Old Testament reading: Genesis 30-31

“Lord, who may abide in your tabernacle? Who may dwell in your holy hill?… He who swears to his own hurt and does not change” (Psalm 15:1, 4). Today’s reading details Jacob’s dealings with his sorry father-in-law Laban. In brief, Laban was deceitful and covetous, and his sons were like him and worse. By his own admission, Laban recognized that his own wealth and success were due to his relationship with Jacob (30:27). Yet, Laban was minded to abuse Jacob’s faithfulness and, by extension, his own daughter and grandchildren. Despite this treachery, Jacob dealt faithfully with Laban for many years, certainly giving better than he deserved. All the while Jacob trusted in God to take care of him, which God most certainly did (30:43). Though Laban had changed Jacob’s wages ten times (31:7), he remained faithful to his word. The treachery and deceit of others toward us is no excuse for us to practice the same in return.

New Testament reading: Matthew 26

Today’s New Testament reading is the first record of the institution of the Lord’s Supper (26:26-28). Of particular interest in this text is Jesus’ use of the phrase, “for the remission of sins (v 28)”. This phase appears four times in the New King James Version, elsewhere twice in regard to John’s baptism (Mark 1:4, Luke 3:3) and once in Acts 2:38 in Peter’s sermon at Pentecost. Whatever the phrase means in Matthew 26 is what it means in the other appearances.  For example, those who submitted to John’s baptism did so with the understanding that they would receive remission of sins (Mark 1:4).  However, some argue the same phrase in Acts 2:38 means “because of remission of sins,” meaning one’s sins are already remitted before one is baptized. But if this be the case, and we are going to be consistent in our usage of the text, then Jesus’ death and the shedding of His blood were because sins were already remitted. However, no one wants to take that position. Instead, they would have the same phrase have opposite meanings. Let us always exercise diligence to be honest and consistent in our use of God’s word (cf 2 Tim 2:15). In so doing we can dispel and correct many of the errors taught in the religious world today.

Old Testament reading: Genesis 27-29

“So Jacob served seven years Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her.” This is a refreshing story in our instant gratification, “I want what I want, and I want it now” society. Tragically, many today marry, divorce and marry again in less time than Jacob was willing to wait for Rachel.  Also, we see again the concern of Isaac and Rebekah regarding the potential wives of their sons. Jacob is sent away to find a wife away from the daughters of the land. Esau, knowing his parents’ desire, also seeks a wife in an effort to win his parents’ approval. Generally speaking, if one’s parents do not approve of our intended mate, we ought to give serious consideration to their objections. In many cases, love is not only blind, it is also headstrong and unreasonable. These are ingredients for disaster in most any situation, but especially in marriage.

New Testament reading: Matthew 24-25

“Matthew 24 is knocking at the door.” This was a well-known adage from a popular evangelical preacher during the 1950s and 60s. So well received was this saying that Johnny Cash released a song by that same title in 1973. Matthew 24 is one of the most wrongly interpreted chapters in the Bible. In truth, the signs of Matthew 24 point to the destruction of Jerusalem and not to the second coming of Jesus and the end of the world. The key to understanding Matthew 24:1-35 is found in verses 14 and 34. Verse 14 reads, “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Paul made it clear in Colossians 1:6, 23 and in Romans 10:16-18 that the gospel had been preached to the whole world within a generation of Jesus’ statement in Matthew 24. Thus, the events of Matthew 24 would take place in the days immediately following the writing of those two epistles. Then there is verse 34, “Assuredly I say to you, this generation shall not pass away until all these things take place.” I am unsure how so many miss that statement.

Old Testament reading: Genesis 24-26

“He who finds a wife finds a good thing” (Proverbs 18:22). Today’s reading  is a beautiful account of faith as Abraham seeks a wife for Isaac, who is still grieving the loss of his mother. This account sheds some light on the seemingly out of place account of Genesis 22:20-24. Sandwiched between Abraham’s journey to Beersheba and Sarah’s death is the news of children being born to the house of Nahor. Abraham, rejecting the idolatrous daughters of Canaan, and knowing that a suitable wife for Isaac can be found at home, sends his servant back to his homeland to find a wife for Isaac. This shows us how important it is to marry a Christian.  The home will never reach its greatest height of holiness unless both members are equally committed to serving God.

New Testament reading: Matthew 22-23

“Jesus wept” (John 11:35). Most are familiar with this common text noting the weeping of our Savior at the death of Lazarus. Why He wept is a matter of speculation. In Matthew 23, Jesus wept again – “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem!” Unlike his grief concerning Lazarus, the Bible gives us a clearer view of the reason for the Lord’s mourning. As we consider Jesus’ lament over Jerusalem, it must be remembered that He had been with His Father from the beginning. His desire for Israel did not begin after His incarnation. Rather, He had labored and mourned over His people for more than a thousand years. His statement in 23:37 concerning a hen and her chicks is particularly interesting to me.  One day I returned home from an extended time away to find one of my hens had hatched seven chicks. When I went to check on them that evening, I watched her gather all seven underneath her wings to hide them from me. In like fashion, Jesus desired to hide Jerusalem from her destruction, but they refused to be protected. Regarding this destruction, I believe Flavius Josephus’ account of Jerusalem’s destruction is one of the most moving pieces of non-inspired literature.

Old Testament reading: Genesis 21-23

The greatness of the man Abraham can be seen in the response of his neighbors to Sarah’s death. To the man, all the sons of Heth freely offered any piece of their property for Abraham to bury Sarah. Abraham chose a cave owned by Ephron the Hittite, who also promptly offered it to Abraham free of charge. Abraham refused even a discount for the property, offering to buy it “full price.” Abraham demanded that Ephron value the property, to which Ephron replied, “My Lord, listen to me; the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver. What is that between you and me? Bury your dead.”  Thus, Abraham is seen not only as a friend of God, but also a friend to his neighbors. One thing you might note is that Abraham and Sarah were not living at the same place when Sarah died. Abraham had been dwelling at Beersheba (22:19) while Sarah was living at Kirjath Arba (23:2).

New Testament reading: Matthew 19-21 

Reading the parable of the laborers in Matthew 20 always brings me a certain degree of melancholy, as I am always reminded of my dad when I read or think on this text.  In 1996 my dad was diagnosed with cancer. He was not a Christian. When the severity of his disease was discovered and he was given 3-6 months to live, I visited him at his home and asked him if he was familiar with this text. After he gave me the gist of it, I pleaded with him, “Dad, it’s the 11th hour.” To this he responded, “You act like I’ve got one foot in the grave.” I preached his funeral thirty three days later. He left this life no more prepared to die than on the day I pleaded with him to consider his soul. Here’s the truth of the matter: If you are not living in service to Jesus, you never know when the 11th hour is upon you. The wise man said, “For a man does not know his time: like fish taken in a cruel net, like birds caught in a snare, so the sons of men are snared in an evil time, when it falls suddenly upon them” (Ecc 9:12).

Old Testament reading: Genesis 18-20

Despite Abraham’s best efforts, the destruction of Sodom, Gomorrah and the cities of the plain could not be avoided. What a terrible commentary on a city that ten righteous souls could not be found within her gates! It is often easy for us to become discouraged when looking at the world and society around us, perhaps even to the point of adopting an “all is lost,” defeatist attitude. However, we would do well to be reminded that faithfulness to God is possible, even in the midst of a wicked world. Both Noah and Lot serve as our examples in this respect. Getting back to our text – Some foolishly offer nonsensical explanations for the destruction of these cities. Perhaps the most well known is Sodom’s “lack of hospitality” (see www.christiancourier.com/articles/1443-plague-of-perversion-the). Jude makes it clear two thousand years later: “As Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in similar manner to these, have given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example suffering the vengeance of eternal fire” (Jude 7).

New Testament reading: Matthew 16-18

It is in this reading wherein we witness “the Great Confession” of the deity Jesus.  Contrary to the thinking of some, the rock upon whom the church is built Jesus and Hid Deity, not Peter. Paul noted that no other foundation can be laid than the one already laid, which is Christ (1 Cor 3:11). Moreover, Jesus is called the chief corner stone upon which the church is built (Eph 2:20). We would note the complete failure of Paul to mention Peter in either text. Perhaps he was just jealous of Peter (kidding!). While the Greek word for “Peter” and the word for “rock” are similar, they are not the same. From a purely linguistic standpoint, they cannot refer to the same thing. “Peter” appears in the masculine form while “rock” is in the feminine gender. The Holy Spirit saw fit to make a clear distinction between the two. Many of our Catholic friends will attempt to argue that Jesus was speaking Aramaic, and that there is no distinction between the two in Aramaic. The proper response is, “That may be true; we don’t know. However, we do know that God chose to forever record and preserve it in the Greek, and in so doing made the distinction.

Old Testament reading: Genesis 14-17

“A descendant of Abraham set off a bomb in a crowded market today.” In today’s Old Testament reading, we see that God is not finished extending great promises to Abraham.  In chapter 15, God promised to give Abraham an heir and the land of Canaan as an inheritance. Some fifteen years later, Abraham grew weary in waiting on the Lord and decided to “help” God. The result of his impatience and help are still felt throughout the entire world today.  The child born of his impatience was Ishmael, the father of what would eventually be known as Islam. God said of Ishmael, “He shall be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him.” Every time you hear about an adherent of Islam setting off a bomb crowded market, executing a woman in an “honor killing” for being raped by her own relative, or beheading someone simply for being a non-Muslim, you can thank father Abraham for giving us the Ishmaelites. We would do well to remember that God does not need our help to fulfill His promises.

New Testament reading: Matthew 13-15

“Be careful little eyes what you see.” So go the words of the children’s song. This warning is also found in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 6:22-23). Herod’s failure to heed this admonition led to the death of John the Baptizer, whom Jesus identified as the greatest man ever born to human parents (Matt 11:11). Being “pleased” with the provocations of Herodius’ daughter, Herod made a foolish promise, one he felt obliged to keep because of his like-minded companions. The light that was in Herod was darkness, and the fulfillment of his lust-filled, hasty promise cost John his head.  The Bible tells us of the clear and present danger of failing to guard our eyes. Solomon warned to “Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you” (Prov 4:25). Peter spoke of those who had “eyes full of adultery and cannot cease from sin” (2 Peter 2:14). Finally, David prayed to God,  “turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in Your way” (Psalm 119:37).