Daily Bible Reading

Luke 21:5-24
Background:  Jesus prepares his disciples for the future as he nears the day of his crucifixion.
Note: Jerusalem and it’s great temple were destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D., about 35 years after Jesus spoke these words.  The temple was leveled with hardly one stone standing upon another.  Jesus’ words in this passage most likely look forward to this event and a future time when the Son of Man will be seen coming in a cloud [Luke 21:27]
Things to think about:  What is it that grabbed the disciples’ attention at the start of this passage?  How did Jesus redirect their thinking?  Jesus was preparing his faithful followers for the challenges of life and ministry after he left them.  It is as if Jesus says, “Well, I have some good news and some bad news for you.”    What is the “bad news?”  What is the “good news?”  If you were one of the disciples do you think you would have considered the good news to outweigh the bad news, or vice versa?  Following Jesus then and today promises eternal blessings, but also points toward expected difficulty.  What does verse 19 mean to you today?  Where do you need to stand firm?  Do you believe the “good news” outweighs the “bad news?”
2^nd Reading: Matthew 5:10-12:   Look for ways you can encourage other Christians [locally or globally] to stand firm and understand they are blessed in the midst of trials and persecution.

Matthew 23:1-36
Background:  Today’s reading takes place during the tension filled last week of Jesus’ ministry as the religious leaders seek to turn the people against Jesus [which eventually leads to his crucifixion]. 
The Pharisees and teachers of the Law were considered to be those who best knew how to live out God’s laws.  They were the religious experts.
Things to think about:  This is not an easy passage to read.  Sometimes we like to think of Jesus as always gentle, always forgiving.  But this would be an incomplete understanding of Jesus.  As you read this passage, don’t worry so much about the details.  Grasp the big picture.  What words are repeated?  How did Jesus view the Pharisees and teachers of the Law?  Why?  What did he say would happen to them?  Are you surprised by the passion and anger expressed by Jesus?  How does Jesus feel about those who say they follow God and try to set an external example of obedience, yet fail to honor God in their hearts?  When are you tempted to work more on appearing to be a good Christian, then on being a true follower of Jesus?  Why do you do it?
2^nd Reading:  Psalm 119:10-11:  What practical steps do you take to really know God’s word, and really obey his commands?

Mark 12:28-34
Background:  Jesus continues to teach in a hostile environment [see September 1^st & 2^nd]
Things to think about:  What seems to be the motivation of this questioner of Jesus?  How does it differ from those we read about yesterday?  What question did he ask?  Why do you think he asked it?  Jesus does indicate that some commands are greater than others.  Do you agree [as this man agreed] with Jesus’ answer?  Why / why not?  The fact that this man was in agreement with Jesus about the greatest commandment caused Jesus to say, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”  What do you think this means?  Are you growing in love for God?  In love for neighbor? 
                                               
2^nd Reading: Deuteronomy 6:4-5:  God is jealous and he demands the #1 place in your life.  Consider how much of your life is spent focused on him.  Ask yourself, “What thing or person or desire threatens to take over the #1 place in my life?”  Ask God for help and for a plan to keep that thing way down in place #2.  Make this a focus of your prayer every day this week, follow up on what God shows you.

Luke 20:20-40
Background:  Keep in mind that this week’s readings take place during Jesus final week of ministry before his was arrested and killed [and rose from the dead!].  Tension and conflict grew as the religious leaders tried to bring down Jesus’ ministry.  They kept trying to trick Jesus into saying or doing something wrong.
 
Things to think about:  [vs. 20-26] Notice the flattering words the spies used to try to catch Jesus off guard.  Their question was set up to be a lose-lose situation for Jesus.  If he had answered it is right to pay taxes, they would have said he was giving to Romans authority and many of the people would have considered him a traitor to the Jewish people.  If he had said not to pay taxes, they would have turned him over to the Romans as a traitor to Rome.  How did Jesus get out of this dilemma? 
[vs. 27-40] The Sadducees [who don’t believe in the resurrection] try to trick Jesus with a question about the resurrection.  How does Jesus respond to their question?
Jesus knew his questioners wanted to trick him in order to destroy him and his ministry.  By giving wise answers and by not lashing out in anger Jesus avoided this trap.  How well would you have responded in this situation?
2^nd reading: 1 Corinthians 10:13:  The Bible promises that God will help us when we are tempted [by others or our own sinful nature].  As soon as you catch the faintest whiff of temptation, pray for God’s help and wisdom.  The Spirit of Jesus has been given to all believers [Galatians 4:6]

Matthew 22:1-14
Background:  During his three years of ministry, the response to Jesus has been wide ranging.  Many were powerfully impacted by his teaching and miracles.  Thousands upon thousands flocked to see him and some even worshiped him.  But others, especially the Jewish political and religious rulers, rejected him and his teaching. 
The last week of Jesus ministry contained similar powerful contrasts.  Jesus was welcomed into Jerusalem by the multitudes as a conquering hero come to save the people from the oppression of the Romans [Matthew 21].  Yet, it was at this time that Jesus had some of his strongest conflict with the Jewish leaders.  Jesus preached a series of parables to [and against] the chief priests and Pharisees.  This caused them to want, even more, to end Jesus’ influence with the people.  [Matthew 21:45-46]
Things to think about:  As you read the story of this parable, remember that it speaks truth about “the kingdom of heaven” [vs. 2].  In Jesus’ day, wedding banquets were often the biggest parties of the entire year.  It was a time of joy and celebration for the whole community.  Who prepared this banquet?  For whom did he prepare it?  What does that say about the size and quality of this banquet compared to most wedding banquets?  What happened to those who were invited [vs. 3]?  What did the king say to encourage the invited to come [vs. 4]?  How did they respond to this second invitation?  Considering the quality of this banquet, how foolish would you say these people were being?!  Jesus was not telling some random, abstract story.  What was he showing the Jewish leaders their foolishness at rejecting God and his son, Jesus.  Since the original invited guests wouldn’t come, what did the king do next?  Do you think it is significant that “both good and bad” were invited?  Who was thrown out of the party and why?  This parable is about how both Jews and Gentiles [the other people] are invited to accept or reject God’s son, and how accepting His Son, Jesus, is as good as being welcomed to a royal, extravagant wedding banquet. 
                                               
2^nd reading: Psalm 100:4:  What have you done with God’s invitation to come to the “wedding banquet” of God’s Son?  Are you ready to party?  As people watch how you live, will they be under the impression that accepting God’s invitation is better than being invited to a king’s party for his son?  [Are you full of thanks and praise?] 

The Daily Bible Reading Blog is taking a two week vacation.  See you again on September 1^st!

Mark 10:35-45
Background:  Our Bible readings have been growing closer and closer to the time of Jesus’ final visit to Jerusalem.  He will soon be welcomed as a hero [the events of Palm Sunday], tried and crucified [Good Friday], and rise from the dead [Easter]. 
                                                                                              
Things to think about:  What is it that James and John want?  Is this a bad thing?  [Sitting at the right and left is descriptive of positions of honor.  Remember the passage from August 12]  Why are the other ten upset at their request?  The disciples are eager to have positions of greatness.  What does Jesus indicate they must do to have positions of greatness?  In what ways do Christians today face the dangerous temptation of wanting to be great or first?  What does it mean for a Christian today to be servant or slave of all?  Where do you see humble service at work in your church?  In your family?  Do you need to increase the ways you serve others?  Where will you start?
2^nd Reading: Galatians 5:13

Luke 16:1-13
Background:  Another parable of Jesus.  This one is identified as being said to the disciples [vs. 1].
                       
Things to think about:  This parable is difficult in that Jesus uses a manager [described as wasteful and dishonest] as an illustration about how to live.  At first it seems that the manager’s dishonesty continued as he deceitfully reduced the rich man’s bills.   Some, however, have suggested that the amount the manager reduced the bills was the portion that would have been his commission.  If this is true, then the dishonest manager was personally sacrificing to make his own future more secure.  Whatever the case, Jesus’ words in vs. 8 & 9 still hold true.  As far as Jesus is concerned, what is the purpose of wealth?  How does this differ from our culture’s view of wealth?  What do you think it means that we should use our worldly wealth to make friends who will welcome us into eternal dwellings?  
                                                   
2^nd Reading: Ecclesiastes 5:10:  Does your wealth help you serve God and make friends, or does it get in the way?  This week, how can you spend some of your wealth to impact another person in a way that serves God’s purpose for them?

Luke 15:11-32
Background: The two parables from yesterday’s reading set up this third parable. 
Things to think about:  Make sure you simply enjoy this wonderful story.  Read it again.  See the events in your mind’s eye.  The younger son’s request in vs. 12 was a significant insult especially in that day’s culture.  It was saying in effect, “Father, you are better off dead to me.”  However, the older son also showed great disrespect when he rejected his Father’s request to join the party.  The Father obviously represents our Heavenly Father.  What does this story tell us about how God feels toward those who reject him?  How ready is God to receive those who return to him?  At the close of this story, which son ends up being in a right relationship with his father?  Do you see more of yourself in the younger son, or the older one?  Which one would you rather be like? 
2^nd Reading: Psalm 103:13:  Do you believe God really is like the father described in the parable?  How does your answer impact how you live today?

Luke 15:1-10
Background: The next two day’s reading contain parables that powerfully reveal God’s heart for the people he has created. 
Things to think about:  What two groups of people hear this series of parables?  In what ways are they different?  Which group would you be more comfortable hanging out with?  Why are the Pharisees upset with Jesus?  How do you think the “sinners and tax collectors” responded to these parables?  What about the Pharisees?  What does it mean to repent?  What truth do we learn from these simple stories?  What implication do these parables have for the Christian who wants to have God’s heart for others?
2^nd Reading:  Romans 5:8