How does Amos 5:6 connect with Jesus' teachings on seeking God in Matthew? The Call to Seek in Amos 5:6 “Seek the LORD and live, or He will sweep like fire through the house of Joseph; it will devour with no one at Bethel to extinguish it.” • Amos speaks to a nation drifting into idolatry. • The imperative “Seek the LORD” is immediate and personal—no substitutes, no delay. • Life and judgment hinge on the people’s response: seek God and live, ignore Him and face consuming fire. Jesus’ Words on Seeking in Matthew “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33) “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7) • Jesus makes seeking God the believer’s top priority—“first.” • He promises discovery to every genuine seeker; the door of fellowship will open. • The context of Matthew 6–7 highlights trust, single-minded devotion, and freedom from anxiety. Shared Themes • Urgency: Amos warns of judgment; Jesus warns of worry and eternal consequences (Matthew 7:13-27). Both insist that seeking God cannot wait. • Exclusivity: Amos rejects Bethel’s false religion; Jesus rejects divided loyalty to wealth or self (Matthew 6:19-24). Only wholehearted pursuit of God satisfies. • Life: Amos links seeking with survival; Jesus links seeking with kingdom provision and eternal life (Matthew 19:16-17). • Covenant Faithfulness: Amos calls Israel back to covenant; Jesus, the new covenant mediator, calls disciples into deeper obedience (Matthew 5:17-20). Practical Application 1. Examine priorities: Is seeking God genuinely “first” or merely one activity among many? 2. Repent of substitutes: idols may be ancient shrines (Bethel) or modern securities (wealth, status). 3. Pursue righteousness: obedience is not optional; it accompanies authentic seeking (Matthew 6:33; Amos 5:14-15). 4. Trust God’s promise: He responds to seekers with life, provision, and open doors. Related Passages • Jeremiah 29:13—“You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” • Isaiah 55:6—“Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.” • Matthew 13:44-46—parables of hidden treasure and the pearl underscore wholehearted seeking. |
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