A Work in Progress….

Matthew 28:10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

What strikes me in these words from the risen Jesus is the compassion. Verse 10 is His first risen utterance and verse 20 is His last in the book of Matthew. “Do not be afraid,” and “surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Not only are these words comforting to the followers of Jesus then, but they are words of comfort to us now.

Matthew 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

“Do not be afraid.” Jesus had been crucified, a painful, horrible death. Yet not even death could separate Him from His beloved. His first risen words are comfort to His people: “Do not be afraid.” Death will not separate Me from you. “I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28:19-20a “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you….”

Lord, There is so much in this life that causes us fear, worry, anxiety. Help us to take Your words to heart. Not even death can separate You from Your people. Help us to live confidently in light of this fact, in light of Your words: “Do not be afraid…. surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Amen.

Matthew 28:20b “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Have a blessed day.

Matthew 27:3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders.

A friend once posited the idea that maybe Judas betrayed Jesus to try to bring about Jesus’s reign faster, to force Him into action. Commentary dismisses that theory, but verse 3 makes me wonder. It’s like Judas is surprised that Jesus is condemned. Maybe Judas thought Jesus, as Messiah, would put a military plan into action. How many times have I acted because I thought I understood how something was going to play out?

Matthew 27:22-23 “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!” “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

The crowd here, falling over themselves a week ago to welcome Jesus, are again acting in mob mentality, yelling “Crucify Him!,” not caring that Jesus is guilty of no crime. And Pilate, who has the authority to stop the madness, literally washes his hands of the situation, after pronouncing Jesus innocent. Father, Forgive us.

Matthew 27:24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”

Precious Savior, I see my guilt reflected in these three scenarios. Like Judas, I am guilty of trying to force You to act on my timetable instead of Your own. Like the crowd, I am guilty of getting caught up in the emotions of this world and of going along with what everyone else is doing. Like Pilate, I am guilty of being able to act on behalf of the innocent yet washing my hands and walking away. Forgive me, Father. Forgive me. Amen.

Matthew 27:50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

Have a blessed day.

Matthew 26:13 Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

There is much in this chapter about remembrance: the woman is remembered for her lavish anointing of Christ. Judas is remembered for his savage betrayal. Jesus urges us to remember His sacrifice during the Eucharist celebration. Peter is remembered for his cowardice but also for his repentance and how Jesus uses him to build the church.

Matthew 26:14-15 Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver.

It is more important for our walk of faith to remember than to be remembered, but it is also true that we will all be remembered in some way. And we have a choice about our actions in life, which influences how we are remembered.

Matthew 26:26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”

Lord, I would prefer to be remembered as the woman who lavishly anoints You daily in my life. I fear that I am more like Peter, who swears to never forsake You yet turns his back repeatedly. Thank You that his betrayal is not the end of his story. Forgive me when I get distracted by the world and turn my back on You. When this happens, help me to return and repent so that You can use me to build Your church, to comfort Your people, to praise Your name. Amen.

Matthew 26:35 But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.

Have a blessed day.

Matthew 25:13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”

Commentary makes a big deal about the wording “faithful” in verses 21 and 23–not successful, not brilliant, but faithful. What God is looking for in us is that we have been faithful stewards of what He has given us, that we have used our talents (literal and physical) to comfort His people and bring Him glory.

Matthew 25:21 “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!’

However, it’s also important to remember that we can’t work our way into heaven. Salvation is a gift, pure and simple. We don’t deserve it. We can’t earn it. But that gift changes us, reshapes our hearts, and that change will be evident in our actions.

Matthew 25:23 “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!’

Lord, Thank You for the reminder that Your salvation is a gift that changes us from the inside out. Help us to be faithful with what You have entrusted us with, helping Your people, bringing You glory. Allow us to hear You say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” when we finally meet face-to-face. Amen.

Matthew 25:30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Have a blessed day.

Matthew 24:3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

Reading commentary along with each day’s chapter can be incredibly illuminating. It provides cultural background and context of which I am often unaware. But it can also be frustrating in that there is always an answer. When that answer fits with the belief of the commentator, it is reinforced. When it doesn’t, it is debunked. Neat and easy.

Matthew 24:36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

But life isn’t neat and easy, and I don’t think faith is either. I think Jesus’s point here is just that—you don’t know when I am coming, so always be prepared. I think what He is saying has a lot to do with how He wants us to live—always loving, always striving, always anticipating.

Matthew 24:42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.

Lord, Thank You for sitting with me each morning as I read Your word. Thank You for speaking to my heart. Help me to live every moment of every day in such a way that whenever You return, You will be able to say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Draw me closer. Amen.

Matthew 24:44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Have a blessed day.

Matthew 23:5 “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long…”

This morning, during my three trips up and down the driveway to get all the garbage to the road, I noticed just how terrible the yard right in front of our house looks. By the last trip down I was ready to lay into my husband about the mess. After all, what must our neighbors think of us?

Matthew 23:23 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness.…”

And God gently reminded me with today’s scripture that like so many things, it’s not what’s on the outside, it’s not appearances that matter. It’s what’s at the heart. And the heart of this home, even with all its clutter and junk, even with all the vines and detritus, the heart of this home is love—love of God, love for each other.

Matthew 23:25 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

Lord, Thank You for the perspective of this morning. Thank You for the reminder that outward appearances are not what is truly important, that this house, this life, this marriage are rooted in You, first and foremost. Help me never to forget what is important: loving You and loving others. Amen.

Matthew 23:28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

Have a blessed day.

Matthew 22:15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words.

The Pharisees and Sadducees have no interest in listening to Jesus, in learning more about Jesus. They want to trick Him, trap Him, expose Him as a fraud. Clearly, that isn’t going to work, but in this chapter, we see a really focused effort on the part of both groups.

Matthew 22:23 That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question.

Commentary says that verse 46 shows the shift in tactics on the part of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Trying to trick Him failed repeatedly. “Now His enemies would use treachery and violence instead.” We know how this will end.

Matthew 22:34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together.

Lord, My heart hurts as I read these words because I know what’s coming. I also know that this spirit of distrust and trickery, this spirit of using violence to claim victory, is still employed today. Help us to love You first and foremost and to love each other as ourselves. Help us to listen to each other. Draw us closer. Amen.

Matthew 22:46 No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Have a blessed day.