MATTHEW 23-25: DAY 63 JOURNEY THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
March 4, 2023
MATTHEW 23-25
DAY 63 JOURNEY THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
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Focus Verses For Today: 25:41-46
Today, we continue our journey through the Gospel of Matthew, by studying the teachings of the great Teacher, Jesus Christ. Jesus speaks to both the religious elite and the everyday person in today’s passage. His messages, however, apply to everyone!
Take a few moments to seek the Lord’s guidance for our journey through Matthew 23-25. We have plenty of time, so take that thing that’s on your mind to the Lord. Sure you’ll be interested in His direction on it. Now, it’s time, to journey through Matthew 23-25!
Matthew 23-25: Jesus chastises the teachers of the law and the Pharisees and warns against hypocrisy, giving examples. Jesus pronounces seven woes (holy curses) on the teachers of the law and the Pharisees. Jesus did not hold back on warning His audience at the Temple that the teachers of the law and the Pharisees were hypocrites, and not be followed or admired for anything other than their teachings concerning the law of Moses. Jesus teaches regarding the destruction of the temple and on the signs of the end times, including false teachings, persecution of Christians, and that His gospel will be taught in all nations. Jesus’ return will not be a secret event. All will see Him coming! All will see Him coming! Let there be no mistake about this: All will see Him coming! Jesus teaches the disciples that no one, except the Father, knows when He will return, therefore it is important to be ready at all times. Jesus tells two parables, The Parable of the Ten Virgins and The Parable of the Bags of Gold, which teach us to be ready for His return at all times. Judgment is coming for all. (Matthew 23:1-25:46)
Our focus verses for today:
41“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
44“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
46“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
(Matthew 25:41-46, NIV)
In our world of surrogate living, this is a very difficult passage. It is a passage of condemnation. It is a passage of sorrow, for God truly wants us all to join Him in eternal joy. God, unlike His fallen creation, keeps His word. Once the end comes, there is no turning back for us. The game is on! No more time to prepare.
We all have walked by a homeless person living in the cities of the world. We have all had a homeless person ask for money as we pass by them. We have all crossed to the other side of the street when we encountered that person screaming at no one as we approached them. We have all…. You think the coming question is what did you do? It is not! The question is, what are you thinking when you approach these people? What are you thinking? Are you thinking why don’t you get a job? Are your thoughts leaning toward the person you encountered as being disgusting? God knows our thoughts. We just read what He expects from us. God doesn’t accept excuses. We’ve been snared. We’ve been caught right in our own minds. Don’t reach for the “but” file because God does not recognize the “but” file. Fundamentally, what you think of the person you pass on the street is what you think of God. Ugly thought, isn’t it? How are you, you personally, going to change this aspect of your life? Keep in mind, God is interested in your personal involvement, not your keen skill of delegation.
Godspeace!
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