a 365 day trip through Matthew with a key thought, prayer, focus verse and contextual verses for each day
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I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. (NIV)
Gal. 1:6-10
Watch out for those who do evil, who are like dogs, who demand to cut the body.... We do not put trust in ourselves or anything we can do,although I might be able to put trust in myself. If anyone thinks he has a reason to trust in himself, he should know that I have greater reason for trusting in myself.I was circumcised eight days after my birth. I am from the people of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin. I am a Hebrew, and my parents were Hebrews. I had a strict view of the law, which is why I became a Pharisee.I was so enthusiastic I tried to hurt the church. No one could find fault with the way I obeyed the law of Moses.(NCV)
Phil. 3:2-6
Before this faith came, we were all held prisoners by the law. We had no freedom until God showed us the way of faith that was coming.In other words, the law was our guardian leading us to Christ so that we could be made right with God through faith.Now the way of faith has come, and we no longer live under a guardian.(NCV)
Gal. 3:23-25 |
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October 29
How Terrible! (1 & 2) - Matthew 23:13-15
How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You are hypocrites! You close the door for people to enter the kingdom of heaven. You yourselves don’t enter, and you stop others who are trying to enter.How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You are hypocrites! You travel across land and sea to find one person who will change to your ways. When you find that person, you make him more fit for hell than you are.
Full Text
Key Thought
"Raise the bar!" That was the Pharisees' goal, to see who could be the most righteous. A laudable goal until you realize that it was a righteousness few could approach, much less earn. When righteousness is based upon my ability to exceed my fellows, then something is really rotten. It also makes is extremely difficult for those who aren't raised in the incubator of Jewish Pharisaism to have a chance. They're shut out before they even start.
Despite their zeal for righteousness, the Pharisees destroy it, the people God intended to find it, and when they do get someone, the so corrupt him with their legalism that he's worse off than when he was a pagan.
Jesus reminds us that in his Kingdom, righteousness is about serving others, serving God without ostentacious show, and caring for new converts.
Today's Prayer
O God, please forgive me when I think so much about myself and how my faith looks and appears to others. Give me a heart to help those new in the Kingdom family to find their place and encourage and help them on their journey to be more like you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Today's Verses with Jesus
(key verses in bold)
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13 “How terrible for you,
teachers of the law and Pharisees! You are hypocrites! You close
the door for people to enter the kingdom of heaven. You yourselves
don’t enter, and you stop others who are trying to enter.
14-15 “How terrible for you, teachers of the law and
Pharisees! You are hypocrites! You travel across land and sea to
find one person who will change to your ways. When you find that
person, you make him more fit for hell than you are.
16 “How terrible for you! You guide the people, but you
are blind. You say, ‘If people swear by the Temple when
they make a promise, that means nothing. But if they swear by
the gold that is in the Temple, they must keep that promise.’
17 You are blind fools! Which is greater: the gold or the Temple
that makes that gold holy? 18 And you say, ‘If people swear
by the altar when they make a promise, that means nothing. But
if they swear by the gift on the altar, they must keep that
promise.’ 19 You are blind! Which is greater: the gift or
the altar that makes the gift holy? 20 The person who swears by
the altar is really using the altar and also everything on the
altar. 21 And the person who swears by the Temple is really
using the Temple and also everything in the Temple. 22 The
person who swears by heaven is also using God’s throne and
the One who sits on that throne.
23 “How terrible for you, teachers of the law and
Pharisees! You are hypocrites! You give to God one-tenth of
everything you earn—even your mint, dill, and cumin. But
you don’t obey the really important teachings of the law—justice,
mercy, and being loyal. These are the things you should do, as
well as those other things. 24 You guide the people, but you are
blind! You are like a person who picks a fly out of a drink and
then swallows a camel!
25 “How terrible for you, teachers of the law and
Pharisees! You are hypocrites! You wash the outside of your cups
and dishes, but inside they are full of things you got by
cheating others and by pleasing only yourselves. 26 Pharisees,
you are blind! First make the inside of the cup clean, and then
the outside of the cup can be truly clean.
27 “How terrible for you, teachers of the law and
Pharisees! You are hypocrites! You are like tombs that are
painted white. Outside, those tombs look fine, but inside, they
are full of the bones of dead people and all kinds of unclean
things. 28 It is the same with you. People look at you and think
you are good, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and
evil.
29 “How terrible for you, teachers of the law and
Pharisees! You are hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets,
and you show honor to the graves of those who lived good lives.
30 You say, ‘If we had lived during the time of our
ancestors, we would not have helped them kill the prophets.’
31 But you give proof that you are children of those who
murdered the prophets. 32 And you will complete the sin that
your ancestors started.
(NCV) The New Century Version, (Dallas, Texas:
Word Publishing) 1987, 1988, 1991.
Used by permission.
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