Year Two, April 29

My Word…Shall Not Return to Me Empty1

Matthew 13:1-23

1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach.

This is a delightful example of outdoor preaching. The more of it the better, because without this kind of preaching great numbers of our fellow men and women will never hear the gospel.2 The natural objects around him no doubt supplied the Lord with his illustrations. They were familiar, and full of meaning, and arrested the attention of everyone.

3And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. 4And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5Other seeds fell on rocky ground, (or spots where the rocks were near the surface) where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, 6but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. 7Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9He who has ears, let him hear.”

10Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 11And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. (Unspiritual minds foolishly insist on a literal interpretation of expressions that are obviously meant to be taken figuratively. For that reason, they fail to understand their meaning. To understand the gospel is a gift of divine grace.) 12For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 13This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:

“‘“You will indeed hear but never understand,

and you will indeed see but never perceive.”

15 For this people’s heart has grown dull,

and with their ears they can barely hear,

and their eyes they have closed,

lest they should see with their eyes

and hear with their ears

and understand with their heart

and turn, and I would heal them.’”

Those who refuse to see may eventually come to the place where they cannot see.

16“But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17Truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you

hear, and did not hear it.

18“Hear then the parable of the sower: 19When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. 20As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. 22As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 23As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” (Three bad soils are mentioned and only one that is good. Here we have a warning to examine ourselves carefully and be certain our lives are producing spiritual fruit.)

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¹ Isaiah 55:11

² Preaching outside the confines of church buildings was frowned upon by many ministers in 19th century England. This view was held even after the success of the outdoor preaching of George Whitefield and John & Charles Wesley more than 150 years earlier.

Year Two, April 28

He Is Not Ashamed to Call Them Brothers1

Luke 8:1-3

1Soon afterward [Jesus] went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, 2and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.

We see that our Lord was supported by the voluntary offerings of his followers. He did no more work at the carpenter’s bench. When he began to preach the gospel, his ministry required all of his time and strength. It is noble in men, like Paul, to work at their trade while preaching, but if believers were as generous as they should be, a second job would not be necessary for long.
  

Matthew 12:38-40; 43-50

38Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” 39But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”

43“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. (The evil spirit cannot rest. He is so mean that unless he is doing mischief he cannot stand himself.) 44Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ (The demon is represented as going out of the person of his own will, and, therefore, when he wills he returns. He calls it “my house” because he had not been thrown out of it by divine grace and neither had Jesus moved in. People who change their evil ways and improve their way of living entirely through their own efforts and strength will eventually return to their old sins. When grace comes and throws the evil spirit out with the force of divine love, he never returns. But, unless it is renewed, the old nature will soon welcome back the tempter.) And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. (Many people sweep the more disgusting sins out of their lives and decorate themselves with decency and good deeds; but the Spirit of God does not live within them, and therefore evil soon gets the upper hand, and the soul becomes worse than it was before.) 45Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.”

After the captivity in Babylon, the Jewish nation appears to have no longer practiced idolatry. However, superstition, self-righteousness, and “having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power”2 became their new captors. They were more difficult to deal with than their idolatrous ancestors.

46While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. [47Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak to you.”]3 (His long nights spent in prayer and his daily workload were wearing him out. His relatives, thinking that he must be out of his mind, planned to take control of him and get him away from the demands of his public ministry. The kindest people cannot understand the zeal of a truly passionate heart. They call it enthusiasm, and talk about the possibility of “overdoing it,” and being too committed. And so, the best of people are often the least understood. Our Lord’s mother seems to have had some hand in this mistaken project. Blessed as she was, she was not infallible.)

48But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?’ 49And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 50For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

Spiritual relationships outweigh the natural ones. Believers are the true “Holy Family.”

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¹ Hebrews 2:11

² 2 Timothy 3:5

³ Verse 47 is not in the ESV text, but rather appears as a footnote beginning with, “Some manuscripts insert verse 47,” etc.

Year Two, April 27

The Tree Is Known by Its Fruit1

Matthew 12:22-37

22Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to [Jesus] and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw.

It would seem that the devil had special permission to do his worst among people during the days of our Lord’s time on earth. But the fierce battles fought between these two warriors only made the Son of God’s victories all the more glorious.

23And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?”

They spoke honestly, but their leaders were prejudiced, and refused to see what was clear enough to just about everyone else. It is a dreadful thing to be so led astray by education that a person refuses to acknowledge what is clear to all.

24But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” 25Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. (Jesus said this because some of the sons of the Pharisees pretended to be able to heal possessed people.) 28But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. 30Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”

Let this always be remembered and let each one ask himself, “Am I with Christ?” If not, remember you are against him. Can you live with this?

31“Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.”

This was the terrible doom that fell on these Pharisees and destroyed them. How careful we should be to give all reverence and obedience to the Holy Spirit. As long as the Spirit continues to convict our consciences, we have not committed this deadly sin. But grieving him to the point that he entirely leaves us will result in final damnation!

33“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit.”

Nothing will be enough except a change of nature. The very root and sap of the soul must be renewed by grace.

34“You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. (What is inside is what comes out. What flows from the reservoir is the evidence of its quality.) 36I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

This makes everyday talk a serious matter. Who among us can bear such a test? Let us flee to the blood of Jesus, for cleansing from sins of the tongue, and to the Spirit of God to bridle that unruly member.2

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¹ Matthew 12:33

² James 1:26, “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.”

Year Two, April 26

She Loved Much1

Luke 7:36-50

36One of the Pharisees asked [Jesus] to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table. 37And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.

We are not informed how she came to know and love the Savior. It may be that some gracious word of his had stopped her from her life of sin and shame, a life of misery and despair that was rushing to its end. She was filled with deep repentance. Moved with holy reverence for the Lord, she brought the greatest treasure she owned and used it all for him. Not wanting to call attention to herself, she stood behind him, washing his feet in her humility, weeping in sorrow over her sins, kissing his feet for love, and using her hair as a towel. All of this was done out of supreme devotion to her Lord, to who she owed everything. Happy the woman who is able to show her dedicated devotion to her Lord.

39Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.”

This Pharisee had not shown our Lord the respect he should have and now his opinion of him drops even more. He could not believe that any good man would allow a woman like this to come so near to him. Simon did not understand Jesus, but Jesus understood Simon well enough, and therefore he spoke to him.

40And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”

41“A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more”? 43Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”

Self-righteous people can never serve like those who serve out of love. They do their duty because they feel forced to, rather than with the zest and delight of those who serve out of true affection. The attempt to save ourselves by our own merits never brings out the heartfelt emotion and complete devotion that grows from a sense of grace received and sin pardoned. In our own case, do we not have reasons to love the Lord intensely? He who writes these words feels that above all people, he is obligated to love his forgiving Master. Do not others feel the same?

48And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” (Her act of love to Jesus was rewarded with a fresh expression of his love for her, another assurance of forgiveness. Gratitude for previous favors is the sure way to receive more.) 49Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (He did not bother to rebuke the disrespectful murmurers. But he did continue to comfort the loving repentant sinner. He honored her faith and assured her that his peace went with her on her way, because he did not wish her to be disturbed by the cruel words spoken by others.)

From this story we should learn how delighted Jesus is to forgive great sinners since they bring him great love in return. Also, see how free his mercy is, since he clearly forgives those who have nothing to pay.

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¹ Luke 7:47

Year Two, April 25

All That the Father Gives Me Will Come to Me1

The remarkable portion of Scripture that we are about to read contains in a small space three great truths: Human responsibility, the sovereignty of electing love, and the free proclamation of the gospel. If we cannot understand how they all work together, we must, nevertheless, believe them and wait for clearer light.
  

Matthew 11:20-30

20Then [Jesus] began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent.

Therefore it is clear that they should have repented. Jesus would not have found fault with them for not repenting if they were not expected to repent.

21“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. (This is a very mysterious statement. It says that his mighty works were not done among those who would have repented, but were done among those who refused to repent. The way of the Lord is far above our understanding.) 22But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. (The open sin of the Sidonians was shameful in the extreme and yet they were not as guilty as those who had deliberately refused the gospel. Therefore their punishment would be less.  The Lord goes on to make the same point with another illustration.) 23And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”

Sodom’s doom is fearful beyond imagination. What will be the doom of those who openly despise the gospel? Our Lord then changed his subject and spoke about sovereign grace.2

25At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

 The creator of election is God the Father. The Lord of heaven and earth has the right to choose to whom he will reveal himself. And to whom does he reveal himself? Little children. And what reason does he give for his choice? Only that it was his “gracious will.” Next, our Lord explains that he, himself, is the great means by which the blessings of electing love flow down to those whom he has chosen. The doctrines of grace are as true as the fact of our responsibility. The two truths agree as one, even though few can see where they meet. Salvation is God’s gift and the result of his grace alone.3 Damnation is each individual’s fault and their fault alone.

The third part of our reading contains a full, free, personal, invitation to sinners to come to Jesus now. No ministry is complete where this is kept in the background. As we read it may we feel the drawing influence of the Holy Spirit and find rest in Jesus right now.

28“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Is there one here, who has until now refused the invitation? Let them come now! Come, and welcome. Remember it is not to outward religious acts or to priests that you are to come, but to Jesus himself. He, and he alone can give perfect rest to all who are obedient to him.)

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¹ John 6:37

² sovereign grace - A term indicating that salvation is entirely the result of God’s mercy and grace. A person is incapable of contributing anything to their own salvation.

³ Spurgeon is in his element here. “Sola gratia” (Latin for “Grace alone”). One of his most popular books, “All of Grace” continues to be available in many editions.

Year Two, April 24

The Son Gives Life to Whom He Will1

Luke 7:1-17

1After [Jesus] had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 2Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him.

He was a good master and had a good servant. Therefore they were on good terms. It is rare to see this kind of relationship these days.

3When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, 5for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.” 6And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. (The Jews called him worthy, but he did not think he was. Those who enjoy the good opinion of others, and do not allow pride to get the better of them, are sensible people.) 7Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. (Give the word, and the disease will fly away without your needing to come personally. This was grand faith.) 8For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” (The centurion was a low ranking officer, but his word was still law. He correctly reasoned that the word of the Lord Jesus would be equally powerful over all the realms of nature. He had only to say to the disease “Go,” and it would be gone. Only grace could have taught him to come to such a good assumption.)

9When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” 10And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well. (The Jews had praised the centurion’s works, but the Lord fixed his eye on his faith. Faith is the jewel that Jesus prizes the most. Do each of possess it?)

11Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. 12As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her.

Death quite often takes away the young. If the Lord had willed it, one of us might have died today and the rest of the family would have spent this day in mourning. The poor widowed mother who mourned her only son was immediately noticed by the tender Jesus. He spoke to her with a voice of deepest sympathy.

13And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14Then he came up and touched the bier,2 and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” 15And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.

Oh, that he would give spiritual life to those of this family who are dead in sin! No matter how young and honest, excellent and friendly a young man or woman may be, they must be brought to new life by the Holy Spirit. Otherwise, they remain “dead in trespasses and sins.”3 Jesus can give that spiritual life and a mother’s tears will go far to touch his heart and win the blessing.

16Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” 17And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.

In this way, the name of Jesus became well known and talked about by many people, even as it is among his own saints today. Blessed, blessed forever, be the Friend of humanity!

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¹ John 5:21

² bier - a stand on which a casket containing a corpse is carried to the grave.

³ Ephesians 2:1

Year Two, April 23

The Poor Have Good News Preached to Them1

Matthew 11:2-19

2Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”

Had his sufferings depressed his spirit? We do not think so. He probably sent his disciples so their faith would be strengthened.

4And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” (These are the clear proofs of the true Messiah’s mission. Among all of them, there is no greater wonder of grace than the preaching of the gospel to the poor. Other teachers had shut them out, but Jesus made them the special objects of his ministry.)

7As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? (Was John a man who was easily influenced and would adapt his message to please people? Was he a man who would give in just to keep the peace? Not at all! He had no doubts about his mission and he was not a coward.) 8What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 9What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10This is he of whom it is written,

“‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,

who will prepare your way before you.’

11Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

He was just the first faint light of a new dawn. We who live in the full blaze of day have greater privileges than he had. John’s heart never rejoiced at the words, “It is finished,” like ours have.

12From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. (There is no such thing as winning this kingdom by halfhearted efforts. Endurance is needed for success in this life and much more for the life to come. Grace in the heart leads people to “strive to enter through the narrow door.”2 Oh that we could see more holy violence in the church of God. Laziness and inactivity are robbing Jesus of his honor and the church of its success.) 13For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, 14and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

16“But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates,

17 “‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;

we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’”

They could not agree what to play. Some of them said, “Let’s pretend we are at a wedding,” and began to play the flute, but the others would not dance. “Well, then,” they said, “let us pretend we are at a funeral,” and they began to mourn, but their stubborn companions would not join them in their mock sorrow. In much the same way, it is hard to find pastors who please people. One is accused of preaching on and on and saying nothing and another is charged with being too logical or dull. If one preacher is condemned for being too tasteless, another is criticized for his flowery style. There is no satisfying such finicky tastes. If our heart is right, then we will remember George Herbert’s words: “Judge not the preacher, he is your judge.”3

18“For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”

God knows best whom to send and we should be alert and profit from all of them.

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¹ Matthew 11:5

² Luke 13:24

³ From the George Herbert poem, “The Church-porch” (circa 1614).

Year Two, April 22

Power Came Out From Him1

Luke 6:12-36

12In these days (while Jesus was by the sea, near Capernaum) he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.

It was his practice to spend time in special prayer before any great event of his life. He was about to send out the first missionaries, but he would do nothing until he had prayed.

13And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles: 14Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, 15and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, 16and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

17And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, 18who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. 19And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all. (This created another great opportunity for preaching and our Lord took advantage of it. We now find him preaching the Sermon on the Plain.  It resembles the Sermon of the Mount in many ways. It has four beatitudes and four woes and uses almost the same words as the previous message.)

20And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said:

“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. (They were poor and they were his disciples. They were poor in spirit as well as in finances and therefore blessed. We must understand all these beatitudes spiritually or we will make serious mistakes in understanding their meaning.)

21“Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied.

“Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.

22“Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! 23Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.

24“But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. (For the most part those who are rich despise religion. “Gold and the gospel seldom do agree,” says Bunyan.2)

25“Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry. (Those who need the things of this world to be satisfied will find they will soon be gone and an empty eternity will follow.)

“Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. (To spend life in thoughtless amusements and chasing after happiness is to store up sorrow.)

26“Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets. (To be a favorite of the world is dangerous. If the ungodly crowd loves someone, then God does not love them.)

27“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back.”

It is better to suffer any loss than argue the point and end up in a court of law. Lawsuits are more likely to increase the loss than to restore it.

31“And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

32“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. (This excellent godlike principle of doing good without hope of return should be on display in professing Christians more than it is. Let it be our prayer that we may live our life by this rule.)

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¹ Luke 6:19

² John Bunyan (1628-1688)

Year Two, April 21

You Shall Keep My Sabbaths1

Matthew 12:1-21

1At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. (They did not do this to idly pass the time, but because they were hungry. Jewish law allowed them to take grain to eat as they walked through fields.2 The only reason the Pharisees used it as an excuse to renew their old quarrel was because the disciples happened to do it on the Sabbath.) 2But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.”

One would have thought that it was surely permissible to relieve hunger on the Sabbath; but the Pharisees claimed it was an act of harvesting when they picked it and even an act of threshing when they saw the disciples rub the ears of grain in their hands. Some people are great at letting their emotions get the best of them and overreacting about nothing.

3He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: 4how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests. (Necessity has no law. God never intended that perople should die of hunger just to keep a day holy.) 5Or have you not read in the law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? 6I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. (Works done for God are praiseworthy even on the Sabbath. If the Lord himself was present and did not find fault with his disciples, then it was not the place for others to complain.) 7And if you had known what it means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. 8For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”

God did not intend for the fourth commandment to be used cruelly or to forbid the doing of that which is absolutely necessary. The law of the Sabbath is under the power of Jesus, who is the Lord of love. Keeping the Lord’s day is not a burden, but a delight.

9He went on from there and entered their synagogue. 10And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse him. 11He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? 12Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 13Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other. (Jesus left no doubt about the true place of the Sabbath. He refused to be a prisoner of Jewish tradition.) 14But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.

15Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. (He went to the coastline of the Sea of Galilee.) And many followed him, and he healed them all 16and ordered them not to make him known. 17This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:

18 “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,

my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.

I will put my Spirit upon him,

and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.

19 He will not quarrel or cry aloud,

nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;”

He did not seek either popularity or controversy.

20 “a bruised reed he will not break,

and a smoldering wick he will not quench,

until he brings justice to victory;”

He left those fuming Pharisees and the weak reeds of scribes and doctors until a future time. He did not care to utterly extinguish or crush their broken power.

21 “and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”

Quiet as he was, he is our hope and joy. Our soul rests on him.

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¹ Leviticus 19:30

² See Leviticus 19:9-10