February
11, 2007
Mural
Worthey
People Contrasted
Purpose:
Often in the Bible, in the same context, two opposite traits of people
will be found. The aim of this lesson is
to point out this teaching technique and to learn some of lessons taught by
these biblical examples.
Jesus
and the Two Thieves
There are several
contrasting traits found in the story of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. You have believers (though sometimes timid
and afraid) and unbelievers (hardened Roman soldiers and Jewish leaders). Belief and unbelief are contrasted by the
apostle John by the use of the symbols, light and darkness. There is no greater contrast among men today
than faith and unbelief. At
We have two
kingdoms contrasted—the
Jesus died along
with two thieves that day. At the first
both of them charged Jesus with insults.
If you are the Son of God, then take us down from these crosses. They did not understand that Jesus was dying
for the sins of the world; this was the very reason for coming to earth. Jesus being divine was without sin. The Hebrew writer said: “For such a high
priest became us who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners and
made higher than the heavens.” (Heb.
7:26.) One thing that all humans have in
common is that we are sinners. (
For some reason,
one of the thieves repented and stopped accusing Jesus. He asked Jesus to remember him when he came
into his kingdom. This man must have
heard some of the teachings of Jesus and knew about his Kingdom. The other man either did not know these
things, or knew them and rejected what he heard. This is the great contrast and difference
between men today—what they do with what they have heard about Jesus. Some men believe and repent of their sins;
others continue on to their destruction. Someone has well said that we have three
different concepts in reference to sin represented by the ones dying on the
crosses that day. Jesus died for our
sins; one thief died in sin; and the other died to sin. We are all sinners and therefore represented
by one of the two thieves, but it is our choice whether we die in sin or die to
sin.
Barnabas
and Ananias and Sapphira
In Acts 4, we are
introduced to Joseph or Barnabas (as he was called by the apostles) from the
isle of
Immediately
following, we have the words “but a certain man and his wife.” (5:1.)
What Barnabas did stands in bold contrast to what Ananias and Sapphira
did with the proceeds from their land.
They made others think that they gave all the money from the sale of
their possessions to the apostles, but they did not. Peter pointed out that they had the right to
give whatever part they desired. The
Christians were not commanded to sell their possessions or told how much to
give by the apostles. It was a matter of
freewill and love for others.
This husband and
wife lied to God according to Peter. The
penalty was severe. Such deceit and
hypocrisy could not be allowed among believers.
The judgment against them was severe because: 1) doing things to be seen
or praised by men instead of God is a serious wrong (Gal. 1:10, Matt. 6:1-8);
2) what they did reveals unbelief (that God knows what we do and think); 3) men
need to fear God—this is the beginning of wisdom; 4) doing good things for the
wrong reasons is still wrong—the end does not justify the means; 5) Satan was
involved. He tempted them to lie and
cause havoc in the early church. The
Church was growing and prospering; Satan wanted to slow it down.
Mary
and Judas
Another context
that describes two contrasting traits is Matthew 26 and John 12. Jesus was a guest in Simon the leper’s house
in Bethany, a small village not far from
Mary and Judas
stand in bold contrast to one another in this story. One is generous and free in expressing her
love for Jesus Christ; Judas has not changed his heart though in the presence
of Jesus who gave everything so that we might be rich. (2 Cor. 8:9.)
The love of money is still the root of all evil. When men covet after it, they err from the
faith and pierce themselves through with many sorrows. (1 Tim. 6:10.) Jesus taught that man cannot serve two
masters; we cannot serve God and mammon (or riches). (Matt. 6:24.)
Jesus knew that
his hour was drawing near. He counted
what Mary did as preparation for his burial; Mary did it as an expression of
her love not knowing that his death was near.
Jesus exclaimed that what she did would be told everywhere the Gospel is
preached. Her generosity would inspire
millions in their love for the Christ.
Likewise the story of Judas’ love for money and betrayal would be
told. These two disciples forever
represent two opposite traits—one a Christian trait extolled by our Lord; the
other a sinful and devilish trait that even leads one to betray Jesus
Christ. Indeed, we cannot serve two
opposite masters.
Rich
Man and Lazarus
Another contrast
in characters is found in Luke 16:19-31.
One man was rich and the other was poor.
We know from the rest of the story that there was something else that
made them different other than riches and poverty. The rich man died and lifted up his eyes in
hell; the poor man died and was carried away by angels into Abraham’s bosom.
To be with
Abraham, the father of the faithful, signified that the poor man had lived by
faith. Paul wrote about the circumcision
and the uncircumcision who walk in the steps of that faith of our father
Abraham. (
We know that the
rich man and his five brothers had lived in unbelief concerning eternity and
the judgment of God. The rich man
pleaded with Abraham to send Lazarus back to his five brothers lest they come
to the place of torment. He was told
that they have Moses and the prophets; if they do not listen to them they would
not be persuaded by someone going to them from the dead.
The rich man lived
a very calloused life toward the poor.
The poor man was laid at his gates daily hoping just for some crumbs
that might fall from his table.
Apparently, the rich man ignored the plight of the poor man. The only comfort that the poor man received
was from a dog who licked his sores.
This story teaches
us that fortunes will be reversed in eternity.
The poor man received evil things during his life on earth, but in
eternity he received good things. The
rich man had a life of comfort on earth, but in eternity he was tormented in
the flames of hell.
Diotrephes
and Demetrius
Third John is a
small epistle about missionaries and our responsibility to support them, but it
is also a contrast between two brothers at the church to which John wrote. They are Diotrephes and Demetrius. Diotrephes had the reputation of loving
preeminence among others; Demetrius had a good report of all men. Diotrephes even set himself against the
tender apostle John. Often men who are
humble and loving will be abused by brothers who are not. Sinful and manipulating brothers find a haven
in churches because we are taught to be humble and submit to one another. But Diotrephes and his offspring love for
others to submit to them, but they will not submit to anyone. Mutual submission is not mutual. There are men and women who are sons and
daughters of Diotrephes. You will them
scattered in all the churches. They
displease the Lord; they do not have a good report of their brothers and
sisters. They are well-known for lording
it over and bullying others. We are
descendants of Diotrephes if we discourage missionaries and refuse to help them
in their work. We do not know why
Diotrephes behaved the way he did. Could
this be another story about covetousness in the early church? This theme is found often in the New
Testament.
In this short
letter of only fourteen verses, we find another contrast in traits and
characters. Demetrius was a good
man. John could not say enough good
about him. He said that he had a good
report of all men, of the truth itself, and John bore record that it was true.
Conclusions
By using
contrasts, we can easily see the difference.
It is a good teaching tool that the Bible uses to make known good from
evil. This method of teaching is seen
throughout the Bible. Revelation has
several sets of opposites: a good woman (chapter 12) and a harlot (chapter 17);
a good number (144,000) and an evil number (666); a holy trinity (Father, Son
and Holy Spirit) and an unholy trinity (red dragon, sea beast and earth beast);
and a holy city and the great city.