Atos 9

Atos 9

Barclay writes this regarding a disciple - "All his life a Christian should be learning more and more about Jesus. The shut mind is the end of discipleship!" (Matthew 5 Commentary - Daily Study Bible) Named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas) - Tabitha is transliterated from the Aramaic; Tabitha, feminine proper noun, interpreted in Acts 9.36 as meaning Dorkas (Greek) (gazelle), a small antelope or deer, certainly very descriptive of her life as Spirit filled and superbly skilled disciple. Translated (1329) (diermeneuo from diá = an intensifier + hermeneuo = to interpret, translate which some say is from Hermes the pagan god of language - our English Hermeneutics - study or science of interpretation of Scripture) means to explain clearly, exactly, thoroughly. To translate, expound, interpret , explain from one language into another. This verb is used of interpreting a foreign language. Louw-Nida - "to explain on a more extensive and formal level the meaning of something which is particularly obscure or difficult to comprehend." Dorcas (Dorkas) means “the female of a roebuck,” or gazelle which is any of numerous small to medium graceful and swift African and Asian antelopes. Lechler in Lange's commentary adds "The gazelle is distinguished for its slender and beautiful form, its graceful movements and its soft but brilliant eyes; it is frequently introduced by the Hebrews and other Oriental nations as an image of female loveliness, and the name was often employed as a proper name, in the case of females." It is interesting that Dorcas is the first Greek name of a female in the New Testament (cf Sapphira a Hebrew name in Acts 5:1). Herbert Lockyer - The Hebrew equivalent (of Dorcas) being Tabitha which is the Syro-Chaldaic form of the Hebrew Zibiah, or Tsibiah, the name of a princess of Judah, the mother of King Joash. Wilkinson says that “the Greek equivalent for her Syriac name may be accounted for by her residence at Joppa, a seaport much frequented, and no doubt partially inhabited by foreigners speaking chiefly the Greek language....In the seaport town of Joppa she became known for her acts of charity and is the namesake for a charitable group named the Dorcas Society....In our churches and also in commendable societies there are many public-spirited women who, with humanitarian ideals, are engaged in various relief activities, and whose sole object is to do good. But they are not actuated by Christ. Trying to emulate Dorcas, they lack her Christian disciple-ship, forgetting that caring for widows and others in need springs from "pure religion" which also reveals itself in keeping oneself unspotted from the world (James 1:26, 27). When Luke says that Dorcas was full of good works, he meant the word "full" to refer primarily to her inward grace, which prompted the outward deeds. "Good works are only genuine and Christian when the soul of the performer is imbued with them." The cup of cold water to be acceptable must be given in His name. With Dorcas, then, being good meant doing good. Her manifold good works flowed from a heart grateful to God for His saving grace." Related Resource: Dorcas - All the Women in the Bible - Herbert Lockyer This woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did - Continually did is in the imperfect tense which pictures Dorcas as doing these things over and over, again and again. John G. Butler said, “Oh, that we had more of the faithfulness of Dorcas in our church members. It is so hard to get church members to do anything for an extended period of time, to be faithful day in and day out at their task. They will serve for a short period of time; they will serve in spurts; but seldom will they serve faithfully. That is why so little gets done in the church when much needs to be done.” Dorcas speaks of the social side of the Church of Jesus Christ. Some evangelicals downplay the social aspect which is a mistake as Dorcas' ministry clearly demonstrates. On the other hand if the Church engages in social activities without in some form offering the Gospel, this is misguided and even disobedient to Jesus' Great Commission. A balanced Christian ministry is always the best Christian ministry! Reputation is what others think about you. Character is what God knows about you! Dorcas had both a good reputation and good character! In fact so revered is the name "Dorcas" and its association with good (God) works and charitable deeds that there are a number of organizations known by the name Dorcas Society. This wonderful woman's name was immortalized not only in the Bible and eternity but in the world and in time. As someone has said here is a woman "who with her needle embroidered her name ineffaceably into the beneficence of the world." Dorcas is the living example of the truth of Jesus' words that believers "may have life, and have it abundantly." (Jn 10:10) Dorcas had life in Christ and lived it abundantly for Christ. She reminds me of the exhortation by the writer of Hebrews And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence (DORCAS WAS DILIGENT!) so as to realize the full assurance of hope (ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY OF FUTURE GOOD. NOT "HOPE SO" BUT "HOPE SURE!") until the end, so that (PURPOSE CLAUSE) you will not be sluggish, but (DRAMATIC CONTRAST) imitators of those (LIKE DORCAS) who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (Heb 6:11-12+) Brian Bill - Wouldn’t you agree that there are more people filled with words than there are people filled with works? It was her holy habit to always abound and overflow with good deeds. Galatians 6:10+ says, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Tabitha reminds me of 1 Timothy 2:9-10: “I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.” What she did is what made her beautiful; it wasn’t her fancy clothes, it was her fruit of compassion. Incidentally, it is very important for women to dress modestly. While our culture doesn’t think so, our Christianity must demand so. Women, this is for your sake and for the sake of the men in this church who are striving to be pure.In the Civil War there was a Union Nurse who labored among the wounded troops. Her face had been disfigured in a fire when she was younger. When asked why she volunteered to work among so much death and carnage, she replied, “The wounded soldiers don’t notice my scars as much as the others. To them, I’m beautiful.” Tabitha did not do anything heroic like Deborah or risky like Rahab. She simply served her Savior by ministering to the marginalized. Tabitha is the model of a devoted disciple who did good deeds in quiet, sacrificial and unassuming ways. (sermon) Abounding (4134)(pleres) means full or filled with and thus rich or abounding in this case with good deeds. Her good deeds did not save her but substantiated the authenticity of her faith. A genuine faith will (supernaturally) issue in good deeds. Abounding is translated "full of good works" in the KJV and Plumptre notes that "The form of the expression may be noticed as characteristic of St. Luke, and his favourite formula for conveying the thought of a quality being possessed in the highest degree possible. So we have “full of leprosy” in Luke 5:12KJV, “full of grace” and “full of faith” in Acts 6:5; Acts 6:8. (Comp. also Acts 13:10; Acts 19:28.) (Ed: Also "full of the Holy Spirit" = Jesus in Lk 4:1, Stephen Acts 7:55, Barnabas in Acts 11:24; "full of the Spirit and of wisdom"=Lk 6:3; Acts 13:10 = full of all deceit and fraud, Acts 19:28 = filled with rage.) KIndness (18)(agathos)(click discussion of good deeds) means intrinsically good, inherently good in quality but with the idea of good which is also profitable, useful, benefiting others, benevolent (marked by or disposed to doing good). Agathos is one whose goodness and works of goodness are transferred to others. Good and doing good is the idea. Agathos describes that which is beneficial in addition to being good. Agathos is that which is good in its character, beneficial in its effects and/or useful in its action. Agathos is used in the New Testament primarily of spiritual and moral excellence. Charity (alms) (1654)(eleemosune from eleemon = merciful from eleos = mercy, kindness, compassion) signifies sympathy, charitableness, compassion; and is manifest in the NT, as benevolent activity toward the poor, including charitable giving and giving alms. BDAG says it describes "that which is benevolently given to meet a need with focus on material." Gotquestions - What are alms? Alms are money or goods given to those in need as an act of charity. The word alms is used many times in the King James Version of the Bible. It comes from the Old English word ælmesse and ultimately from a Greek word meaning “pity, mercy.” In its original sense, when you give alms, you are dispensing mercy. Almsgiving is a long-standing practice within the Judeo-Christian tradition. “Whoever is kind to the needy honors God” (Proverbs 14:31; see also Proverbs 19:17; 21:13; 22:9; and 29:7). Jesus and His disciples gave money to the poor (John 12:6), and believers are to “remember the poor” (Galatians 2:10+). The godly Tabitha was eulogized as one who was continually “helping the poor” (Acts 9:36). The word alms is used nine times in five chapters of the King James Version of the New Testament. Matthew 6:1-4 contains four occurrences: “Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.” Here, Jesus taught that almsgiving is for God to see, not to show off before others. Those giving out of their love for God are not to announce their giving or draw attention to it. In Luke 11:40-42+, Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for giving alms but “neglect[ing] justice and the love of God.” In other words, these religious leaders gave to charity, yet they did not have true charity in their hearts. Giving to the needy does not necessarily prove a right relationship with God. In Luke 12:32+, Jesus tells a rich young ruler to sell all he had, give alms to the poor, and follow Him. Jesus’ challenge was meant to reveal where the young man’s devotion lay: did he love money more than the Lord? The man turned and walked away from Jesus, unwilling to part with his fortune. Doing so showed that he was not ready to become a disciple. In Acts 3+, a crippled man asks Peter and John for money. The apostles explain that they had no money, and they heal him instead. This miracle was much greater than any alms they could have given! Biblically, giving financially to those in need is an important expression of the Christian faith. However, we should make sure our giving is done out of a true love for God, without drawing attention to ourselves. When we invest what God has given us to impact the lives of others, we can trust that the results will make a difference both now and for eternity. Christian Herald - A Christian lady, who was engaged in work for the poor and degraded, was once spoken to by one who was well acquainted with both the worker and those whom she sought to reach, and remonstrated with for going among such a class of people. "It does seem wonderful to me that you can do such work," her friend said. "You sit beside these people, and talk with them in a way that I do not think you would do if you knew all about them, just what they are, and from what places they come." Her answer was, "Well, I suppose they are dreadful people; but if the Lord Jesus were now on earth, are they not the very sort of people that He would strive to teach? And am I better than my Master? Would He feel Himself too good to go among them?" A poor, illiterate person, who stood listening to this conversation, said with great earnestness and simplicity, "Why, I always thought that was what Christians were for." The objector was silenced, and what wonder? Is not that what Christians are for? If not, then what in the name of all that is good are they for? Great Thoughts - We have seen many beautiful tributes to lovely woman, but the following (Acts 9:36-43) is the finest we ever read: Place her among the flowers, foster her as a tender plant, and she is a thing of fancy, waywardness, and folly — annoyed by a dewdrop, fretted by the touch of a butterfly's wing, ready to faint at the sound of a beetle or the rattling of a window pane at night, and she is overpowered by the perfume of a rosebud. But let real calamity come, rouse her affections, enkindle the fires of her heart, and mark her then! How strong is her heart! Place her in the heart of the battle; give her a child, a bird, or anything to protect, and see her in a relative instance, lifting her white arms as a shield, as her own blood crimsons her upturned forehead, praying for her life to protect the helpless. Transplant her in the dark places of the earth, call forth the energies to action, and her breath becomes a healing value, her presence a blessing. She disputes, inch by inch, the stride of stalking pestilence, when man — the strong and brave — pale and affrighted, shrinks away. Misfortune haunts her not. She wears away a life of silent endurance, and goes forward with less timidity than to her bridal. In prosperity she is a bud full of odours, waiting but for the winds of adversity to scatter them abroad — pure gold, valuable, but untried in the furnace. In short, woman is a miracle, a mystery, the centre from which radiates the charm of existence. Spurgeon on The Poor Should be Cared For - Charity should be warmest when the season is coldest. That is the time for coals and blankets. It will warm your heart to warm poor people's bodies. Her deeds of kindness and charity gave unequivocal evidence of the genuineness of her conversion. Dorcas dies, but her deeds remains "alive" for as Jesus' taught her "fruit would remain" throughout eternity (Jn 15:16, Mt 6:19-20+) Dorcas' treasure was in heaven which is where her heart was also (Mt 6:21+). And in fact at this moment she herself was in Heaven for a short time! Dorcas would have shouted an "Amen" to Paul's words in Titus 2:14+ (CHRIST) gave Himself for (Huper = in our place = substitutionary sacrifice) us to redeem (lutroo pay the price to buy us from slavery to sin, Satan, system of the world) us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession (cf 1 Cor 6:19,20+), zealous (zelotes) for good deeds. James wrote that "just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead." (James 2:26+). Dorcas had a living faith and living works. Her practice as a follower of Christ was proof of her profession of faith in Christ. Paul after describing salvation by grace through faith and not by works in Eph 2:8-9+, describes the purpose of our salvation - For we are His workmanship (poiema), created in Christ Jesus for (EXPLAINS OUR REASON FOR HAVING BEEN BORN AGAIN) good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them . (Eph 2:10+). Comment - See God's Masterpiece. If you are a believer this is your description. God don't make no junk! Good works are the inevitable issue of a living faith. If they were prepared by God beforehand, we need to learn to wait on God and listen to God's Spirit (cf abide in the Vine - Jn 15:5), so that we do HIS works and not OUR works! Are you confident that the works you are doing in ministry are HIS works, prepared even before you were born again? We are not saved BY our good works. We are saved FOR His good works. J