20: If the significance of Christ’s words is missed here, this statement could be taken as a cruel and discouraging standard. Here you have Jesus speaking to the mass of the common people. Many of them may not know how to read. Others were far too busy making ends meet than to study the scriptures all the time. In other words, they could not, in their way of thinking, ever hope to be as righteous as the scribes and Pharisees.
But, it is this inequality that reveals the truth of Christ’s words. He was not trying to get people to embrace a higher standard of pretentiousness than even their social betters. Instead, he was showing them that the only true inequality that existed was the lack of righteousness among those who claimed to be their superiors. He held out to them a righteousness that, being so much higher than any man can attain on his own, every man has a an equal chance of attaining. He was set to reveal to them the needs of their heart. True righteousness would begin there. And, from there, salvation would enter their lives.
Daily Bible Reading: Job 10:1-13:28
Daily Memory Verse: Jude 1:2 “Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.”
Daily Tidbit: Humpback whales have some very interesting fishing techniques. The neatest is what is called bubble net feeding. A group of whales will get together and create a shrinking circle of bubbles around an entire school of fish. Working as a team, the whales drive the fish closer together and closer to the surface. At just the right moment, the whales swim upwards and each catch thousands of fish in their huge mouths.
Praise Journal: Heavenly Father, thank You for the infinite wisdom of Your ways. You have made available to us mysteries in Your Word which would otherwise remain hidden. You give us guidance for spirituality. You help us find our true place in this universe. You give us real meaning and significance. Let us always yield our lives to the overwhelming greatness of Yourself. May we be instruments of Your Spirit, constantly living by your Word, and following Your way. May Christ and his gospel be the overarching purpose of our lives. We must make much of him, as You, inexplicably, are able to make much of us. Teach us that our greatness lies not just within ourselves, but within Christ in us. Without him, we are weak, and empty. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.
Prayer Journal Highlights: Pray for a lady with Lupus. Pray for a man going through cancer treatments. Pray for a man who needs to move out of the nursing home. Pray for a missionary with health issues.
Personal Journal Entry #12156