Bible Reading Reflection from Matthew 22-28

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (LRAU) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible] 

𝕄𝔸𝕋𝕋ℍ𝔼𝕎 𝟚𝟚:𝟙𝟙-𝟚𝟚

"But when the king came in to look over the dinner guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed in wedding clothes, and he said to him, ‘𝔽𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕟𝕕, 𝕙𝕠𝕨 𝕕𝕚𝕕 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕖 𝕚𝕟 𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕥 𝕨𝕖𝕕𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕔𝕝𝕠𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕤?’ 𝔸𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕞𝕒𝕟 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕤𝕡𝕖𝕖𝕔𝕙𝕝𝕖𝕤𝕤."

There's no easy way to heaven. It's a life of obedience.

The king invited everyone, including the beggars. One of the most improperly dressed people on earth are beggars. Yet the king had no objections against these beggars. His objection was against only one man. And He dealt with him harshly, but justly, that this man himself had nothing to protest about.

On the day of judgment, no one will even think of an excuse. And now, here on earth, we even dare to challenge God! Pity, O Man!

 

𝕄𝔸𝕋𝕋ℍ𝔼𝕎 𝟚𝟛:𝟚𝟜

"You blind guides, who strain out a gnat but swallow a camel!"

One of the most amusing verses in the entire Bible. It was against the religious elites of the Jews. Jesus was harsh on them because they were supposed to be the godliest people because of their position and status.

Jesus was compassionate to the poor. He was merciful to the woman caught in adultery. He was gentle to the Samaritan woman. He was rebuking the noble Nicodemus.

He dealt differently with different people. Indeed, to whom much is given, much will be required of him. However, in all instances, no matter who or when, He always confronted their sins!

 

𝕄𝔸𝕋𝕋ℍ𝔼𝕎 𝟚𝟜                                                   

(particularly)

v36. "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone."

Satan doesn't know. We don't know. But there's a difference:

Satan works hard, never gives up, never takes a holiday, the busiest being on earth, to destroy us.

However, we, on the other hand, are like that servant of the parable; we aren't anticipating His return. We haven't even considered how we ought to live in the last days!

 

𝕄𝔸𝕋𝕋ℍ𝔼𝕎 𝟚𝟝:𝟠-𝟡

“And the foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’  But the prudent answered, saying, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’"

Sometimes don't you wish, reading this parable and thinking to your heart, the prudent ones lend some of their oils and they all go out to meet the groom! That will be a better story, a kind of fairy story "and all lived happily ever after," what do you think?

It sounds better than Christ's story. My proposed modification looks more cool, more loving, and more beautiful. I may go on to say that instead of Christ, I should have been the scriptwriter and the director.

Well, that's what we are saying when we don't want to submit to God's will in any aspect of our lives. We want to be in charge. We want to be the god of our life, destiny, and plan.

 

𝕄𝔸𝕋𝕋ℍ𝔼𝕎 𝟚𝟞:𝟙𝟙

“For you always have the poor with you; but you do not always have Me."

Hmmm! The longest chapter of Matthew, and the 2nd longest in the entire New Testament! So, obviously, many great verses that stand out to me, but this verse is more.

Christian organizations, indeed have a lot of poor people, orphanages, mission schools, etc., yet they don't have Christ. No matter how loving you are to the point of sacrificing your life, if you don't have Christ, you are doomed. On the other hand, no matter how wretched you are, if you have Christ, you are a child of God.

BTW, even those who are the most loving people, most helpful people are as filthy as rags in front of God. So, though James and other biblical texts tell us to love our neighbors and visit the orphans and widows, they are unprofitable compared to devotion to God.

Let's be devoted, disciplined, and find the favor of God. We also remember Jesus, commending Mary over Martha.

 

𝕄𝔸𝕋𝕋ℍ𝔼𝕎 𝟚𝟟:𝟙𝟠

"For he knew that because of envy they had delivered Him over."

Envy. Let that sink in.

Psalmist Asaph was envious of the prosperity of the wicked, and he nearly slipped (Psalm 73). The Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes were envious of Jesus and let Him be crucified.

 

𝕄𝔸𝕋𝕋ℍ𝔼𝕎 𝟚𝟠:𝟙𝟚-𝟙𝟝

"And when they had assembled with the elders and took counsel together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, and said, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’ And if this is heard before the governor, we will win him over and keep you out of trouble.” And they took the money and did as they had been instructed, and this story was widely spread among the Jews, and is to this day."

Money has always been powerful. It is so powerful that it takes money to betray Christ. It takes money to deny Christ's Resurrection.

Remember? It took money to trap Christ also, regarding paying taxes.

Will our money condemn us too!

Will our money betray our faith in Christ too!

Money! Money! Money!