Category: 2 Corinthians

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Greet One Another With a Holy Kiss

Summary of my sermon, based on 2 Corinthians 13:12. Preached at Greenhills Christian Fellowship Toronto on November 3, 2025.

How do you view greeting? For many of us, it’s probably not something we think about very much. Among my friends and colleagues—even my manager—it’s not really something we think about. Usually for me, it’s just a simple “what’s up,” because I grew up in Scarborough in the late 90s. That was our thing back then. For the most part here in the West, it’s not something we think of very often.

That’s not the case in other countries. Recently I came across a reel about greetings in Japan where, depending on your status relative to the person you’re greeting, there are various appropriate ways to greet. If you happen to see the president of your company in the morning, the appropriate greeting would be “Ohayougozimashita”—the longest, most polite form of “good morning.” For a manager it might be “Ohayougozaimasu,” for a senpai it’s simply “Ohayou,” and for a friend or colleague it can be as short as “Sus.” In general, the longer the greeting, the more polite and formal; the shorter, the more casual. Japan is much more rigidly structured in that way than the West.

Something else I found on the interwebs: people crashing out on LinkedIn over how you greet someone on the phone. One recruiter from North Carolina posted (in all caps): “I returned the candidate’s call. His first words shocked me.” The candidate had left a very professional message, a high-level profile, but when the recruiter called back (from the same number), he answered, “Hello.” Apparently that mattered a lot. The recruiter couldn’t understand why professionals answer without saying who they are. As you can imagine, the post was met with ridicule. My favorite reply: “It’s obviously unacceptable to answer just ‘hello.’ You have to say, ‘Hello, is it me you’re looking for?’” (Yes, that’s Lionel Richie.)

In all seriousness, while LinkedIn recruiters may be a little overzealous, greetings do matter. They matter enough that the Apostle Paul commanded Christians how to greet one another. This is one of the “one another” commands we’re covering: “Greet one another with a holy kiss.” (2 Corinthians 13:12, ESV) Paul repeats it in Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:26. Peter echoes it with a slight variation: “Greet one another with the kiss of love.” (1 Peter 5:14, ESV)

Depending on your cultural background, that may sound strange. But in Toronto, this might not be so foreign. Think of the Kennedy Kiss & Ride—a staple in Scarborough culture. It captures the idea: not an erotic kiss, but a simple greeting (often a cheek-kiss). In North America, that’s not predominant anymore; in parts of Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East, it still is. In the Philippines there’s the “besso-besso”. But, even within one culture, families vary. On my mom’s side, we greet elders with a kiss on the cheek (I don’t “mano” my Lola; I kiss her as a greeting). On my dad’s side, it’s different. Not better or worse—just different.

The key point: kissing has been, and continues to be, a common greeting in many parts of the world, especially among family and close friends. A biblical example appears in Acts 20 when Paul says farewell to the Ephesian elders: “And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again.” (Acts 20:36–38, ESV)

That brings us to the adjective holy. What does a holy kiss mean? One way to understand it is by its opposite: unholy kisses.

The most infamous unholy kiss is Judas’s betrayal: “Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, ‘The one I will kiss is the man. Seize him and lead him away under guard.’ And when he came, he went up to him at once and said, ‘Rabbi!’ And he kissed him. And they laid hands on him and seized him.” (Mark 14:44–46, ESV)

Another unholy kiss is a kiss of deception in 2 Samuel 20. After David replaced Joab with Amasa, Joab met Amasa on the road: “And Joab said to Amasa, ‘Is it well with you, my brother?’ And Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him. But Amasa did not observe the sword that was in Joab’s hand. So Joab struck him… and he died.” (2 Samuel 20:9–10, ESV)

In the church, we may not often face outright betrayal, but we can be tempted to deceive—to greet warmly while harboring jealousy, anger, or bitterness. Paul instructs us otherwise: “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:31–32, ESV)

That is the content of a holy greeting: kindness, tenderheartedness, forgiveness. A beautiful picture of a holy kiss appears in Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son: “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.” (Luke 15:20, ESV)

It is a kiss of forgiveness and grace, overshadowing great wrong. I think Paul had this kind of grace in mind when he urged the Corinthians to greet one another with a holy kiss—especially given his painful history with them. He had confronted sexual immorality, greed, idolatry, slander, adultery, and divisions. He wrote a hard letter and made a painful visit. Then he explained:

“For I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you. For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained?… For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears… to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.” (2 Corinthians 2:1–4, ESV)

So when Paul says “greet one another with a holy kiss,” he means: you are family now. Show closeness and affection in a way that fits the gospel you believe and the salvation you’ve received in Christ.

In closing, I’m not saying we need to start kissing each other as part of our greetings. We’re in Canada; that’s not our common form. But we should practice whatever is culturally appropriate to show we are not mere acquaintances—we are the family of God, brothers and sisters in Christ. Our greetings should be affectionate and reflect our relationship to each other. They should not be unholy or deceitful, hiding things that need to be addressed. They should be genuine and true, holy, and filled with the self-sacrificing grace and love Christ showed us when he died on the cross—a gospel we remember especially when we celebrate the Lord’s Supper.

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Treasures in Heaven – Part 3

Summary of my sermon, based on 2 Corinthians 9:6-8. Preached at Greenhills Christian Fellowship Toronto on January 21, 2024.

As we conclude our series on “Treasures in Heaven,” we return to the teachings of Jesus in Matthew 6:19-24, a passage that forms part of the Sermon on the Mount. This passage centers on the instruction to “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:20, ESV). Through these words, Jesus calls us to a life of generosity, encouraging us to avoid the pitfalls of stinginess and jealousy, and helping us steer clear of the idol of materialism.

Last week, we explored the concept of tithing, a practice rooted in the Mosaic Law, where the Israelites were required to dedicate ten percent of their harvest as holy to the Lord. This act of tithing, which involved multiple offerings, meant that the total giving was closer to twenty-five percent. Yet, with the coming of Christ, we understand that we are no longer bound by these Old Testament laws. Instead, Christians have embraced the principle of tithing, guided by Proverbs 3:9, which instructs us to “Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce.” While not a requirement, this principle serves as a spiritual discipline—a way for us to reorder our priorities and grow in our faith.

Matthew 6:21 reminds us, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Our giving is a reflection of our heart’s priorities, and it acknowledges that everything we have belongs to God. This is the essence of stewardship—managing God’s resources responsibly. As we discussed last week, it is helpful to shift our perspective from asking, “How much do I give?” to “How much do I dare keep?”

Today, we delve into one of the New Testament’s most profound teachings on giving found in 2 Corinthians 9:6-15. Many of you might be familiar with verse 7, “God loves a cheerful giver.” While this passage is often associated with tithing, its true focus is on the heart behind our giving.

Paul, who planted the church in Corinth, had a tumultuous relationship with the Corinthians. After moving on to Ephesus, he had to address numerous issues within the Corinthian church, from sexual immorality to divisions and social snobbery. In 2 Corinthians, Paul found himself defending his apostleship against those who sought to undermine his authority. Yet, despite these challenges, Paul continued to encourage the Corinthians in their commitment to Christ.

In 2 Corinthians 9, Paul reminds the Corinthians of their pledge to support the struggling Christians in Judea. He had boasted to the Macedonians about their readiness to give, but knowing the Corinthians’ history, Paul wisely decided to send some of his co-workers ahead to ensure they were prepared. He writes, “But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be” (2 Corinthians 9:3).

Paul then uses a powerful agrarian metaphor to drive home his point: “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” (2 Corinthians 9:6). This metaphor, drawn from the everyday life of an agrarian society, emphasizes the principle of generosity. Just as a farmer who sows generously reaps a bountiful harvest, so too will those who give generously experience the blessings of God.

However, it’s important to clarify that Paul is not preaching a prosperity gospel. He is not suggesting that giving will lead to material wealth. Instead, Paul is teaching that the harvest we reap is one of righteousness and increased generosity, not financial gain. He writes, “He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God” (2 Corinthians 9:10-11).

Paul’s message also touches on the element of trust inherent in giving. Just as sowing seed involves a risk, so too does giving. We trust that God will use our resources—whether financial, time, or effort—to accomplish His purposes. This trust is captured beautifully in the words of missionary Jim Elliot: “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” Elliot’s sacrifice and the perseverance of his widow, Elisabeth, in continuing their mission work after his death, serve as powerful examples of the transformative power of giving and faith.

The motivation behind our giving is crucial. Paul advises, “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). Our giving should be voluntary, not driven by guilt or pressure. It should spring from a heart of gratitude and a desire to glorify God. As Paul concludes, “For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God” (2 Corinthians 9:12).

In the end, God’s grace abounds to those who give. Paul reassures us, “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8). When we give with the right heart, trusting in God’s provision, we participate in His work and experience the joy of seeing His kingdom grow.