32: Jesus held up a very high standard for marriage. Specifically, he speaks of divorce from the man’s perspective, since they were the ones abusing this law so much. Jesus knew that divorced women of that day would likely have to remarry to support themselves. Marrying a divorced woman would make a person an adulterer. Jesus mentions the exception of fornication. This seems to be something different from adultery alone, otherwise the same word would have been used. Various suggestions have been offered for the exact meaning of this concept. At the very least however, it would require that something be proven about the unfaithful spouse. For example, nowadays, just as in Jesus’ time, persons can divorce their partner for no real good reason. If, however, it was required that the unfaithfulness of a spouse be proven in a court of law, divorce would not run about so rampantly as it does today. Of course, adultery is not illegal in our day. So, that is likely why this kind of law has fallen away.

Daily Bible Reading: Job 38:1-40:24

Daily Memory Verse: Jude 1:4 “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained unto this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Daily Tidbit: Should we spend more of our prayers praising God Almighty, or asking him for stuff?

Praise Journal: Heavenly Father, I love You. I really want to do Your will in my life. I know Your way is perfect, and Your plans are the best. Help me to submit to You in all areas. You alone can organize our lives as they need to be. You alone know the end from the beginning. You are the Source of Wisdom for all mankind. You alone can understand all of the problems and needs that we have. You are the Solution, You are the Savior. You can change our lives into something good for Your glory. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Journal Highlights: Pray for church services all over the world this morning.

Personal Journal Entry #12164

31: In practice, the law concerning divorce had come to favor the man very much. A Jewish man, though expected to have a legitimate reason, could divorce his wife at his discretion. He was the judge in matters of impropriety on her part, and she could not divorce him. Thus, as one can imagine, divorce did happen on occasion in Jesus day.

Daily Bible Reading: Job 35:1-37:24

Daily Memory Verse: Jude 1:3 “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”

Daily Tidbit: When divorce laws were first put together in America, no-fault divorce was not an option. It did not begin until the late sixties. Before this, persons seeking a divorce had to actually prove that their partner was at fault for the marriage being on the rocks. Now, they can divorce for no good reason at all. The only benefit of the law is that marital abuse cases decreased. However, this positive could have been produced by other means. The introduction of the no-fault divorce laws has led to the breakdown of marriage in America.

Praise Journal: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your love and faithfulness. Thank You for Your mercy and grace. If it were not for Your goodness, we would all be condemned. We are all at fault, and have fallen far short of Your standard of goodness. You expect people to be much nicer to each other than we are. Thank You for not seeking to divorce Your creation. You could certainly do so if You wished and be justified. But, Your goodness is too great to allow it. You are the best example of true love that a couple can look to in marriage. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Journal Highlights: Pray for our nation. Pray for those involved in false religions to see the light of the Truth.

Personal Journal Entry #12163

30: Some may be repulsed by the intensity of Christ’s illustrations. Another example of this was the time that Jesus spoke about eating his flesh and drinking his blood. These illustrations will lead to the offence of those who are listening out of false motives. One who truly wants to learn the Truth will understand that they are illustrations of spiritual truths.

Daily Bible Reading: Job 32:1-34:37

Daily Memory Verse: Jude 1:3 “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”

Daily Tidbit: Mark chapter nine verses forty-three through forty-eight is a parallel with Matthew chapter five verses twenty-nine and thirty. In Mark, Jesus seems to say that people will ‘enter into life’ with missing limbs. In other words, if one died missing a part, they would be resurrected missing that part. This may have been a widely held belief at the time. Jesus seems to support such a notion. We know that Jesus’ body bore the marks of his crucifixion after his resurrection. So, there could be some truth to the idea. However, it must be said that some saints will undergo extreme dismemberment (such as those mentioned in Hebrews chapter 11). These could not be expected to ‘enter life’ in pieces! Thus, it is best to leave this concept as a possibility that we obviously do not have enough information about tho make a final judgment. It is one of the many things we will find out when we get to heaven.

Praise Journal: Heavenly Father, you are truly worthy of all praise! If I will but look to You, I can see a reason for living every day to its fullest. Your Son gives me the hope to keep going on for You. You inspire a sense of my own worthlessness, and yet, I feel so much better about myself when I am worshiping You. Recognizing Your greatness, and seeking to know You well, are such satisfying pursuits! Lord God Almighty, make me understand Your wonders, that I may live to sing of them. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Journal Highlights: Pray for a man who has been under the weather. Pray for a husband and wife who are travelling this week. Pray for a family that just lost a baby. Pray for a lady with muscle issues.

Personal Journal Entry #12162

29: People often spend more time trying to determine Jesus’ exact meaning in these verses then they do acting on it. Obviously, if one removes a hand or eye, he may still be tempted. However, if he cuts certain things out of his life, no matter how dear to him, the likelihood of temptation is reduced drastically. For example, complete abstinence from alcohol may seem drastic to some people. But, an total abstainer’s chances of getting sopping drunk are well nigh zero.

Daily Bible Reading: Job 29:1-31:40

Daily Memory Verse: Jude 1:3 “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”

Daily Tidbit: People will often blame Christianity for things that the Bible does not teach. For example, in our modern day, the general consensus seems to be that Christians do not believe in equality. On the contrary, in Job 31:15, equality between masters and slaves, for instance, is very clearly taught. Thus, though people will try to blame social ills, such as slavery in early America, on Christianity, the Truth still stands. God’s Word makes it clear that all men were created equal.

Praise Journal: Heavenly Father, we need Your help to have a balanced approach to life. So often we spend hours on things that will not matter in eternity. In the meantime, we could be doing something of great value. O Father, help me to keep my priorities in line! Give us lives that are lived for a purpose. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Journal Highlights: Pray for a lady’s unspoken request.

Personal Journal Entry #12161

27: Great emphasis in the Jewish community had come to be laid upon the outward manifestation of sin. Thinking lustful thoughts was not addressed, whereas appearing outwardly to be interested in a woman was forbidden. Thus, the focus was on ‘keeping up appearances’ rather than purifying one’s heart.
28: Jesus’ focus is on the thoughts of the heart. The lustful look, which follows after the thoughts of one’s heart, is all the same as the act of adultery itself.

Daily Bible Reading: Job 24:1-28:28

Daily Memory Verse: Jude 1:3 “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”

Daily Tidbit: The flying squirrel can glide from tree to tree for a distance of as much as 295 ft.

Praise Journal: Heavenly Father, You are consistently the same all the time. We can always count on You. Help us to be the same. Make us faithful and consistent. We need stability in our lives. The wishy-washy nature of our attitude and thoughts is in need of help. We are often double-minded. Thank You for Your Word, and the stability that You offer to us. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Journal Highlights: Pray for our nation.

Personal Journal Entry #12160

25: Many have taken great pains to make this passage an allegory. They greatly complicate an otherwise simple meaning. The adversary here mentioned is someone who, like the brother mentioned in the previous verse, has something against you. As a result, they are, literally, taking you to court. While on the way, Jesus says, you should make every effort to listen to him and make amends with him. Otherwise, the one that you owe may choose to take his complaint to a higher court.
26: The point, which we see effectively in this verse, is that those who do not get along with their accusers will not have a good time of it. So, Jesus is simply restating a principle that he had mentioned in the previous verses, and that he explains elsewhere. If you are guilty, be quick to admit that guilt and confess it, and settle up with those who require just satisfaction. Otherwise, you must not expect unfair treatment of your guilt to keep you from severe punishment. The proper attitude towards our sin is what is at issue here. Denying your guilt is a bad idea.

Daily Bible Reading: Job 21:1-23:17

Daily Memory Verse: Jude 1:3 “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”

Daily Tidbit: I had heard of the law of diminishing returns before, but forgot what it meant. So, I looked it up. The law goes like this: If you are producing something, and you increase one element of the production process (while keeping all others the same), it will lead to a diminishing of the quality, and value, of the product. I was thinking that this principle could be applied to our spiritual lives. If we pursue one thing that God tells us we should do, and yet neglect other things, that one thing will not benefit us nearly as much.

Praise Journal: Heavenly Father, thank You for being patient with us. You must look at our pitiful growth in spiritual things and see how much more we could have if we would just reach out and take it from You. Help us to see that it is not about what we do, so much as what You can provide. Your strength makes so much possible for us. Give us the faith to depend upon Your faithfulness. Help us to stop thinking of all that we do not have and rely on You fully for what we do have. Your way is truly perfect, and we seek to walk in it. It is amazing to think that we can bring any glory to You. But, let us enjoy that fact that You enable us to do so. You are worthy, Father. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Journal Highlights: Pray for an older couple in our church as they deal with health issues. Pray for a young girl with complicated health concerns. Pray for a lady having trouble with one of her feet.

Personal Journal Entry #12159

23: Often even the Jews forgot what many of us today readily miss in the sacrificial system. The offerings, whether for sin or for praise, had to be offered with the right attitude of heart. Sin could not be regarded in one’s heart while an offering was made. If something was between you and another, it needed to be dealt with.
24: The resolution here is immediate. You cannot simply intend to reconcile, and then offer anyway. The reconciliation must come before the offering. This is true even today, though the sacrificial system is not in use. New Testament saints should keep short accounts of sin with God Almighty and the neighbors. Sin must be dealt with speedily. Otherwise, our praise for Almighty God will be unheeded by him, and meaningless.

Daily Bible Reading: Job 17:1-20:29

Daily Memory Verse: Jude 1:2 “Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.“

Daily Tidbit: The Great Egret is an amazing animal. It has beautiful white feathers that seem to stay white all the time. It is fascinating to study how this occurs. The Egret says in muddy water much of the day, and yet remains brilliantly white. One of the ways that this is maintained involves a special kind of dust that is produced in down patches on the bird. The Egret uses these patches to coat its feathers with a white dust that clings to dirt. The dust can be shaken loose, taking the dirt with it.

Praise Journal: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your wisdom. We so often are not so good at knowing what is best for our lives. We get caught up in things that are really a waste of time. Thank You for leading us to goals in life that will amount to something. Thank You for making us more than just the sum of our parts. We can make a real difference in the lives of others, and in this world. This is all through You, of course. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Journal Highlights: Pray for a lady who was taken to the hospital yesterday. Pray for pastors at churches in our area to preach the Word of God.

Personal Journal Entry #12158

21: In this verse, Jesus begins his explanation of the law. Where he says ‘ye have heard’ he is referring not to what was originally written in the law, but to how it had been taught to the Jews by the Jews down through the years. Thus, he was correcting some common misconceptions.
It had been decided that certain types of murder should be punished by death after the judgment of the council. This is much like our degrees of murder today, first, second, and so forth. Thus, some forms of murder had come to not be punishable by death.
22: Jesus revives the true meaning of ‘thou shalt not kill’ and explains its true meaning for the heart of man. Those who are angry with others in their heart for the wrong reason will be judged by Almighty God. Raca means to call someone worthless, to belittle them. Such persons, Jesus says, should be judged by the council. Calling someone a fool is basically equivalent to cussing him out. This person, Jesus says, is deserving of hell, and should expect such. Thus, Jesus shows that ‘thou shalt not kill’ is not just a rule to be followed in its letter, but also in its spirit. The chances of one killing his neighbor who is never found to belittle him, find fault with him, or swear at him, are much less indeed.

Daily Bible Reading: Job 14:1-16:22

Daily Memory Verse: Jude 1:2 “Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.”

Daily Tidbit: It is amazing what we think of as ‘not so bad’ these days. Many Christians will call people morons, idiots, and other such names. This is the same as the ‘raca’ expression that Jesus was talking about. Cussing people out is not illegal in America. Freedom of speech should include the freedom to condemn your neighbor, right? Yet, Jesus says it is wrong. Thus, morality cannot simply be legislated, it must be produced in the heart of a person.

Praise Journal: Heavenly Father, our Lord God Almighty, creator of heaven and earth and all that is in them, thank You for Who You are and what You teach us. Jesus is such a comfort to us. To know that You love us so much that You would send him is a great blessing. We can never thank You enough. Christ stand s as that great connection between man and God Almighty. He is the link we have You, Father. What a joy this is! Please help us to know Christ as we should. Bring us closer to him and make us more like him each and every day. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Journal Highlights: Pray for a neighbor having health issues. Pray for a woman with gall stones. Pray for a couple on a long trip.

Personal Journal Entry #12157

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.

19: The Jewish experts of the law in Jesus’ day, and even since then, have been known for far-out interpretations of the law. The rabbis have made up many stipulations allowing certain activities to continue. For example, in modern times, orthodox Jewish communities have a boundary around their town called an Eruv. This boundary supposedly allows them to move items about without breaking the Sabbath.
Thus, the Jews had already begun to abrogate the law by their traditions in Jesus’ day. It was this breaking of the ‘least’ of the commandments that Jesus was referring to. He had come to set a higher standard.

Daily Bible Reading: Job 7:1-9:35

Daily Memory Verse: Jude 1:2 “Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.”

Daily Tidbit: Following the same type of reasoning with the Eruv around the city, the Jews have rule concerning travelling on the Sabbath. Apparently, if food is prepared prior to the Sabbath and is placed in a location outside of the normally ‘allowed’ boundaries of travel, the food extends those boundaries.

Praise Journal: Heavenly Father, thank You for the clarity that You give Your servants. Your Word is clear to those who, Jew and Gentile alike, seek to honor You. Help us to love You and serve You with all our hearts, souls, and minds. Help us to love others as we should. Give us your wisdom to teach others Your laws. Thank You for Your mercy, grace, and love! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Journal: Pray for a missionary family in Kenya. Pray for a missionary couple in Cameroon. Pray for two ladies who are battling cancer.

Personal Journal Entry #12155