Chapter to Chapter - Thoughts on Daily Bible Readings

Old Testament reading Exodus 22-24

Israel was a theocracy. Therefore, her laws governed the people in matters of religion as well as in matters of crime and punishment. Exodus 21 began the system of rule designed to govern the everyday affairs of the people in matters of property, morality and justice. Admittedly, some of these laws seem harsh while others seem lax. I must remember that I cannot judge the laws of Israel based upon my own experience or in light of modern culture. As an American, I find it offensive when Europeans and the “Euro Wanna Be’s” in the media look down their noses at our laws (e.g., capital punishment) they deem offensive or “beneath people of education and culture.” Moreover, we must remember that God is the one who gave Israel her law system. Therefore, that law was perfect in every way to govern His people. This is one primary difference between the Mosaic Law and the gospel wherein people fail to make a distinction. The gospel is not given to govern nations; it is given to govern the hearts of men and the church. There is no system of crime and punishment in the gospel concerning secular matters. However, I believe all nations would be far better off if their leaders’ hearts were ruled by the gospel or the basic principles found therein.

New Testament reading: Luke 10-11

We’ve already noted the Limited Commission of Matthew 10, but in today’s reading we see a second commission wherein 70 others, (in addition to the apostles who were sent out in chapter 9), are sent to preach the gospel of the kingdom. These were sent separately from the 12, but were given the same instructions, including the command to heal the sick (10:9). We would do well to note that there were many in addition to the apostles who were given the ability to heal during Jesus’ public ministry. Before these 70 were sent out, in chapter 9 we saw a man rebuked by the apostles for casting out demons. Why the rebuke? The apostles didn’t know him. Jesus corrects this error by pointing to the man’s deeds as evidence of Divine approval. Elsewhere He said, “by their fruits you will know them” (Matt 7:20).

Old Testament reading: Exodus 19-21

We might be inclined to focus all our attention on Exodus 20 and the Ten Commandments. But if we did, we would miss the gems of chapter 19, and some of the shadows of the church. In Exodus 19:5, God says, “If you will obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people.” Likewise, those who are participants in the New Covenant (gospel) are described as being God’s “own special people” (Titus 2:14). The ESV refers to these as “a people of His own special possession.” While God certainly loves all men, there is no question the church constitutes God’s special people today. Now, listen to God’s promise continued in verse 6 – “And you will be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” My mind immediately went to 1 Peter 2:9 and God’s words concerning the church: “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people.” I also think of Revelation 1:6 wherein Jesus is said to have made the church to be “kings and priests to His God and Father.” Finally, in verse 10 we see that men must prepare themselves before they can be present themselves to the Lord. In Matthew 22:11-13 we see a man who presented himself at the wedding without a proper garment. He was cast out into outer darkness for his lack of preparation.

New Testament reading: Luke 8-9

“I’ve got friends in low places.” So sang a country singer some years ago. Jesus certainly had friends whom the world would have described as coming from low places. He could be found among the common man (Mark 12:37). He was known not only to keep company with tax collectors and sinners (Matt 9:10-11), but was also accused of being a friend of the same (Matt 11:19). Horror of horrors! But Jesus came as the Savior of the world, and this included “the upper crust” as well. In today’s reading, we see Him assisted by Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward. Jesus also had other friends of wealth influence, including Nicodemus the Pharisee and Joseph of Arimathea. Jesus was of such character so as to draw all men to Himself (cf John 12:32). Our lives should mimic His in this way, that we might point all men to Jesus.

Old Testament reading: Exodus 16-18

If you haven’t figured it out yet, one of the things I love about reading these Old Testament texts is seeing the New Testament and Jesus in particular. Today’s reading is a “no brainer” in this respect. Exodus 16 tells us about the Lord’s provision of bread and meat for His children in the wilderness. Exodus 17 provides the account of Israel receiving water from a rock. Let us remember that the Old Testament is written for our learning (Rom 15:4) and the things found therein are given to us as examples (1 Cor 10:11). One thing about the manna that I want to mention is the name. Many miss the meaning of the name, thinking manna is a synonym for bread or sustenance. Not so. Of this provision, in Exodus 16:15 we see the children ask, “What is it?” In verse 30, the name Manna is given, meaning, “What is it?” The New Testament picture is obvious; Jesus likened Himself to this manna, calling Himself the bread of God sent down from heaven that gives life to the world (John 6:32-33). In the first epistle to the church at Corinth, Paul spoke of Israel as all eating of the same spiritual food and drinking the same spiritual drink (1 Cor 10:3-4). Both the food and drink are called “spiritual” because they were miraculously given. Continuing with his illustration, Paul writes, “For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.” The people called the bread Manna, because they did not know what it was. Jesus might also be likened to Manna today in the sense that most do not know who He is. We can help them in this respect in our teaching and in our example.

New Testament reading: Luke 6-7

Today we read a shorter rendering of the Sermon on the Mount. By length, Luke’s account is about 1/3 the length of Matthew’s. Although this particular account and context coincides with Matthew’s account (Matt 5-8), we need to understand that Jesus did not preach a new sermon everywhere he went. The truths taught in Matthew 5-7 and Luke 6 were repeated throughout the course of Jesus’ ministry. Moreover, we must remember that the words we find in the biblical record are only a summation of a more extensive discourse (cf Acts 2:40).

Old Testament reading: Exodus 13-15

“Let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Cor 5:8). Again we see the significance of the events and feast associated with the Passover. The feast here is not a reference to the Lord’s Supper, as Paul would take up that topic in chapter 11. Rather, he is speaking to the purity commanded by those who have been participants in the blessing of the Passover. For seven days following the Passover, Israel was commanded to put away all leaven from out of their houses under the threat of death (Ex 12:15). Exodus 13 marks the feast of unleavened bread as a perpetual memorial to God’s deliverance from Egypt, and not just deliverance, but deliverance by the strong hand of God (vv 8-9). Exodus 13 also details God’s guidance through the pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. This phenomena is referenced by Isaiah in connection with the day of the Branch of the Lord, Jesus Christ (Isa 4:2-5).

New Testament reading: Luke 4-5

Today’s reading affirms the rejection of Jesus as the fulfillment of prophecy (4:16-30) and serves to illustrate Paul’s statement that in due time Jesus died for the ungodly (Rom 5:6). Some believe and teach that Jesus came to establish an earthly kingdom but was rejected by the Jews, as if He didn’t foresee this rejection and failed in His purpose for coming.  Jesus’ rejection was planned according to the foreknowledge of God, and was not an unforeseen roadblock on the road to the establishment of the kingdom. Additionally, Jesus’ death was not only to be carried out on God’s schedule, but also had to be accomplished in God’s way. Aside from the issue of timing, being cast off a cliff was not in accordance with the Scriptures that foretold of the type of death he would die. Neither did the stoning He escaped in John 8:59. Jesus had to die by crucifixion (Psa 22:16-18; Isa 53:4-5; John 3:14). Of necessity, everything had to take place according to the eternal purpose and foreknowledge of God (Acts 2:23).

Old Testament reading: Exodus 10-12

No Old Testament event has a greater connection to the New Testament than does the Passover. The significance of this is seen as Jesus is called “our Passover,” who “was sacrificed for us” (1 Cor 5:7). The observance of the Passover was one of following what are sometimes called God’s positive commands. God’s commands may be divided into two categories. By moral commands, we speak of those things wherein we can see an actions resultant good or evil. It take neither a genius nor a high level of faith to see the resultant good of “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” By God’s positive commands, we speak of those things promised by God that must be obeyed purely through faith in God. Concerning the Passover, there was no logical connection between the application of blood to the door posts with deliverance from the Destroyer. Only faith in God would prompt obedience. In like fashion, it is only when the blood of Jesus is applied to the door of our hearts that we give testimony to our faith in God. The only remedy for sin is the blood of Jesus (Rev 1:5). The only way to receive remission of sins is to be baptized in response to believing the gospel (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38). Thus baptism is the means by which we contact the blood of Jesus. Upon hearing what the Bible teaches about salvation, people understand the need for faith in Christ, repentance and confession, but balk at baptism, saying, “I just don’t see the connection.” But baptism is a pure act of faith, for in it we declare our faith in the promise and working of God (Col 2:12).

New Testament reading: Luke 2-3

“I can die now.” This phrase is often used by those who meet some childhood hero or finally accomplish a lifelong dream. Simeon said the same things 2000 years ago when he finally saw the promised Messiah (2:25-29). How unfortunate that so many in Israel did not see in Jesus what Simeon saw, of which he also spoke in verses 34-35. Jesus came as God’s salvation for all people (v 31). Isaiah prophesied this very thing in Isaiah 9. The salvation of the Gentiles was to Israel’s glory, but Israel was blinded by pride so as to deny themselves God’s glory by killing His Son and opposing the Gentiles as partakers of God’s promise to Abraham.

Old Testament reading: Exodus 7-9

Let the plagues begin! In chapter 7 begins the account of the plagues the Lord brought upon Egypt. These plagues were not simply punishments for wrongdoing, but rather were given as signs to both Israel and Egypt that Jehovah was indeed the LORD. Two items of note – First, each plague appears to show the authority and power of Jehovah over the primary gods of Egypt. In fact, Exodus 12:12 says that the Passover would be Jehovah’s final judgment “against all the gods of Egypt.” This makes for a great series of studies. Second, only the first three plagues affected all the inhabitants of Egypt (including Israel). It wasn’t until the fourth (flies) that God made a distinction between his people and the Egyptians. AS I mentioned of our previous reading, I don’t think it any secret that Israel also needed reminder of the power of Jehovah. After the third plague (lice), Pharaoh’s magicians declared, “It is the finger of God.” In other words, ‘Israel’s God is just getting started and hasn’t broken a sweat.’ Moreover, this was the first plague that was not replicated by Pharaoh’s magicians. Some believe this is due to the very nature of the plague itself, which required creating life from non-life.

https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/563-israels-exodus-from-egypt

New Testament reading: Luke 1

“And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who was to come.” So spake the Lord Jesus concerning John the Baptizer in Matthew 11:14. Whereas Mark begins his gospel account with the work of John, Luke begins his with the events leading up to John’s birth, linking him with his near kin, the Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 1:36). More than 400 years earlier, at the close of Old Testament inspiration, Malachi spoke of one who would come and prepare the way of the Lord (Mal 4:5). John is one of only three New Testament characters can be expressly linked to the Old Testament. Obviously, Jesus is one and Judas Iscariot the other (Ps 41:9, 69:25, 109:8). Jesus said John the Baptizer was the greatest man ever born, but the least member of the kingdom (church) is greater than he (Matt 11:11). Thus, to be born is marvelous, but to be born again (John 3:3-5) is infinitely greater.

Old Testament reading: Exodus 4-6

“Let’s get ready to rumble!” Chapter 5 begins Moses’ confrontations with Pharaoh. I literally shuddered when I read Pharaoh’s words in Exodus 5:2, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice? I do not know the LORD, nor will I let Israel go.” Bad things happen when men don’t know the Lord, and this is no exception. At first, it seems Pharaoh has the upper hand, as he orders the taskmasters not to provide straw for bricks, but tells Israel to gather their own straw while maintaining their daily quota of bricks. God’s people immediately begin to accuse Moses of making them abhorrent in the eyes of Pharaoh and under the threat of death. Moses entreats God for an answer as to why things are not going to plan. Moses’ problem, like ours often today, is that he is working from his plan and not God’s. God assures Moses that He will indeed deliver Israel from Egypt and bring them to the land promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The people are having none of it (6:9). Perhaps this is why they were also partakers of the first three plagues, but that’s in our next reading!

New Testament reading: Mark 15-16

“He who believes and is baptized shall be saved; he who does not believe shall be condemned.” These are the words of Jesus concerning the only proper response to hearing the gospel and the promise of salvation to those who respond accordingly. Many point to Jesus’ omission of baptism in the latter half of the verse as justifying their false doctrine of salvation by faith only without baptism. Verse 16 consists of two independent clauses. As being independent, neither clause has any effect on the meaning of the other. The first tells us what we must do to be saved; the second tells us what to do to be lost. Personally, I am not interested in being lost. Been there; done that. To those who make this quibble regarding verse 16 need to answer the question, “What did Jesus say one must do to be saved?” Answer that question and you’ll have the answer to the matter today. Jesus did not say, “He who believes and is not baptized will be saved.” Neither did he say, “He who believes is saved and may be baptized later.” Why do so many refuse to hear the voice of the one Whom they claim to serve?

Old Testament reading: Exodus 1-3

(Take an extra 2-3 minutes and include chapter 4 in today’s reading to maintain the context.) “There arose a king who did not know Joseph” (Ex 1:8). Thus ends the good days of Israel’s sojourn in Egypt and begins the oppression and suffering of Israel in Egypt. A common error concerning Israel’s period of persecution in Egypt is to think their affliction would last 400 years. This misconception comes from assigning the 400 years of Genesis 15:13 to Israel’s affliction as opposed to the sojourn of Abraham and his descendants. The apostle Paul is clear that the giving of the Law of Moses came 430 years after God made his promise to Abraham. Unlike Genesis 15:13, there is no other way to interpret Paul’s statement regarding the time. Also in today’s text is seen God’s call to Moses to bring up His children from Egypt. Despite Moses’ greatness, we find him to be less than thrilled with his call and quite unwilling to go. Offering one excuse after another, each one of Moses’ objections are quickly and patiently answered by God, even to the giving of miraculous abilities to show God as his sending authority. Despite all of God’s answers, Moses finally says, ‘Please send someone else’ (4:13). This is when God’s patience ran out (4:14). We can learn that God can be patient as we question and sort through our responsibilities, but at some point the talking and questions have to stop and the command to go must be obeyed.

New Testament reading: Mark 13-14

“Rend your hearts and not your garments.” So said the prophet in Joel 2:13. The tearing of one’s garments was an outward sign of great grief or mental anguish (cf Genesis 37:29-34). In today’s reading, we see the high priest’s hypocrisy as he tore his garments upon hearing Jesus’ confession that He was indeed “the Christ, the Son of the Blessed.” The truth of the matter is this – rather than being grieved, the high priest couldn’t have been any happier, for with Jesus’ confession he had all he needed to finally rid himself of this troublesome teacher from Nazareth. Many people wail and shed “crocodile tears” when they are not truly repentant, but are instead are offering nothing more than an outward display of penitence. Only godly sorrow produces repentance (2 Cor 7:10).

Old Testament reading: Genesis 48-50

“Be sure your sin will find you out” (Num 32:23). Today’s reading details Jacob’s last words given to his sons. It is not appropriate to refer to these words as “Jacob’s blessing,” as his three eldest sons were not blessed, but rather cursed. “Unstable as water” is Jacob’s description of his eldest, Reuben. Reuben had committed fornication with his father’s concubine, and Jacob knew it, though he said nothing at the time (35:22). I find this interesting as it was Reuben who intended to save Joseph from his brothers’ evil intent (37:22). On the other hand (again), Reuben also went along with the deceit concerning Joseph’s “death.” Simeon and Levi, Jacob’s next two sons, were also cursed by their father concerning their treachery and deceit in the Dinah incident (Gen 34). The lesson here for us is clear – though we may believe no one has seen our sins and transgressions, God most certainly sees all things, even the hidden things of the heart, and ultimately a price must be paid for our lack of self control.

New Testament reading: Mark 11-12

“My Lord was neither a sissy nor a hippie.” I often remind our people of these truths as many have hijacked the biblical Jesus and replaced Him with a mash up of Doonesbury and Ghandi.  Mark 11 reveals that our Lord was not afraid of controversy. Jesus publicly debated and refuted the errors of the Pharisees and Sadducees. He called these sectarians out loudly and publicly, manifesting to the people their shameful hypocrisy and abuse of the common man.  Perhaps this is why Mark records that “the common people heard Him gladly” (12:37). show us the final polemic encounters of our Lord just before his betrayal and crucifixion. Moreover, Jesus was unafraid to get physical if the situation called for it. His cleansing of the temple (Mark 11:15-17) reveals our Lord as a strong physical presence. Mark tells us that Jesus not only overturned the tables of the moneychanger and those selling goods, He drove them out. Jesus cleared the house of God. Furthermore, He exercised Himself as a divine bouncer, not permitting anyone to carry their wares and goods through the temple. My Lord was meek and lowly, but my Lord was also a man.

Old Testament reading: Genesis 46-47

Your feelings may be real, but they don’t change the truth.  When Jacob had been deceived into thinking Joseph was dead, he grieved for many days saying, “I will go to my grave mourning my son” (37:35). Jacob couldn’t have grieved any more than if he had seen and held Joseph’s lifeless body. His feelings were real and undeniable, but they were not based in truth. In the last three verses of yesterday’s reading (Gen 45:26-28), it is made known to Jacob that Joseph is alive and prospering in Egypt. The text says “Jacob’s heart stood still, because he did not believe them.” Perhaps Jacob was still a bit hesitant to believe this incredible news, for God appeared to him as they traveled saying, “Do not fear to go down to Egypt… I will go down with you… and Joseph will put his hand on your eyes” (46:3-4). Again, I am always moved by the text as Joseph prepared a chariot and went to meet his father as the text says, “He fell on his neck and wept a good while” (46:29). One can only imagine the joy of both men as they are reunited after so many years.  Before we move to our New Testament text, I want to note Joseph’s shrewd and faithful dealings to enrich Pharaoh. I had never considered Pharaoh as less than an absolute monarch, but it was Joseph’s trading of grain for livestock, then lands, then the people themselves that ultimately gave Pharaoh absolute control over all of Egypt (47:13-26).

New Testament reading: Mark 9-10

Today’s text contains two primary themes: Jesus’ death and resurrection, and the greatness of humble service to others. These two themes were of great difficulty among the Twelve. Three times in this text we see Jesus speak to them of His impending suffering and death (9:12, 31; 10:32-34), but they did not understand and were afraid to ask Him of it (9:32, 10:32). Instead, they worried themselves (and not to mention, their LORD) by arguing over whom would be the greatest in the kingdom of God. A little more focus on the first theme would’ve certainly solved their issues with the second. When I spend more time thinking about the suffering and death of Jesus, it increases my awareness of my need for humility and the necessity of having the heart of a servant.