Matthew___26

Scripture

Matthew‬ ‭26:13‬

“I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.”

  

Observation-What does it say?

 

Jesus is in Bethany. He is having dinner at a man named Simon’s house. Then a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume and poured it over Jesus’ head. The disciples were baffled with this action. Why would she waste such an expensive item for that?! The disciples thought she could have at least sold the item for lots of money, then gave the money to the poor. But Jesus told his disciples not to criticize her. This woman had done a beautiful thing for him. Jesus tells his disciples that wherever the gospel is preached in the world, that this woman’s story will be told as well.

 

Understanding-What does it mean?

 

Put value in the right things.

 

This woman gave up something very valuable and gave it to Jesus. Scholars believe the worth of the alabaster jar of perfume she anointed Jesus with was worth about a year’s wages! And this woman didn’t even think twice about using it! It takes true devotion and selflessness to do something like that. But that just shows you how much Jesus means to her. She probably spent her life savings on it and was planning on using it on the day she was to be buried. But instead she gives it freely to Jesus. Wow! I think it would be difficult for anyone to do something like that today. In the world we live in now, the value or cost of something can often times overshadow or distort the moral or meaning of something. The question is, what am I putting my values in?

 

Life Application

 

How much does Jesus mean to me?

 

So...how much does Jesus mean to me? Am I willing to honor Jesus with everything I have? Am I willing to look foolish to others around me because of the love I want to show Jesus? Will my story be told for generations to come because of my devotion to Jesus? 🤔 Something to ponder on as we go out in the world today.  

 

-Moses Gaddi

Matthew__25

Scripture

Matthew 25:37-40 NIV

““Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”

Observation-What does it say?

Jesus tells 3 parables to illustrate what the Kingdom of Heaven is like. The verses above come from the parable that Jesus explained regarding sheep and goat. He put the sheep (righteous) on his right and the goats on his left. The righteous were rewarded because they loved and did something about the needy, hungry, sick and the imprisoned, which Jesus said was the same as doing it to Him. However, those on his left were not rewarded, but instead punished for neglecting to love in action those who were in need.

Understanding-What does it mean?

There is always action associated with loving people, just like there is always action associated with loving God.

It reminds me of what James said in James 2:15-17-"Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”

Also, the people that Jesus points out in this parable are not those who are well off or have their lives together. They are people that society tends to shun. People who are hungry, thirsty, needing shelter, needing clothing; those who are sick and in prison. Those are the people that Jesus points out for us not to neglect.

Life Application

How can I show love to someone today? 

Let's do one practical thing to show love to someone today, whether it is buying a homeless person a meal, being a pen pal and encouragement for someone institutionalized/imprisoned, feeding a hungry child, blessing a family with a gift card or meal who is going through grief, following up on someone's health issue, blessing someone with a fridge full of groceries, taking a friend out to a meal who is struggling, etc. 

There's a lot we can do to practically show love to people, specifically the broken, hurting and needy, which in turn is how we show love to our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Dear Jesus, you didn't hang out with the prestigious and righteous people of your day. You hung out with the broken, the hurting, the sick and the unrighteous sinners. Most importantly, you loved us so much to leave Your throne in Heaven to save us, and You did it in the most humble way. Thank you! May Your heart for people be ours. May we be intentional about loving people, "the least of these", through action and as Pastor says, be more outward focused instead of inward focused. Amen.

 

-Michelle Gaddi

Matthew____24

Scripture

Matthew‬ ‭24:42‬ ‭‬‬

“So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.” 

 

Observation-What does it say?

Jesus is sitting on the Mount of Olives, telling His disciples about the things to come in the future, the “birthing pains” that this earth will have before His second coming, and the end of the world. He urges His disciples to always be prepared and to be ready. In this particular verse I chose today, Jesus uses the example of a homeowner being prepared as if he knew a burglar was coming. The homeowner would keep watch and not allow his house to be broken into. The same goes for us. We must all be prepared because Jesus can come back at anytime.

 

Understanding-What does it mean?

 

Be prepared. Don’t procrastinate.

 

We have all done it before. Whether it’s studying for a test or interview, paying a bill, or doing a household chore. We put it off until the last minute. Why do we do it?! Because WHEN we do it, we always seem to overload our plates, cramming to get the task done, and most of the time what needs to get done is a poorly executed result. Even if we’re lucky enough to get the job done, the stress leading up to it can be overwhelming, all because we choose to take time for granted and wait for another day.

 

That is why Jesus is pleading with His disciples, (that includes us), to be prepared, and be ready. Each day is a gift from God. Nothing is guaranteed. This passage reminds us that not even the angels in Heaven know when Jesus will return. Only God knows (verse 36). So don’t procrastinate on living godly lives or sharing with others the Gospel message and importance of living lives for Christ. This passage tells us what happens to those who are not prepared.

 

“The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew‬ ‭24:50-51‬ ‭

 

And I think we all know the place that these unprepared people will be going. And if you truly understand what this place is, we wouldn’t wish for anyone to go there. So let’s get our “house in order”. Let’s help others to do the same. Let’s not get “caught with our pants down” doing something we shouldn’t be doing when Jesus arrives. Let’s be prepared for our Master’s return so He can welcome us by saying “Well done my good and faithful servant.” 😊

 

 

Life Application

 

What would you do differently if you knew Jesus was coming tomorrow?

 

I once heard a well known pastor, (although I don’t remember who at the moment..LOL), ask this question. His response was...

“nothing.” Now that was a man who was prepared, who lived each day as if it was his last. A man who lived each day for God, seeking and doing His will. I can’t help but admire and respect that. I pray that I can be that prepared. I want to know without a shadow of a doubt, that I lived each day for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I want to live each day knowing that I did all that I can do for Him. I want to please Him as a player wants to please his coach, or a son wants to please his father. And I know He is “cheering me on in the stands” each and every step of the way. 😊

 

-Moses Gaddi