Matthew 22 - 9.22.23

Scripture

Matthew 22:29

Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God…”

Observation

A member of the Sadducees (one of the two primary religious and political parties in Jesus’ day) approached Jesus with an elaborate question regarding marriage at the resurrection. And his question showed Jesus that this particular religious leader was way off base in his understanding. And the reason he was in error? Jesus points to two reasons, “because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.”

What stood out to me was the first part, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures…” So many find themselves in the same place today as this Sadducee. We try to make sense of God, the world, our purpose, how things work, etc. without looking to God’s word. As a result, there are so many who are confused, and others who are confident things are true that aren’t true at all.

Application

If I want to avoid error, I have to be a man committed to knowing the Scriptures. I need to be in God’s word more than any other information source.

As a practical step, every time I pull out my phone when I’m bored or out of habit this weekend, I’m going to open the Bible app and read at least a few verses before opening any other app.

Prayer

God, may we be a people who avoid error because we are committed to knowing your word. May we be a people who read it, meditate on it, memorize it, and live it out. I ask you to show me any places where my thinking doesn’t line up with what’s true. In Jesus’ name, amen.

-Levi Thompson

Matthew 21 - 09.21.23

SCRIPTURE :Matthew 21:14-16 NIV

“The blind and the lame came to Jesus at the temple, and HE healed them. 

But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things JESUS did ——and the children shouting PRAISE in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. 

“Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.

“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,

“ ‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’ ?””

OBSERVATION:

After driving the money changers and the temple merchants away from His Father’s House, Jesus performed public miracles of healing on the temple grounds. People who were blind and who were lame came to Him and the people were amazed at the wonderful things He was doing.

Even the children were shouting in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David.”

The term, Hosanna is simultaneously a declaration of joy and praise as well as a Hebrew expression that means “Oh Save us!” and “Praise to the Savior.”

The term Son of David was an overt Messianic label. It came from a divine promise to David as prophesied through Nathan that God would give David a descendant whose throne would be established forever (2 Samuel 12-13). This forever king was believed by the Jews to be the Messiah. Jesus was a descendant of David (Matthew 1:1) and He was the Messiah (Matthew 1:14). The children were basically shouting to Jesus “Messiah save us!” and “Praise to Jesus, our Messiah!”

This greatly angered the chief priest and scribes. But when the chief priests and the scribes confronted Jesus indignantly asking Him, “Do You hear what these children are saying?” 

Jesus did not repudiate the children as they expected. HE repudiated the priests and scribes instead.

He asked them a rhetorical question of His own: Have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies You have prepared praise for Yourself’?” 

APPLICATION:

The Children shall Lead them

Matthew alone shares this important piece of the story…There are children at the Temple literally SHOUTING praises to Jesus-claiming Him as the Messiah! Hosanna! Jesus Saves!

One commentator mentioned that there would have been 12yr old boys at the Temple about to partake in their first ceremony. How befitting that they would be there to hail this moment in time.

“Luther was greatly encouraged when he found that the children met together for prayer. He said, ‘God will hear them. The devil himself cannot defeat us now that the children begin to pray.’” (Spurgeon)

I am continually blessed by our Church and how God continues to move in our children of ALL ages!

I’m always amazed at what comes out of their hearts and mouths. Noah and Hunter and their prophetic gifting completely dumbfound me. Dom is precious in how he wants to pray for others. Melody getting up in front of our church and speaking out Psalm 139 with such poise and amazing comprehension! 🤯 God is Moving! 

May we each be surrounding them in prayer and encouragement as they all grow in God and His Word. Thank You to Joni for her leadership in Kid’s church and to Katie for her Leadership with Highrise and to everyone who serves!

“My house shall be a House of Prayer” (Matthew 21:13)

“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “ ‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’ ?””

(Matthew 21:16 NIV)

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus,

Thank You LORD that YOU are Hosanna—Jesus Saves!

Thank You Lord that this message is the Good News for EVERYONE!

Thank You Lord that it is so simple and true that children can share it!

It is Your Good Pleasure to Call forth Praise from the lips of Children—

Thank You for putting me in Desert Streams where I have the opportunity to continue 

To learn and grow from people of all ages—Bless our workers and give them strength and wisdom for all they do.

All Praise to You Lord-amen.

Matthew 20 - 9.20.23

Scripture

Matthew 20:15-16

15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ 16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

Observation

Jesus tells another parable to His disciples about workers in a vineyard who were hired at different times, yet promised the same wage. Those hired first were grumbling because of all the hard work they put in from the beginning, yet the owner (parallel to the Lord, our Master), paid them the same wage as the workers who started work later. He says to stop being envious of His generosity and ends that parable by saying, “The last will be first and the first will be last.”

For example, those who were hired first could be parallel to those who’ve been living their lives for Jesus all their lives.  The ones hired last could be parallel to someone like the thief on the cross, who never lived a day for Jesus, except for his acceptance of Him seconds before he took his last breath. In both scenarios, both were promised and given the same reward.

Jesus said these same words in our reading yesterday in Matthew 19. “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” He did it to describe the Kingdom of Heaven and having a humble heart towards acceptance of Jesus. (The unwillingness of the Pharisees and Religious Leaders of the day to have a humble heart like a child is why they couldn’t accept Jesus.) I am also reminded of the Parable of the Prodigal son in Luke 15, where the other son was envious because the rebellious one who came back got a big party, but he didn’t.

In Jesus’ parable, He was saying that it doesn’t matter when or how we started in terms of our faith. It’s how we finish. 

Application

We must stop judging God’s generosity and grace. At the foot of the cross, we are all the same.

Have you ever been so prideful that you thought you were better than others or deserved more than others because you’d been a faithful servant of Christ all your life? True confessions-I did, 21 years ago, and you know what happened? God humbled me, broke me and brought me to a place where I was no longer the Pharisee in Luke 18:9-14, but the tax collector, in need of His mercy and grace and no longer reliant on my works for Him.

A lot of inspirational speakers, ministers and Pastors say this, so I don’t know where it originated from, but it’s true! “It doesn’t matter when or how you start, it’s how you finish.” That’s the mindset we must have when reaching out to others. Today, we have an opportunity to reach out at the Canyon Country Farmer’s Market from 6-8p.

Prayer

Dear Lord, 

May we never forget where we came from or judge Your generosity towards others. That same generosity is why many of us are who/where we are today. Open our eyes to see who You would like us to reach out to today and may we respond in obedience. Amen. 

-Michelle Gaddi