My ways are not your ways

EXPECTATION AND REALITY IN MATTHEW'S GOSPEL:
The Difference between Man's Way and God's Way

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Dr. Paul Manuel—2016

In the course of Jesus' instruction he often highlights differences between man's way and God's way, whether in solving problems or in setting goals. To recognize these differences a person must understand that everyone who resides on the earthly plane has a limited and potentially false perspective, whereas God, who resides on the heavenly plane, has an unlimited and ultimately true perspective.¹ As He declares through Isaiah, "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, [for] as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8-9). Matthew records how Jesus repeatedly illustrates differences between man's expectation and God's reality.²

When Satan attempted three times to derail Jesus' mission by suggesting an easier course, Jesus responded by contrasting God's more demanding yet ultimately rewarding course. Moreover, each of Jesus' responses to the devil's recommendations (temptations) evinces an awareness of the supernatural realm and presents a clear contrast.

• Satan wants Jesus to exercise his ability (his power)—"You can solve this problem right now"—but Jesus knows that God expects him to recognize longevity:³

After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."⁴ Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God' [Deut 8:3b]."⁵ (Matt 4:2-4)

• Satan wants Jesus to exercise his authority (his position)—"You can pull rank and handle this yourself'—but Jesus knows that God expects him to resist immodesty:⁶

Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: 'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone' [Ps 91:121." Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" (Matt 4:5-7)

• Satan wants Jesus to exercise his individuality (his preference)—"You can decide whom to serve"—but Jesus knows that God expects him to respect authority:⁷

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan!"⁸ For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only [Deut 6:13]." (Matt 4:8-10)

In all three cases Satan recommends a course of immediate gratification (man's way) to reach the kingdom goal another way,⁹ but Jesus prefers delayed gratification, to reach the kingdom goal the right way (God's way), knowing that ultimately it will prove more satisfying.¹⁰

In Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (chapters 5-7) he offers several series of similar contrasts. Jesus stacks popular notions ("it was said") against God's perspective ("I tell you").

• God's prohibition of murder is stricter than most people think:

You have heard that it was said... 'Do not murder [Exod 20:13; Deut 5:17], and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment [X].' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment." (Matt 5:21-22a)¹¹

• God's prohibition of adultery is stricter than most people think:

You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery [Exod 20:14; Deut 5:18].' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matt 5:27-28)¹²

• God's provision for divorce is stricter than most people think:¹³

It has been said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce [Deut 24:1].' But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress.... (Matt 5:31-32)

• God's provision for oaths is stricter than most people think:¹⁴

You have heard that it was said... 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord [Lev 19:12; Num 30:2].' But I tell you, Do not swear at all.... (Matt 5:33-34)

• God's provision for retaliation is stricter than most people think:¹⁵

You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth [Exod 24:24; Lev 24:20; Deut 19:21].¹⁶ But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. (Matt 5:38-39a)

• God's provision for treating enemies is stricter than most people think:

You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor [Lev 19:18]¹⁷ and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. (Matt 5:43-44)

What is popular is not necessarily proper, and followers of Jesus must not allow social norms to determine how disciples should think or behave. Man's way is not necessarily God's way.¹⁸

Matthew describes "acts of righteousness" (Matt 6:1), the proper practice of which he contrasts with their common but improper practice.

• Giving should not be public but private.¹⁹

When you give to the needy, do not announce it... But [give] in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matt 6:2-4)

• Praying should not be public but private.

When you pray, do not [pray] to be seen by men. But....pray [in secret] to your Father.... Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matt 6:5-6)

• Fasting should not be public but private.²⁰

When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do.... But...put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men...and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matt 6:16-18)

In all three acts, Jesus distinguishes between man's way of performing them, which again seeks immediate gratification, and God's way, which may await delayed gratification.²¹

Jesus addresses two goals that many people spend the majority of their time and energy hoping to achieve.

• Avoid obsessing about acquiring the luxuries of this world.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth.... But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.... (Matt 6:19-20)

• Avoid obsessing about acquiring the necessities of this world.

Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink or...what you will wear.... But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matt 6:25, 33)

Despite the attraction these hold for people who pursue man's way, Jesus says there are better and more lasting things available to his followers by pursuing God's way.

Throughout the book, Jesus makes several further contrasts that illustrate the difference between man's way and God's way.²² When prospective disciples declare their intention to follow the rabbi, Jesus indicates that discipleship requires sacrifice.²³

• A disciple may have to deny his amenity:

A teacher of the law came to him and said, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." (Matt 8:19-20)²⁴

• A disciple may have to deny his family:

Another disciple said to him, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." But Jesus told him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead." (Matt 8:21-22)²⁵

When, because of the 'disreputable' company Jesus keeps, some Pharisees question his commitment to their practice of maintaining ceremonial purity, he states that his mission is different.²⁶

• God is concerned more for personal salvation than ceremonial purification:

It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' [Hos 6:6] For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." (Matt 9:12-13)

When Jesus' disciples wonder why he teaches sometimes with figurative language rather than speaking plainly, the rabbi explains that certain people are not responsive.

• God may choose to conceal His intention from some and reveal it to others:

I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure. (Matt 11:25-26)

When Peter attempts to dissuade Jesus from pursuing a course of action that will lead to his death, the rabbi tells his disciple that such thinking accords with man's agenda (which in this case is also the devil's agenda) not with God's agenda.

• God follows His own program, which is often different from anyone else's:

Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men. (Matt 16:23)

When the disciples argue over their respective rank in the future, Jesus informs them that their position²⁷ will not be according to any (perceived) superiority but will depend on their (actual) humility.²⁸

• God determines a person's status in the kingdom by his service to others:

I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.²⁹ Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (18:3-4)

When Peter attempts to quantify the limit of his liability for pardoning those who have wronged him, Jesus says there is no limit.

• God expects His people to forgive every injustice against them:³⁰

Peter...asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times [i.e., unlimited]. (Matt 18:21-22)

When Peter recounts what he and the other disciples have given up to follow Jesus, he learns that their sacrifice may actually benefit them.

• God will reward those who now occupy lowly positions:

Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. (Matt 19:29-30)

When religious leaders assume their position is secure, Jesus informs them that it is not and that because they do not serve God He will put others in their place.³¹

• God will replace the religious leaders with people who are productive: 

The kingdom of God will be taken away from [corrupt religious leaders] and given to a people who will produce its fruit. (Matt 21:43)

When religious leaders fail to communicate their faith properly, they put themselves and their supporters in jeopardy.

• God will exclude from the kingdom leaders who misinform new converts: 

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. (Matt 23:13)

Most people will be so caught up in their own lives that they will not be looking for Jesus' second advent and will, in fact, be unpleasantly caught off guard by it.³²

• God will surprise people with the return of Jesus:

No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.³³ As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away.³⁴ That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. (Matt 24:36-39)

Because Judas (John 12:4) was more concerned with money than with ministry, he interpreted Mary's (John 12:2) anointing of Jesus to be an indulgent waste of expensive perfume.

• God has a different value system than man:

Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. (Matt 26:10-11)

Jesus says repeatedly throughout Matthew's gospel that his followers must order their priorities not according to the expectations of man's way but according to realities of God's way. Those decisions often have repercussions for disciples in this life, on the earthly plane, and in the next life, on the heavenly plane.

For a pdf including Bibliography and Endnotes see here.