Forgive Others

Jesus said to his disciples: "I tell you unless your righteousness surpasses those of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven. "You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, you shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgement. But I say to you, whoever grows angry with his brother will be liable to judgement, and whoever insults his brother, will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, 'You fool,' will be liable to fiery Gehenna. Therefore, if you bring your gift to the alter, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the alter, go first be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court. Otherwise, your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny."

Consideration: The message in this Scripture passage is very clear. Jesus is telling us that foolish anger and judgement of others in the slightest way will lead us to accountability. We must forgive others at all costs. If we fail to do so, we are liable to judgement.

Manifest Your Love

Jesus said to his disciples: "Ask and it will be given you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asks for a loaf of bread, or a snake when he asks for a fish? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him. Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law of the prophets."

Lord Jesus, we ask with humility; seek with confidence; and knock with faith. We believe that you are waiting for us to ask, so your love will manifest itself to all of your children. Amen.

The Lord of Eternity

While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them, "This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. At the judgement the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation and she will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here. At the judgement the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here."

Lord Jesus, this generation of our time, is truly an evil generation. It seeks signs and wonders that feed its earthly desires and are contrary to the Gospel. So you give them up to the desires of the flesh that will ultimately consume them. You alone have the words of everlasting life, but they serve the ruler of this world and not the Lord of eternity. Amen.

Our Father

Jesus said to his disciples: "Our Father who art in heaven, hollowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. "If you forgive men their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions."

Consideration: Jesus sums everything up with these simple words. If we listen to these beautiful words and the wisdom found in them, then we have nothing to fear. These words represent the ticket for mankind to enter into eternal glory. This is the Gospel in its entirety. If we speak these words to the Father with sincerity and love, he will forgive us our transgressions and welcome us home. Amen.

The Key to the Kingdom

“When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. Then the King will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’ Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?’ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.’ And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Lord Jesus, when you come in glory, may we be found to be among the righteous, welcomed by you to inherit the kingdom. To love our neighbor with sincerity is the key to the kingdom of eternal life. Amen.

Away with you Satan

At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights and afterwards he was hungry. The tempter approached and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread." He said in reply, "It is written: One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God."

Then the devil took him to the holy city, and made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: "He will command his angels concerning you and with their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone." Jesus answered him, "Again it is written, you shall not put the Lord, your God to the test." Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence, and said to him, "All these things I shall give you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me." At this, Jesus said to him, "Get away, Satan! It is written: The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve." 

Then the devil left him and, behold, angels came and ministered to him.

Lord Jesus, we too are tempted by the devil and his minions. Unfortunately, mankind has given way to sin. Grant us the grace of repentance; to be truly sorry for our transgressions, and to be reconciled to you. Then filled with thy grace we will be able to say to the devil, "Away with you Satan! We worship and serve our Lord and God alone!" Amen.

The Way of Truth

Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post. He said to him, "Follow me," And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him. Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were at table with them. The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" Jesus said to them in reply, "Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have come not call the righteous to repentance but sinners." 

Lord Jesus, your words give hope to those who have fallen prey to the master of deception. Many have given up on them, but not you. They may have given up on themselves, but you have not given up on them. You have said, "I have come not to call the righteous to repentance but sinners." That is why you came into this world, because all of mankind, including the righteous, are in need of your divine healing and forgiveness. Bless us with the faith to seek out your mercy and move forward in the way of truth. Amen.