Today’s thought “… but those invited are not worthy” (July 21) One of the more challenging parables of Jesus is in today’s Matthew 22. Jesus says his kingdom “may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son” (verse 2). The “wedding” will see the commencement of the total transformation of… Read More Today’s thought “… but those invited are not worthy” (July 21)
Today’s thought “A people producing its fruits” (July 20) Jesus taught saying, “I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits” (Matthew 21:43). The life of Jesus was reaching its climax when he said this in the last of several parables in today’s… Read More Today’s thought “A people producing its fruits” (July 20)
Today’s thought “Let him who boasts boast in this …” (July 19) In Matthew today we read of the friction among the disciples of Jesus; this arose after the mother of two of them “came up to him (Jesus) with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him … ‘Say that these two sons… Read More Today’s thought “Let him who boasts boast in this …” (July 19)
Today’s thought “Is it lawful to divorce … for any cause” (July 18) Our reading in Matthew’s Gospel tells us how the Pharisees came up to Jesus “and tested him by asking, ‘Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?” The religious groups were at odds between themselves in their efforts to impose… Read More Today’s thought “Is it lawful to divorce … for any cause” (July 18)
Today’s thought “Rise and have no fear” (July 16) What must it have been like to be one of the disciples of Jesus! The unexpected was always happening – and sometimes it was way beyond human experience. The end of yesterday’s chapter 16 in Matthew has a strange statement by Jesus, “Truly, I say unto… Read More Today’s thought “Rise and have no fear” (July 16)
I think it wouldn’t be going too far to say that there IS a discernible reason for every commandment which we are given… and that that reason leads, without too much delay or detour, right back to the Atonement. Christ’s sacrifice is not just about blood, and sweat, and tears… and it is not just… Read More Today’s thought July 15 Reading 3 – Matthew 16:24-26 Denial of self
Today’s thought “… in vain do they worship me” (July 14) The religious leaders in Israel in the time of Jesus were zealous in their rituals of worship: the same can be said of the main forms of Christianity down through the centuries. Today in Matthew 15 we see how Jesus confronted the “Pharisees and… Read More Today’s thought “… in vain do they worship me” (July 14)
Matthew 14 presents a remarkable contrast between the two feasts: There is Herod’s feast — which is sumptuous, attended by captains and kings, and the entertainment is provided by a “strange woman”. It is a feast of death — for a righteous man is slain on a whim. Then there is Christ’s feast — which… Read More Today’s thought July 13 Reading 3 – Matthew 14
“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” (Mat 13:12). The parable — that strange mixture of natural and spiritual, simple and complex — was a test to the hearers. How would they react? Would they joyfully come… Read More Today’s thought July 12 Reading 3 – Matthew 13:12 Having much or not having and living in a cloud and darkness
“For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother” (Mat 12:50). “There are many writers and perhaps even some thinkers who would readily fall into error if asked to describe the true Christadelphian. In the Brotherhood there has been a very natural tendency to put the emphasis… Read More Today’s thought July 11 Reading 3 – Matthew 12:50
“Jesus replied, ‘Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 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” (Mat 11:4,5). Jesus is healing those people who previously would have been excluded… Read More Today’s thought July 10 Reading 3 – Matthew 11:4-6: Good news preached to the poor
Today’s thought “… and learn from me” (July 10) The final verses of Matthew 11 are easy to read, but they are also profound – and demand our meditative understanding. Jesus declares, in apparent prayer to his Father (from verse 25), “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these… Read More Today’s thought “… and learn from me” (July 10)
“And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward” (Mat 10:42). “We have heard of young sisters banding together for quiet, unobtrusive labours in rendering occasional help to overloaded mothers; cheerful,… Read More Today’s thought July 9 Reading 3 – Matthew 10:42 Tact requiring work
Today’s thought “According to your faith” (July 8) “Faith” is a key word in the New Testament, it does not occur in the Old Testament, although some modern versions seek to use it a little – but not really in the New Testament sense. Matthew’s Gospel has the most reports of the miracles of Jesus;… Read More Today’s thought “According to your faith” (July 8)
Today’s thought “For everyone who …” (July 6) Our chapter in Matthew today unfolds to reveal powerful personal lessons – principles we must live by! Jesus says, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the… Read More Today’s thought “For everyone who …” (July 6)
In de tijd van David en Jezus werden misdadigers aan een paal opgehangen tot ter dood. In bepaalde psalmen vinden wij verwijzingen naar Jezus levenseinde en horen wij over vertrouwen dat in God kan gesteld worden. Zowel David als de zoon van David, Jezus Christus stelden hun vertrouwen op de God van Israël.… Read More Christus in Profetie #14 De Psalmen (8) – Psalm 34 God beschermt wie op Hem vertrouwt
Today’s thought “You therefore must be perfect” (July 4) The above quotation is how today’s Matthew 5 ends. This chapter is normally called ‘the Sermon on the Mount’. It has been portrayed in films as Jesus teaching a whole crowd of people – but that is the opposite to what the text actually says; an… Read More Today’s thought “You therefore must be perfect” (July 4)
Today’s thought “I have obeyed” (July 3) King Saul was highly successful in destroying the Amalekites, but we note what Samuel said to him (1 Samuel 15:1-3) before he did this! After giving him the reasons why the Amalekites should be destroyed, Samuel tells him, “Now go and strike Amalek, and devote to destruction all… Read More Today’s thought “I have obeyed” (July 3)
Today’s thought “The one who conquers will …” (July 1) Today we completed reading the book of Revelation – and how awesome are many of the verses! Some are also inspiring, as are our Isaiah 56,57, while 1 Samuel 13 is a lesson of faulty faith in the actions of Saul, now made king of… Read More Today’s thought “The one who conquers will …” (July 1)
What is love? As we read the aged disciple John’s final two short Epistles, his use of the word “love” jumps out at us. He writes how, “I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth … and this is love, that we walk according to his commandments” (2 John:4,6). This… Read More Today’s thought June 19: This is love, that we walk …
