For a full description of the (Y3) reading plan, see the “About” page.
- What attributes of God’s character does this passage reveal?
- How does the passage point to Jesus?
- How should the truth of this passage change me?
- How do the events of today’s reading help you better understand the grand narrative of Scripture?
Matt. 5-6
God’s kingdom is contrary to what we see on earth. On earth, glory goes to the rich and powerful. People strive for position and use it to lord it over those without. The proud elevate themselves at the expense of others. And we don’t just operate this way at the tippy-top. We do it at every level. In God’s kingdom, however, the glory goes to the poor and the persecuted. Those who seek peace over position become heirs to the throne. And the humble inherit the earth; God simply gives them what others fought so hard to obtain. No wonder Jesus tells us to pray, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matt. 6:10).
Matt. 7
Matthew wrote that the crowds were amazed at Jesus’ teaching because He taught, “like one who had authority, and not like their scribes.” (Matt. 7:29b). What does that really mean? The Message translation says, “It was apparent that He was living everything He was saying”, which suggests He was speaking as one speaks from experience as opposed to simply speaking from knowledge. How do we know that someone is speaking from experience? I suppose there is more conviction and sincerity in their words. More than speaking from experience, though, I think the difference between Jesus’ teaching and that of the scribes would be the difference between learning from someone who actually wrote the material versus from someone teaching what somebody else wrote. Jesus knew and understood what He taught inside and out, and it showed.
Luke 6:20-49
A big part of my personality is of the “golden retriever” / people pleasing type. Thus, I enjoy helping people. More to the point, I enjoy being helpful to people. The difference for me there is that, while I don’t help for the accolades, I do prefer to know that my help was actually helpful and not wasted or taken for granted. After all, why waste my time, effort, and resources on somebody who doesn’t appreciate it? Well, newsflash, Jami – the “why” is because that’s what God does. “For He is gracious to the ungrateful and evil. Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.” (Lk:635=36). In what I do for and give to others, it is my attitude, not theirs, that matters.