September 28–Matthew 20-21

“So the last shall be first, and the first last”(20:16).

The final days of the Lord’s life were tense with predictions of coming judgement. Over and over, He warned the Jewish nation. They were about to lose their place of privilege.

The proverb was a favorite of His. Three times the Scriptures record Him saying it. The rich, young ruler–Matthew 19. Lessons of Judgment Day–Luke 13. The parable of the vineyard–Matthew 20 (today’s lesson). No telling how often Jesus actually used this proverb in conversation and teaching.

His parable referred to Jews and Gentiles. In the kingdom of God, the Gentiles, recent recipients of the gospel, were payed equally. They were last in order, but first in honor. In contrast, the Jews who had long carried the identity and privileges of spiritual service, by their rejection of Christ, were first in order, but last in honor. It was the father’s choice to do so. See 20:15. The older brother must never be jealous or resentful of His father’s kindness toward the younger.

The proverb also referred to coming judgement. Those who are esteemed and valued on earth are often in danger of missing the glory of heaven. It is, and always has been, hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom. (See 19:23 in yesterday’s reading). Without faith and sacrificial service, those who are first in earthly privilege will be last in Heavenly honor.

Be careful, dear one. Never presume on God’s grace. It is possible for advantages to become disadvantages. The Jews were first in, “adoption and the glory and the covenants and the Law”(Romans 9:4). In most cases, however, these privileges did them no good. “The word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard the gospel”(Hebrews 4:2).

Have we had the gospel so long that we presume on it and lose our place as a result? “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom will be taken away from you and given to a people producing the fruit of it” (21:43). “To whom much is given, much will be required.” A head-start does not guarantee a successful finish.

“Run in such a way that you may win”(1 Corinthians 9:24).

Friend, are you being careful with the grace of God? Do you realize how easily (often) the first in privilege become the last in reward?

September 27–Matthew 18-19

“Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven”(18:4).

He didn’t scold them. Didn’t even challenge their question.

The disciples rightly perceived the kingdom to be a coming reality. In v. 28, Jesus called it,” the regeneration.” Lovely word. Powerful truth. Life will begin again! A new world is coming!

The disciples were arranging life in preparation for this glorious future, and the Lord had no argument with their thinking. “Send treasures ahead,” He told them. See Matthew 6:20. See also 19:21.

Neither did the Savior chide them for wanting to be great. Selfish ambition is harmful, but the desire for attainment or reward or excellence can be a virtue when it is focused on the Spirit. God is not a soccer coach who gives a trophy to every player, no matter their performance or attitude. “He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). The unworthy slave in Matthew 25 was rejected because he had been lazy.

The Lord is, however, concerned to teach humility. It is the first virtue in God’s kingdom. The key to true greatness.

He illustrated it with a child. Perhaps a small boy was working at chores nearby. When Jesus called him, he came. Children had few rights in the ancient world. They were expected to listen and obey. They were praised for respecting elders and for innocent trust.

In this sense, Jesus Himself was a child. Compliant, trusting, humble. Whatever the Father asked of Him, He did. He was humble. It was His beauty and glory.

Do you wish to be great in the kingdom of Christ? Repent from self-will, from ego-driven independence! With a soft and humble heart, accept the assignments that come from the Father! Without complaint, learn obedience and patience, finding joy entirely in God’s friendship and approval!

Beware! Earthly success may work against you. “It is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom” said the Savior in 19:23. It is hard for a rich man to be humble. Too much power. Too much notoriety.

Dear friend, are you like a child? Are you humble?

“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus. . .He humbled Himself. . . For this reason, God highly exalted Him”(Philippians 2:5,8-9).

September 26–Matthew 16-17

“While He (Peter) was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold a voice out of the cloud said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him’ “(17:5).

It is an important lesson. We love Christ best with our ears. We listen. We stop talking, ignore the noisy anxiety inside our hearts. We focus our attention on the still, small voice. “Be still and know that I am God,” says Psalm 46:10.

Parents recognize this important moment in a child’s development. Often, and sometimes only after discipline is applied, the child begins to listen! Our relationship with God is similar.

“In the beginning was the Word” From the first day of Creation, God had something to SAY. He declares His message in every sunrise and every Scripture. With even greater clarity, He speaks to us in His Son.

Listening, however, is hard work. Peter’s story proves it so. Even for those who sincerely love Christ, listening is learned behavior and demanding discipline. Being still denies my anxious need to control the conversation. It humbles me. It opens my mind and heart to conclusions and directions that are higher than my own. Listening is part of what it means to deny self. See 16:24.

Friend, what has the Lord been saying to you, recently? When you are still and quiet, what do you hear from the Lord of Love? Will you dedicate time and attention today? Will you listen to Him?

“You are short on ears, and long on mouth” (John Wayne).

“Mary was sitting at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. . .and the Lord answered, ‘Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her’ “(Luke 10:40, 42).

September 25–Matthew 14-15

“Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”(14:31).

In chapters 14-15 of his gospel, Matthew records a series of significant miracles. Amazing acts of power!

Jesus healed sick people. Restored sight and hearing and strength. He fed hungry people. (Created food. Twice! Enough for 5000 men one day. 4000 on another day). He walked on water and shared the power with Peter to do the same. He cast out demons. Can you imagine? Will you?

The miracles of Christ are undeniable proof of His identity. Seeing them, people were (are) to glorify God (15:31) and identify Christ as the Son. This is the Father’s purpose in these acts of power. Miracles stretch our concept of Christ. Press us to see Jesus as all-powerful! Infinitely competent! Worthy of worship!

The miracles of Christ teach faith. Notice the gentle but unrelenting challenge for Peter. “Why did you doubt?” Jesus chided His friend. Is the storm larger than I am, Peter? If not, shouldn’t your eyes be on me rather than on the storm?” Miracles are SEEN with the eyes but must be RECKONED in the heart by faith.

Friend, the miracles prove that Jesus is Lord and invite us in to union with Him. Have you reached a new conclusion about Christ? Do you rightly reckon the moral imperative to trust Him? Have the miracles done their work IN you?

If the amazingly competent Christ is near, why are my eyes ever on myself or my situation?

“Miracles are not contrary to nature but only contrary to what we know about nature” (Augustine).

“Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works (miracles) themselves”(Jesus, John 14:11).

“With God all things are possible” (Jesus, Matthew 19:26).

September 24–Matthew 12-13

“When the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, ‘Look, Your disciples do what is not lawful on the Sabbath’ ” (12:2).

“But the Pharisees went out and conspired against Him, as to how they might destroy Him” (12:14).

It came early. Got worse over time. Opposition. Controversy. Wherever the Lord went, MANY people were unhappy. Ever wonder why?

Jesus was not arrogant or inconsiderate. He didn’t have, “a chip on His shoulder.” He wasn’t combative. Wasn’t pushy. See 12:19. In fact, He worked wonders. Healed. Set captives free. Taught truth to great crowds. Miraculous signs of God. Why was He criticized for it? Why were people angry?

Controversy with Jesus originates in the human heart. In today’s reading Jesus declared them,”an evil and adulterous generation.” (12:39). He knew them (us, too). They were pledged to love God. In their hearts and in their habits, however, they loved self. Adulterers.

Sinful men struggle with surrender. As the Son of God, Jesus rightly claimed deity. He pointed to the kingdom as, “something greater than the temple, someone greater than Jonah, or Solomon.” See 12: 38-42. Refusing this surrender and its implications, the human heart displays its sinfulness. Desiring independence, demanding it, we find fault with Christ when the fault is in actually in us. Rather than face ourselves, we blame Him.

Friend, is there controversy in your heart today? Are you angry? Does it occur to you that the turmoil is coming from within? Do you struggle against the truth that Jesus Christ is Lord? To kneel and surrender is a bitter pill for the natural man, but it is healing medicine for the person God created you to be.

“Why, what hath my Lord done? What makes this rage and spite? He made the lame to run, He gave the blind their sight. Sweet injuries! yet at these themselves displease, and ‘gainst Him rise” (Samuel Crossman, My Song Is Love Unknown, 1664).

“Come, let us worship and down, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker” (Psalm 95:6).

September 23–Matthew 10-11

“As you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand’ “(10:7).

“Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness” (Matthew 9:35, italics mine).

Big question. Important. What is the gospel? What good news did Jesus bring us?

Jesus was very specific in His instructions to the disciples. As He sent them out to preach, the Lord, told them (us) to declare the kingdom of God!

The kingdom is at hand, said the Savior. Near. Accessible. In Christ, it is possible for men to live in restored, vibrant, supernatural relationship with God! Not only someday, even now! Jesus called this great opportunity the GOSPEL of the kingdom.

The enemy works hard to deny this truth. He would. “The accuser of the brethren,” cunningly suggests that real righteousness is impossible. Unattainable. “I’m only human,” goes the familiar, Eyore-like excuse. Those who think this way doom themselves to failure. What we cannot believe, we cannot hope or pray.

Ironically, the enemy also works to convince us that righteousness IS possible through human effort and government. A two-sided deception. “Peace IS possible through elections and laws,” says the secular lie.

Against these twin lies, the church declares a hopeful truth. Sinful men can, in Christ, be restored to God and live in union with Him, both participant and beneficiary in God’s present and coming kingdom.

Opposition is guaranteed. To claim that a man CAN live in right relationship with God is to also claim that He SHOULD. The truth of God’s kingdom exposes the conscience, strips away our excuses. People often react harshly.

Even so, what better news can even be imagined? If God is good (and He is), then the greatest hope is for the possibility to live in a right and supernaturally blessed relationship with Him! Friend, the kingdom is near. Will you join your life to it?

“The world has many religions; it has but one gospel” (George Owen).

“From that time Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17).

September 22–Matthew 8-9

“Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well”(9:22).

I am impressed this morning by new and challenging thought. True faith is an extreme position. Christ calls me to stand in a place of COMPLETE trust. All in. No safety net. No lukewarmness.

Faith allows no small view of Christ. In chapters 8 and 9, Matthew reports Jesus’ authority. A God/man with UNLIMITED power over illness, storms and demonic forces. Notice the woman’s absolute confidence in Christ! Friend, do you SEE Jesus as this woman did?

Years of suffering humbled the woman. She was thoroughly convinced that her own solutions, and those of others, were powerless to help her.

Rich soil! A high view of Christ plus a low view of self created in this woman an extreme decision. She would go to Christ! She would not be turned away! Jesus called this determination FAITH.

Do I seek Christ with the same determination? Am I willing to fight through discouragement and those who hinder me? Do I persevere, do I endure? My flesh and the world argue for moderation, but extreme faith is the ONLY thing that can make me well!

“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important” (C. S. Lewis).

“We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity” (Alcoholics Anonymous).

In Christ we do not find balance. We find truth! Jesus is hardly ever the comfortable decision, or the politically popular one. To save me, God calls me to an extreme confidence in His Son.

September 21–Matthew 6-7

“Close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you”(6:6).

As a believer, I have a public life. Jesus called His followers, “a city set on a hill.” See Matthew 5. My choices and character are seen by others. Evaluated. This is as it should be. Christ calls me live openly, publicly.

I also have a private life. Hidden from view. Protected. Secret. Quiet. Not something that can be seen or evaluated by others. See 2 Corinthians 12:4.

In the sermon on the mount, Jesus warned His listeners (us) away from a religion that is fueled by the approval of people. This kind of faith consists mainly of a horizontal relationship to a church but has almost no vibrant vertical relationship with the Father. “All hat, no cattle.” The appearance of holiness without the essential center.

Private prayer is the Lord’s best gift to His friends! Not the easiest, but the best. Not magic, true prayer is authentic conversation with God. Speaking and listening. Honest and open. Friendship with God is invaluable, but can only be discovered and cultivated in secret hours.

Ironically, when this private life is present, people notice. Great irony, as we get free from the need for others to notice us, they often do. In an anxious world, the believer’s prayer-born assurance is very attractive.

At the end of His sermons, people often described Jesus as, “having authority.” Interesting word. Exousia translates two words, “out of ” and “existence”. Jesus’ power rose up from who He was (is). No slick marketing campaign necessary. What people experienced and reported was the compelling Spiritual life of our Lord. Life incubated in private prayer.

Friend, do you have a secret life? Vibrant? Honest? Can you be alone with the Father? Are you? Are you making an investment that only Heaven sees/rewards? What steps will you take today to find and deepen a secret life with Him?

“In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there” (Mark 1:35).

September 20–Matthew 4-5

“From that time, Jesus began to preach and say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’. . .(He) was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom”(4:17, 21).

It was Jesus’ favorite subject. KINGDOM was His “go to” sermon. The kingdom of heaven! Real. At hand. The most exciting announcement in history. Good news. GOSPEL!

The GOSPEL of the KINGDOM declares the potential of a real and right relationship with God. The kingdom of heaven is that group of people in whom Christ resides and reigns. People restored to God. His people, in the Spirit, recognizing His glory, doing His will, experiencing His blessings. Kingdom!

Imagine a nation ruled by a good and brilliant king. Consider the order of that society. The safety of it. The justice. The prosperity. Now, apply this image to a UNIVERSE ruled by an infinitely good King (God, Himself). The reality and potential of this kingdom is our great hope! In Christ, people can walk with God, can know Him and serve Him and walk in His blessings.

This good news is our INCENTIVE to repent. Kingdom as carrot. Why should I change (repent)? Because God has given me a fantastic offer to join His kingdom! He offers to include me in His victory and glory.

Friend, are our eyes open to this reality? Do you imagine and desire a mighty army/nation of Spirit-born, Spirit-guided people, living in right relationship to God by faith in Jesus? Infinitely beautiful! Kingdom is God’s great work and His good news for the world.

Jesus never grew tired of speaking of it. Do His words draw your heart to this great vision?

“Pray then in this way. . .Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”(Matthew 6:10).

September 19–Matthew 1-3

“Now in those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. . .and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan river, as they confessed their sins” (3:1-2, 6).

“I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I. . .He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire”(3:11).

Congratulations! We made it. After a nine month journey through the Old Testament, today we begin reading the New! We will slow down a bit. I know, I know. . .THREE pages per day, but the weight of these words warrants a slower step for the next few months. Take time in these chapters! Listen! Reflect! Learn!

The New Testament begins with an announcement. Out in the wilderness, away from the politics and the noise of Jerusalem, comes the “voice” of John the Baptist. An unexpected message for Israel. The Messiah was coming!

Urgent news, and hopeful. The people were to prepare by confessing their sins (exomologeo, ex, out, homo, same, logeo, to speak, “to speak out the same word, to agree with God”). Baptism was (is) an outward sign of a new inner agreement with God.

It is also a symbol of cleansing. Baptizo is a Greek word that meant to immerse. To dip. As a cloth is pressed down into a vat of dye until it takes on the quality (identity) of its new environment, so the human soul is pressed down into water (for outward cleansing), into the Spirit (for inward cleansing). Christ baptizes those who come to Him. By giving them the Holy Spirit, He changes their identity and nature. New software is installed! A new inner equation of the soul! Dramatically new outcomes!

We are not passive recipients in this much-needed miracle. Just as John called the people of Israel to repent (metanoia, meta, again, noia, to think, “to think again, to reconsider and arrive at a new opinion”. So, Christ calls His people to deep moral inventory. With humility and hope, we confess how independent we have been, how false and selfish our thoughts. We accept the task of rethinking life from a God center.

Christian baptism pictures our union with Christ! Once we were independent. Alone. Now, by the Spirit, Christ Himself is the new environment into which we are immersed! We are IN Christ. “Do you not know that those who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death. . .If we are united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection.” See Romans 6:3,5.

Friend, as we begin reading the New Testament, may I ask you a question? Have you been baptized? Outwardly and inwardly? Is YOUR life joined to Christ in permanent powerful union? His righteousness yours? Your will and heart His? The very heart of the gospel is a clear call. Repent! Be baptized!

“Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead. . .so we too might walk in newness of life!” (Romans 6:4).