a 365 day trip through Matthew with a key thought, prayer, focus verse and contextual verses for each day
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[Jesus said] "You have heard that it was said to our people long ago, ‘Don’t break your promises, but keep the promises you make to the Lord.’But I tell you, never swear an oath. Don’t swear an oath using the name of heaven, because heaven is God’s throne.Don’t swear an oath using the name of the earth, because the earth belongs to God. Don’t swear an oath using the name of Jerusalem, because that is the city of the great King.Don’t even swear by your own head, because you cannot make one hair on your head become white or black.Say only yes if you mean yes, and no if you mean no. If you say more than yes or no, it is from the Evil One."(NCV)
Matt. 5:33-37
My brothers and sisters, above all, do not use an oath when you make a promise. Don’t use the name of heaven, earth, or anything else to prove what you say. When you mean yes, say only yes, and when you mean no, say only no so you will not be judged guilty.(NCV)
James 5:12
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. (NIV)
Psalms 19:14 |
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October 30
How Terrible! (3) - Matthew 23:16-22
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.’ You are blind fools! Which is greater: the gold or the Temple that makes that gold holy? 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.’ You are blind! Which is greater: the gift or the altar that makes the gift holy? The person who swears by the altar is really using the altar and also everything on the altar. And the person who swears by the Temple is really using the Temple and also everything in the Temple. The person who swears by heaven is also using God’s throne and the One who sits on that throne.
Full Text
Key Thought
Of course the bottom line for Jesus is that we shouldn't have to swear by anything, our yes, our word, should be enough. But to make matters worse, they went beyond swearing to a developed theology of what things you swear by are most important.
Jesus is angry because the simple truth has been complicated and comprised by petty distinctions in legal terminology. Jesus' anger should be felt by believers today. In an age of sound bites, spin, and hedging the truth through "legalese" we as Christians must be a people who simple speak the truth openly, honestly, and without compromise.
Today's Prayer
Almighty and true God, give me a pure heart free of deceit. Help my words be true and need to nuance or fine print to be proved accurate and reliable. As your word is true, I want the words of my mouth to be accurate and to please you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Today's Verses with Jesus
(key verses in bold)
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. Top
of Page
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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