author: David Ellis

Don: We have left Matthew to sojourn briefly in Luke 15, to study the parable of the prodigal son. It will help to answer our questions about grace and about how it is possible to pull a spiritual plastic bag over our heads. The context: Jesus is attracting sinners to him, and the Pharisees and…

Don: Last week Jason asked if law and grace are a zero sum game. Rimon had remarked earlier that fallen man may have as much difficulty accepting or keeping God’s grace as he has of keeping God’s law. God’s love and grace seem closely related. How do they relate to the gospel, to the good…

Jay: Joyce said last week that it was important not to use the law to judge others, but it was essential to use it for community. Harry opined that such a community would not be true community. Rimon said that just as it is impossible for humans to keep the law perfectly, it is also…

Jay: In our recent discussions, we seem to have determined that rather than live by a divine law that is harsh, demanding, and probably impossible for any human to uphold, we should accept god’s grace as protecting us from the law. Matthew tells you that your hands, eyes, and feet might cause you to sin,…

You might know of the Khan Academy, a website that offers free but first-rate lessons in a variety of subjects, from mathematics to art history. A recent lesson in the latter category, by Dr. Nancy Ross and Dr. Paul Binski, discusses (and shows) The Harrowing of Hell, c. 1440-70, a carved painted and gilt alabaster…

Don: Jesus told his self-righteous listeners that the demands of the law are very harsh, and those would live by it need to understand just how harsh. Hence, his references to cutting off one’s hands, eyes, and so on. This was also the lesson of the rich young ruler, and it was the message of…

Don: The third pillar of community is found in Matthew 18:7-11: “Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes! “If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it…

Don: In Matthew 18 we have what we are calling the “pillars” of community. Last week we discussed the pillar of Innocence, dependency, freedom from fear, the death of ego. The second pillar comes in verse 5: And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; Then in verse 6 he says: …but…

Don: In recent weeks we have been discussing the subject of Innocence, which came out of a discussion of what are the characteristics of “childlikeness” essential to entry to the kingdom of heaven. We have looked for insight to the social science and psychology and child development literature. But Jesus goes further than “childlikeness” in…