Matthew 11:20-12:21
Matthew 11:20-12:21 (New Living Translation)
20 Then Jesus began to denounce the towns where he had done so many of his miracles, because they hadn’t repented of their sins and turned to God. 21 “What sorrow awaits you, Korazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have repented of their sins long ago, clothing themselves in burlap and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse. 22 I tell you, Tyre and Sidon will be better off on judgment day than you. 23 “And you people of Capernaum, will you be honored in heaven? No, you will go down to the place of the dead. For if the miracles I did for you had been done in wicked Sodom, it would still be here today. 24 I tell you, even Sodom will be better off on judgment day than you.”
Jesus’ Prayer of Thanksgiving
25 At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. 26 Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way! 27 “My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” 28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
Matthew 12
1 At about that time Jesus was walking through some grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, so they began breaking off some heads of grain and eating them. 2 But some Pharisees saw them do it and protested, “Look, your disciples are breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath.” 3 Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He went into the house of God, and he and his companions broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat. 5 And haven’t you read in the law of Moses that the priests on duty inthe Temple may work on the Sabbath? 6 I tell you, there is one here who is even greater than the Temple! 7 But you would not have condemned my innocent disciples if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ 8 For the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!”
Jesus Heals on the Sabbath
9 Then Jesus went over to their synagogue, 10 where he noticed a man with a deformed hand. The Pharisees asked Jesus, “Does the law permit a person to work by healing on the Sabbath?” (They were hoping he would say yes, so they could bring charges against him.) 11 And he answered, “If you had a sheep that fell into a well on the Sabbath, wouldn’t you work to pull it out? Of course you would. 12 And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored, just like the other one! 14 Then the Pharisees called a meeting to plot how to kill Jesus.
Jesus, God’s Chosen Servant
15 But Jesus knew what they were planning. So he left that area, and many people followed him. He healed all the sick among them, 16 but he warned them not to reveal who he was. 17 This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah concerning him: 18 “Look at my Servant, whom I have chosen. He is my Beloved, who pleases me. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. 19 He will not fight or shout or raise his voice in public. 20 He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. Finally he will cause justice to be victorious. 21 And his name will be the hope of all the world.”
Devotional (by Jennifer Bennett)
How different the world would’ve been if the Pharisees hadn’t hated Jesus. They were so greedy, selfish and power-hungry that it clouded their vision and their hearts as to who Jesus was. They couldn’t see passed their own noses to see what Jesus was offering them. If everyone had loved and accepted Jesus immediately then there would’ve been no reason for Him to die.
Try to picture yourself walking through a maze. As you start walking you can’t always see where you’re going or what’s around the next corner. You have to makethe correct turns or you could end up at a dead end or you could go in circles. You may have to back track or rest along the way. There are many twists and turns, and you end up not knowing which way you’re going. All through the maze there are clues to help you or people waiting to guide you. Sometimes you can walk with others to make the walk more enjoyable. No matter how many times you make a wrong turn you can always go back and try again. As you’re walking, people sometimes give you things to carry, so you have to walk slowly because it all gets so heavy. At other times people help you carry your load, so you can walk faster. You know the goal is to get to the center, but you have no idea how far you’ve gone or how close the center is.
I think life is like this maze. We have to make choices every day. We can’t always see where our choices are taking us. We may have to rest along the way. God has given us clues in the Bible to help us decide. We have our friends and families with us to make the walk more enjoyable. Sometimes we help carry their burdens and sometimes they take on ours. You never know where life is going to take you or when your walk will be over.
What we do know is that we’re never alone. Despite the heavy burdens many of us are carrying in these tough economic times, there is someone who can help us, someone who will never abandon or forget us. God will never give us more than we can carry. All we have to do is accept Jesus. He is the hope of the world.
Prayer
Dear God, Thank you for your guidance as we navigate life’s maze. Help us make the choices that will be pleasing to you. Grant us humility to know we don’t go through this life alone. Thank you for your strength and love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
20 Then Jesus began to denounce the towns where he had done so many of his miracles, because they hadn’t repented of their sins and turned to God. 21 “What sorrow awaits you, Korazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have repented of their sins long ago, clothing themselves in burlap and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse. 22 I tell you, Tyre and Sidon will be better off on judgment day than you. 23 “And you people of Capernaum, will you be honored in heaven? No, you will go down to the place of the dead. For if the miracles I did for you had been done in wicked Sodom, it would still be here today. 24 I tell you, even Sodom will be better off on judgment day than you.”
Jesus’ Prayer of Thanksgiving
25 At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. 26 Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way! 27 “My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” 28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
Matthew 12
1 At about that time Jesus was walking through some grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, so they began breaking off some heads of grain and eating them. 2 But some Pharisees saw them do it and protested, “Look, your disciples are breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath.” 3 Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He went into the house of God, and he and his companions broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat. 5 And haven’t you read in the law of Moses that the priests on duty inthe Temple may work on the Sabbath? 6 I tell you, there is one here who is even greater than the Temple! 7 But you would not have condemned my innocent disciples if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ 8 For the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!”
Jesus Heals on the Sabbath
9 Then Jesus went over to their synagogue, 10 where he noticed a man with a deformed hand. The Pharisees asked Jesus, “Does the law permit a person to work by healing on the Sabbath?” (They were hoping he would say yes, so they could bring charges against him.) 11 And he answered, “If you had a sheep that fell into a well on the Sabbath, wouldn’t you work to pull it out? Of course you would. 12 And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored, just like the other one! 14 Then the Pharisees called a meeting to plot how to kill Jesus.
Jesus, God’s Chosen Servant
15 But Jesus knew what they were planning. So he left that area, and many people followed him. He healed all the sick among them, 16 but he warned them not to reveal who he was. 17 This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah concerning him: 18 “Look at my Servant, whom I have chosen. He is my Beloved, who pleases me. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. 19 He will not fight or shout or raise his voice in public. 20 He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. Finally he will cause justice to be victorious. 21 And his name will be the hope of all the world.”
Devotional (by Jennifer Bennett)
How different the world would’ve been if the Pharisees hadn’t hated Jesus. They were so greedy, selfish and power-hungry that it clouded their vision and their hearts as to who Jesus was. They couldn’t see passed their own noses to see what Jesus was offering them. If everyone had loved and accepted Jesus immediately then there would’ve been no reason for Him to die.
Try to picture yourself walking through a maze. As you start walking you can’t always see where you’re going or what’s around the next corner. You have to makethe correct turns or you could end up at a dead end or you could go in circles. You may have to back track or rest along the way. There are many twists and turns, and you end up not knowing which way you’re going. All through the maze there are clues to help you or people waiting to guide you. Sometimes you can walk with others to make the walk more enjoyable. No matter how many times you make a wrong turn you can always go back and try again. As you’re walking, people sometimes give you things to carry, so you have to walk slowly because it all gets so heavy. At other times people help you carry your load, so you can walk faster. You know the goal is to get to the center, but you have no idea how far you’ve gone or how close the center is.
I think life is like this maze. We have to make choices every day. We can’t always see where our choices are taking us. We may have to rest along the way. God has given us clues in the Bible to help us decide. We have our friends and families with us to make the walk more enjoyable. Sometimes we help carry their burdens and sometimes they take on ours. You never know where life is going to take you or when your walk will be over.
What we do know is that we’re never alone. Despite the heavy burdens many of us are carrying in these tough economic times, there is someone who can help us, someone who will never abandon or forget us. God will never give us more than we can carry. All we have to do is accept Jesus. He is the hope of the world.
Prayer
Dear God, Thank you for your guidance as we navigate life’s maze. Help us make the choices that will be pleasing to you. Grant us humility to know we don’t go through this life alone. Thank you for your strength and love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
posted by Mikey | 11:18 AM
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