Leviticus 10:1-11  Reflecting on the first 9 chapters.. where all the law of the offerings were laid out, where the priests were anointed, and where the tent of meeting.. the tabernacle was consecrated.. and God's glory came down..  I once again rejoice in the fulfillment of every requirement in the death of our perfect Savior, the Lamb of God who was slain. 

 I have found myself thinking about the significance of these offerings.. and how they are reflected in our own worship.  We give praise and glory and thanks to our Father for the offering that He presented.. His only begotten Son.. who died for our transgressions.. who suffered in our place.. the Perfect Lamb of God.  He is the One who has made atonement for us that we might be forgiven and accepted by our Father.. like the burnt offering.  He is the One who is our Provider so that we might give a tithe from what He has provided.. like the grain offering.  When we give an offering..  to the Lord ...whether it is our money, our time,  or our service- from our hearts.. out of devotion and not duty.... it is like the grain offering.. seasoned with salt.. the salt of the covenant.. affirming our agreement, our pledge..our allegiance with our God.  Christ is our guilt offering, our peace offering, our sin offering..  and.. He is our Perfect High Priest.  Hallelujah!  What a Savior!

In chapter 10.. all the requirements have been laid out and the responsibilities have been turned over to Aaron and his sons.. 

"Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron took their respective fireman's, and after putting fire in them, placed incense on it and offered strange fire before the Lord, which He had no commanded them.  And fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord." 

They did not take the Word of the Lord seriously and  the two men were immediately punished for their failure to treat the Lord "as holy".   The Lord would not allow His Name to be treated in such a way that would dishonor Him before the people.  Like Cain.. they chose to offer something that they thought was a better choice than what God required. 

The bodies of the two men were removed from the camp by their cousins. 

Aaron and his two remaining sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, were not allowed to leave the tent or mourn the loss of their family members.  The rest of the Israelites were permitted to mourn this loss. 

Then the Lord spoke directly to Aaron.. giving him this command,  "Do no drink wine or strong drink, neither you nor your sons with you, when you come into the tent of meeting, so that you may not die - it is a perpetual statute throughout your generations- and so as to make a distinction between the holy and the profane, and between the unclean and the clean..."

Was this what caused Nadab and Abihu to do what they did?  Had they been drunk? They failed to offer what was holy..  in fact the word "strange" could mean loathsome or profane.. foreign.  Far from what God commanded. 

Again we are reminded of the fact that our offerings before the Lord are to be pure.. holy.  We cannot offer anything of our own will or desire.. but only what God requires.. which He Himself provides through Jesus Christ the Lord.  We can  bring ourselves and offer our bodies.. our hearts.. our whole self before Him, with contrite hearts, with praise and thanksgiving.. for Jesus paid it all! He calls us to lay down our lives, take up our cross, and follow Him.. 

Our Father in heaven, let Your Name be hallowed and honored.. let Your will be done and Your kingdom come.  We ask for Your provision of daily bread and forgiveness of every trespass. We forgive those who have sinned against us. We ask for You to lead us in righteousness and not allow the temptations of this world to draw us from Your Presence. Deliver us from all evil we pray. In the name of our Perfect Savior, Jesus Christ we come. Amen. 

 Leviticus 8-9  Everything was ready.. the tabernacle finished and furnished; the high priest's and other priest's garments prepared.  Aaron and his sons were now set apart  to be consecrated for the work that the Lord commanded them to do. 

Moses followed closely all the commands that the Lord gave him..  Aaron and his sons were washed. They were clothed in the sacred garments. They offered the sin offering and the burnt offering for their atonement.  Moses anointed the tabernacle and the priests.  Aaron and his sons spent 7 days in the tabernacle to complete their ordination.. "just as the Lord commanded.. " 

On the eighth day Aaron started his new job.. The whole congregation was brought before the tabernacle and a sin offering and a burnt offering, along with a grain offering was presented before the Lord on behalf of all the people of Israel. "And Moses said, 'This is the thing which the Lord has commanded you to do, that the glory of the Lord may appear to you.' " ( 9:6)

Everything was done exactly to the Lord's commands.  When it was all complete, Aaron "lifted up his hands towards the people and blessed them..  Moses and Aaron went together into the tabernacle and when they came out they gave another blessing and " the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. "

"Then fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the portions of fat on the altar; and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces." (9:24)

We think about the law and the sacrifices that the people of Israel were commanded to do.. and frankly.. we are glad we do not have to do this anymore..  but, just think about the amazing privilege that they had.. to see..  with their physical eyes..  the "glory of the Lord" and the fire that just came and consumed the offerings.  Don't we long to see the glory of the Lord in such a way?   Sometimes we get just a glimpse.. while we worship together with our church family.. but nothing close to what these Israelites saw that day.  

And yet.. they stayed stubborn, complaining, and rebellious. It seems impossible that they could ever want anything.. or any other idol.. after experiencing such a profound meeting with the Almighty God! But, we know they did. 

And what about us?  Are we any different?  Paul wrote this in 2 Corinthians 3:18  "But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit." We are given and opportunity to see God's glory in God's people, aren't we ?

  As we learn from the book of Hebrews.. we have a greater High Priest.. we have a greater covenant.. and we have a greater sacrifice.  We can draw near.. not to a tent..but to a Savior.  We "enter the holy place" instead of standing at the door.  We have  a new and living way.. through the blood and flesh of Jesus Christ.  Our hearts are "sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." (Hebrews 10:19-22)  We have a living hope.  We have the Spirit of God within us..  so "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful." (v23)

Father in heaven, all glorious above.. keep us in the presence of Your glory.. continue to sanctify us through and through.. transforming us from "glory to glory".. to be the reflection of Jesus our Lord. Let Your will be done.. today.. in us we pray.. In His wonderful name. Amen. 

 Leviticus 6:8-7:38  This passage sums up the role of the priests in the offering of all the sacrifices.. the parts that are offered as a burnt offering,  the parts that are given to the priests as their food, and the place that those are to be eaten.   The Lord reminds them all that these offerings are "holy".  They must never be touched by anyone unclean.. and those who are clean and offer the sacrifice will be "consecrated". 

The law was given that the fire on the altar was to burn day and night (6:12-13)  There would be a continual offering rising up to the Lord as His people walked in obedience to His commands.  The burnt offerings, the grain offerings, the peace offering, the guilt offering.. and 7:37 includes one more.. the "ordination offering."  This would be the next thing as Aaron and his sons are consecrated to serve as priests.   Every offering was required for a purpose.. that sinful people could be made clean, and able to come to the God who loved them.. 

I am reminded once again that Jesus Christ accomplished the satisfaction of every Law.. every requirement that the sacrifice of lambs and bulls could not.  Because of His sacrifice on the cross.. we are accepted.. our atonement has been completed.. our lives are redeemed.. and we can come before Him with praise and thanksgiving... for we are the Lord's forever.  Jesus is the Perfect High Priest and the Perfect Lamb who was slain.  He is an amazing Savior and our glorious King. 

Amen. 

 Leviticus 5:1-6:7  This section describes what is called the "guilt offering" or "trespass offering".  Some of the sins listed here are intentional and some are done unknowingly.  Either way.. sin is sin.  There are no excuses.. but there is a way of restoration and reconciliation.. God has made a way for us to be forgiven!

There are many examples given here, but they are not exclusive..

v1.. a person who is called to testify.. whether he knows what happened or not.. but does not tell what he knows.. "will bear his guilt". 

v2-3 If a person touches something unclean.. even if he doesn't realize it.. is still unclean.  When he realizes it.. "he will be guilty". 

v4  A person who makes an oath.. " thoughtlessly... to do evil or to do good"..  will be guilty. 

"So it shall be when he becomes guilty in one of these, that he shall confess that in which he has sinned." 

Then.. a guilt offering is required. It could be a female lamb, two turtledoves or pigeons, or if he cannot afford even that.. a measure of flour. Whatever he can afford he would need to bring it to the priest and offer it as a sin offering and "he shall be forgiven". 

There were different instructions for  actions of unfaithfulness when a person sinned against the Lord's holy things or against another person. This required a ram without defect according to the value required by the priests.  This was required even if the person didn't want to do harm intentionally..he would still be guilty... he would still need atonement. 

In 6:1-7 there are examples of sins that required not only the guilt offering but restoration to the person offended.. either by robbery or extortion; deception; a lie about something that belonged to the other.  In any case, there needed to be repayment plus one-fifth more added to the restitution.. plus the guilt offering. 

In all of these cases we see that God is quite aware of our guilt even if we are not.. and He will make us aware of it so that we can seek atonement and forgiveness for our guilt. 

Perhaps this is why Jesus taught us to pray.. "forgive us our trespasses".. on a regular basis.. for we may have sinned against someone without realizing it.. or we may have sinned against God's holy commands and been unfaithful.. unintentionally.   Oh how we need the Savior to lead us into all righteousness! 

Father, You are our Mighty God who sees all things.. who looks upon our hearts.. who hears everything that we say.. and You know that we need the covering of the blood of Christ which cleanses us from all our sins.  Forgive us our sins.. our debts.. our trespasses we pray.. in the name of Jesus Christ..  Praise You Father.. for Your  mercies ... that You have provided are new every morning! Thank You.. all honor and glory and power are Yours forever and ever! Amen. 

 Leviticus 4 This passage describes the law for the "sin offering"..  Verse 2 says that this refers to those who "unintentionally" sin... sin that is done in ignorance or inadvertence... a mistake or error that breaks the law of God but without evil intent or rebellion.  

There are specific instructions for specific people:  1. For anointed priests. 2. For the whole congregation. 3. For a leader. 4. For a "common" person.

Verses 3-12 describe the steps needed for the atonement of a priest who sins and thus brings "guilt on the people".   He has to bring a bull without defect.  He would lay his hand on the bull at the doorway of the tabernacle. He would slay it and dip his finger in the blood, sprinkling "some of the blood seven times before the Lord in front of the veil of the sanctuary."  The rest of the blood is poured at the base of the altar, all the fat is offered as a burnt offering. The hide, the head, the legs and the entrails of the bull are taken "outside the camp" and burned there.   The writer of Hebrews refers to this sacrifice:

Hebrews 13:11-13 says this.. "For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin are burned outside the camp.  Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. Hence, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. " 

Verses 13-20 describe the offering given when the congregation as a whole "commits error and the matter escapes the notice of the assembly and they commit any of the things which the Lord has commanded not to be done, and they become guilty: when the sin becomes known... "  This time a bull is once again offered but it is the responsibility of the elders.. who lay their hands on the head of the bull.  The blood is again sprinkled in front of the veil by the priest, then some is put on the horns of the altar, the rest poured out at the base, and the fat offered up as a burnt offering. The rest is the same.. the hide, head, and legs removed outside the camp and burned.  "So the priest shall make atonement for them and they shall be forgiven." 

Verses 22-26 describe the offering for a leader/ruler who unintentionally sins. This time a male goat is required for the offering. He must bring it to the altar, lay his hand on its head and slay it.  The priest would take some blood and put it on the horns of the altar and the rest is poured out at the base.  All the fat is offered up on the altar as a burnt offering.  "Thus the priest shall make atonement for him in regard to his sin, and he shall be forgiven." 

Verses 27-35 give the instructions for the unintentional sin of the "common people".  This offering had to be an unblemished, female goat or lamb. When the person realizes his sin he would bring the sacrifice, lay his hand on its head,  and slay it at the altar. Again, the priest would take some blood and put it on the horns of the altar, pour the rest at the base, and burn up all the fat.  "Thus the priest shall make atonement for him in regard to his sin which he committed and he shall be forgiven." 

How often do we sin.. "unintentionally" or in "ignorance",,?  Perhaps more than we would like to admit.  The important thing to know is that when we realize it.. confess it.. and repent of it.. we have a Savior who has already made atonement for us!  We shall be forgiven!  Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Father, how perfect are Your Ways and how wonderful is the salvation that we have in Christ Jesus who has made a way for us to be forgiven and cleansed . We have a glorious Savior and we give our thanks and praise and glory to His Name.  Jesus went outside the camp.. for us.  Thank You Lord!  Keep us Father, from all sin.. unintentional or intentional.  Keep us from temptation and lead us in Your ways of righteousness we pray..in Jesus' name . Amen. 

 Leviticus 3  This chapter gives the law for the "peace offering".  Chapter 7 gives us some more information about this sacrifice which can be either an offering of "thanksgiving" or a " votive or freewill offering".  Like all offerings to the Lord the animal offered must not have any defects, the blood is sprinkled around the altar and the fat is offered up by fire.  The offering could be a male or female sheep or goat or cow/ox.

At the end of chapter 3 they were given a strict command.. "It is perpetual statute throughout your generation in all your dwellings: you shall not eat any fat or any blood." 

In chapter 7 we find out that certain portions of the peace or fellowship offering would be given to the priests but the rest could be eaten by the family of the person offering the sacrifice.  If it was given as an offering of thanksgiving it would be accompanied by unleavened or leavened cakes. (verses11-15)  If it was a a "votive or a freewill offering".. an offering that was given as a vow.. or for some other reason,  the portion left after the blood and fat were offered, could be eaten that day or the next.  Anything left over had to be burned up. 

Again, they were told to not eat any of the fat or blood of any manner. 

There was one more important command about the offering of the peace offering.. it could only be offered at the tabernacle.. never in an open field.  This was a warning against idolatry since the pagans would offer their own sacrifices to the idols that they worshipped in that way..  The Israelites could too easily fall into playing "the harlot" by offering sacrifices to the "goat demons" (17:5-7) 

So, what can we learn from this?  Every offering and sacrifice was given for the purpose that God willed for His chosen people. It brought them into a deeper relationship or fellowship with Him.  We know that every one of these sacrifices were fulfilled in the cross of Jesus Christ.  He is the One who brings us into the True and Perfect fellowship with our God.  It is through Christ that we have True Peace.. True fellowship with our heavenly Father.  We do not bring an offering of blood because the blood of Jesus Christ has been offered.. once for all.. as we read in the book of Hebrews.  We are now able to bring a daily sacrifice or praise and thanksgiving.. through the One who died for us!

Father in heaven, we are so thankful for such a Savior! We praise the One who became the perfect Lamb of God.. who has brought us into the family of God.. making a way that the blood of a lamb or ox never could. How thankful we are for the mercy You have poured out upon us in Jesus Christ.  We willingly bring the only sacrifice that we can.. presenting our bodies as "a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God.. "  (Romans 12:!) We come with gratitude for the atonement for our sins through the cross of our Lord. We bring our tithes and offerings.. as a pledge and commitment of devotion to You alone. Keep us in Truth by Your word and Your Spirit we pray.. in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen. 

 Leviticus 2  A grain offering can be offered in many forms.. ( keep reading.. it is not as simple as it might seem) 

It can be fine flour with oil and frankincense poured on top of it.. where the priest takes a handful of the flour and oil and all of the frankincense and offers it up in the smoke of the altar.  The rest of the flour and oil belongs to Aaron and his sons "a thing most holy of the offerings to the Lord by fire." vs 1-2

The flour and oil can be made in an oven.. baked into unleavened cakes or wafers and offered that way. v4

The flour and oil and be mixed together and cooked on a griddle, broken into bits and offered. v5

Or, the flour and oil can be cooked in a pan.. v7

No matter which way the worshipper brings the grain offering... it is brought to the priest who offers a "memorial portion" to burn on the altar and the remainder provides food for the priests. 

The grain offering can never have leaven or honey... but it must always include an offering of salt.  "Every grain offering of yours, moreover, you shall season with salt so that the salt of the covenant of your God shall not be lacking from your grain offering;" 

A grain offering was used for the celebration of "first fruits" one of the yearly feasts that the Lord commanded.  Perhaps it was given at other times too..  

Verse 14 adds another way that the grain can be offered as a "early ripened" offering.. The person would bring "fresh heads of grain roasted in the fire, grits of new growth, for the grain offering of your early ripened things." These "grits... are covered with incense".. and offered up in smoke. 

These grain offerings were to be unleavened and unsweetened.. uncorrupted.  They were offered with salt.. a preservative.  The grain would be a result of each man's labor.. the work of his hands.. provided by God's gift of fruitfulness... for He provides the rain and the sun. the soil and the seed. It is bringing back to God what He has blessed you with.  In the case of the first fruits it would show thankfulness for the beginning for the harvest and trust for the rest of the harvest. 

Some of the grain offering is burned by fire and some would provide for the priests.. those who ministered before the Lord.  In the same way, we bring a tithe to the Lord.. uncorrupted gifts from our labor.  We cannot get money from unholy sources and think that it is holy enough for the Lord. He does not want it!  Likewise we are to bring our offering with "salt"..  Jesus tells us that we are the "salt of the earth".. and that unsalty salt is worthless. Salt has value and worth.. Mark 9:49-50 tells us that "everyone will be salted with fire".  Jesus says to " have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other."  It is referring to this requirement in Leviticus that every grain offering include salt.  In Lev. 2:13 it speaks of " the salt of the covenant"..  It is an offering that  symbolizes a pledge.. a treaty.. an agreement.. of devotion to God. 

When we write a check or give online as a tithe to our church.. a gift or offering to the Lord... we need to consciously and deliberately consider the meaning that this can and should  have..  If we give out of duty and not devotion we miss the point!  We come with the fruit of our labors.. with honest, undefiled gifts  and with devoted hearts.. confirming our covenant with our Lord.  This is worship to our God who has given His all to us. This is an offering acceptable to the Lord... for it is from our whole being.  As Romans 12:1 says.. " ... present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice , acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship." 

Father, we desire to honor Your holy Name, to do Your will, and to seek Your Kingdom and righteousness.  We ask for daily bread, for You are our Provider.. and we offer to You gifts from what You have provided.. cheerfully and with thanksgiving!  "Teach us Your ways O Lord.. that we might live according to Your truth. Grant us purity of heart that we might honor Your name.". ( Psalm 86:11) Forgive us for giving money just out of obligation or out of any self-serving motives..  and help us to give our whole selves to You along with our tithes and offerings.  We ask this in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.   Amen. 

 Leviticus 1   This book sometimes is met with a groan or a sigh.. It is a book of laws.. civil laws, ceremonial laws.. moral laws.. and religious laws.  A book that lays out the duties of the Levites.. God's chosen ministers.  This book explains the need for offerings.. making clear the Holiness of God and the sinfulness of mankind.. and showing a way for forgiveness and reconciliation between the two.  It is a hard book to read.. but is so important to do so for it is God's holy Word and He actively and powerfully speaks through every chapter. 

The book begins with the law for burnt offerings.  These offerings were brought by anyone... freely offered for the purpose of "atonement".  It could be a bull, a sheep or goat, or a bird.. according to whatever the man could provide.  Verse 3 and verse 10 tell us that the animal must be "without defect" and it must be a male bull or sheep.  Then the man would place his hand on the animal's head "that it may be accepted for him to make atonement on his behalf." ( v4)

The man would then kill the animal and give it to the priests who would sprinkle the blood around the altar and burn the pieces of it on the altar, giving care to arrange the pieces appropriately.  The entrails and legs were washed before being offered.  When all of the animal was burned up it became a "soothing aroma to the Lord". 

The offering of a turtledove or pigeon was a little different, for the priest actually killed the bird himself, removed the crop and the feathers and split the bird open without cutting it apart.  It was then offered completely on the altar. 

God accepted this offering for the atonement of the person who brought it.  Atonement means to "cover, appease, cleanse, or purge".. It is taking one's sin and transferring it onto the head of the offering so that God would consider the one who gave it willingly would be considered holy and accepted by Him.  In the same way we come to Jesus, placing all of our sin and guilt on the Lamb who was slain... whose blood was shed and body broken for us. 

We are accepted and approved by God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ the Son.  Our Father accepts us because we have a perfect offering.. Jesus Christ.  Atonement through Christ removes a barrier between me and my God.  As I put my faith in Jesus.. in His atonement sacrifice.. I am accepted and approved, for God declared His offering to be acceptable.. to satisfy the debt that I owe. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross paid the price in full! 

Father in heaven, we thank You for the perfect Lamb of God who takes away the sins of all who will place their hands on Him by faith... acknowledging our guilt and sin and recognizing our need for the acceptable atoning offering that is only in Christ Jesus the Lord.  You are satisfied with His sacrifice and all barriers are removed between all who will believe and You.. our Lord and our God.  We give praise and thanks for such grace and love!  You have shown us mercy when we have never deserved such kindness.  Thank You Jesus! Amen. 

  Matthew 27:1-10  Judas.... the disciple.. the brother..  the betrayer.  Judas "saw that He had been condemned.. felt remorse.. "  The Word tells us that Judas returned the 30 pieces of silver.. confessed his sin for "betraying innocent blood" and "went away and hanged himself." 

This is such a sad passage.  Judas wanted to undo what he had done.. but could not.  He tried to pay for his own sins.. but could not.  He did not turn back to Jesus.  He did not cry out to the Lord. He knew his own guilt and took his own life.  This fulfilled prophecy.. but it produced great sorrow.  

We do not know why Judas did what he did. We do not know what he had hoped would happen.. Was he trying to force Jesus to declare His Kingship?  Was he just unhappy and discontent with the way things were happening?  What is so sad is that this man had every opportunity to live.. to repent.. to believe.. but he turned away from it all. 

We might know people like that in our lives.  People who know the gospel.. that may have even walked with Jesus at one time..but who are unhappy.. discontent.. impatient.. and unwilling to believe.   We are all in danger of straying off the narrow way.. of losing hope.. of giving up.  But.. Jesus tells us to persevere.. to endure.. to hold on..  the day is coming when all of the Words of prophecy will be fulfilled.. and Jesus will come to take us home.. so let's hold on!

Father, You are the God who gives perseverance and encouragement... grant us a pure heart that will cling to Jesus no matter what we are facing. Draw us near to Your heart and fill us with hope and faith and love as we await that wonderful day when we will be forever in Your Presence. Come Lord Jesus! Amen.

 Matthew 27:1-10  Judas.... the disciple.. the brother..  the betrayer.  Judas "saw that He had been condemned.. felt remorse.. "  The Word tells us that Judas returned the 30 pieces of silver.. confessed his sin for "betraying innocent blood" and "went away and hanged himself." 

This is such a sad passage.  Judas wanted to undo what he had done.. but could not.  He tried to pay for his own sins.. but could not.  He did not turn back to Jesus.  He did not cry out to the Lord. He knew his own guilt and took his own life.  This fulfilled prophecy.. but it produced great sorrow.  

We do not know why Judas did what he did. We do not know what he had hoped would happen.. Was he trying to force Jesus to declare His Kingship?  Was he just unhappy and discontent with the way things were happening?  What is so sad is that this man had every opportunity to live.. to repent.. to believe.. but he turned away from it all. 

We might know people like that in our lives.  People who know the gospel.. that may have even walked with Jesus at one time..but who are unhappy.. discontent.. impatient.. and unwilling to believe.   We are all in danger of straying off the narrow way.. of losing hope.. of giving up.  But.. Jesus tells us to persevere.. to endure.. to hold on..  the day is coming when all of the Words of prophecy will be fulfilled.. and Jesus will come to take us home.. so let's hold on!

Father, You are the God who gives perseverance and encouragement... grant us a pure heart that will cling to Jesus no matter what we are facing. Draw us near to Your heart and fill us with hope and faith and love as we await that wonderful day when we will be forever in Your Presence. Come Lord Jesus! Amen.

 Matthew 26 The time was coming.. Jesus tells His disciples.. "You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man is to be delivered up for crucifixion." 

The priests and elders "plotted together".

Jesus was anointed with the precious oil.

Judas made his bargain. 

They ate the last Passover meal together. 

They went to the garden. 

Jesus prayed and surrendered to the Father's will. 

The betrayal was completed. 

The first trial was held and the verdict was given. 

Peter denied Jesus. 

We are familiar with the details of these events.  We know that every detail was directed by the Father's will. The Scriptures were fulfilled.. perfectly.  Jesus would give His blood.. that sins would be forgiven.  Jesus said, " Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins." 

Covenant.. testament.  It is the arrangement that God made with us sealed in the blood of our Savior.  When someone prepares for their death they draw up a "last will and testament".. so that their property will be given over to their heirs.  It is a legal document with specific purposes.  Jesus is making this covenant with mankind.. giving His blood for the purpose of fulfilling the will of God.. the forgiveness of sin. With His death.. His body broken and His blood shed.. we are given life.. saved from the wrath that we deserve.

Hallelujah!  What a Savior!

Amen. 

Matthew 25: 31-46 The conversation began with the disciples asking about the time of Christ's return.. and Jesus has been giving them instructions.. to be alert.. to be ready.. to be faithful.. to take responsibility for the work He has given them to do.  Now, He tells them the end result..  "But, when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne." 

Before His throne every nation will come.. and He will separate the "sheep from the goats".  Those who are "righteous" will be put on His right side.  They are the ones who have been faithful.. they fed the hungry, gave water to the thirsty, visited the sick and the imprisoned, and clothed the naked.  In other words.. they loved others as Jesus did.. "Truly I say to you to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even to the least of them, you did it to Me." 

But, those who failed to show compassion or kindness to even one.. Jesus said they should depart from Him.. be accursed.. and enter the eternal fire.. for they did nothing for Him in their lifetime. 

It is our calling.. our responsibility to be found faithfully doing the work that Jesus has given us to do.. the "good works" prepared for us to do ( Ephesians 2:10)  

Father in heaven, help us to love You with all of our hearts and souls and minds and strength.. and to love our neighbors as ourselves.  May we be filled with Your Spirit, walking in Your light and love.. showing that love to all we can as we walk with You in this lifetime.  We are Your sheep and we desire to be busy doing those things that You have told us to do.. showing mercy and compassion to those in need.  Help us to live this way.. in service to our Lord Jesus. Amen. 

 Matthew 25:14-30 We call this the parable of the talents. Jesus is teaching about the kingdom of God. He compares it here to a master of an estate.  This man goes on a long journey and leaves his slaves in charge of his possessions.... he "entrusted his possessions to them..."  

I've never really thought about how courageous this is.. to surrender your possessions.. your wealth and property into the care of servants or slaves.  This seems like it would be very unusual.  It would be more reasonable to leave the care of your estate in the hands of a son or relative, or perhaps a paid manager .  But, this man trusts his slaves!  Just as our heavenly Father entrusts us.. His servants... with His kingdom here on earth.. that's pretty amazing... 

Jesus points out three particular servants in this parable.  He entrusts the three of them with a significant amount of "talents".. money. According to the Thayer Lexicon a talent of silver weighed about 100 pounds and a talent of gold would weigh about 200 pounds.  He distributed these funds "according to" the ability of each man... and then he left. 

The first slave received 5 talents.  "Immediately.. [he] went and traded with them, and gained five more talents."  The second man received 2 talents and traded with them to make 2 more talents.  These two servants and called "good and faithful" and given positions of authority in the master's house. 

It is the third slave that Jesus emphasizes in this parable.  This man only received 1 talent.  This is still a significant responsibility.. 100 pounds of silver!  But, instead of using the money to further the wealth of the master he is afraid.. so he buries it in the ground until the master returns.  Then he digs it up and brings it back to the master.  He has not taken advantage of the trust that the master has put in him. He knew that the master could "reap where he did not sow and gather where he had not scattered any seed."  He knew that the master had trusted him with this but he did not work to serve the master with it.  The master calls him "wicked and lazy". He could have at least put the talent to work earning interest if nothing else... but he did nothing at all. And.. he ends up with nothing.. for the master takes the talent and gives it the the first slave who had proven his worth.  The third slave is "cast out.. into the outer darkness; in that place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."  A place of anguish and despair. 

Jesus is speaking these parables about the Kingdom to His disciples.  He was leaving the kingdom in their hands.. entrusting them with all that is His.  He would give each of them responsibilities according to their abilities.  They were called to be "good and faithful" servants of what He gave them. What did He give them?   The good news.. the gospel.. the Truth.. the kingdom,  What did they do with it?  They preached the gospel wherever they went.. and history tells us that most of them traveled far and wide to reach their world with the good news of Jesus!  Only one.. Judas.. would fail to serve Him. 

Which makes me take a look at my own responsibility to share the good news of Jesus.  Am I being faithful with what my Master has given to me..according to my own abilities?  Oh how I want to! 

Oh Father in heaven,  I pray that I might serve You faithfully.. to accomplish all that You desire for me.  I know that I need Your Spirit every moment of every day to show me and help me to be faithful and good. May Your will be done and Your name glorified in my life today..  Bless Your church, Lord Jesus, with good and faithful servants who will take the gifts You give them and bring forth a great harvest of souls into Your Kingdom..  we ask this in Your mighty name. Amen. 

 Matthew 25 :1-13

The parable of the ten virgins is a story about a wedding feast. The young women are given the task of waiting for and announcing the coming of  the bridegroom.  The time is never exactly known so the girls get ready and bring their lamps to burn through the night as needed.  We are told that half of these girls came well prepared with extra oil, while the other half did not.  All of the girls dozed off as the night fell and the groom had not come yet.  It was at midnight that the shouts were heard.. calling the girls out to meet him on his way. 

Now, the girls that brought the extra oil were ready. They trimmed their lamps, refilled the oil, and were good to go.  But, the other girls had to go purchase more oil,  for their lamps were going out.  By the time they were able to get more oil and return to the wedding feast, it was too late.  The doors were closed and they were not granted access. 

The sad result of this situation is that these 5 young women would never be allowed into the place of joy and happiness. The "lord" of the house said, "I do not know you."  All because they were not ready.. not prepared.. not alert..  They are like the evil slaves in the last parable.. not found being faithful for the coming One... 

It seems harsh to us, doesn't it?  After all they waited with the other girls.  They did have lamps.. but just because they ran out of oil.. why couldn't they come in a bit later?   But.. Jesus is talking about the kingdom of heaven here.. and about His coming.  He wants us to be alert and ready for that day even though we do not know the "day nor the hour"..  He wants us to be shining His Light every day and every night so that we will be ready no matter when He comes. 

Oil is often associated with the Holy Spirit when we read the Word.  Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:18 that we need to be "filled with the Spirit"..  We have learned that this means to be continually kept filled... with the Spirit of God.. walking in the Spirit.. praying in the Spirit.. conformed to the will of God by His Spirit. Only then, can we be alert, ready, prepared, and enduring until the day when the Bridegroom Comes.

An old Sunday School song comes to mind ... "Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning!  Give me oil in my lamp, I pray!  Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning, burning, burning.. Burning til the break of day!"

Father in heaven, fill us once again.. continually fill us with Your Holy Spirit so that we might be found faithful and ready for the return of our Lord Jesus. Amen. 

 Matthew 24:29-51 

Jesus uses prophecies from Isaiah , Daniel, and Zechariah to tell His disciples what will happen after the great tribulation.. 

The sun, moon, and stars will stop bringing light to the earth.

There will be a "sign" in the sky and all the earth will see Jesus "coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory".. and they will mourn. 

The angels will sound "a great trumpet" and all of God's people will be gathered "from one end of the sky to the other." 

Jesus tells us again to stay "alert"..  We can recognize the coming of fruit on a fig tree.. and we need to pay attention to the events so we can also  recognize when "He is near, right at the door." 

 The exact day and hour is known only to the Father, Jesus tells us.  Life will be "just like the days of Noah".. people doing the things that people always do.. "eating.. drinking.. marrying.. " We "do not know which day your Lord is coming.. But be sure of this.. " He says.  If you knew when the thief was coming to rob you, you would be ready for him.. "for this reason, be ready too for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will. " 

Since we don't know when He will return, Jesus exhorts us to just be ready. .Be found faithfully doing what He tells us to do.  be "faithful and sensible.." 

Jesus said, "Heaven and earth will pass away but My words shall not pass away."  He is coming again.. He is near.. waiting at the door.. and we must be ready, faithfully living every day as His servants, staying true to His calling.. running the race set before us to the honor and glory of His Name. 

Father in heaven, we cling to the True Vine, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. We seek to abide in Jesus and in the Word.. ready for the day when He returns or takes us home.  We do not know the day or hour of that Great Day.. nor do we know the day of our own passing on from this mortal life.  We want to be ready and enduring to the end.. Help us.. for You are our Help.. and we rest in You to accomplish all of Your good will and purposes for us and in us.. for this we thank You Lord. amen. 

 Matthew 24:1-28   The disciples ask Jesus about the day of His coming at the "end of the age".  This is a question we would all like answered!  

Jesus begins His answer, not with a date or time but  with a very important warning. ."See to it that no one misleads you."  More important than a date and time.. is the need to be aware.  In verse 42 He says, " .. be on the alert" and in verse 44 He says.. " be ready".  All that Jesus reveals about those days before He comes again are hard to hear..  the false christs.. the wars and rumors of wars.. the famines and earthquakes.. the tribulations, the lawlessness.. the lack of faith and the lack of love. But. we need to pay attention to them. 

"But the one who endures to the end he shall be saved." Jesus encourages us, for the "gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all nations and then the end shall come." Don't be mislead.. don't be frightened..  and don't give up.. this is what Jesus wants His followers to know. 

With that warning in place, Jesus goes on to tell the disciples some details of those coming days.. 

There will be "the abomination of desolation.. standing in the holy place"  just as Daniel prophesied. 

There will be such trouble that people will run to the mountains.. "for there will be a great tribulation such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever shall."  It will be a time so terrible that no one would be left.. except by the grace of God.. for He will cut those days short..   Still even in this terrible time of trouble there will be false prophets and false messiahs.. Be warned.. be alert.. don't be fooled. When Jesus comes there will be no doubt "For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so shall the coming of the Son of Man be." v27

Father in heaven, give to us ears to hear and heed the warnings of  Jesus.. may we be alert and aware.. unpersuaded by the false words and schemes of the evil one.  May we continue in the Truth and endure until that day when we are finally with You forever.  Keep us in Your Hand where no one can ever snatch us away! In Christ Jesus we come and ask these things. amen. 

 Matthew 23:13 - 39  Jesus uses this last message to the scribes and Pharisees to pronounce His judgements against them..  He calls them "hypocrites" - pretenders.. actors.. because they:

V13 ".. shut off the kingdom of heaven from men.. " 

v14 ".. devour widows' houses.. " 

v15 ".. travel about on sea and land to make one proselyte and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves." 

V 16-22  Jesus condemns them because they believed that to swear by the temple is nothing, but to swear by the gold is binding.. They did not understand that it is the Temple of God that is binding and the gold is nothing unless sanctified by the Temple.  They valued the offering more than the altar it was offered on..   Jesus condemns them because they have given worth to things.. instead of to God's House, the Temple.. and to God's Throne in Heaven.. or to God, Himself. 

V23  Jesus condemns them because they are careful to tithe "mint and dill".. the small things .. "But have neglected the weightier provisions of the law:  justice and mercy and faithfulness.. "

V24-27  They are condemned because they worry about the outside appearance.. "but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence".  They are like a tomb.. outwardly "beautiful".. but "inside are full of dead man's bones.. " 

"Even so you too outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness." 

The sins of the scribes and Pharisees would bring the guilt "of all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah.."  they would "not escape the sentence of hell." 

Father in heaven, search our hearts and the intentions of our thoughts.  Reveal any hypocrisy in us that we might repent and be cleansed from all iniquity.  Lead us in Your righteous ways and keep us from the schemes of the devil, as well as  from self-indulgence and self-righteousness.   Oh Lord may we have clean hands and pure hearts, devoted to You alone.  May justice and mercy and faithfulness be found in us as we carefully and diligently seek to serve You. Open our eyes to see Your glory and our ears to hear Your voice.. help us to walk in the power of Your Holy Spirit today.. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. 

 Matthew 23  Jesus gives one final indictment against the Pharisees before He heads to the cross.  It begins with these words.. "The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses."   They considered themselves the final authority over all things religious.  They failed to recognize the True authority.. God Himself and Jesus Christ the Son.  In verses 8-10 Jesus expresses the only true authority over the Kingdom of God.. 

V 8 "But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers." - The scribes and Pharisees loved to be recognized as "Rabbi".. loved to lord it over everyone else.. loved to think themselves better. They did not ever see themselves as the same as a common man.. a brother to those that walked beside them or worked for them. Only Jesus and His Holy Spirit have the kind of authority that the scribes and Pharisees claimed for themselves. 

V 9 "And do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven."  This position of fatherhood is not talking about being a physical parent.. it is talking about authority and honor that belongs to God alone. This place of ultimate sovereignty belongs only to the Lord. 

V10 "And do not be called leaders, for One is your Leader , that is, Christ." We are follow Jesus only. We are His followers and we pray for others to follow Him too. We do not hold that position of master over anyone.. only Jesus can perfectly lead anyone into the kingdom of God. 

The scribes and Pharisees were so far from perfect leaders.. from good teachers.. from being worthy of the authority and honor that they claimed.  They thought they were the "greatest" and exalted themselves.  Jesus said that only the "servant".. the "humble" ones were worthy to be called great and to be exalted. 

Father in heaven, to You all glory and honor and praise belong!  May we never consider ourselves any better or greater or "more" than our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.  Help us to see ourselves as Paul wrote to the Romans.. ".. I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think but to think so as to have sound judgement, as God has allowed to each a measure of faith."  We .. who follow Jesus- are members of one body.. having different functions.. but all serving the same Lord. Teach us Your ways, Lord Jesus.  We will follow You. Strengthen our faith and our minds and our hearts to serve You every day. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. 

Matthew 22: 15-46  The religious leaders wanted to trap Jesus into saying something that they could use to convict Him.  So they sent their followers to ask what they thought were hard questions.. 

First came the Herodians to ask about paying taxes.  Jesus answered them by asking to see the coins used to pay these poll taxes to the Romans.. and of course it was a Roman coin.  "Whose likeness and inscription is this?"  Jesus asked them.  "Caesar's" they answered.  " Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's." Jesus told them.  They went away marveling at His answer.  

Next came the Sadducees. They did not believe in the resurrection, but their question was about what would happen if there was life after death.  They might have used this argument to defend their own belief about the resurrection.. this would be an impossible situation, therefore it couldn't happen...in their opinion.   A woman married and before she had any children her husband died. Her husband's brothers .. 7 of them.. each married her and then died before any children were born. Finally, she died.  The question was about what would happen with her if there was a resurrection.. who would she be married to? Jesus told them clearly.. "You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures or the power of God."

First of all, Jesus explained.. Marriage is a covenant established for this mortal life.  It is not a part of the resurrection.  "For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven."  That.. is something that we don't necessarily like when we think about our husbands or wives that we love so much.. but we also know that we will have to wait and see how much more God has for us in eternity!  Secondly, Jesus corrects the Sadducees by telling them that God is the God of the living.. ".. have you not read that which was spoken by God, saying I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead but of the living."  These were astonishing words to all those who heard them... causing the Sadducees to be "silenced". 

So the Pharisees decided to send an expert in the Law to question Jesus.  His question was about which Law was the greatest. "And He said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."  Note that neither of these laws were listed in the 10 commandments which were written on the stone tablets.. but they reach far deeper and cover far more than all of them together.  To obey these two commandments is to obey them all.. 

Now Jesus turns the tables and asks the Pharisees His own question. " What do you think about the Christ, whose son is He?"  It was a no-brainer.. they knew the answer.. "The son of David".  What they did not understand was Psalm 110:1 "The Lord said to my Lord, sit at My right hand...."  Who was David calling "Lord"?  His son? Or someone greater than an earthly son?  The Pharisees had no answer. ".. nor did anyone dare from that day on to ask Him another question." 

Father in heaven, You are the God of the living and we are so thankful.  We thank You for the living hope that we have because of Jesus Christ our Lord. We are thankful that He came as the Son of David, the Son of man.. and the Son of God. He is our great Redeemer and coming King.  We watch and wait for that day when we will know the answers to all of our questions.. but meanwhile we trust You and rest in Your perfect plan.  Help us to love as You have commanded, Lord.. to love You with all of our being and to love others as we would ourselves. . Direct our hearts into Your love we pray. Amen. 

 Matthew 22 Jesus tells the parable of the marriage feast comparing the kingdom of heaven "to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son."  We know this story.. those invited to the wedding refused to come.. making excuses.. mistreating  and killing the slaves who were sent to bring them to the feast.. causing the king to become "enraged".   To the point that the king sent his armies to destroy the city and those who murdered his slaves. 

The king did not stop there.  He sent his slaves out to the highway to invite anyone they found to the wedding feast.  Everything was ready.. all they needed to do was come.  But.. "both evil and good" came to the wedding feast and the "hall was filled with dinner guests."  When the king came across a man who was "not dressed in wedding clothes" he was insulted.. "Friend, how did you come here without wedding clothes?"  he asked.  The man had no excuse and the king told the servants to bind him and throw him out "into the utter darkness; in the place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." 

Jesus tells us that this parable has this point. "For many are called but few are chosen." (v14) 

Called.. invited.. to the wedding feast of the Son.  We can get the meaning of this parable easily.. The King.. God Almighty.. invited the Jews to come into His Kingdom and to honor His Son, Jesus the Messiah.  But.. they ignored those who came to bring them to the feast.. they killed the servants.. the prophets.. and they enraged God to the point that He will pour out His wrath on all those who will not come in response to His invitation.  We also see that God opened up that invitation to any who would come.. and many did!  But, not all came with the right clothing.. they did not come through the Way, the Truth, and the Life.. through Jesus.  They wanted to come in.. but failed to turn away from unrighteousness and they will be cast out just as surely as the man without his wedding clothes. 

Jesus said ( in verse8) "...the wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy.."  They were not deserving or suitable.. they did not merit the privilege of the Kingdom.  They had been invited.. called.. but they were not chosen.. Not selected.. not favored... not worthy. 

We know that in reality that none of us are worthy of such a privilege.. but that it is only by God's great grace that we can be saved.. through the Son who went to the cross.  It is His righteousness that covers us.. clothing us in garments washed in His blood and made whiter than snow!  The invitation is open to all who would come.. but only those who come through the cross of Jesus Christ will enter into the Kingdom. 

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Father, You are the God of grace and compassion and we are so amazed and grateful. Thank You for calling us and making the way for us to be chosen as we put our faith in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. We pray for those who have heard the invitation.. but have ignored it.. refused it.. or have tried to come without knowing Jesus. Open their blind eyes, Lord God. Let Your glory and grace overflow in our lives so that others might see Jesus and find their way through Him.  We ask this in His glorious name. Amen. 

 Matthew 21 Jesus went into Jerusalem on a donkey's colt.. and fulfilled prophecy. The people shouted "hosanna" to Him.. fulfilling prophecy.  He cleansed the temple from those "making it a robber's den".. quoting scripture " My house shall be called a House of prayer."  He answered the chief priests when they became upset that the children were praising Him...with scripture.. "Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babes Thou hast prepared praise for Thyself..."

Every Word that was prophesied about the coming Messiah was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Every word He spoke was aligned with known Scripture.  Yet.. they stilled challenged Jesus about His authority.  The Jewish leaders were like the fig tree.. covered with leaves.. but without any fruit.  And like the tree, they would become withered and barren. 

v43 "Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation producing the fruit of it." Jesus told them.  The two parables were given as warnings and lessons.. The parable of the two sons.. one who said yes.. but did not obey;  one who said no but repented and obeyed. Only those who would come to Jesus and believe would enter God's kingdom.. even "tax-gatherers and harlots.. "... but not those who refused to "do the work of the Father".   

The parable of the landowner is so clearly the story of Jesus. The landowner sent His servants to receive the fruit of his harvest.. but the hired vine-growers beat them and killed some of them.  He then sent His own Son.. and they killed Him too. The priests and Pharisees recognized the wretchedness of the vine-growers.. but they did not recognize their own wretchedness... for they were about to kill the Son. 

Where do we see ourselves in this passage of the Word?  Are we the children singing "Hosanna" to the King?  Are we the priests complaining because they were praising Jesus?  Are we like the fig tree.. all show and no fruit?  Or are we like the son who repented and went out to do the Father's will? Have we rejected the Cornerstone? Or have we embraced Him.. believed Him.. and submit to His authority?

Father in heaven, may we come to You with whole hearts and willing minds.. trusting You with our whole beings.. loving You with all that we are.  Thank You Jesus, for coming for us.. for dying for us..for giving us eternal life.. for we do believe.. May our faith grow as we walk with You this day. Amen. 

 Matthew 19:30 -20:16  " But many who are first will be last; and the last, first."  The disciples had just watched the rich young ruler walk away from Jesus. They heard Jesus say that it was "hard" for the rich to enter God's kingdom.. hard but not impossible.. because "with God all things are possible".  Peter asked Jesus what would happen to them.. those who followed Him.. those who had given up everything.. and Jesus promised them a great reward.. "But.. "  they needed to learn about being last instead of trying to be first... a lesson that they would take a while longer to learn.. 

Jesus tells another parable to teach this lesson.  It is about a landowner who hires some workers for his vineyard.  The first group is hired and agree to do a day's work for a day's pay... 6:00 am to 6:00 pm.   But.. more workers come.. at 9:00, 12:00, 3:00, and even at 5:00.. All of these are called to come and join the work.. agreeing that the landowner would give "whatever is right".  They probably thought that anything would be better than nothing... 

At the end of the day.. 6:00... it was time for the pay to be handed out. The landowner called the last group that worked first. Everyone was shocked when he paid them for a full day when they only worked 1 hour. And then he did the same for those who had worked 3 hours, 6 hours, and 9 hours.. and those who had worded the whole 12 hours.  Everyone got the same.  And everyone rejoiced.. except the first workers.. they grumbled.  They wanted more than those who hadn't worked as long or as hard.  But.. the owner said. "did you not agree with me for a denarius?"  They had no argument.  It was the landowners right to be generous. Their problem was that they were "envious".  Jesus repeats the point of His story...  "Thus the last shall be first, and the first last." 

The "first" workers turned vicious.. or as other translations render it.. "evil".. when they witnessed the landowner being "good".  He had been good to them too.. hiring them.. paying them what they asked for.. but they were so angry that they weren't getting rewarded more than the others.. that they forgot to be thankful!   Jesus tells this parable to teach the disciples what it means to be "last".

It still wasn't sinking in!  The mother of James and John approached Jesus as they headed towards Jerusalem.  He told them what was going to happen... but they were still thinking that the Kingdom was about to come in its fulness and James and John wanted to be right at the top.. sitting to the left and right of Jesus on those thrones He had told them about.  Jesus asked them a question, "You do not know what you are asking for. Are you able to drink the cup I am about to drink?"  They were sure that they would be able... and they would.. but not until they came through the other side of what was coming.. through His crucifixion.. His burial.. His resurrection.. and His ascension.. through the coming of the Holy Spirit.  They would drink His cup.. but that did not mean they would be given the places they wanted in the Kingdom.. for that was the Father's place to grant... and whatever He gave them would be "good"!

The lesson that they still needed to learn was the lesson of being last.. being the ones who served.. not the ones lording over the rest.. not the ones with authority.. but the ones being the slaves.  They needed to see Jesus as the One who came "to serve.. to give up His life  a ransom for many.."  They would learn that lesson very soon. 

Father in heaven, we are so quick to want our own way and our own desires.. and so slow to be humble and thankful and "last".  Teach us to walk in Your Light, Lord Jesus. Make me a vessel that You fill and use the way You choose.. to serve.. to lay it all down and follow You. Amen. 

 Matthew 19:13-30  When the children were brought to Jesus, the disciples wanted to send them away.  But.. Jesus welcomed them ... for they belonged to the kingdom of heaven.  The disciples had already forgotten the lesson about not being a stumbling block.. about being like a child.. about being a servant. Another lesson was about to be taught... 

The man who came to Jesus had a sincere question.. " .. what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?"   Jesus told him to do what he already knew.. "keep the commandments". But, the young man felt the lack in his life.. he was missing something.  He had great wealth.. He had religious training.. He worked hard at being "good".  Yet.. he knew deep down that it was not enough. 

Jesus gave the young man a great challenge.. "If you wish to be complete (perfect).. go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."  But.. the young man "went away grieved".. it was too great a cost "for he was one who owned much property." 

Jesus told His disciples.. " it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.."  and they were shocked!  If the rich aren't saved.. who can be? Well.. Jesus says.. "(looking upon them).. With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." 

Not just the rich.. not just the law-keepers..but no-one else either..   can be saved.. unless God does it! A child can.. a servant can.. anyone can.. because we have a God who does the impossible! Hallelujah!

Peter wanted to know if he and the other disciples were going to be saved.. after all they followed Jesus.."what then will there be for us?"  Oh.. Jesus assures them.. ".. you who have followed Me.. will sit upon twelve thrones.. shall receive many times as much.. (as they gave up).. and shall inherit eternal life."  What will those who follow Jesus receive.. more than they .. more than we.. can imagine.

Father in heaven, will we ever learn to trust You with everything we have and everything we are? So thankful that nothing is impossible for You! So thankful for the vastness of Your grace and love that draws us to follow Jesus. Help us to be like the children that run into Your arms Jesus! Hold us there.. keep us on level ground by Your good Spirit .  Fill us with Your love today we ask, Father.. in the name of Jesus.  Amen. 

Matthew 19 :1-12 As Jesus once again ministers grace and healing to the multitudes ... the Pharisees come to ask their questions and test Jesus. This time the question is about divorce.  "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause at all?" 

And.. once again sends them back to the Word of God.. " Have you not read, that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ' For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh.'"  Jesus always bases His answers on the Word of God.  Divorce is not God's plan or desire.  He made men and women to unite together into one unit.. one body.. a lasting bond that God Himself "joined together".  This is the Truth that God's Word proclaims. 

The Pharisees were not satisfied with that answer.. "Why then did Moses command to give her a certificate of divorce and send her away?"   They twisted Moses' words.. which Jesus corrected.. Moses did not make such a command.. he "permitted" divorce "because of your hardness of heart.. "  But.. "from the beginning it has not been this way."   A "certificate of divorce" given to an innocent woman because of her husband's infidelity would free her to remarry without being guilty of adultery.  Without the certificate.. if she was just sent away.. she could not remarry.. she would be an adulteress if she did.  The certificate was for her protection.. if she was innocent.  But.. if she was the unfaithful spouse.. then she was already an adulteress and the divorce would not change anything for her.. but the innocent husband would be freed from the marriage bond.  Jesus is clear that any other reason for divorce is unacceptable. 

I'm sure the Pharisees didn't like that answer either.. for even the disciples were shook up!  "If the relationship of the man with his wife is like this, it is better not to marry." they said..  Jesus had an answer for them too. Think about never marrying.. "Not all men can accept this statement."  Some men are forced into a celibate life.. some choose it for themselves.. Jesus tells them.. "He who is able to accept this, let him accept it."   I wonder if he had a twinkle in His eye as He looked at these men..  we know Peter was already married. I don't know if any of the others were.. but I would guess some were.  Those who were not... would they be able to accept bachelorhood for the rest of their lives?  It would be interesting to know if they did. 

It seems to me that all of those questioning Jesus needed to know the truth about marriage and divorce.  As we all do.  Marriage is a sacred relationship.  Jesus was pointing out the fact that this uniting of two lives is from God.. "What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate."  Marriage is not just a casual, temporary, throw-away relationship that our world thinks it is sometimes.  They didn't understand it in Jesus's day.. and they don't understand it now. Most of us have seen.. known.. or even experienced the pain and sadness of divorce in our lives.  We pray for our children and grandchildren to have good, godly marriages. We want them to know that God has the perfect plan for them.. if they will seek Him first.. especially in the pursuit of a spouse.  O Lord, help us!

Father in heaven, we do ask for Your Word to flow into our hearts and into the lives of our children and grandchildren and every generation after us!  Let them know the power of Your love and grace in finding a wife or husband.. let them seek You first and allow You to lead them in the path of righteousness and truth. We pray for the marriages of our loved ones.. that they will be blessed.. faithful.. and godly.  Bring healing and forgiveness for those who have gone through divorce or unfaithfulness.  Bring us all to Your throne of grace, Lord God..  sanctifying us entirely.. that we may be preserved complete without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ... we pray.. for in Him nothing is impossible.. Thank You Lord..  in Jesus' Name. Amen. 

 Matthew 18:21-35 Peter asked Jesus a question.. " Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" 

This is an important question. Sometimes we have trouble forgiving even once.. let alone seven times.. but Jesus gives us an impossible  number.. "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven."  Beyond our own ability or will.. beyond our capacity to truly forgive this persistent sin  done against us.. This kind of forgiveness is not seen in us mortal beings, is it?  No, I don't think so.. I think  it is a forgiveness that is possible only with God's power and grace.. 

Jesus tells a parable about forgiveness.  The king "wished to settle accounts with his slaves."  The one brought to him first owed a huge amount.. ten thousand talents. My Bible footnote says this is about $10,000,000 dollars worth of silver!  More than a slave would ever be able to pay, that's for sure.  But, this guy asks the king to be patient so that he can repay it, and the king forgives the debt.  Whew!  That guy should be so happy!

But.. no.. he goes out and sees someone who owes him some money.. "a hundred denarii" .  One denarii was a day's wage, so this guy did have a large debt. He also asked for patience and promised to repay the debt.. but his friend, his fellow slave, the one who had just been forgiven an impossible debt.. refused to forgive the fellow his 100 denarii.. or even wait to be paid. Of course, this did not go unnoticed... 

When the king was told what had happened he summoned the first slave back.. " You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you entreated me. Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, even as I had mercy on you?" 

Jesus tells His disciples that His heavenly Father will do just like the king in the parable.. God will bring judgement against those who do not "forgive his brother from [his] heart". 

Our Father in the heaven patiently forgives us.. over and over and over again.  Just read through the Old Testament accounts of Israel.. how many times did the Lord give His people the opportunity to start over.. to repent and be forgiven?  How many times does He forgive us when we mess up.. when we fail to have faith.. when we fail Him?  Jesus paid it all! He paid every debt we have.. in full! And He calls us to have mercy on those who mess up.. those who fail us.. those who hurt us.. 

Father in heaven, how we thank You for patiently and graciously forgiving us for our sins and trespasses and debts.  Father, let the Truth of this Word fill our hearts that we might be merciful and forgiving to those who trespass against us.  We need Your help Lord, to do what You call us to do. May Your Spirit of love and grace fill us again and again so that we can glorify You as we obey this Word. In Jesus' name we ask this.. Amen. 

 Matthew 18:12-20 Jesus asked His disciples a question.. "What do you think?"  They had just been talking about coming into the kingdom with the humility of a child.. being servants instead of being the powerful leaders they wanted to be.. getting rid of anything that would cause them to stumble or cause them to be a stumbling block... and most importantly.. that the whole reason He came was to "save that which was lost.." 

"What do you think?" He asked.  What if.. you were a shepherd and one of your sheep went astray?  Wouldn't you go look for it? Wouldn't you be so happy if you found it and brought it home?  Jesus says that this is how the Father thinks... He doesn't want anyone to perish. 

What do you think?  Are we thinking about our position.. our status.. our place in the church or in the world? Or are we thinking about the lost sheep.. the child that has been caused to stumble.. the loved one that is sinking into the darkness of sin? 

Jesus said, " And if your brother sins go and reprove him in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.." But.. if not.. don't stop there.. take some witnesses.. take it to the church.. do whatever you can to win your brother.  And, if all else fails... "let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax-gatherer".  In other words.. don't fellowship with him anymore until he repents. 

"Truly I say to you, whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."  The bible dictionary says that this binding/loosing is determined by the sinner's response.  If the sinner repents.. forgive him.. loose him.  If not.. condemn the sin.. bind him.. let him go under the judgement of the law.  But.don't quit caring.. . pray.. gather others to pray.. agree and pray together!  For the Father hears and answers these kinds of prayers. Pray.. .knowing that Christ Himself is with us in this kind of prayer. 

What do you think? The Father desires that the lost be found.. that the sinner repent.. that we pray for those who are bound.. and that Jesus will be in it with us when we pray. 

Father in heaven, rescue the perishing.. care for the dying.. that is what You call us to do.. and we begin by coming together to pray.  Move in Your church Father.. that we might truly be a people of prayer.. glorifying Your Name and being a part of Your plan to save those who are lost.  We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen. 

 Matthew 18:1-11   The disciples had a question for Jesus.. they wanted to know "who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"  Would it be Peter? After all Jesus had told Peter that He would build His church on that rock.  Would it be James and John? They had gone up the mountain with Jesus, so they must have a special place..  Would the rest of the disciples have a place of privilege in the kingdom? After all they were special followers involved in the ministries of Jesus. 

Jesus answered the question in a totally unexpected way.. "And He called a child to Himself and set him before them."  First of all, Jesus said, ".. unless you are converted and become like children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.."  A change of thinking was needed here.. they weren't even looking in the right direction!  Jesus wasn't calling them into positions of power.. He was calling them into a position of service.. of humility.. of sacrifice.. of holiness... 

"Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."  The disciples wanted to have a higher rank.. just like the Pharisees. They hadn't learned yet that God's way is totally different than the world's ways. 

Jesus had more to say to His disciples about His kingdom... not only is it about coming into the kingdom humbly like a child.. but it is about receiving others in the same manner. " And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me."  

I picture Jesus.. calling this child to Himself.. opening His arms and putting the child on His lap.  The child came willingly.. unafraid.. loving and being loved in the arms of Someone he knew and trusted. This is how we come into the kingdom.. isn't that a wonderful picture!  And then.. we turn around and open our arms for others.. calling them to come.. receiving them with love and compassion and kindness.. so that they too might find the joy of the Kingdom of God and  the love of the King. 

But, Jesus is not done with His answer.  "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it is better for him that a heavy millstone be hung around his neck, that he be drowned in the depth of the sea."    Oh may we never be one to cause someone to stumble... may we not offend or cause someone to sin or to give up their faith.. may we not cause someone to fall away from Jesus. 

Jesus said that whatever part of us might be a "stumbling block" to others.. or to ourselves..  needs to be "cut off".  Whether it is a hand or a foot, an eye.. or an attitude.. if we offend.. if we cause someone.. even a child.. especially a child to fall away from Jesus.. we will be "cast into the fiery hell." We must keep ourselves from stumbling.. and we need to never cause someone else to stumble either. 

Jesus said, "See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually behold the face of My Father who is in heaven, for the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost." 

The disciples asked about greatness.. Jesus told them about Himself.  He didn't come to find power.. He already had all the power and glory and honor there is.. He came, humbly, as a child Himself.. in order to save the lost. 

Father in heaven, thank You for the love and compassion and grace You have shown us through Jesus, Your beloved Son. Thank You for salvation through His death.. that paid for our sins.. a debt we cannot pay on our own.  Thank You for showing us Your way.. the way of Love and Truth..Thank You for calling us to Yourself and allowing us to run into Your arms.. into Your love....into Your Kingdom. Hallelujah. Amen. 

 Matthew 17:14-27  As Jesus, Peter, James, and John descend from the mountain where Jesus was transfigured, they came to a multitude, but one man comes to Jesus, falling before Him on behalf of his son.  This boy was demon possessed in such a way that he would fall into fire or water.  The disciples were unable to help him and Jesus told them that the problem was the "littleness" of their faith.   

Puny faith... smaller than a mustard seed!   Jesus said, " I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it shall move; and nothing shall be impossible to you." 

This is hard to hear... the disciples who followed Jesus.. who had gone out and performed many miracles.. who participated in feeding 4000 with a few loaves of bread.. didn't have enough faith to help one little boy.  And.. I know that my faith must be even punier.. for I don't know that I have enough faith to move a  pebble let alone a mountain. Not that I need to move anything.. but I know my God can do anything.. I know it in my head.. I just need to learn to trust Him completely with all  my heart and soul... 

O Lord.. let my faith grow.. let my heart be wholly Yours.. let Your grace flow into my life. Let my ears be open to hear My Savior's call..

For the third time  Jesus tells His disciples that He is "going to be delivered into the hands of men; and they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day."  (16:21; 17:9.12; 22)  This time Matthew tells us that "they were deeply grieved"... but they still didn't understand. Their faith was still puny. 

Father  in heaven, thank You for leading us in paths of righteousness, for forgiving our sins and making us whole. Thank You for a Savior who understands even when we don't.. Who moves mountains even when we can't.. Who loves us even when we fail.  Fill us with Your Spirit that we might have understanding and wisdom, love and grace.  We pray in Jesus' name. Amen. 

Matthew 16:24 -17:13  Peter had recognized that Jesus was "the Christ, the Son of the living God".. a revelation that Jesus said came from the Father.. then he turned around and rebuked Jesus for saying that He would be killed and would rise again.  It is in this context that Jesus makes a very important statement to His disciples.. " If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me."  

To be a disciple of Jesus is to lose your life for His sake. It is to know that nothing on this earth is worth losing your soul for.. . How do you "deny" yourself?   This Greek word is so much more than what we think on the surface.. it means to forget one's self, lose sight of your own interests.. to disown or abstain.. The disciples had a hard time with this.. and so do we.  It takes a cross to put one's self aside. It takes losing your life to find it.. 

Jesus told His disciples that they needed to look beyond this life.. "For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and will recompense every man according to his deeds." There is a future reward.. a repayment for all that is given to the Lord willingly in this denial of self.. of taking up the cross and giving this life to Jesus.  It will be glorious for everyone who will see His coming!

Peter, James, and John were granted a preview of this glorious kingdom of Jesus Christ.  They went up a "high mountain" with Jesus. They watched Him be transfigured before their very eyes.  They saw His face and garments become "white as light".  They watched as Moses and Elijah came to talk with Jesus.  They must have thought that the kingdom was already there!  They were ready to build tabernacles for the three men.. They had no idea what they were really seeing.  But, then they heard God's voice, "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!".  This brought the three disciples to the ground as they" fell on their faces."

Jesus brought the disciples back down the mountain. They were not allowed to speak of what they saw until after the resurrection.. but I'm sure it must have been on their minds for a long time. So many questions ! 

Father in heaven, we long to see Jesus coming in Your glory!  We long to live in a way that pleases You.. laying down our lives, denying ourselves.. so that we can have real life in Jesus. Like the disciples.. we are so easily confused.. so easily distracted... help us to simply listen to Your beloved Son.. and follow Him. We can do nothing except as we abide in Jesus.. so help to Lord, to be constantly abiding.  In the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ we pray.  Amen. 

 Matthew 16  The Pharisees and Sadducees come again.. asking for a sign.. again.  And once again Jesus tells them that they will be given only one more sign.. the "sign of Jonah."  They were so blind.  Jesus rebuked them because they refused to discern the truth right in front of them.  "An evil and adulterous generation.. "  He called them.  These men who considered themselves above everyone else.. more holy than the rest.. better than Jesus.. the Son of God, Himself... were full of evil in their hearts. 

".. beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.. " Jesus warned His disciples.. but they thought He was talking about bread!  You can almost sense Jesus shaking His head.. how were these men ever going to learn?  He reminded them that bread.. physical bread.. was not an issue.  It is what comes from the heart that is the issue.. and the "leaven" in the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees..was full of evil. 

But, Jesus wouldn't give up on His chosen disciples. He would keep leading them into the Truth. "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"  He asked them.  And more importantly.. " ..who do you say I am?" It is Peter who makes the declaration, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."  This revelation, Jesus tells Peter, comes from the Father.  It is not something that he could know from his own mind. Jesus tells Peter that he would be an important part of the church that He would build. Peter would be given " the keys of the kingdom of heaven..."  He would make decisions that would "bind" or "loosen".  It would be a vital role in the days ahead.  

Yet...when Jesus told His disciples that He was going to go to Jerusalem..that He would be persecuted.  That He would be killed. And  that He would rise again....Peter that gets so agitated ...that he actually tries to rebuke Jesus.. the One who he just acknowledged to be God! Peter.. the rock.. the one just given the keys to the Kingdom of God.. is now called. "Satan.. a stumbling block.." He was thinking like a man.. not looking for God's plan in all of this. 

Father in heaven, help us to beware of all false teaching and false thinking. Help us to discern the "signs of the times" and the truth of Your word. Help us to know that Jesus Christ is the son of the Living God and that He did die and rise again.. that we might be saved.. Yours forever and ever.  Lord, we pray for those who still walk in darkness and lies and ask that You would once again reveal Yourself.. that they might find life in Jesus Christ the Lord. We ask this in His holy name. Amen. 

 Matthew 15:29-39  After Jesus and His disciples left Tyre and Sidon they returned to the Sea of Galilee. Mark tells us that they went to the east side of the sea.. in the area of the Decapolis... again an area outside of Israel. 

As Jesus sat on the mountainside there.. people began to gather, bringing everyone they could.. "the lame, crippled, blind, dumb, and many others, and they laid them down at His feet; and He healed them."  For three days the multitude came and watched and "they glorified the God of Israel." 

Jesus called His disciples to attention.. "I feel compassion for the multitude.. "  Jesus wanted to give these people food before He sent them home.. and the disciples were once again unprepared.  They had 7 loaves of bread and a few fish between them.  They had to have remembered what Jesus did before with such a little bit that multiplied and fed 5000.  Would they have been surprised that Jesus would take what little they had and feed this multitude of 4000?  Would they wonder why Jesus would do these miracles for Gentiles?

Jesus gave thanks for the 7 loaves and fish.  He broke them.. He gave them to the disciples.. and the disciples gave to the multitude. "And they all ate, and were satisfied and they picked up what was leftover of the broken pieces, seven large baskets full." 

Are we thankful for the little we have?  Are we willing to give it to those who are in need of compassion? Jesus will take what we have and use it for His purposes.. whether or not we agree with what He wants to do. Are we with Him in this?  I don't know what the disciples were thinking about this.. but I wonder if they learned from that experience. Did they learn to give everything?  To be thankful for the little bit as well as the abundance? 

Father , let me learn to give .. to have compassion.. to be thankful.. and to trust You to do what You alone can do..Amen. 

 Matthew 15:21-28 Jesus went to Tyre and Sidon...on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea...  outside of Israel.. in Syria/Phoenicia.  A land of the Gentiles.  It is not surprising that He would meet a Canaanite woman there. What is surprising is that this woman knew who Jesus was.. and that she called Him "Lord, Son of David"..  What is also surprising is that Jesus would " not answer her a word."

The woman came because of her demon-possessed daughter. She came in desperation and in faith.  She came.. not intending to give up.. even when Jesus didn't answer her at first.. or when He did answer but not the way she wanted.  " I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." 

The woman asked for crumbs.  She had no other hope but Jesus "Lord, help me!" she pleaded. Finally, Jesus answered her prayer.."O woman, your faith is great; be it done for you as you wish. And her daughter was healed at once." 

Jesus told the Israelites to "ask.. seek.. knock".  He told them to keep asking..to ask in His name.. to trust that the Father knew what they needed and that He would provide.  This Gentile woman is a living example of one who asked and kept on asking.. who sought Jesus and kept on seeking.. who knocked and waited until the door was opened.  She is and example of true faith .  She asked for a "crumb".. but received so much more.  

Father help us to have this kind of faith.. to live with this humble desperation for the Savior. Even when we don't hear Your voice.. or feel that You are not going to answer.. may we keep on trusting and obeying and asking. Fill us with Your Spirit as we seek You today.  In Jesus' name. amen. 

 Matthew 15 :1-20   Traditions.. in themselves are not sinful.. . honestly we love our celebrations and family traditions, don't we?  But, in this case the traditions of men interfered with the commandment of God and that was sinful..  and the Pharisees didn't like that one bit when Jesus pointed it out to them.  

The controversy started when the Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus to complain about his disciples not following their hand-washing rituals. 

Jesus turned the conversation around and asked "And why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?"  This is not the reaction that they were prepared for!   Jesus reminded them that God commanded His people to "Honor your Father and Mother and He who speaks evil of Father or Mother let him be put to death." (v4)  The religious experts ignored the Law and told people to give their money to God ( to them!) ... instead of obeying God and helping their parents in need.  "And thus you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition." 

The problem with the Pharisees and scribes was a matter of the heart.  Their hearts were evil.  It was not the washing of their hands that they needed.. it was the washing of their hearts.  "But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile man.  For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders.  These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man," (v18-20)

The Pharisees and scribes were offended by the words of Jesus.. but Jesus told the disciples to "let them alone".. they were like the tares from His parable.. and "Every plant which My heavenly Father did not plant shall be rooted up."  As long as they refused to admit their sin and repent of it they were "blind guides of the blind.. " 

Father, examine our hearts and cleanse us from all those things that keep us walking in our own ways instead of Yours.  Let Your will be done.. in me.. in the church.. in this world.. as it is in heaven.  May our hearts be cleansed and kept pure as the Spirit of God abides in us and sanctifies us completely.. to the glory of Your Name!  Jesus, we need Your life in us so that we might walk in Truth.. come and rule in us today we pray. Amen. 

 Matthew 14 The death of John the Baptist...jealousy, bitterness, foolishness, sensuality.. all came to a head at Herod's birthday celebration.  The news came to Jesus from John's disciples.  Jesus withdrew from the crowd to be by Himself.. but the crowd just followed Him anyway. 

Instead of insisting on His own right to a time of grief, Jesus had compassion on the crowd and "healed their sick".  Even when it became late and the disciples wanted to send the crowd away, Jesus went one step further  and multiplied the 5 loaves and 2 fish to feed all of the 5000 men plus woman and children. 

Finally, Jesus sent the disciples away on the boat and sent the crowd away.. able to go up into the mountain by Himself to pray. Alone. 

Later He would walk on the water... summon Peter onto the waves.. save him from drowning.. stop the wind and bring them to Gennesaret.  This time Jesus was not sent away from the area but the people gathered around Him and brought the sick to Him to heal. 

So many sides of this One who is the  Son of God and Son of Man are revealed in this chapter.. the genuine sorrow of losing John, the compassion on a crowd that would not let Him escape their neediness,, the concern for His own disciples.. the power to take a little and feed a multitude.. the supernatural ability to walk on water.. and the exhortation to Peter to have no more doubts.. 

We feel as if our struggles are sometimes too much to bear.. but they are not.. for even on the worst day.. Jesus still shares our burdens!  He knows our sorrows. He has compassion on our neediness. He is concerned for our well-being.. He has the power to provide for all who will follow Him.  He does the impossible.. and He exhorts us to stop doubting.. 

Father, let our faith be multiplied.. let our love for Jesus our dear Lord fill our lives and overflow into the world that needs to know Him. Have Your way in our lives and help us to be ready for whatever You have for us today.. girded with Truth, covered with His righteousness, shielded by faith with salvation on our heads and peace on our feet.  We take up the sword of Your Spirit who lives in us.. firmly wielding the Word of God so that we might stand firm against the darkness.  Let the Name of Jesus be magnified in Your people today, Amen. 

 Matthew 13: 24- 52   Matthew records 6 parables that Jesus presented.. all focused on the "kingdom of heaven".  Matthew tells us in verse 35 that Jesus spoke in parables as prophesied in Psalm 78.. to "utter things hidden since the foundation of the world." Psalm 78 is a recount of all that God did for Israel.. all the ways He had guided them.. in spite of their unfaithfulness.  It is a reminder of the unbelief and rebellion of God's people who did not keep their covenant with Him and forgot all the wonders that He performed before them.  It also speaks of God's choice of the tribe of Judah and of David His servant.

Each of these parables is a comparison of the kingdom of God to a familiar thing or event. 

The kingdom of heaven is like a field, Jesus tells them, where good seed is planted, but the enemy comes and plants "tares" alongside the good plants. The master allows both seeds to grow.. but at the harvest.. the tares will go in the fire and the good wheat is brought into the storehouse.  Jesus explains this parable to His disciples in verses 36-43.  "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one; and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age."  There is coming a day when all those who are evil will be gathered and "cast" into "the furnace of fire.. " But, the righteous will "shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father." 

The kingdom of heaven is also like a mustard seed.  It is small, but it will grow until it is a large tree capable of providing branches for the nests of the birds. 

It is also like leaven that is hidden but still affects all the meal it is added to. 

It is like a hidden treasure or a precious, valuable pearl.. worth more than anything else of value. 

The kingdom is also like a "dragnet cast into the sea".. Both good and bad fish fill the net, but when brought to shore the bad are thrown out and only the good are kept. 

Jesus asks His disciples if they have understood His parables and they say that they do.  These are a "treasure" for those who are disciples of the kingdom of heaven. 

At our Wednesday night prayer meeting we are studying a book about  prayer based on A W Tozer's writings. We talked last night about anticipating "acute troubles.. temptations.. and Satan's attacks" by being "prayed up"... abiding in Christ through His Word and in prayer so that when these things occur we can stand firm.  I was thinking that perhaps Tozer was a little negative.. talking about Satan always on the attack.. but this passage makes me think again.. The tares are right here among us.. the bad fish right alongside the good.. we need to remember that we are not immune from their influence.. that there are  "sons of evil" living in our world and we need to be abiding in Christ so that we can recognize them ...The kingdom of God is more valuable than any temptation that Satan throws at us.. any fiery dart headed towards our hearts..any distraction that the world provides.. and he will use his "sons" for these evil purposes. 

Father, give us ears to hear. May we seek Your Kingdom and Your righteousness and nothing else.. for it is more precious than any pearl, any treasure, yes.. than anything this world affords. Give to us the grace to understand and to abide in your Word and in Jesus Christ our Lord. Deliver us from the evil one and fill us  with the Spirit of God we pray, in Jesus' name. Amen.