Exploring the Scriptures Together
Luke 6:43-49 and Matthew 12:33-37; 7:21-29 It’s been a challenge to organize these readings and keep similar material from the Synoptics together, especially when it’s only three or four verses that overlap. The Sermon on the Mount creates the most difficulty, in terms of small common sections. So today we have three reading sections and …
Continue reading “February 11 / Luke 6:43-49; Matt. 12:33-37; Matt. 7:21-29”
Matthew 7:13-20 and Luke 6:37-42 Judge not, and you will not be judged… (Luke 6:37a) Many Christians today are seen as judgmental, simply because they see issues differently than society’s currently accepted norms. Same-sex marriage and unmarried couples living together are two items that come to mind so often in terms of our “judgment” of …
Continue reading “February 10 / Matt. 7:13-20; Luke 6:37-42”
Matthew 7:1-12 and Luke 11:5-13 Today’s reading schedule takes us through the first 12 verses in Matthew’s 7th chapter, but my comments in the second link below include Mt. 7:13-14, FYI, so you might want to read a couple more verses. Ask, seek, knock. Three levels of request, going from the lesser to the greater. …
Luke 12:22-34 Instead, seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you. (v. 22a) I kept thinking yesterday about our reading from Matthew and our “needs” – food, drink, clothing, shelter. In both yesterday’s and today’s readings Jesus is telling us, “…do not be anxious…”. That one word, “anxious” appeared six times in …
Matthew 6:16-34 We’re not to worry about food, drink, clothing? In today’s world? What about the hundreds of thousands of homeless people in our cities? (Jesus mentions “housing” elsewhere: Foxes have dens, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.) (Mt. 8:20) We have …
Matthew 6:1-15 and Luke 11:1-4 Two years ago I did a small contrast between Matthew’s and Luke’s “Our Father” prayer (see the second link below). One item that I didn’t mention – maybe that I didn’t notice – was that Matthew includes an additional “request” sentence that Luke completely leaves out: …Your will be done …
Luke 6:20-36 But woe to you who are rich, … But woe to you who are full now, … But woe to you who laugh now, … But woe to you when all people speak well of you… (vv. 24-26) I always cringe a bit when I read these verses; Carol and I are (relatively) …
Matthew 5:27-48 Today’s 22 verses were covered in three sections two years ago. Comments linked below for all three… Words for today: But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you… (v. 44) Not since the Civil War has our nation seen such a split in our citizenry. We …
Matthew 5:1-26 Today’s 26 verses were covered in three sections two years ago. Comments linked below for all three… We often refer to Jesus contrasting the “letter of the law” with the “spirit of the law”: You have heard that it was said…, but I say to you…” (vv. 21a, 22a). And we do it …
Matthew 12:15-21, Mark 3:7-19, and Luke 6:12-19 Alphaeus. As Jesus chose His apostles, …He appointed the twelve…, and James the son of Alphaeus… (Mark 3:16, 18a; Luke 6:13,15a). I thought I recognized that name. Sure enough, in Mark’s previous chapter: And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the …
Continue reading “February 2 / Matt. 12:15-21; Mark 3:7-19; Luke 6:12-19”