Chapter 13 - The Enemy -- the "Extraordinary"
Exceed
Strong's-
'- Transliteration: Perisseuo
- Definition:
1. to exceed a fixed number of measure, to be left over and above a certain number or measure
a. to be over, to remain
b. to exist or be at hand in abundance
1. to be great (abundant)
2. a thing which comes in abundance, or overflows unto one, something falls to the lot of one in large measure
3. to redound unto, turn out abundantly for, a thing
c. to abound, overflow
1. to be abundantly furnished with, to have in abundance, abound in (a thing), to be in affluence
2. to be pre-eminent, to excel
3. to excel more than, exceed
2. to make to abound
a. to furnish one richly so that he has abundance
b. to make abundant or excellent '
Bonhoeffer - 'What makes Christians different from other men is the "peculiar," the Perisseuo, the "extraordinary", the "unusual", that which is not "a matter of course." This is the quality by whereby the better righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees.'
Mat 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
My thoughts-
There IS a difference between those who are Christ's followers and all others. This difference is extraordinary and it does exceed the righteousness that the chosen people, the Israelites, those closest to God in history, the priests- the scribes, the Pharisees- it exceeds all of their righteousness, those who appeared to be most righteous.
To pretend we are all just the same is foolishness, yet at the same time the Christian will be the FIRST to recognize their own inferior self next to the worst of sinners, and NOT condemn the basest of criminals. The Christian can comprehend their own sinful state, their own guilt in the cross, and because they comprehend that guilt they KNOW they have no right to think of themselves as superior to ANYONE!
The Christian is extraordinary, their righteousness exceeding that of those who are not Christ's, and it exceeds it ONLY in comprehending the cross and NO WHERE else. Their good works mean NOTHING! Their own righteousness means NOTHING! It is Christ's righteousness which they claim as heirs with Him.
Bonhoeffer- 'How does this quality work out in practice ? The "extraordinary" -- and this is the supreme scandal-- is something which the followers of Jesus do.
It must be done like the better righteousness, and done so that all men can see it. It is NOT strict Puritanism, not some eccentric pattern of Christian living, but simple unreflecting obedience to the will of Christ. If we make the "extraordinary" our standard, we shall be led into the passio of Christ, and in that its peculiar quality will be displayed. This activity itself is ceaseless suffering. In it the disciple endures the suffering of Christ. If this is not so, then this is not the activity of which Jesus speaks.
Hence the perisseuo is the fulfilment of the law, the keeping of the commandments. In Christ crucified and in his people the "extraordinary" becomes reality.
These men are the perfect, the men in whom the undivided love of the Heavenly Father is perfected. It was that love which gave the Son to die for us upon the cross, and it is by suffering in the fellowship of this cross that the followers of Jesus are perfected. The perfect are none other than the blessed of the beatitudes.'
My thoughts--
Obedience to the will of Christ.
And for all those who say Christ asks nothing of His followers, please, read your Bibles. Read them, study them.
Being a follower of Christ IS exhibiting a Christ follower's LIFE. That life doesn't mean perfection in the sense the Christian will appear impeccable in all things. A follower of Christ will struggle under the weight of spiritual warfare. A follower of Christ will OBEY the WILL of CHRIST! And we are told this--
Rev_3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Heb 12:3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Heb 12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
Heb 12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Heb 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Heb 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
Heb 12:9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
Heb 12:10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
Heb 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
TRUTH!
REALITY!
Do you really want to be a follower of Christ, an adopted son of the Heavenly Father? Then you must OBEY your Heavenly Father in all things! You must obey Christ in all things! You must comprehend that your life as a Christ follower will be a difficult one, an EXTRAORDINARY life because it is IN HIM!
Please LORD bless us, keep us, forgive us, love us!
Please!
Thank you, LORD.
All glory, praise, and honor unto You LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, JESUS CHRIST OUR SAVIOR now and forever!
Exceed
Strong's-
'- Transliteration: Perisseuo
- Definition:
1. to exceed a fixed number of measure, to be left over and above a certain number or measure
a. to be over, to remain
b. to exist or be at hand in abundance
1. to be great (abundant)
2. a thing which comes in abundance, or overflows unto one, something falls to the lot of one in large measure
3. to redound unto, turn out abundantly for, a thing
c. to abound, overflow
1. to be abundantly furnished with, to have in abundance, abound in (a thing), to be in affluence
2. to be pre-eminent, to excel
3. to excel more than, exceed
2. to make to abound
a. to furnish one richly so that he has abundance
b. to make abundant or excellent '
Bonhoeffer - 'What makes Christians different from other men is the "peculiar," the Perisseuo, the "extraordinary", the "unusual", that which is not "a matter of course." This is the quality by whereby the better righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees.'
Mat 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
My thoughts-
There IS a difference between those who are Christ's followers and all others. This difference is extraordinary and it does exceed the righteousness that the chosen people, the Israelites, those closest to God in history, the priests- the scribes, the Pharisees- it exceeds all of their righteousness, those who appeared to be most righteous.
To pretend we are all just the same is foolishness, yet at the same time the Christian will be the FIRST to recognize their own inferior self next to the worst of sinners, and NOT condemn the basest of criminals. The Christian can comprehend their own sinful state, their own guilt in the cross, and because they comprehend that guilt they KNOW they have no right to think of themselves as superior to ANYONE!
The Christian is extraordinary, their righteousness exceeding that of those who are not Christ's, and it exceeds it ONLY in comprehending the cross and NO WHERE else. Their good works mean NOTHING! Their own righteousness means NOTHING! It is Christ's righteousness which they claim as heirs with Him.
Bonhoeffer- 'How does this quality work out in practice ? The "extraordinary" -- and this is the supreme scandal-- is something which the followers of Jesus do.
It must be done like the better righteousness, and done so that all men can see it. It is NOT strict Puritanism, not some eccentric pattern of Christian living, but simple unreflecting obedience to the will of Christ. If we make the "extraordinary" our standard, we shall be led into the passio of Christ, and in that its peculiar quality will be displayed. This activity itself is ceaseless suffering. In it the disciple endures the suffering of Christ. If this is not so, then this is not the activity of which Jesus speaks.
Hence the perisseuo is the fulfilment of the law, the keeping of the commandments. In Christ crucified and in his people the "extraordinary" becomes reality.
These men are the perfect, the men in whom the undivided love of the Heavenly Father is perfected. It was that love which gave the Son to die for us upon the cross, and it is by suffering in the fellowship of this cross that the followers of Jesus are perfected. The perfect are none other than the blessed of the beatitudes.'
My thoughts--
Obedience to the will of Christ.
And for all those who say Christ asks nothing of His followers, please, read your Bibles. Read them, study them.
Being a follower of Christ IS exhibiting a Christ follower's LIFE. That life doesn't mean perfection in the sense the Christian will appear impeccable in all things. A follower of Christ will struggle under the weight of spiritual warfare. A follower of Christ will OBEY the WILL of CHRIST! And we are told this--
Rev_3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Heb 12:3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Heb 12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
Heb 12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Heb 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Heb 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
Heb 12:9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
Heb 12:10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
Heb 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
TRUTH!
REALITY!
Do you really want to be a follower of Christ, an adopted son of the Heavenly Father? Then you must OBEY your Heavenly Father in all things! You must obey Christ in all things! You must comprehend that your life as a Christ follower will be a difficult one, an EXTRAORDINARY life because it is IN HIM!
Please LORD bless us, keep us, forgive us, love us!
Please!
Thank you, LORD.
All glory, praise, and honor unto You LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, JESUS CHRIST OUR SAVIOR now and forever!
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