Today’s Readings
Genesis 35:1 – 36:43 Matthew 12:1-21 Psalm 15:1-5 Proverbs 3:21-26
Today we read a long genealogy about Jacob and Esau in the Old Testament reading. I used to think this was the boring and why did God put this into the Bible? But I realize that our history is important, where we came from helps determine who we are.
Matthew 12:1-3 1 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. 2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”
Some of us are from Europe and some of are from Asia. Our heritage determines much of our view of life. So does our upbringing as it relates to the church. If you were brought up in a strict environment that valued rules and keeping track what you did right and what you did wrong you can certainly sympathize with those in our Gospel story of Matthew today.
As Jesus and His disciples walked along on Sunday they picked the grains of the field to feed themselves. Those who were experts in the law, the Pharisees, cried foul. You can’t do that they cried, it isn’t right. But why? Does the Sabbath law require NOTHING to be done? Later Jesus mentions David eating the consecrated bread as an example that the Sabbath is made for us, not the other way around.
I find some in our churches seem more concerned with the law than with the spirit behind it. A friend of mine who is a pastor tells me that the road of faith has two ditches: legalism and license. I like that, neither ditch is one I want to die in, rather I want to stay on the road of faith toward Christ, and not be bogged down with what man decides is true. The books in my picture today can tell us many things, but they are not the end, there is life and love and as Christ said in Matthew:
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
I have tried to follow this since I was old enough to grasp it with the key word being “love”. Do the right thing for the right reason, this is what I believe.
What do you think? Until next time, peace.
Tyndale. The One Year Bible NIV (OYB: Full Size) (Kindle Locations 1511-1512). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.
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