September 25 / Mark 12:38-44

Mark 12:38-44 Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty. “Notice what you notice.” The Widow’s Mite. Jesus is commending this widow, who put in only about one penny – but it was all that she had to live on. However, I don’t think he was condemning or chastising those who were giving more. He …

September 24 / Matt. 23:37-39

Matthew 23:37-39 Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty. “Notice what you notice.” Jesus’ lament over Jerusalem. Three items for today… First, Jerusalem was a special place for Jesus – likely, for all Jews! Presumably He had been coming here every year for three decades, since He was a young child. And it would …

September 23 / Matt. 23:25-36

Matthew 23:25-36 Let’s remember to pray for Jim and Marty. “Notice what you notice.” Jesus continues his chastisement of the scribes and Pharisees. A couple of things I noted… First, this verse always troubles me: So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. (v. 28) I …

September 22 / Matt. 23:13-24

Matthew 23:13-24 Let’s remember to pray for Jim and Marty. “Notice what you notice.” It’s hard for me to relate to a lot of what Jesus is talking about in these verses. Swearing by the temple or the gold in the temple, by the altar or the gift on the altar… For the most part, …

September 21 / Matt. 23:1-12

Matthew 23:1-12 Let’s remember to pray for Jim and Marty. “Notice what you notice.” Jesus says in verses two and three that the scribes and Pharisees have the proper authority to speak to the people, but that they do not act on what they preach. That is, He tells His followers to listen to their …

September 20 / Luke 20:41-44

Luke 20:41-44 Let’s remember to pray for Jim and Marty. “Notice what you notice.” Matthew and Mark place today’s reading right after the scribe questioning Jesus about the “great commandment”. Luke, however, places these verses after the Sadducees’ questioning Jesus about the resurrection of the dead. Even with different preceding verses, both Mark and Luke …

September 19 / Mark 12:28-37

Mark 12:28-37 Let’s remember to pray for Jim and Marty. “Notice what you notice.” We noted yesterday (and Mark has it today) that Jesus was quoting Psalm 110:1, “The Lord said to my Lord…” (v. 36). I went back in my Study Bible to look at the notes for Psalm 110. These notes said that …

September 18 / Matt. 22:34-46

Matthew 22:34-46 Let’s remember to pray for Jim and Marty. “Notice what you notice.” I have always had trouble understanding this quotation in verse 44: The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, until I put Your enemies under Your feet”. (I have added the caps for further clarification.) Here Jesus is …

September 17 / Luke 20:27-40

Luke 20:27-40 Let’s remember to pray for Jim and Marty. “Notice what you notice.” When all three Synoptic gospels report on the same event, it is often difficult to find something to say on days two or three. Thankfully, Luke tends to be the most different of the three writers, so it’s easier to find …

September 16 / Mark 12:18-27

Mark 12:18-27 Let’s remember to pray for Jim and Marty. “Notice what you notice.” And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the …