March 17 / Matthew 26:57-75

Matthew 26:57-75

Dear RTB’ers,

Today’s first verse, Then those who had seized Jesus led Him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. (v. 57) The scribes and elders had gathered already, very likely through the night and early into the morning, yet they had not been part of the rabble crowd that had arrested Jesus: While He was still speaking, Judas came, … and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. (v. 47, yesterday) A big difference, “from” the chief priests and elders, not “with” the rabble crowd. Cowards!

Caiaphas’ question to Jesus was specific, I adjure You by the living God, tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God. (v. 63b) My Study Bible noted that the form of Caiaphas’ question was such that Jesus was legally bound to answer. And He did, and was summarily accused of blasphemy.

Peter’s denial. And Peter remembered the statement that Jesus had made: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly. (v. 75) Matthew’s account falls a bit short of Luke’s statement of Peter’s departure, And immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. And then the Lord turned and looked at Peter. (Luke 22:60b-61a) Peter remembering Jesus’ statement (Matthew) is different than Jesus turning and looking at Peter (Luke). When I visualize that scene, Jesus turning to look at Peter, I fully feel Peter’s remorse, for him to have felt Jesus’ eyes on him as he had denied Him. What a sad moment. And he went out and wept bitterly.

Blessings.

See also:

March 16 / Matthew 26:30-56

Matthew 26:30-56

Dear RTB’ers,

Peter said to Him, “Even if I must die with You, I will not deny You!” And all the disciples said the same. (v. 35) I have to put myself on the same page as Peter and “all the disciples”. In my mind, I imagine that I would never deny Jesus. Or, in other words, I ask what would it take for me to deny Jesus? I remember a philosophy class from my undergraduate years where we were reading Soren Kierkegaard’s essay on Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac. Our professor asked us to write an essay, “What would it take for you to deny Jesus?” I can remember writing even back then, some fifty years ago, that I would never deny Jesus. But I do have to ask myself again and again, what would it take? Peter and all the disciples were firm – and they all fled. [But, truth be told, in the end we are told that they all, excepting John, suffered martyr’s deaths.]

Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane is super important for all of us in our daily lives. So often we pray Jesus’ words, …not as I will, but as You will. (v. 39b) We repeat, along with Jesus, …Your will be done. (v. 42b) And I know that we mean it, that we want what He wants, and that whatever has happened in our lives is His will being carried out. But as we pray for our future, our plans, our families and friends, we have dreams and desires and we regularly pray, “Not my will, but Your will be done.” And we mean it. Don’t we? Really…?? Yes / No? Your thoughts…??

Blessings.

One more thing… I must confess, all along this morning my mind has been wandering to the Kudzu comic strip preacher, Pastor Will B. Dunn.

See also:

March 15 / Matthew 26:17-29

Matthew 26:17-29

Dear RTB’ers,

Today, the Last Supper and Jesus’ institution of the Eucharist, which we remember and celebrate every Sunday.

“Take, eat; this is My body.” (v. 26)

“Drink of it, all of you, for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (vv. 27-28)

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when He was betrayed took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, “This is My body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me. In the same way also He took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. (I Corinthians 11:23-26)

Blessings.

See also:

March 14 / Matthew 26:1-16

Matthew 26:1-16

Dear RTB’ers,

Today we begin Passion Week: Then the chief priests and the elders of the people … plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill Him. Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and … from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray Him. (vv. 3-4,14,16)

A solemn week ahead… How timely to be reading it during Lent.

Blessings.

See also: November 12 (2023) / John 12:20-50; Matthew 26:1-16; Mark 14:1-11; Luke 22:1-6.

March 13 / Matthew 25:14-46

Matthew 25:14-46

Dear RTB’ers,

Talents and the Final Judgment. A major contrast in these two accounts that Jesus related is that in the parable of the Talents each person (each of us?) is given some measure of “talents” to use here on earth. In the latter account, the Final Judgment, Jesus says nothing about what people have been given. In fact, it could be that these people being judged have nothing except food, water, shelter, and the clothes on their back.

But there is one item that is common in both accounts – time! Each of us has been given time, 24 hours a day to do with as we choose. Forget the measure of talents – some have been given much and some very little. That’s the way it is, and each is asked to do with what he or she has. But we have each been given the exact same amount of time – 1440 minutes a day, no wealth measure here! I’ve already used more than a third of my daily allotment; what to do with the rest? Maybe, again, a good Lenten question…??

Blessings.

See also:

March 12 / Matthew 24:32-25:13

Matthew 24:32-25:13

Dear RTB’ers,

OK, Jesus leaves me confused with the following words: Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. (vv. 24:34-36) First, this generation… Did Jesus literally mean the apostles’ lifetimes? Or does this generation mean all humanity on Earth, “end times” sorts of stuff? And what does He mean by all these things? Everything that He foresaw about the fall of Jerusalem…? Or His predictions about the end times? And that day and hour… Sometime still to come? Confusing!

With it all, Jesus’ bottom line: Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. (v. 24:44) It’s how I ended yesterday’s post, “Are you ready for this?” …and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. (v. 25:10b)

Blessings.

See also:

March 11 / Matthew 24:1-31

Matthew 24:1-31

Dear RTB’ers,

Matthew 24 is a confusing chapter. Is Jesus talking about the fall of Jerusalem (which occurred in 70 AD), or is He speaking about the end times and His return, or is He speaking in general terms? Our STS companion book suggests that verses 4-14 are general principles; verses 15-28 are the siege and destruction of Jerusalem; verses 29-31 are the days of Christ’s coming; and verses 32-51 are preparation for both events. My Study Bible suggests a different split on the fall of Jerusalem and Jesus’ return, that verses 15-22 are the destruction of Jerusalem and verses 23-31 are Jesus’ return. Even 2000 years later, scholars differ on these interpretations!

Many verses worth noting today! Here are a few. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. (v. 7) Has that not already happened? And wars are still going on around the world even today! Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. (v. 9) We read about this in Acts and again, still ongoing today. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (v. 14) Here Jesus offers us a serious motivation for evangelism and missionary activity today!

Then we have Jesus’ narrative on the fall of Jerusalem, For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. (vv. 21-22) Yes, those days must have been cut short. With the Romans overwhelming them, the Jews dispersed throughout the world and are still a people and a nation today.

Finally, Jesus’ own return, For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (vv. 27, 30) Are you ready for this?

Blessings.

See also:

March 10 / Matthew 23:23-39

Matthew 23:23-39

Dear RTB’ers,

Four woes today, and for two of them Jesus focuses on the filth of the inside (of the cup and the tomb) compared to the cleanliness of the outside. And yes, He means to draw our attention to our own internals, especially (no doubt) our heart attitudes.

Jesus closes out His woes with prophetic words: Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town… (v. 34) Sadly, we see Jesus’ words played out in the book of Acts, beginning with Stephen’s stoning in Acts 7 and continuing with James and Peter and Paul and Barnabas and Silas and countless others unnamed, but all sacrificial in their service to Jesus and His name. Most of us are not asked to make these sorts of sacrifices, but we can go back to Jesus’ earlier words in today’s reading, sacrificing ourselves for …the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. (v. 23b) Let’s think on those today. Justice. Mercy. Faithfulness. What might God be asking of us, over and above what we do every day? Maybe that’s a good Lenten question…?

Blessings.

See also:

March 9 / Matthew 23:1-22

Matthew 23:1-22

Dear RTB’ers,

Two simple sentences, both fundamentals of Jesus’ teachings: But the greatest of you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted. (vv. 1-2) Humble leadership. We don’t see that much. Our political leaders tend in the opposite direction! Strength! Visibility! Money! Not humble leadership. And our religious leaders… I won’t go there, but we have seen way too many sad stories of religious leaders’ failings. Frankly, I see humble leadership being played out best in the elementary school classroom. These teachers are putting themselves our there for the children, earning all too little monetary reward and all too little recognition for what they do. But they are the best example that I can think of for humble leadership.

Seven woes. Or eight? Both my ESV and NASB translations point to an eighth woe “included” as verse 14: Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive the greater condemnation. Although verse 14 is probably absent in all your Bibles (or bracketed/set off with a sidebar explanation), to me that verse 14 “woe” speaks the harshest woe of the three others that we read today. Jesus seemed to have a special place in His heart for widows and orphans, and for Jewish leaders to be taking advantage of these fragile widows, He justifiably points to greater condemnation.

So, what sticks out for me today? Personally, Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. (v. 10) I need to be careful not to think too highly of myself, not to take myself or my position too seriously. It’s the Holy Spirit who guides me; I need to be thankful and grateful for that.

And for the rest of you? Any woes or hypocrisies you’d like to divulge? Lent is a good time to get that burden off your heart!!

Blessings.

See also:

March 8 / Matthew 22:15-46

Matthew 22:15-46

Dear RTB’ers,

I asked a simple question yesterday and asked for simple answers from you. John even nudged you to respond. No one answered. Another disappointment. Trust me, there is never a “Why do I bother?” question in me. I know why I bother. But I do wonder where the rest of you are. Why do you bother? Yeah, I’m disappointed. But I have a commitment to finish out this Part 3 of our three-year program. I doubt I’ll be back next year.

So today, again we see the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and even the Herodians trying to trap Jesus. But after four encounters, Jesus again wins the day: And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask Him any more questions. (v. 46) So yes, in Matthew’s gospel there are no more challenges put to Jesus. What we will see, instead is Jesus teaching to the crowds and His disciples in the next three chapters, then Holy Week and Jesus’ Resurrection beginning in chapter 26. That’s where we’ll spend the next two weeks.

Blessings.

See also: May 12 (2021) / Matt. 22:23-46.