Sermon Notes for 5/4/2014 (Acts 21:17-26)
Jews Should Live as Jews
A. The situation in the Jerusalem church (17-21)
1) They were happy about Paul's work, however... (17-19)
When we arrived at Jerusalem, the brothers received us warmly. The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James, and all the elders were present. Paul greeted them and reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.
2) Negative rumors about Paul (20-22)
When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to Paul: "You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law. They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or live according to our customs. What shall we do? They will certainly hear that you have come,
B. What should we do? (23-26)
1) A request for Paul (23-25)
so do what we tell you. There are four men with us who have made a vow. Take these men, join in their purification rites and pay their expenses, so that they can have their heads shaved. Then everybody will know there is no truth in these reports about you, but that you yourself are living in obedience to the law. As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they should abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality."
2) Paul's consideration (26)
The next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he went to the temple to give notice of the date when the days of purification would end and the offering would be made for each of them.
Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. (1 Corinthians 9:19-23)
Summary
Even though Paul believed in freedom from the law, he did not push his convictions on Jewish followers of Jesus, and neither were Gentile followers of Jesus required to observe the law. We need to have a similar attitude when we introduce other people to Jesus, being careful not to get in the way of what Jesus is doing by confusing our cultural beliefs and rules with the gospel.
For Discussion
1) Why did Paul respond as he did to their request?
2) Which of the Old Testament laws do we need to observe? Which ones do we not need to observe?
Jews Should Live as Jews
A. The situation in the Jerusalem church (17-21)
1) They were happy about Paul's work, however... (17-19)
When we arrived at Jerusalem, the brothers received us warmly. The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James, and all the elders were present. Paul greeted them and reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.
2) Negative rumors about Paul (20-22)
When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to Paul: "You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law. They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or live according to our customs. What shall we do? They will certainly hear that you have come,
B. What should we do? (23-26)
1) A request for Paul (23-25)
so do what we tell you. There are four men with us who have made a vow. Take these men, join in their purification rites and pay their expenses, so that they can have their heads shaved. Then everybody will know there is no truth in these reports about you, but that you yourself are living in obedience to the law. As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they should abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality."
2) Paul's consideration (26)
The next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he went to the temple to give notice of the date when the days of purification would end and the offering would be made for each of them.
Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. (1 Corinthians 9:19-23)
Summary
Even though Paul believed in freedom from the law, he did not push his convictions on Jewish followers of Jesus, and neither were Gentile followers of Jesus required to observe the law. We need to have a similar attitude when we introduce other people to Jesus, being careful not to get in the way of what Jesus is doing by confusing our cultural beliefs and rules with the gospel.
For Discussion
1) Why did Paul respond as he did to their request?
2) Which of the Old Testament laws do we need to observe? Which ones do we not need to observe?