Sermon - "But I Say to You" (Matthew)

On Sunday, Rev. Joshua Patty preached on the Gospel of Matthew, the first book in the New Testament.  It presents the life story of Jesus, and points out the ways in which Jesus fulfills the prophecies about the messiah.

More than this, though, Jesus is a great teacher in Matthew.  It is no accident that Jesus' most famous teaching, the Sermon on the Mount, is emphasized in Matthew.  This long sermon echoes the teaching of Torah, the Jewish law.  However, Jesus expands on this law, explaining that God cares as much about motivations as actions.  Speaking of murder, Jesus teaches that God cares as much about the anger that leads people to kill as the act of killing.

This can be a hard teaching for us.  We often worry about how we appear to others or about simply getting the job done (figuring that the ends justify the means).  However, God cares very much about the means and making them good motivations, instead of bad ones.  Or as Jesus says, more than once in Matthew, what is on the inside is more important than what is on the outside of a person.

Click here to listen to the sermon.

You can also listen to the related Communion meditation and benediction.

Mark, Day 6

A Day to Catch Up  

If you've had a busy week, today you have a chance to play catch up on any of the selections of Mark you might have missed.
 Click to open the information for any of this week's readings.

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday
Friday

Share Your Thoughts

A good way to remember something you've recently read or done is to talk about it or to write it down.  Take a few minutes to think about this week's Bible readings.

• If you like to journal, reflect on the passage that surprised you the most or the one that was the most emotional to read.
• Talk to a family member, friend, or neighbor about something you've read this week.
• Join the discussion of the Godsway 66 Facebook page.

Get Ready for Sunday's Sermon

Rev. Joshua Patty will preach on Mark tomorrow at Eastgate Christian Church in Independence, MO.  Join us for the sermon or check back here for the recorded sermon.

Mark, Day 5 Readings

Jesus' Crucifixion & Jesus' Resurrection 

Today's first reading is Mark's heartbreaking account of Jesus' crucifixion.  Despite his arrest, it is clear that Jesus does not have to die because the Roman authorities are eager to kill him.  In fact, Pilate (the governor) tries to release Jesus based on the crowd's desires; however, the crowd asks for a murderer to be released instead.

Again and again, Jesus is mocked and belittled.  The soldiers mock him as a would-be king, then dividing his clothes (likely his only possessions) among themselves.  They impose on a random person the task of carrying Jesus' cross to the crucifixion, where he was executed among common thieves.  He was completely abandoned, except for a few women (including his mother) who watched from nearby.  After his death, though, one of the Roman soldiers unexpectedly realizes Jesus' true identity as the Son of God.

Read Mark 15:1-47  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

The second reading is the original ending of Mark.  It describes the day of Jesus' resurrection.  Two women had come to take care of Jesus' body, but the discovered the empty tomb.  Inside, a young man tells them that Jesus has gone ahead to Galilee (which was where Jesus' ministry had begun), and they should tell the disciples to meet him there.  This turn of events left the women completely terrified.

Perhaps you can understand why this ending was so unsatisfying to readers, especially if you know about the many occasions when Jesus met people after his resurrection.  So later editions of Mark includes a couple of these instances.  Some historians have speculated that Mark's original ending was intended to encourage people to go back and read the entire book again, so they could better understand Jesus' teachings and identity as the Messiah.

Read Mark 16:1-8  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Mark 14-16 today.

Mark, Day 4 Readings

Jesus' Final Day   

Today's reading is the breathless account of events immediately preceding Jesus' crucifixion.  There is an odd story of Jesus being anointed by a nameless woman, as a dead body would be anointed before burial.  Then a final meal, including the first instance of Communion.  Then some final moments of prayer with the close disciples before Jesus' arrest and questioning by religious authorities.

Against this, the shadow of Jesus' death grows darker and more lonely.  Not only are people plotting against Jesus, but one of his own disciples agrees to betray him.  And even while Jesus is enjoying some final moments with the disciples, he recognizes that all of them will abandon him by the end of the night -- even impulsive Peter, who will completely disavow having ever met Jesus

Read Mark 14:1-72  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Mark 11-13 today.

Mark, Day 3 Readings

Faith's Challenges & Jesus' Authority  

Today's first reading is the pivot between the stories of healings, exorcisms, and teachings, and the Passion narrative of Jesus' final days.  While it involves teaching, it has a darker tone, as Jesus speaks about the cost of being a faithful disciples.  Sometimes, it requires leaving wealth, family, and status; sometimes, as it will for him, it requires a willingness to face punishment and death.

The rewards of this sacrificial faith are not what people generally expect, either.  Jesus warns James and John that their willingness to endure hard times will not provide them greater status in heaven -- ultimately, Jesus reminds them again, faith is not about social status.  Instead -- and this is probably why Mark highlights another of Jesus' miracles at this point -- it is about healing.

Read Mark 10:17-52  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

The second reading presents the dramatic beginning of Jesus' final week on earth.  Having traveled throughout the surrounding area for his ministry, Jesus now finally arrives in the city of Jerusalem.  He travels to the Temple and immediately demonstrates his opposition to the religious powers that be by interrupting normal Temple operations -- accusing people of being more interested in money, than in faith and prayer.  This raises a question about Jesus' authority to make such a charge.  While Jesus does not directly answer that question from the chief priest -- probably knowing that the chief priest would not believe him -- there are other proofs of that Jesus does have such authority, including the curious cursing of the fig tree.

Read Mark 11:1-33  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Mark 8-10 today.

Mark, Day 2 Readings

Helping Women & Seeing Jesus' True Identity  

Today's first reading is a great example of one of Mark's techniques in telling Jesus' story -- he records two related stories happening at the same time.  Here, a man comes to Jesus asking for him to heal his very sick young daughter.  While going with him, Jesus interacts with a crowd which includes a woman with years of menstrual bleeding, who reaches out to touch Jesus' cloak seeking healing.  Jesus speaks with her (and heals her), before continuing to the young girl's house (even after hearing that the girl had died).  Jesus brings the young girl back to life.  (Many people call this a "sandwich" story -- where Mark places one story in the middle of another story.)

In some ways, this overlapping of two stories heightens the urgency of Jesus' mission and ministry.  He has so much to do that he is often pulled in many directions at the same time.  (It also is a dramatic technique that is frequently used in editing TV shows and movies.)  However, these incidents are also important because they demonstrate one radical nature of Jesus' ministry -- he cared about women and girls; they were worth his time and his attention.  Even in a culture that didn't much care about sick women or little girls, Jesus did -- powerfully demonstrating that everyone has value.

Read Mark 5:21-43  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

The second reading is the heart of Mark's presentation of Jesus' true identity.  Here, before Jesus begins his final days in Jerusalem, there are some meaningful moments with the disciples.  They are asked who he is -- and Peter proclaims him to be the messiah.  Three disciples witness Jesus meeting with Elijah and Moses, while receiving God's stamp of authority (similar to the blessing at Jesus' baptism).  And they struggle to understand what awaits Jesus and his followers in trying to live out their faith in the days ahead -- difficulties that Jesus tries to explain and which are evident in the exorcism of the boy.

Read Mark 8:27-9:29  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Mark 5-7 today.

Mark, Day 1 Readings

A Whirlwind Opening & Understanding Jesus' True Identity 

Today's first reading is the beginning of the Gospel of Mark, which recounts the life and ministry of Jesus at almost break-neck speed.  After a brief prologue about the prophecy of John the Baptist, Jesus arrives on the scene.  In the course of one chapter, he is baptized by John (and blessed by God), tempted by Satan, pronounces his main prophetic message ("the kingdom of God has come near..."), calls the first disciples, casts out a demon, heals a leper, and goes on a tour preaching, healing, and casting out demons.

In some ways, Mark, from the outset, pictures Jesus as very active and constantly on the go.  He has a lot to do -- and a lot of people to interact with -- before his crucifixion in Jerusalem.  In some ways, this is a different image of Jesus than we are used to; rather than picture Jesus as a thoughtful prophet, here he is a tireless force in trying to spread God's message.

Read Mark 1:1-43  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

The second reading offers a couple of episodes that illustrate the central question and purpose of Mark's Gospel -- understanding the true identity of Jesus.  If you can understand who Jesus is, then you have a better context to interpret everything Jesus says and Jesus does.  Here, we have Jesus' own disciples admitting, after he calms a storm, that they still don't quite understand who they are following.  After this, though, the evil spirits -- called "Legion" -- speak directly to Jesus as the Son of God before he exorcises them casts them into a herd of pigs.

Read Mark 4:35-5:20  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Mark 1-4 today.

Mark, Overview

Godsway 66, Book 41 - Mark  

Mark is the second gospel in the New Testament.  Like Matthew, it tells the story of -- and the meaning of -- the life of Jesus Christ.  Compared to Matthew, though, it seems like a shorter biography.  It also can seem redundant -- almost all of the events of Jesus' life in Mark have been told in Matthew.  (By the way, the reverse is actually more likely.  While Matthew is printed in our New Testament first, Mark was almost certainly written first.  And it seems clear that Matthew relied heavily on Mark's gospel.)

However, Mark has a unique way of approaching the story of Jesus.  In fact, it seems that Mark tries -- more than the other gospels -- to present Jesus' life in a way that will encourage people outside of the church to learn more about him and, hopefully, eventually follow him.  Part of this is stylistic -- the gospel of Mark is the ancient equivalent of an action movie -- it moves quickly and crisply from one action scene to the next, never letting the (listening) audience catch a breath.  In Mark, Jesus is always on the move.  In fact, Mark connects most of these stories together with a Greek conjunction that can be translated, "and immediately."  Also, Mark even "cross-cuts" between stories, telling them simultaneously, which also (like in an action movie) makes Jesus' life more gripping.

Mark's other evangelistic approach is thematic.  Here, Mark encourages people to repeatedly ask a key question: "Who is Jesus?"  Throughout, many answers are offered, which people are encouraged to consider for themselves -- a miracle worker, a prophet, Elijah reborn.  Ultimately, Mark offers his answer at key moments in Jesus' life -- Jesus is the Son of God, that is, the messiah.

The key proof of Jesus' identity is his crucifixion and resurrection.  So almost half of Mark's gospel tells of Jesus' final days.  However, even Mark understands that this can be difficult to comprehend, much less celebrate, for people new to faith.  How can the suffering and death of a man be good?  How is resurrection possible?  This may be why Mark ends his gospel with shock and fear, rather than the celebrations that end the other New Testament gospels.

Matthew, Day 6

A Day to Catch Up  

If you've had a busy week, today you have a chance to play catch up on any of the selections of Matthew you might have missed.
 Click to open the information for any of this week's readings.

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday
Friday

Share Your Thoughts

A good way to remember something you've recently read or done is to talk about it or to write it down.  Take a few minutes to think about this week's Bible readings.

• If you like to journal, reflect on the passage that surprised you the most or the one that was the most emotional to read.
• Talk to a family member, friend, or neighbor about something you've read this week.
• Join the discussion of the Godsway 66 Facebook page.

Get Ready for Sunday's Sermon

Rev. Joshua Patty will preach on Matthew tomorrow at Eastgate Christian Church in Independence, MO.  Join us for the sermon or check back here for the recorded sermon.

Matthew, Day 5 Readings

The Night of Jesus' Arrest and the Resurrection 

Today's first reading is part of the longer story of Jesus' final night before his crucifixion.  Before this selection, Jesus shares the Passover seder with his disciples, and institutes the Lord's Supper.  Then he prepares for his arrest with a warning that all of the disciples will abandon him before praying for strength in the night ahead.

Arrested, Jesus answers the many accusations mostly with silence before offering one sentence of Jewish prophecy, which further enrages the religious authorities.  By now the disciples have all fled except for Peter, but Peter denies ever having met Jesus.  This leaves Jesus to face the political authorities alone.

Read Matthew 26:31-75  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

The second reading is the brief conclusion to the story of Jesus' life -- the final dramatic proof that he is the Messiah.  After being crucified, Jesus is resurrected, appearing to his disciples and giving them a final teaching -- to go spread Jesus teaching and make disciples of others, including people of all nations.  Against this final lesson, though, is the rumor that Jesus was not alive, but that his disciples simply stole his body and invented the story of resurrection -- a story that has led some people to fail to recognize Jesus as the Messiah.

Read Matthew 28:1-20  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Matthew 24-28 today.

Matthew, Day 4 Readings

Jesus Enters Jerusalem, and Confronts Religious Authorities 

Today's first reading is a more dramatic way that Jesus confounded the expectations of religious leaders.  After entering Jerusalem riding on a donkey (in fulfillment of yet another prophecy), Jesus proceeds to the Temple, where he confronts those who make a living by selling things necessary to make sacrifices or give money in the Temple.

If this weren't upsetting enough to the Jewish authorities, Jesus then offers a series of teachings about how they have squandered their opportunity and God's favor rests on others who have been more faithful.

Read Matthew 21:1-46  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

The second reading is a continuation of this, but offering a more positive approach.  Rather than criticizing hypocritical religious leaders and authorities, Jesus praises those who reach out to the poor, the homeless, the ill, and those in prison.  These people, Jesus says, are doing God's work and will be honored by God, whether anyone on earth notices them or not.

Read Matthew 25:31-46  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Matthew 19-23 today.

Matthew, Day 3 Readings

The Last Shall Be First... 

Today's reading is another example of Jesus' teaching confounding expectations, particularly the expectations of other religious leaders.  First, he insists on blessing children who had come to him, which even his own disciples thought was a waste of his valuable time.

Then, when faced with a righteous young man, who is very wealthy -- and collective wisdom of the day would have assumed that his wealth was God's reward for his good behavior -- Jesus does not praise the man for obeying the teachings of Torah.  Instead, he instructs him to give away all of his wealth -- not to the Temple treasury, but directly to the poor -- which wasn't what anyone really wanted to hear.  (Remember, now is the time to consider your financial contributions to the church in the coming year....)

Next, Jesus offers a parable about God's generosity of spirit.  Comparing the faithful to day laborers in a vineyard, Jesus suggests that the same invaluable reward -- welcome into the Kingdom of God -- is available to all of the workers, even those who join the effort in (and yes, this is where the phrase comes from) the 11th hour.  While people of faith are pleased with God's forgiveness, they don't understand why they don't get extra rewards, based on their extra service -- and their expectations are confounded.  Perhaps some peoples expectations are confounded even to this day, if they actually read the often radical teachings of Jesus.

Read Matthew 19:13-20:16  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Matthew 13-18 today.

Matthew, Day 2 Readings

Jesus' Sermon on the Mount 

Today's reading is, simply, the greatest sermon of all time.  While Jesus offers a couple of brief teachings earlier in Matthew, here we get a rich exploration about good vs. evil, and how a life of faith is lived.

It begins with an exploration of Jewish Torah, which Jesus expands upon.  In particular, he turns the Ten Commandments on their head.  Instead of starting with a list of no-nos, Jesus offers praise for the types of people worthy of praise and blessing.  Then, Jesus comments on some of the specific commandments and expands them, saying that sinful motivations (even if you don't act upon them) are just as corrupting as sinful actions.

Jesus then continues, offering insights on a long list of issues, from money, prayer, status, fear, judgment of others, and much more.  In most instances, Jesus worries most about internal purity rather than on actions.  Many times he warns his listeners that his lessons are not easy; many times he praises those who can live them out.

Read Matthew 5:1-7:29  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Matthew 8-12 today.

Matthew, Day 1 Readings

Jesus' Birth, the Magi & John the Baptist 

Today's first reading is from the Gospel of Matthew, the first book of the New Testament, which explores the life and times, and especially the teachings, of Jesus of Nazareth.  For Matthew, Jesus is the Jewish Messiah that had been promised by the prophets, and he never misses an opportunity to show how Jesus' fulfills this prophecy.

Before Jesus' birth, an angel visits Joseph, quotes a prophecy of Isaiah, and says that Mary's child will fulfill this prophecy.  Even more astonishing, after Jesus' birth, a group of magi, based on an astronomical sign, traveled to present the infant with gifts fit for a new king.  This too is proof that this is the long-awaited Messiah.

Read Matthew 1:18-2:15  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

The second reading fulfills a key part of the prophecy of the coming Messiah, that another person would be sent by God to prepare for and announce his arrival.  For Jesus, this person was John the Baptist (whom we discover was Jesus' cousin in the Gospel of Luke).  John was a radical preacher with an unequivocal message -- Repent!  He baptized those who did repent.  But John hesitated to baptize Jesus, knowing his identity.  At Jesus' insistence, John did baptize Jesus, and a heavenly voice pronounced God's blessing on Jesus.

Read Matthew 3:1-17  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Matthew 1-7 today.

Matthew, Overview

Godsway 66, Book 40 - Matthew  

Matthew is the first book of the New Testament.  It is also the first of four gospels, which tell the story of the life and teaching of Jesus Christ.  In slightly different ways, each gospel attempts to answer the question, "Who is Jesus?"

For Matthew, Jesus is the long-awaited Jewish messiah whom the prophets had promised.  He is the messenger that was promised in Malachi 3, who will come into the Temple and refine the religious leaders.  From the opening genealogy through the final recorded words of Jesus after his resurrection, Matthew shares countless ways in which Jesus fulfills the descriptions of the messiah in the prophets.  Sometimes Matthew does this explicitly, citing the prophetic writings; often, though, it is simply assumed that the reader will recognize these parallels.

You don't need to be an expert in Jewish prophecy, though, to get swept away by the story and teachings of Jesus in Matthew.  Here, Jesus is a profound teacher, offering lengthy sermons about righteousness and faith.  Usually, these stories upend expectations -- and the usual teaching of other Jewish religious leaders of the time.  Always, they pursue a purity of spirit, rather than simply insisting on good behavior, as the true goal of faith -- which is a much higher and more difficult standard.

As people of faith, we are expected to see Jesus in Matthew as the angel describes him to Joseph -- God with us.  In Matthew, Jesus is God walking through the earth, sharing God's eternal wisdom while confronting bad religious teaching.  Jesus is God caring for all people -- eating with them, healing them, paying attention to them -- rather than limiting his time to people of status who "deserve" it.  Jesus is God admitting that the path of faith is extremely challenging and sometimes even dangerous in this sinful world -- which is proven true by his own arrest and crucifixion.  And Jesus is God proving that this world does not have the final word, resurrected to new life and promising the same to those who would follow him.