A Lenten Reading of Matthew - Day Eleven

Scripture Reading: Matthew 7:13-29 (NRSVUE)

As we finish the Sermon on the Mount, I harken back for the words of Jesus when he tells us not to worry!  I recognize that on some days, my fruit tastes better than others.  The nervousness comes when we wonder, "What if I get judged when I'm having a bad day?"

Will I be the one crying out, "Lord, Lord!" only to have Jesus tell me, "I never knew you!"

So, we have to remember how this sermon starts - with the extolling of mercy and peacemaking.  It begins with righteousness or having higher regard for the outsider. 

May our life in Christ give us confidence
no matter what comes!

Jesus seems to be saying that if we don't develop these things for our lives, we may be washed away when the storms come.  Notice that he indicates that just because someone is faithful, doesn't mean the storm won't come for them as well.  It just means that they will be better prepared for it.

It could be that if I have made a practice of extending mercy to others, I might be better equipped to receive it when I need it.  And it may be that I need it when I'm having a bad fruit day!

The theology of Jesus in this sermon is a practical one.  It is not esoteric or abstract.  He lays out the life and expects his disciples to follow.  As we continue in the season of Lent, we seek to walk with Jesus.  These teachings may remind us that Jesus is seeking to walk with us.  When we can put them into practice or at least practice putting them into practice, we may find a greater depth to this practical theology.

As you think over these three chapters, which fruit will you commit to exhibiting today?  Jesus is telling us, "Be a doer, not just a hearer (or reader)."

Prayer for the day:

Inspire our actions, Lord, and accompany them with your help, so that our every word and action may always begin and end in you.  Amen.

Prayer from Roman Catholic tradition within the Liturgy of the Hours

Photo from Tom Clifton via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons license.

A Lenten Reading of Matthew - Day Ten

Scripture Reading: Matthew 7:1-12 (NRSVUE)

This portion of the sermon is very popular for people seeking to justify or excuse their behavior.  "Doesn't the Bible tell you not to judge?"

These verses can be difficult to understand.  Right after we hear the admonition not to judge, we hear Jesus tell us not to give what is holy to the dogs and not to throw our pearls before swine.

That sounds like we would need to judge people (and not in a flattering way) to determine if they are dogs or pigs!

We also have judgments later in Matthew for people depending on what kind of fruit they bear.

Ever feel that this is your life?

It may be that we need to be careful how we judge people.  We must do so in a humble way (blessed are the meek) that views people out of the lens of our own misdeeds.  Most people know the difference between judging and being judgmental.

It may be that when Jesus refers to the dogs and swine, he is referring to the hypercritical.  If you offer wisdom to the hypercritical, they may tear holes in it due to shallow reasons rather than engaging with it.

When we follow this with asking God for things, it may be that we need to ask for a little humility or some patience or mercy as we deal with other people.  We must put the request in context of the whole sermon.  It isn't the First Bank of God that we are holding up, rather as we are in tune with God, the Holy Spirit strengthens us in the ways we need.  We may think of praying the Beatitudes here.

And then, we come upon the Golden Rule in verse twelve.  This reiterates our rationale when seeking to offer judgment upon others.  How would we want someone to deal with us?  Crashing in like a wild bull or offering a little finesse?  

And so, as we reflect spiritually on this passage, we may ask ourselves, "Who is it that I have judged harshly in the last week?"  Have I been a dog or a swine to someone else?  

I find that harsh judgment doesn't often change the behavior as much as it builds up walls and sometimes even reinforces the behavior we dislike!  How might we reengage with the people we have in mind with a recommitment to today's passage?

Prayer for the day:

Bestow on me, O Lord, a genial spirit and unwearied forbearance; a mild, loving, patient heart; kindly looks, pleasant, cordial speech and manners in the exchanges of daily life; that I may give offence to none, but as much as resides within me, live in charity with all.  Amen.

Prayer by Johann Arndt, German Lutheran theologian, 17th century

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A Lenten Reading of Matthew - Day Nine

Scripture Reading: Matthew 6:19-34 (NRSVUE)

As we move into money and worry in the Sermon on the Mount, it is important to remember that anxiety is on the rise in the United States.  Personal finances seem to be leading the list for Americans.  

When Jesus tells us not to store up treasures, does he look with a critical eye at our pension accounts?

I don't think that Jesus is against planning for our futures. But I do think he wants us to help our neighbors and so our planning should include charitable giving.  And when we do plan, Jesus seems to be counseling against high anxiety around our accounts.

Worry has always been a problem for human beings.  Parents worry about their ability to provide.  They worry about their children - even when the children become adults.  Parents worry about their parents as they age.  There is plenty to stress about.

In today's society, we have headlines designed to instill worry so that you'll click on the news link.  If
you scroll past several articles - all written to target your fear, nervousness or outrage - how do you think your anxiety level rises or lowers after reading through these headlines?

I do think it is important to be well-informed.  But I also acknowledge that the way we consume news has changed.  Because news is largely a for-profit enterprise, we have all kinds of news sources from the far left to the far right and everything in between vying for our attention (and advertising dollars which is tied to eyeballs or how many clicks a source may receive).  As you read headlines today, I would invite you to look at the tone and ask, "Is this prompting me to feel a certain way?"

What if as a Lenten discipline for today - to combat worry, you pledged to read a positive story for every negative one you consumed?  I'll even let you count this one as positive.  Just don't scroll through the headlines to find the good news!

Prayer for the day:

The right hand of the Lord preserve me always to old age!  The grace of Christ perpetually defend me from the enemy!  Direct, Lord, my heart into the way of peace.  Lord God, hasten to deliver me, make haste to help me, O Lord.  Amen.

Prayer by Æthelwold, Bishop of Winchester, 10th Century

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A Lenten Reading of Matthew - Day Eight

Scripture Reading: Matthew 6:1-18 (NRSVUE)

Alms, prayers and fasting were three spiritual disciplines common to religious practitioners in first century Judea.  Note that Jesus begins with a warning about our righteousness and then goes on to speak of giving alms (money to those in need).  We see righteousness defined again as how we care for those who may need help with some of the basic needs in life.

Giving charity in private not only takes away the puffing up of those doing the giving, but it also has the added benefit of providing dignity to the ones receiving it.

One in that day might argue that the trumpet is sounded so that all may come and receive.  But it also alerts everyone to your good deeds!  Instead of the ice cream man driving around in a tinkling truck, you've got the alms-giving man who is only out to help (as long as you see me do it)!

The prohibition on public prayer is not looking at corporate prayer in worship but rather more private devotional prayers.  The Lord's Prayer given as a format for Jesus' disciples begins with adoration before moving on to supplication.

Notice that the emphasis on daily bread harkens back to when God's people were wandering in the desert and fed by manna.  They were not to gather more than their needs for the day, trusting that God would supply them manna again tomorrow.  We'll see this emphasis on trust again later in the sermon.

We also see the emphasis on forgiveness being something we receive to the measure we give it.  Forgiveness becomes much more than vertical (me and you, God!) as it expands to the horizontal (me and you, neighbor!). 

The discipline of fasting is not to bloat a spiritual resumé for the community.

As we go through the Lenten season, this reading explores our motivation for pursuing spiritual disciplines.  It may be helpful for us to examine how much of our behavior is determined by a high moral or ethical standard and how much is influenced by how we will be perceived by our peers.  Of course, this is impossible to measure but maybe rich to consider.

It is good to recognize at least that most people want to be liked and well-thought-of!  But at the end of the day, according to Jesus, the driver for our action should be oriented more toward God than what we might get out of it.

Prayer for the day:

God, of your goodness, give me yourself,
for you are sufficient for me.
I may not ask for anything less
than what befits my full worship of you.
If I were to ask anything less, I should always be in want,
for in you alone do I have all.
Amen.

Prayer by Julian of Norwich, 14th century

Photo by Wes Peck via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons license.

A Lenten Reading of Matthew - Day Seven

Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:21-48 (NRSVUE)

This may be a true statement. How is Jesus
asking us to go beyond it?

As we continue with Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, we find that today's teaching seems to be about taking our relationships seriously.  In today's society, with increased polarization, the ending or cutting off of relationships seems to be trending.  

According to Bowen's Family Systems Theory, this is not a healthy response to relationship.  In the first century, people didn't have the mobility that we experience today.  So, maintaining healthy relationships was important for everyone involved because of proximity.

Jesus mentions reconciliation and states that we should be careful when angry with someone that we don't call them derogatory names.  I'm reflecting on how often "fool" or other derivatives enter my mind during the day.  My guess is that we could all do better here.

Prohibitions on adultery and divorce are also relational.  Of course, these came out of a patriarchal system where a man could divorce a woman, but the reverse was not a possibility.  The disallowance of divorce was a leveling of power between gender - it didn't make them equal, but it was a movement.

Jesus seems to ask for us to have integrity in our relationships (imagine that!) where we can be taken at our word.  He doesn't want us to bring God into the mix for our convincing arguments.  Jesus sees this as a misuse of God's name which is prohibited in the Ten!

Retaliation makes the whole world blind and toothless. Jesus recognizes that when there are power differentials such as between a Roman soldier and a Jewish citizen, one might get on top of the abuse by asserting one's freedom of choice to go beyond what was being asked.  Take the power back!

Finally, we are asked to love our enemies.  Jesus is not talking about love as a feeling as much as love as an action.  If we believe God loves them, can we remember that as we interact with them?  

As we reflect on the Beatitudes at the beginning of the sermon, adopting humility, mercy and peacemaking can move us a long way toward accomplishing all that Jesus lines out for us here.

In reviewing the different pieces of today's reading, which causes you the most heartburn?  Why do you think that is?  If someone were to be able to accomplish all that Jesus lines out here, that person would be strong indeed.  This person would have a sense of self - identity - that others could not take away with their words or actions.  They would practice healthy boundaries.  They would seek to make the world a better place just by being in it.  I pray for this strength for you today.

Prayer for the day:

You have called us, O God, to be your people.  You have loved us and chosen us for your own.  Clothe us with your compassion, your kindness, your humility, your gentleness and your patience.  Help us forgive one another as you have forgiven us.  And bind us all together in perfect unity of your love. Amen.

Prayer adapted from Colossians 3:12-14 (Good News Bible)

Photo by PINKE via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons license.

 

A Lenten Reading of Matthew - Day Six

Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:1-20 (NRSVUE)

This is the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount which goes through chapter seven.  Matthew provides this material of Jesus' teaching that isn't found in Mark (which Matthew is patterned after).  Luke has similar (but shorter) material in the Sermon on the Plain contained in 6:17-49. 

As we begin with the Beatitudes, we begin to see a teaching that varies from the common wisdom of the day.  

Common wisdom believed that God rewarded the faithful within this lifetime through easily identifiable blessings such as long-life, general good health, many children, and plenty of food and resources.  Accidents didn't just occur but were rather judgments on a person for something bad they had done.  

The Hebrew Bible has many verses from Proverbs and other places that seem to favor this view.  But it also contains other wisdom literature such as Ecclesiastes or Job as well as many of the prophets that challenge the simplicity of this theology.  Jesus seems to be shaped more by the latter than the former.

As Christians, we are called to a more complex faith.  We are called to humility and compassion through the Beatitudes.  And we understand that through the lens of Christ, we find the scriptures fulfilled.  

Which one is blessed?

We see the term righteousness used three times within today's reading.  As we remember from chapter one, the idea of being righteous would have referred to being a parent or advocate for the outsider or person in need.  To be righteous means that one doesn't observe a poor person and declare, "You must have done something awful to deserve this!  Who am I to go against God's judgment by helping you?"

This isn't meek, merciful or pure in heart.  

Rather, a righteous person would seek to help.  Evidently, Jesus observed scribes and Pharisees with the more simplistic theology because he says that our righteousness must exceed theirs.

To be blessed, we must hunger and thirst for things to be set right for all people.  We must be willing to endure persecution for it.  

Where do we see these values being exemplified today?  If they seem in short supply, how might we be called to live them out as an example of good news for the world?  Today, I would invite you to pick one of the Beatitudes and periodically pray on it that you might understand it for your life and reflect it in your actions.

Prayer for the day:

Vulnerable God,
you challenge the powers that rule this world
though the needy, the compassionate,
and those who are filled with longing.
Make us hunger and thirst to see right prevail,
and single-minded in seeking peace;
that we may see your face
and be satisfied in you,
through Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Prayer by Janet Morley, England, 20th Century

Photo by Thomas Ricker via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons license.

A Lenten Reading of Matthew - Day Five

Scripture Reading: Matthew 4:1-25 (NRSVUE)

We each face our own temptations

Following his baptism by John, Jesus prepares himself for his public ministry.  He begins by withdrawing into the wilderness - maybe wondering whether to pattern himself after John's own ministry.

The Baptizer's witness originated out of the wilderness and people came to him at the Jordan River.  John seemed to break his own fast by eating locusts and wild honey - maybe whatever he could find.  This may remind us of God feeding Elijah by ravens in the wilderness.  

Jesus is tempted and these may have been considerations for what kind of leader he would be.

Would his main thrust be feeding multitudes by miraculous means?

Would he put his Jewish faith behind him and start something completely new?

Would he conquer kingdoms and be an earthly emperor similar to Caesar?

Jesus rejects each of these.  

He also rejects John's model of calling people to him out in the desert.  Jesus moves to where the people are.  He goes to the disciples that he calls which would have been a reversal - a rabbi would attract followers and decide whether to accept them or not.

Jesus goes throughout Galilee - wherever he finds the masses.  He teaches and heals.  He makes this ministry his own and begins to redefine what a Messiah will look like.  He exemplifies the name Emmanuel or God with us.

As we move through Lent, what are the pieces of your religious or spiritual history that you have kept as bedrocks to your faith today?  Which parts may have been important to your journey but are no longer vital to your beliefs now?  If you had to think about your spiritual mission in life, what would be the main thrust of what you feel God is calling you to do?

Prayer for the day:

Enlighten our understandings with knowledge of right, and govern our wills by your laws, that no deceit may mislead us, no temptation corrupt us; that we may always endeavor to do good and hinder evil.  Amidst all the hopes and fears of this world, take not your Holy Spirit from us; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Prayer by Samuel Johnson, England, 18th century

Photo by Geoffrey Gilmour-Taylor via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons license.

A Lenten Reading of Matthew - Day Four

Scripture Reading: Matthew 3:1-17 (NRSVUE) 

"Bear fruit worthy of repentance" could be a theme for the Lenten season.  John's reproach of the outwardly religious people of his day (Pharisees from their daily discipline and Sadducees from a more intellectual or philosophical bent) is one that stands the test of time.  

If we profess worship of God, does this move us to be nicer people?

If we pray regularly, does the practice lead us to reconciliation with our neighbors?

If we read the Bible daily, are we more forgiving?

John also takes a swipe at the assumption of being in God's favor via genetics when he reprimands people for claiming to be insiders because of their ancestry.  

We've struggled with matters of tribe, race and exclusion since the before written history.  Tribe and race have often been coalescing factors of preference and preferred treatment.

But an applicable statement can be found from Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech when he said, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

When we examine the fruit of everyday people - the product of their actions - we can find virtuous behavior in every color or culture.  But unfortunately, we also know that jerks come in every hue as well.  Sometimes the same person can be both saint and sinner in the same day!  Sometimes that's me.

As we are baptized in the body of Christ, let us remember that we have become siblings with virtually every color and culture on the planet.  We may not agree with each one.  We may not vote the same way.  We wouldn't put the same food on the menu when we it's our choice.  We might raise our children differently.  

But we each love as best we can.

We likely share some of the same fears and anxieties.  

Maybe the fruit that we can exemplify during Lent can be a recognition of similarities we have with others.  What if we looked for commonality with the tenacity of a detective?

As inheritors of the mantle Christian, we might find that God would be well-pleased with us as well.

Prayer for the day:

God, lead me from death to life,
from falsehood to truth;
lead me from despair to hope,
from fear to trust;
lead me from hate to love,
from war to peace.
Let peace fill our heart,
our world, our universe.  Amen.

Prayer from the Anglican Church of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, 20th Century

Photo by Cornelius Zane-Grey via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons license.

A Lenten Reading of Matthew - Day Three

Scripture Reading: Matthew 2:1-23 (NRSVUE)

This is the dark part of the Christmas story.  King Herod is a client king of the Roman Empire over the territory of Judea.  Although raised Jewish, he must have believed that his true allegiance was to Augustus Caesar in Rome.  Augustus often used the title "son of a god" as he was the adopted son of Julius Caesar who considered himself divine.

Herod likely believed that in order to retain power, he must bend the knee.  While most Judeans of that day were hopeful for the Messiah to come and free them from foreign domination, Herod becomes frightened when he hears this news.

A Jewish leader instilled with the hope of God would rejoice at the coming of the Messiah. This would be seen as synonymous with God's reign.

Instead, Herod feels threatened and massacres the infants around Bethlehem, hoping to eliminate his rival.  His actions remind of those of Pharoah who had Jewish babies killed in the book of Exodus.  So rather than ushering in freedom for the people under his charge, Herod takes away their hope by killing their children.  He is an anti-Messiah or anti-Christ.

It is easy to see and root against Herod's villainy.  But the difficult question it presents revolves around the slippery slope of maintaining one's status, power or prestige.  People may sometimes make decisions that become more and more questionable until they ask themselves, "How did I get here?"

These usually start out with minor indiscretions.

As we continue in Lent, let us take a moment to ask ourselves, "Where are we going?"  What kind of goals do we have as people?  Do we include religious or spiritual goals as a part of these?

It is never bad to review one's life from time to time and Lent is the season for this kind of reflection.  This may keep us from ending in a place we would regret.  No healthy person wants to be remembered for their bad behavior.

Prayer for the day:

Lord, be with us this day,
Within us to purify us;
Above us to draw us up;
Beneath us to sustain us;
Before us to lead us;
Behind us to restrain us;
Around us to protect us.

Amen.

Prayer by Patrick of Ireland, 5th Century

Photo by RK Bentley via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons license.

A Lenten Reading of Matthew - Day Two

Scripture Reading: Matthew 1:18-25 (NRSVUE)

While the Gospel of Luke has more detail about the birth of Jesus, it definitely comes from Mary's perspective.  Matthew's Gospel features the view from Jesus' earthly father Joseph.  

It is important that Jesus is raised by a righteous man as named in verse 19.

I doubt if Joseph would wear this shirt!

Sometimes, when we hear the word righteous, we may think of self-righteous rather than a more positive attribute.  This is unfortunate in that Christians may have moved our thoughts in this direction.

Righteous as defined by chapter 29 of Job tells us that he was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame.  He was a father to the needy and championed the cause of the stranger.

While self-righteousness is very self-serving, Job's righteousness is one who has active compassion for those who are outsiders in society.

Job's definition fits Joseph in that according to Jewish law, he could have had Mary stoned to death.  He did not let his public honor or standing (which were very important in that community) get in the way of his mercy for his fiancé.

In Matthew's Gospel, Joseph receives an angelic dream rather than a physical encounter.  This may remind the reader of the Jospeh of Genesis who also received divine dreams and later interpreted them.

It makes sense that Jesus would have had an earthly father who was righteous.  We see Jesus act with similar values in his ministry.  When he comes upon the woman caught in adultery (and on the verge of being stoned to death), would Jesus have thought of the possibilities of his own mother?  Following the example of Joseph, Jesus engages the situation with righteousness.

What are some of the examples of righteousness that you can name from past influences on your life?  Where are the deeds of mercy that made an impact for you?  What will be the example that you set for those listening to the words you say and watching the actions you take?

Prayer for the day:

God, let me put right before interest,
Let me put others before self,
Let me put the things of the spirit
before the things of the body.
Let me put the attainment of noble ends
above the enjoyment of present pleasures.

Let me put principle above reputation.
Let me put you before all else.

Amen.

Prayer by John Baillie, Church of Scotland, 20th Century

Photo by Bjorn Stromberg via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons license.

A Lenten Reading of Matthew - Day One - Ash Wednesday

Scripture Reading: Matthew 1:1-17 (NRSVUE)

As we enter into another season of Lent, we may think about our own ancestry that have passed into death on Ash Wednesday as we hear the words said to us, "Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return."

In opening the Gospel, Matthew places Jesus firmly within Judaism as a son of Abraham who was seen as the father of the faith.  He is also seen as a son of David who was the king with which Israel measured greatness.  

Note that Matthew narrates fourteen generations between Abraham and David which were important markers in history.  Then we have fourteen generations between the height of the monarchy and the exile to Babylon which would have been seen as the low point.  Now we have fourteen generations between the deportation and Jesus.  As we think of cycles moving back and forth in history, Matthew seems to be saying that we are returning to a new crest.

The Messiah would be seen as the one to reclaim the Jewish people for a new age.  They supposed that it would be a new age of independence and self-governance.  They would be able to worship God without any foreign interference.

But this Gospel is also written following the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by Rome in 70 CE.  It is apparently clear that there's not going to be any self-governance as an independent country anytime soon.  

What does it mean to have a Messiah that leads us out of exile even while we may be living as strangers in a strange land?

When the world turns upside down, what does it mean to claim faith in God even when the deck seems stacked against you?

Matthew is positioning Jesus as a Messiah who will speak to a changing world but is rooted in the faith that has stood the test of time.  

As we move into Lent and as we attend Ash Wednesday services today, how do we allow our history to anchor us in our faith?  How does acknowledging our own mortality free us from many of the pressures of life?  And how do the ashes imposed in the sign of the cross point to a Messiah that will go the distance on behalf of love?

Prayer for the day:

O God, maker of every thing and judge of all that you have made, from the dust of the earth you have formed us and from the dust of death you would raise us up.  By the redemptive power of the cross, create in us clean hearts and put within us a new spirit, that we may repent of our sins and lead lives worthy of your calling; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Prayer by Laurence Hull Stookey, Pennsylvania-Delaware Conference of The United Methodist Church, 20th Century

Photo from John via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons license.

Lenten Disciplines and Discipleship

It's hard to believe that the church season of Lent is a week away.  We'll begin with Ash Wednesday on February 18 and go through Saturday, April 4th, ending on Easter Sunday the next day.

This is a period of forty days if you don't count Sundays which may be seen as little Easters.

During this time, we are reminded of Jesus spending forty days in the wilderness when he fasted and was tempted.  This followed his baptism and was prior to the beginning of his public ministry.

Many Christians choose smaller fasts during the Lenten season for their own spiritual growth.  I've heard of people giving up desserts or social media during this time.  The idea is that when we have a craving, we put ourselves in solidarity with Jesus who fasted to prepare himself for his ministry.  It may also foster compassion in us by reminding us of those who fast through no choice of their own.

During Lent, sometimes Christians also take on an extra discipline for the forty days.  I've taken to working my way through a book of the Bible during Lent and then posting reflections daily through this blog.  Notice that discipline and discipleship have the same root word which has to do with learning.  Hopefully, this Biblical journey leads to greater learning so that we further our discipleship.  It's good to know what Jesus says in order to follow him effectively!

This year, I'll be reading through Mathew since we are in Year A of the liturgical cycle and utilize this Gospel in worship throughout the various seasons.  Here's the outline of the Lenten readings - note I don't post on Sundays, and you can use those as catchup days if needed.

2/18/2026 Ash Wednesday Matthew 1:1-17 The Genealogy of Jesus the Messiah 

2/19/2026 Matthew 1:18-25 The Birth of Jesus 

2/20/2026 Matthew 2:1-23 Magi, Egypt, Massacre, Return

2/21/2026 Matthew 3:1-17 John the Baptist, Baptism of Jesus

2/22/2026         First Sunday in Lent        Day of Rest

2/23/2026 Matthew 4:1-25 Temptation, Begins Ministry, Calls Disciples

2/24/2026 Matthew 5:1-20 Sermon on the Mount - Beatitudes

2/25/2026 Matthew 5:21-48 Sermon on the Mount - Anger, Adultery, Divorce, Oaths, Retaliation, Love for Enemies

2/26/2026 Matthew 6:1-18 Sermon on the Mount - Almsgiving, Prayer and Fasting

2/27/2026 Matthew 6:19-34 Sermon on the Mount - Treasures, Sound Eye, 2 Masters, Worry

2/28/2026 Matthew 7:1-12 Sermon on the Mount - Judging Others, Profaning the Holy, Ask, Search, Knock, Golden Rule

3/1/2026                 Second Sunday in Lent Day of Rest

3/2/2026 Matthew 7:13-29 Sermon on the Mount - Narrow Gate, A Tree and Its Fruit, Self-Deception, Hearers and Doers

3/3/2026 Matthew 8:1-34 Jesus Heals - stills storm

3/4/2026 Matthew 9:1-38 Jesus Heals - where the laborers at?

3/5/2026 Matthew 10:1-42 Mission of the Apostles

3/6/2026 Matthew 11:1-30 Messengers from John the Baptizer

3/7/2026 Matthew 12:1-21 Lord of the Sabbath

3/8/2026         Third Sunday in Lent Day of Rest

3/9/2026 Matthew 12:22-50 Blasphemy of the Heart

3/10/2026 Matthew 13:1-23 Parable of the Sower

3/11/2026 Matthew 13:24-58 Parables and Rejection

3/12/2026 Matthew 14:1-36 Feeding 5000, Walking on Water

3/13/2026 Matthew 15:1-39 Defiling, Changing, Curing, Feeding

3/14/2026 Matthew 16:1-28 Death and Resurrection foretold

3/15/2026 Fourth Sunday in Lent Day of Rest

3/16/2026 Matthew 17:1-27 Transfiguration 

3/17/2026 Matthew 18:1-35 Greatness and Forgiveness

3/18/2026 Matthew 19:1-30 Divorce, Children, Rich

3/19/2026 Matthew 20:1-19 Laborers in the Vineyard - followed by Death and Ressurection prediction

3/20/2026 Matthew 20:20-34 James and John - 2 blind men

3/21/2026 Matthew 21:1-22 Jesus Enters and Cleanses Temple

3/22/2026 Fifth Sunday in Lent Day of Rest

3/23/2026 Matthew 21:23-46 Parables - Two sons - Wicked Tenants

3/24/2026 Matthew 22:1-22 Parable - Wedding Banquet - Taxes

3/25/2026 Matthew 22:23-46 Greatest Commandment - Resurrection and Lineage

3/26/2026 Matthew 23:1-39 Scribes and Pharisees - Lament

3/27/2026 Matthew 24:1-28 Tough Times Ahead

3/28/2026 Matthew 24:29-51 Fig Tree, Watch, Unfaithful slave

3/29/2026 Palm Sunday Day of Rest

3/30/2026 Matthew 25:1-30 Parables of Ten - Bridesmaids and Talents

3/31/2026 Matthew 25:31-46 Judgment of the Nations

4/1/2026 Matthew 26:1-16 Anointing at Bethany, Passover

4/2/2026 Maundy Thursday Matthew 26:17-75 Institution of Lord's Supper, Betrayl, Arrest, Denial

4/3/2026 Good Friday Matthew 27:1-56 Crucifixion of Jesus

4/4/2026 Holy Saturday Matthew 27:57-66 Burial and Guard

4/5/2026 Easter Sunday Matthew 28:1-20 Resurrection and Commissioning

Although I don't post on Sundays, I make an exception for Easter because this chapter deals with the Resurrection and it seems appropriate to end the series on Easter Sunday.  If you would like to join in this reading, simply follow this blog each day.  You can also sign up for email reminders through this link: https://bit.ly/PastorsDevotional.  I also post to my social media accounts of Facebook, Bluesky and Twitter daily and I welcome comments so that we engage together in the material.

Blessings to you for a contemplative Lent as we journey toward the cross with Jesus once again.