Matthew 26:17-35

Matthew 26:17-35 (New International Version)

The Lord's Supper

 ¹⁷On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?"

 ¹⁸He replied, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, 'The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.' " ¹⁹So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

 ²⁰When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. ²¹And while they were eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me."

 ²²They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, "Surely not I, Lord?"

 ²³Jesus replied, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. ²⁴The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."

 ²⁵Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?" 
      Jesus answered, "Yes, it is you."

 ²⁶While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."

 ²⁷Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. ²⁸This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. ²⁹I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom."

 ³⁰When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Jesus Predicts Peter's Denial

 ³¹Then Jesus told them, "This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: 
   " 'I will strike the shepherd, 
      and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' ³²But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee."

 ³³Peter replied, "Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will."

 ³⁴"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times."

 ³⁵But Peter declared, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the other disciples said the same.

Devotional (by Isaac Pellerin)

Do you ever wonder what it'd be like to be Jesus. Knowing full well that in a few hours you would be disappointed by those closest to you? If there's anything about the story of Jesus that makes him the most human to me it's that Jesus knows what it's like to be let down. It's always those closest to us that hurt us the most. 

Here we have Peter boldly declaring that he would die with Christ (this would be the tear-jerking brotherly-bonding moment in a film) - but Jesus knows that despite his best intentions he will also fall away.

Here's the wild thing about it though. Think about the God of the universe knowing full well that he would be betrayed by those who he would bring in close to him, spending 3 years of his life pouring into them, and in spite of knowing this. He came anyway. What kind of crazy love is that?

We can so easily be hurt by those closest to us. Do we live realizing that in spite of the hurt caused, that we could somehow love them anyway? That's what Jesus knew. And that's what Jesus felt.

Prayer: God it's mind-blowing to think that you would make yourself known to people who are bound to disappoint you. Make me more aware of the amazing gift your grace is that allows me to draw close to you no matter how big my failure seems. Thank-you for taking the risk to draw close to me. In Jesus name. Amen. 

Matthew 26:1-16

Matthew 26

The Plot Against Jesus

 ¹When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, ²"As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified."

 ³Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, ⁴and they plotted to arrest Jesus in some sly way and kill him. ⁵"But not during the Feast," they said, "or there may be a riot among the people."

Jesus Anointed at Bethany

 ⁶While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, ⁷a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.

 ⁸When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. "Why this waste?" they asked. ⁹"This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor."

 ¹⁰Aware of this, Jesus said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. ¹¹The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. ¹²When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. ¹³I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus

 ¹⁴Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests ¹⁵and asked, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?" So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. ¹⁶From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

 

Devotional (by Isaac Pellerin)

"Why the waste?" Does this question stick out to you? It never ceases to amaze me how the disciples can be so in tune with what's going on, and then the next moment, they totally miss the point. When I read this story I am challenged by the woman. Often we talk about worshipping God and we maybe limit our definition of worship to singing, or coming to church. But here we see this woman engaging in worship. She is giving all that she has to give. The most expensive thing she had (this perfume was worth about a years wages). 

 I think what amazes me is that the disciples logic isn't really "bad". I mean they see it as a resource to give to the poor. But as I read through it again. I was wondering if they were maybe defensive because this woman was showing them up. I mean Jesus was their friend and that was good, but in that momen this woman was really recognizing him as Lord of her life.

Maybe you feel like the more you put Christ at the center of your life, the less it makes sense to those around you. If that's the case, then be encouraged by this woman, who did what was right in the eyes of Jesus, no matter what the eyes of others said.

 Prayer

God, please help me to recognize how wonderful You are. Help me to give you all that I can knowing that all that I do to worship You is still far less worship than you deserve. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Matthew 25:31-46

Matthew 25: 31-46 
"When he finally arrives, blazing in beauty and all his angels with him, the Son of Man will take his place on his glorious throne. Then all the nations will be arranged before him and he will sort the people out, much as a shepherd sorts out sheep and goats, putting sheep to his right and goats to his left. 
 "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what's coming to you in this kingdom. It's been ready for you since the world's foundation. And here's why: 

   I was hungry and you fed me, 
   I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, 
   I was homeless and you gave me a room, 
   I was shivering and you gave me clothes, 
   I was sick and you stopped to visit, 
   I was in prison and you came to me.' 
 "Then those 'sheep' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?' Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.' 
 "Then he will turn to the 'goats,' the ones on his left, and say, 'Get out, worthless goats! You're good for nothing but the fires of hell. And why? Because— 

   I was hungry and you gave me no meal, 
   I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 
   I was homeless and you gave me no bed, 
   I was shivering and you gave me no clothes, 
   Sick and in prison, and you never visited.' 
 “Then those 'goats' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or homeless or shivering or sick or in prison and didn't help?' 
 "He will answer them, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me—you failed to do it to me.' 
 "Then those 'goats' will be herded to their eternal doom, but the 'sheep' to their eternal reward." 

Devotion (by Emily Gray)

In Matthew 25, we find Jesus explaining what the “Kingdom of God” will be like.  You see, at that time, the Jewish people were under the Roman Kingdom and were looking for someone to come along, overthrow the Roman government, and set up a new kind of Kingdom.  Many looked to Jesus hoping his Kingdom was a physical, political government that would liberate them for the Roman rule.  What they didn’t understand was the Kingdom of God wasn’t political or necessarily physical.  Jesus describes mindsets, attitudes, actions that “build” His Kingdom.  So we find Jesus telling stories of prepared and anticipating bridesmaids (25: 1-13), a story about servants investing their master’s money (25: 14-30), and this section where Jesus tells us what marks or separates people who build this Kingdom of His.  
And what is it that indicates whether people belong to His Kingdom or not?  Jesus tells us it is finding and serving Him in the overlooked and ignored.  It’s the attitude that when we see someone in need, we do what we can to help.  We feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, clothe the cold, and visit the sick and lonely.  Jesus tells us that serving and meeting the needs of others is a way to see Him.  What a profound statement!  
The question left lingering in my mind is, “Who are the overlooked and ignored in my life?”  Who are they in your life?  In what ways is God asking you to do something, whether it be giving food, clothes, time, a listening ear?  It’s easy to focus on all the things on our to-do list, all the problems in our lives.  But maybe it would be better to pause, breathe, and look around to see the needs of others.  In doing so, we can see and know more of Jesus and what He put us on this earth for.

Prayer: Jesus, help me to understand what it means to see You in other people.  I want to know and serve the overlooked and ignored in my life.  Help me to have eyes to see this week, and take action in regards to what I see.  Thank you.  Amen.  

Matthew 25:1-30

Matthew 25:1-30 (NIV)

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

 ¹"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. ²Five of them were foolish and five were wise. ³The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. ⁴The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. ⁵The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

 ⁶"At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'

 ⁷"Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.'

 ⁹" 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.'

 ¹⁰"But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

 ¹¹"Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!'

 ¹²"But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.'

 ¹³"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

The Parable of the Talents

 ¹⁴"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. ¹⁵To one he gave five talents^[a] of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.¹⁶The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. ¹⁷So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. ¹⁸But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.

 ¹⁹"After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. ²⁰The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'

 ²¹"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

 ²²"The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.'

 ²³"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

 ²⁴"Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. ²⁵So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'

 ²⁶"His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? ²⁷Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

 ²⁸" 'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. ²⁹For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. ³⁰And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

Devotional (by Mikey Skoglund)
This passage makes some really good points about how we're to be living our lives right now.  Take the parable of the ten virgins.  That parable is all about preparation.  Being prepared for the coming of the Bridegroom, or Jesus.  Think about what this passage is saying about preparation.  Look at the two different types of people this addresses, there's the wise person and the foolish person.  Basically it breaks down to the wise person being prepared no matter how long they had to wait and what the circumstances were, but the foolish person was not prepared and had to turn back to get ready for the bridegroom, but by the time they got back it was too late.  I think of this as spending my time here on earth wisely and always working to be prepared for the coming of Jesus. Then there's the ten talents parable.  The master leaves different amounts with different servants and then leaves for awhile.  That makes me think of how Jesus came to earth and gave his followers (which includes us) a calling to spread the good news of the Lord and to love the people around us.  Then one day Jesus will return and see what we've done with what He's given to us.  I like that this parable shows that different people have been given different amounts.  That's how life is, some people just seem to be naturally gifted at anything they do,  and some people seem to have to work hard and struggle at whatever they are trying to accomplish.  It seems like God does give some people 5 talents, others 2, and still others just 1, but the other good thing about this is that in the parable the master is just as pleased with the man who brought back 4 talents as he was with the man who brought back 10.  I don't think the point of this parable is to compare how many talents (or gifts, opportunities, breaks in life, etc.) with those around you, but it is to take what you've been given and use it for God.  Being responsible with what God had blessed us with.  The only servant in this parable the master was not happy with was the one who did nothing with what he was given.  It's not about numbers or comparisons, its about doing something to prepare for Jesus's return by using what God has given us.  

Prayer
Lord, thank you for blessing me and giving me the gift of life.  Help me to use what I have and what you've given me for Your glory and not my own.  Help me to stay focused on the important things of life and to be wise with my time and resources.  Thank you for Your love for me.  In Your name I pray.  

Amen.

Matthew 24:36-51

Matthew 24:36-51 (New International Version

 ³⁶"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. ³⁷As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. ³⁸For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; ³⁹and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. ⁴⁰Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. ⁴¹Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.

 ⁴²"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. ⁴³But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁴So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

 ⁴⁵"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? ⁴⁶It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. ⁴⁷I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. ⁴⁸But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, 'My master is staying away a long time,' ⁴⁹and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. ⁵⁰The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. ⁵¹He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Devotional (by Jana Goebel)

I am a scheduler.  I like to make a list of what needs to happen when.  Even though my plans often don’t go according to plan, just knowing that I have tried to keep everything under control makes me happy.  When I read this passage in Matthew, the control freak, scheduler in me gets a little anxious.  I want to know the exact hour and day the Jesus will return.  I want to be ready!  But Jesus says, we should be ready at all times because only God knows the hour and the day of His returning.   Instead of being like the people in Noah’s day, unprepared for the impending flood, we need to be like homeowners in today’s world.  Have your insurance plan purchased and up to date.  Well, how do I do that?   As I asked that question, I thought of  Proverbs 3: 5-6 which says:  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.”  That’s my prayer today.  That I will trust God in all things.  That I won’t try to take control of what only he can control.  And that I will seek him and give him praise in all things so that I can walk a straight path and be ready. 

Prayer:   Father, thank you for being in control and always knowing what the plan is.  Help me to trust you and praise you at all times so that I can be ready for the wonderful day of your return.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Matthew 24:22-35

Matthew 24:22-35 (The Message)

 ^21-22"This is going to be trouble on a scale beyond what the world has ever seen, or will see again. If these days of trouble were left to run their course, nobody would make it. But on account of God's chosen people, the trouble will be cut short.

 ^23-25"If anyone tries to flag you down, calling out, 'Here's the Messiah!' or points, 'There he is!' don't fall for it. Fake Messiahs and lying preachers are going to pop up everywhere. Their impressive credentials and dazzling performances will pull the wool over the eyes of even those who ought to know better. But I've given you fair warning.

 ^26-28"So if they say, 'Run to the country and see him arrive!' or, 'Quick, get downtown, see him come!' don't give them the time of day. The Arrival of the Son of Man isn't something you go to see. He comes like swift lightning to you! Whenever you see crowds gathering, think of carrion vultures circling, moving in, hovering over a rotting carcass. You can be quite sure that it's not the living Son of Man pulling in those crowds.

 ²⁹"Following those hard times, 

   Sun will fade out, 
      moon cloud over, 
   Stars fall out of the sky, 
      cosmic powers tremble.

 ^30-31"Then, the Arrival of the Son of Man! It will fill the skies—no one will miss it. Unready people all over the world, outsiders to the splendor and power, will raise a huge lament as they watch the Son of Man blazing out of heaven. At that same moment, he'll dispatch his angels with a trumpet-blast summons, pulling in God's chosen from the four winds, from pole to pole.

 ^32-35"Take a lesson from the fig tree. From the moment you notice its buds form, the merest hint of green, you know summer's just around the corner. So it is with you: When you see all these things, you'll know he's at the door. Don't take this lightly. I'm not just saying this for some future generation, but for all of you. This age continues until all these things take place. Sky and earth will wear out; my words won't wear out.

Devotional (by Isaac Pellerin)

The early Christians would sometimes utter this word "Maranatha". It means "Come, Lord Jesus. Come." They looked with anticipation for Jesus to return. They saw the world around them and they saw the signs that it was fading away. The Christians living around 70 A.D. saw some of the events Jesus was talking about take place. The Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by the Roman Empire, and they had to flee to the mountains to hide. It was a terrible time for them, but they had hope.

They held onto the words of Jesus - the words that the world can never destroy.

 When we look at the world around us we can often despair at it's state. We see hunger, wars, relational conflicts, earthquakes, famines, corruption, greed, and pain (not just in others but also within ourselves). When we see all of these things do we utter "Maranatha"? Do we ask Jesus to be present and hold onto his words?

 Prayer: God we pray that you would come quickly. We pray that you would be present in our lives and that, today, we would find ourselves holding onto your word. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Matthew 26:1-16

Matthew 26:1-16

The Plot to Kill Jesus

 1 When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, 2 “As you know, Passover begins in two days, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”

 3 At that same time the leading priests and elders were meeting at the residence of Caiaphas, the high priest, 4 plotting how to capture Jesus secretly and kill him. 5 “But not during the Passover celebration,” they agreed, “or the people may riot.”

Jesus Anointed at Bethany

 6 Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. 7 While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it over his head.

 8 The disciples were indignant when they saw this. “What a waste!” they said. 9 “It could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.”

 10 But Jesus, aware of this, replied, “Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me? 11 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me. 12 She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial. 13 I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.”

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus

 14 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests 15 and asked, “How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?” And they gave him thirty pieces of silver. 16 From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus.


Devotional (by Chad Morris)

"All gave some, but some gave all".  We are all familiar with this slogan used by our military, but I also feel that it is a perfect slogan for Christians as well.  GOD wants us to love him and give him our "all".  The question is, are we willing to do this and if we do what will people think of us.  This woman showed the faith and love that GOD wants from us.  Although we don't really know who she was, we do know that her perfume was expensive and probably was her most cherished possession and she used all of it on Jesus, not just a few sprays.  She undoubtedly was nervous but her love for Jesus far outweighed her fear of being judged by society. The story also tells us of the how Jesus stood up for her when his disciples judged her.  Jesus will also protect us from any persecution we might face from giving ourselves to Christ. 

I think the disciples totally missed the point in this story.  They were thinking in terms of money and possessions, and while GOD requires us to give a certain percentage, he doesn't demand all of it.  What he does want from us is all of our faith to be put in him.  He wants us to love and worship him with 100% of our hearts and souls.  Anything less than that will leave us venerable to sin and the trouble that comes with it.  The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 13:13 that of faith, hope and love---love is the greatest. GOD proved this to us in John 3:16 which says "For GOD loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." Jesus showed us the ultimate example of giving "all" by dying on the cross for our sins.  Is it really too much to ask of us to give "all" of our faith, hope and love to him in return?  The woman in this story did just that and was rewarded for her love, as we will when we give our lives to him.

Prayer 

GOD,  thank you for your never ending love that you have for us.  Allow us to grow in our love and faith for you, to step out of our comfort zones in showing your love to others.  Reassure us that you will be there to protect us and guide us when society tries to judge us by their rules. In your Sons name, Amen.

Matthew 23:13-39

Matthew 23:13-39 (New Living Translation)
 13 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces. You won’t go in yourselves, and you don’t let others enter either. 15 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn that person into twice the child of hell you yourselves are!  16 “Blind guides! What sorrow awaits you! For you say that it means nothing to swear ‘by God’s Temple,’ but that it is binding to swear ‘by the gold in the Temple.’ 17 Blind fools! Which is more important—the gold or the Temple that makes the gold sacred? 18 And you say that to swear ‘by the altar’ is not binding, but to swear ‘by the gifts on the altar’ is binding. 19 How blind! For which is more important—the gift on the altar or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 When you swear ‘by the
 altar,’ you are swearing by it and by everything on it. 21 And when you swear ‘by the Temple,’ you are swearing by it and by God, who lives in it. 22 And when you swear ‘by heaven,’ you are swearing by the throne of God and by God, who sits on the throne.  23 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things. 24 Blind guides! You strain your water so you won’t accidentally swallow a gnat, but you swallow a camel!
 
 25 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence! 26 You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too.  27 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity. 28 Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.  29 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you build tombs for the prophets your ancestors killed, and you decorate the monuments of the godly people your ancestors destroyed. 30 Then you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors,
 we would never have joined them in killing the prophets.’  31 “But in saying that, you testify against yourselves that you are indeed the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Go ahead and finish what your ancestors started. 33 Snakes! Sons of vipers! How will you escape the judgment of hell?  34 “Therefore, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers of religious law. But you will kill some by crucifixion, and you will flog others with whips in your synagogues, chasing them from city to city. 35 As a result, you will be held responsible for the murder of all godly people of all time—from the murder of righteous Abel to the murder of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you killed in the Temple between the sanctuary and the altar. 36 I tell you the truth, this judgment will fall on this very generation.  37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to
 gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me. 38 And now, look, your house is abandoned and desolate. 39 For I tell you this, you will never see me again until you say, ‘Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’”
 
Devotional (by Marty Bennett)
You know when I read this passage, I cannot help but wonder how mad Jesus must have been with the Pharisees.  These verses (26 in all) represent a verbal smack-down unlike any I’ve read from Jesus.  Seven times in these twenty-six verses, Jesus uses the phrase “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees.  Hypocrites!”  The Pharisees obsession with control, materialism, and focus on outward appearance are really convicting words.  I know I’ve fallen into these earthly traps in my life when I would rather spend my money on things that make me look good.  About 13 years ago, I bought a brand new sporty Honda Civic that I couldn’t afford, but hey, I looked good in it.  I bought clothes and material items I didn’t need, but I felt that I needed to impress people with my appearance.  I couldn’t have been more wrong. 
 
These people that Jesus rails against, people with significant influence in the community, had so lost their focus on God’s message and teachings by bending, twisting and inventing rules that they were in danger of going to hell.  The old phrase—to those whom much is given, much is expected—rings true here.  Jesus was obviously so angry that these powerful men & leaders had abused the power of their position so consistently and blatantly that he foretold their downfall.  Despite all their sins, Jesus gave the Pharisees ways to escape their fate (hell). He Jesus knew these corrupt leaders would not listen and in fact would do all in their power to bring him down, but he still offered them a chance.
 
In our lives in the 21st century, Jesus is still offering us hope, a way toward heaven, if we take him into our hearts, truly believe in him, and know that only with him can we see God.  He has given us life, hope, and all the tools we need within us to be leaders in our community, leaders by the way we live our lives.  Some of us may not feel like leaders in the traditional sense of presidents, politicians, pastors or popes, but we are all asked by God, by Jesus to live our lives through him, in him and with him.  What better mentor could we have for our roles in this world.  The imagery at the end of the passage is so poignant—Jesus like a hen protecting her chicks beneath her wings.  Jesus is our protector, as long as we let him. 
 
Prayer:
Thank you, Jesus, for teaching us this valuable lesson that as Christians we are given much to be thankful for, and that much is expected of us as we continue our walk with you.  I pray that we all have the time today, to take stock of how we live our lives, and make the changes we need to honor you in all we do, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Matthew 23:1-12

Matthew 23:1-12

Now Jesus turned to address his disciples, along with the crowd that had gathered with them. "The religion scholars and Pharisees are competent teachers in God's Law. You won't go wrong in following their teachings on Moses. But be careful about following them. They talk a good line, but they don't live it. They don't take it into their hearts and live it out in their behavior. It's all spit-and-polish veneer. 
“Instead of giving you God's Law as food and drink by which you can banquet on God, they package it in bundles of rules, loading you down like pack animals. They seem to take pleasure in watching you stagger under these loads, and wouldn't think of lifting a finger to help. Their lives are perpetual fashion shows, embroidered prayer shawls one day and flowery prayers the next. They love to sit at the head table at church dinners, basking in the most prominent positions, preening in the radiance of public flattery, receiving honorary degrees, and getting called 'Doctor' and 'Reverend.' 
“Don't let people do that to you, put you on a pedestal like that. You all have a single Teacher, and you are all classmates. Don't set people up as experts over your life, letting them tell you what to do. Save that authority for God; let him tell you what to do. No one else should carry the title of 'Father'; you have only one Father, and he's in heaven. And don't let people maneuver you into taking charge of them. There is only one Life-Leader for you and them—Christ. 
"Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant. If you puff yourself up, you'll get the wind knocked out of you. But if you're content to simply be yourself, your life will count for plenty.” 

Devotional (by Emily Gray)

Importance.  Significance.  We all want it in some form or other.  We want people to take notice of us.  We all like a little praise, accolades, and compliments, especially when we’ve worked extra hard.  But in this passage, we see Jesus telling us its not about image or praise.  The religious people and Pharisees (experts of the Biblical Law) of Jesus’ day had the image and the praise.  They were quick to receive praise and do what they could to earn it.  But Jesus said they didn’t live by their own teachings, they didn’t have the right motives: “They talk a good line, but they don’t live it.”  
There’s nothing wrong with working hard or receiving a compliment.  But Jesus says we’re to focus on one thing and one thing only: Him.  Don’t let other people’s opinions have priority over God’s.  Jesus said, “Don’t set people up as experts over your life, letting them tell you what to do.”  I don’t know about you, but when I have a problem or a worry in life, I go to several people, surveying their opinion on the solution to the situation.  I do it all the time.  And while it’s great to ask wise people for their advice, I find myself thinking of God as a last resort.  “Well God, he said this, and she said that.  What do You think?”  But I have it in reverse.  I’m learning that I need to go to God first in prayer and reading the Bible, to get His opinion of my life.  Its easy to forget that He knows all about us, because He created us.  Plus He wants what’s best for all of us, so we can trust His advice.  It can be challenging to remember that we have one Authority.  But I hope, like me, we can learn that going to Him first and valuing His opinion above all else is the best way to go.    
So instead of working hard to get other people to notice the image you’re trying to create, do as Jesus said, “Simply be yourself” as you focus on Him.  And the promise He gives is what everyone desires deep down, that “your life will count for plenty.”   

Prayer:  Jesus, help me to focus on you, and not put myself or anyone else on a pedestal.  I want to come to you first, not as a last resort.  Help me to simply be myself and trust You in all situations, so that my life will count for plenty.  Thank You that You are always here for me when I come to You.  Amen.

Matthew 22:23-46

Matthew 22:23-46 (New International Version)

Marriage at the Resurrection

 ²³That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. ²⁴"Teacher," they said, "Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and have children for him. ²⁵Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother. ²⁶The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh. ²⁷Finally, the woman died. ²⁸Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?"

 ²⁹Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.³⁰At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. ³¹But about the resurrection of the dead—have you not read what God said to you, ³²'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not the God of the dead but of the living."

 ³³When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.

The Greatest Commandment

 ³⁴Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. ³⁵One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:

 ³⁶"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" ³⁷Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' ³⁸This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'^[c] 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Whose Son Is the Christ

 ⁴¹While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, ⁴²"What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?" 
      "The son of David," they replied.

 ⁴³He said to them, "How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him 'Lord'? For he says, 
 ⁴⁴" 'The Lord said to my Lord: 
      "Sit at my right hand 
   until I put your enemies 
      under your feet." ' ⁴⁵If then David calls him 'Lord,' how can he be his son?" ⁴⁶No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions

Devotional
This is one of my favorite exchanges in the Bible between the "religious elite" and Jesus.  First of all, the Sadducees try to stump Jesus by asking Him about the resurrection.  You see, the Sadducees didn't believe in the resurrection, so they were trying to think of one of the biggest questions they had about resurrection and try and make Jesus at a loss for words.  I love how Jesus clearly answers their question and then takes them a level deeper.  He knew that the main point here was not if people are to be married after the resurrection, but the big picture was resurrection itself in this question. So he took their question, found the key issue within that question, and then addressed that key issue. 

Again the Sadducees got together with the Pharisees and tried to come up with a way to stump Jesus with another question.  This time it was about the commandments.  You see both the Sadducees and the Pharisees made up lots and lots of rules based off of the ten commandments and what they thought would lead to a more holy life.  Knowing their love of their many rules, Jesus quickly narrowed down their whole written law to just two simple principles.  And these two principles clearly cover all of the other laws that God had put into place. 

The thing I love about Jesus is that He isn't a question dodger.  He doesn't just talk around the issues, but He gets right to the heart of the matter.  He's not running for a popularity contest with the Pharisees and Sadducees here, He's just into telling the truth.  That's how I want to be. 

Prayer
Lord, please help me to be more like You.  Help me to be upfront and honest with people and help me to hold the truth higher than popularity or wanting to be liked.  God, thank You for Your Son and the things that You've taught me through His life.