Day Twenty-Eight - TUESDAY, April 1

Matthew 19:16-30 (NIV)

 [16] Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
 [17] “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.”
 [18] “Which ones?” the man inquired.
 Jesus replied, “‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, [19] honor your father and mother,’* and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.*’”
 [20] “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”
 [21] Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
 [22] When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
 [23] Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. [24] Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
 [25] When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”
 [26] Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
 [27] Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”
 [28] Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. [29] And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother* or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. [30] But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

Day Twenty-Seven - MONDAY, March 31

Matthew 19:1-15 (NIV)

 [19:1] When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went into the region of Judea to the other side of the Jordan. [2] Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.
 [3] Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?”
 [4] “Haven't you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’* [5] and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’*? [6] So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”
 [7] “Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?”
 [8] Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. [9] I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.”
 [10] The disciples said to him, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.”
 [11] Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. [12] For some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others were made that way by men; and others have renounced marriage* because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.”
 [13] Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them.
 [14] Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” [15] When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.

Days Twenty-Five & Twenty-Six - SATURDAY & SUNDAY, March 29-30

We are well past halfway in this 40 day journey and I am hearing from many of you that you are enjoying this time in the Word. Let's keep focused and finish well going down the home stretch.

Reread one of the previous readings on these two days or catch up on missed ones.

Day Twenty-Four - FRIDAY, March 28

Matthew 18:21-35 (NIV)

 [21] Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?”
 [22] Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.*
 [23] “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. [24] As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents* was brought to him. [25] Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
[26] “The servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ [27] The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
 [28] “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii.* He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.
 [29] “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’
 [30] “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. [31] When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.
 [32] “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. [33] Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ [34] In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
 [35] “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”

Day Twenty-Three - THURSDAY, March 27

Matthew 18:1-14 (NIV)

 [18:1] At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
 [2] He called a little child and had him stand among them. [3] And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. [4] Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
 [5] “And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. [6] But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
 [7] “Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come! [8] If your hand or your foot causes you to sin cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. [9] And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.
 [10] “See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.*
 [12] “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? [13] And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. [14] In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.

Day Twenty-Two - WEDNESDAY, March 26

Matthew 16:13-28 (NIV)

 [13] When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
 [14] They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
 [15] “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
 [16] Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ,* the Son of the living God.”
 [17] Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. [18] And I tell you that you are Peter,* and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades* will not overcome it.* [19] I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be* bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” [20] Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.
 [21] From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
 [22] Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”
 [23] Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”
 [24] Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. [25] For whoever wants to save his life* will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. [26] What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? [27] For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. [28] I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

Day Twenty-One - TUESDAY, March 25

Matthew 13:44-52 (NIV)

 [44] “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
 [45] “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. [46] When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
 [47] “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. [48] When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. [49] This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous [50] and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
 [51] “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked.
 “Yes,” they replied.
 [52] He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”

Day Twenty - MONDAY, March 24

Matthew 13:24-43 (NIV)

 [24] Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. [25] But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. [26] When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
 [27] “The owner's servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’
 [28] “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.  “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’
 [29] “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. [30] Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”

 [31] He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. [32] Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches.”
 [33] He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount* of flour until it worked all through the dough.”
 [34] Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. [35] So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet:
“I will open my mouth in parables,
I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.”*
 [36] Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”
 [37] He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. [38] The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, [39] and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
 [40] “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. [41] The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. [42] They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. [43] Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

Days Eighteen & Nineteen - SATURDAY & SUNDAY, March 22-23

Reread one of the previous readings on these two days or catch up on missed ones.

Day Seventeen - FRIDAY, March 21

Matthew 13:1-23 (NIV)

 [13:1] That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. [2] Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. [3] Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. [4] As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. [5] Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. [6] But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. [7] Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. [8] Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. [9] He who has ears, let him hear.”
 [10] The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”
 [11] He replied, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. [12] Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. [13] This is why I speak to them in parables:
“Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
 [14] In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:  “‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. [15] For this people's heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’*
 [16] But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. [17] For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
 [18] “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: [19] When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. [20] The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. [21] But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. [22] The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. [23] But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

Day Sixteen - THURSDAY, March 20

Matthew 12:22-37 (NIV)

 [22] Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. [23] All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”
 [24] But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebub,* the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.”
[25] Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. [26] If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? [27] And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. [28] But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
[29] “Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house.
 [30] “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters. [31] And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. [32]  Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
 [33] “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. [34] You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. [35] The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. [36] But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. [37] For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Day Fifteen - WEDNESDAY, March 19

Matthew 11:1-15 (NIV)

 [11:1] After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.*
 [2] When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples [3] to ask him, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?”
 [4] Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: [5] The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy* are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. [6] Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.”
 [7] As John's disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? [8] If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. [9] Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. [10] This is the one about whom it is written:
“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’*
 [11] I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. [12] From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. [13] For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. [14] And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. [15] He who has ears, let him hear.

Day Fourteen - TUESDAY, March 18

Matthew 10:5-16 (NIV)
[5] These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. [6] Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. [7] As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ [8] Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,* drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. [9] Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; [10] take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep.
 [11] “Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave. [12] As you enter the home, give it your greeting. [13] If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. [14] If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. [15] I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. [16] I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

Day Thirteen - MONDAY, March 17

You may see these posts on the day before their actual date as I want to get them up on the web in time for the early birds among us.  Have a great week of reading and thinking about the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 9:35-38 (NIV)

 [35] Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. [36] When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. [37] Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. [38] Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

DAYS ELEVEN & TWELVE - Saturday & Sunday, March 15-16

Thank you to all who have shared their thoughts over these first few days of readings. This has certainly helped to make it a community bible experience. Let's keep it up.

Here is your assignment for the weekend...

Reread one of the previous readings on these two days or catch up on missed ones.

DAY TEN - Friday, March 14

Friday's post is going up on Thursday night so that the early birds can get it in the morning.

Matthew 8:5-13 (NIV)

 [5] When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. [6] “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering.”
 [7] Jesus said to him, “I will go and heal him.”
 [8] The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. [9] For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
 [10] When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. [11] I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. [12] But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
[13] Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that very hour.

DAY NINE - Thursday, March 13

Matthew 7:15-23 (NIV)

 [15] “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. [16] By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? [17] Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. [18] A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. [19] Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. [20] Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
 [21] “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. [22] Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ [23] Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

DAY EIGHT - Wednesday, March 12

Matthew 6:25-34 (NIV)

 [25] “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? [26] Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? [27] Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life*?
 [28] “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. [29] Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. [30] If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? [31] So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ [32] For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. [33] But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. [34] Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

DAY SEVEN - Tuesday, March 11

Matthew 6:5-15 (NIV)
 [5] “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. [6] But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. [7] And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. [8] Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
 [9] “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
[10] your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
[11] Give us today our daily bread. [12] Forgive us our debts,  as we also have forgiven our debtors.
[13] And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.*’
 [14]  For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. [15] But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins

DAY SIX - Monday, March 10

Matthew 5:17-20 (NIV)   [17] “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. [18] I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. [19] Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. [20]  For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

DAYS FOUR & FIVE - Saturday & Sunday, March 8-9

 Reread one of the previous readings on these two days or catch up on missed ones.  I trust that you are getting something helpful from these readings from Matthew.

DAY THREE - Friday, March 7

Matthew 5:1-12 (NIV)

[5:1] Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, [2] and he began to teach them, saying:
[3] “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
[4] Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
[5] Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
[6] Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
[7] Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
[8] Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
[9] Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
[10] Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
[11] “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. [12] Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

DAY TWO - Thursday, March 6

Matthew 4:12-17 (NIV)

Jesus Begins to Preach

 [12] When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. [13] Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— [14] to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:

[15] “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, 

the way to the sea, along the Jordan, 

Galilee of the Gentiles—

[16] the people living in darkness 

have seen a great light; 

on those living in the land of the shadow of death 

a light has dawned.”*

 [17] From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

Matthew 4:23-25 (NIV)
 [23] Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. [24] News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them. [25] Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis,* Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.

Remember to share your thoughts with the rest of us. Thank you.

DAY ONE: Wednesday, March 5

Here is the first reading for our 40 days of community bible reading experience.  I am sending it out a day early in case any of you have some challenges getting this to work for you. Let the conversations begin....

Matthew 3:1-12
[3:1] In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea [2] and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” [3] This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:
“A voice of one calling in the desert,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’”*
 [4] John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. [5] People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. [6] Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
 [7] But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? [8] Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. [9] And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. [10] The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
 [11] “I baptize you with* water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. [12] His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

Remember to look at the questions at the top of the page and share any thoughts with the community that you have about the Kingdom of Heaven.

Sabbath or Sunday???

Recently I was asked why we do not keep the Jewish Sabbath (our Saturday) as a day of rest? And why we worship on Sunday, the first day of the week, instead of Saturday, the seventh day of the week, when God rested from all His work?

The simple answer that I learned in Bible college is that Jesus rose on the first day of the week and the early believers began to meet on that day to celebrate their faith in the risen Christ as opposed to their old faith in the Law. This makes sense but I don't think it is the full answer. Paul made it clear that the apostles had no strong opposition to the Sabbath or support for it. In Romans he stated it like this...

"One man considers one day more sacred than another, another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord." Romans 14:5-6a NIV

But for me, there is a much deeper spiritual reality that impacts my thoughts about why I do not keep the Sabbath day as ancient Jews did. The following words of Paul frame the important points for me.

   "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.

   When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.   

   Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. He has lost connection with the Head, from whom his whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.

   Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules? Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch! These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.  Colossians 2:8-23 NIV

The above passage says that Sabbath days are a "shadow of the things that were to come." And "the reality is found in Christ." What does this mean? It is my understanding that the Sabbath was intended as a day of rest from ordinary everyday labors and a time for worship. And this is referred to as a "shadow of the things that were to come." Rest can be merely physical and worship can be a matter of forms and rituals. Since Jesus came and fulfilled the Old Testament law, we no longer need rituals or physical rest in order to fulfill the purposes of the Sabbath. The rest that we now enjoy is a rest from our efforts to please God by performance or prescribed behaviours. And worship is not something done in a special holy place with special prayers and rituals. Worship is an attitude of the heart expressed in many and various ways. So, for me, every day is a Sabbath. I rest in the finished work of Christ on the cross. I worship Him always, not just on one special day. Since He is present with me at all times, there is no need for a special place or day. 

Every day is Sabbath and everywhere is a place of worship. This is what Jesus has accomplished for us. Mere legal observance of a special day is nothing when compared to the personal and very real living presence of the very One who created the Sabbath to begin with. And I believe that He knew all along that there would be a more perfect fulfillment of its meaning when Christ's work of salvation was finished. God rested from His work of creation on the seventh day and now we rest from our efforts in the day of Christ's finished work of salvation.

Please feel free to ask questions if what I have shared is not clear to you or offer any comments you may wish to make. Thank you.

Dave McElhinney

Day Thirteen - MONDAY, March 17

Matthew 9:35-38 (NIV)
 [35] Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. [36] When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. [37] Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. [38] Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”