9

If this is the first page you clicked on check back to the first day of the ninety-two day chronological reading plan of the New Testament. Go to ---->"DAY ONE" If you want the whole plan day by day and not wait find it here at Shalom in the wilderness 

Day Nine: Matthew 12:1-21, Mark 3, Luke 6

Throughout this reading all three sections mention the Sabbath from the start. Jesus was around the Pharisees, and as usual they waited until he did something that they thought was unholy. We already know that Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath and explains what David did with his men when they were hungry. The Lord also points out that the priests who were looked upon as ordained were hypocrites and were innocent despite their desecration of the Sabbath.
Matthew 12:5-7

.5 Or haven't you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple desecrate the day and yet are innocent? 6 I tell you that one greater than the temple is here. 7 If you had known what these words mean, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the innocent.

Soon after he calls the pharisees out in their teachings, he sees a man with a shriveled hand on the Sabbath.  He asks it is lawful to heal in order to do good and not evil on the Sabbath. With out works faith is dead, in faith the man was healed and his arm restored by believing Jesus was able.
Matthew 12:11-12

11 He said to them, "If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath." 

He continues to heal many and tells them not to proclaim his name, warning them to keep his works in secret, and many disobeyed and told. I guess when we feel better we all like to praise
and shout for joy. It was dangerous for people to know, since he was being sook out to be destroyed. Even the possessed knew he was the Son of God and they were afraid. We see a prophesy fulfilled in the Book of Isaiah with these events.
Matthew 12: 18-21

18 "Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. 19 He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. 20 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory. 21 In his name the nations will put their hope."

Next we see Jesus appointing 12 disciples with authority to preach, expel demons and heal in his name. I would like to note the 12 men here.
Mark 3: 14-15

14 He appointed twelve--designating them apostles--that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15 and to have authority to drive out demons. Simon (Peter)

1. James (Son of Zebedee) (Boanerges)
2. John (James Brother - Son of Zebedee) (Boanerges-Sons of Thunder)
3. Andrew
4. Phillip
5. Bartholomew
6. Matthew
7. Thomas 
8. James of Alphaeus
9. Thaddaeus
10. Simon the Zealot
11. Judas Iscariot (Trador)

Why do you suppose Judas has 2 names almost like a first and last name like we do? 

Here is the second mention of Jesus speaking in a parable, although his words are always parables when he ministers this is the second mention. There are those who said that Jesus was able to expel demons because he too was with Beelzebub. What purpose would Satan have to rid those who were possessed let alone not be able to stand divided. Here we can account that blasphemes will only condemn you to hell when you do it against the Holy Spirit which is what they were doing by saying he had an evil spirit. 

Mark 3:23-30

23 So Jesus called them and spoke to them in parables: "How can Satan drive out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26 And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. 27 In fact, no one can enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can rob his house. 28 I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. 29 But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin." 30 He said this because they were saying, "He has an evil spirit."

Jesus fulfills the promises of his Father by sacrificing himself in order that we may receive him to have eternal life through repentance and  faith. The last verse in this part of the reading is very powerful. When people come in all directions to say his mother and brothers are their, Jesus says something profound.

35 Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother."

What a marvelous brother we have that our Father sacrificed him in order that we may live for eternity with him. There are so many promises that we will learn about but in Luke 6 we learn that we are blessed by being Christ like. Striving to be all of the following is surely what we are meant to seek after and  become. Of course we always have those opposite promises as well. If we are not fruitful in our actions, words, and surrender to what he has called to do but are rebellious against what is good then we are promised the not so beautiful future. We should not expect any of the following if we refuse to live in accordance to the blessings.
Luke 6: 20-23

"Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 22 Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. 23"Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.

The rest of the reading continues on to complete Luke 6. We learn that no matter what we should love our enemies, as well as bless those who curse us, and hate you. This doesn't mean we should honor them or that we have to have close relationships with them but it means we must honor God by loving everyone as he loves us. Over the years this concept has become a lot easier to grasp and accomplish. We are rewarded more for loving and showing mercy to our enemies then those who love us already. So if someone strikes you on the right cheek with a personal attack directly or indirectly then you know that this person needs more of your love and mercy, not less.

29 If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. 30Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.

We are called not to judge. It is so easier to subject to thoughts of judgement, sometimes our thoughts may judge someone for something we naturally wouldn't. Our thoughts are not always in our control because having a conscious means knowing what thoughts, words, actions are not right. So many people have harsh judgement for people who have done or said something that the  other person has or hasn't done, but either way it is not their job to look down on them in judgement. I know what it's like to have thoughts of judgement and I have to fight those thoughts because that is not my heart, it is the spirit of the enemy trying to control the situation. We will be repaid the measure we give in everything including judgmental tendencies. We need to make sure we judge ourselves in order to live in accordance to what is Christ like.

39 He also told them this parable: "Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher. 41 "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 

If we do all in which Jesus ministers us and prepares us for heavenly father then our blessings are so much more then we can ever fathom. We will know people by their fruits, in words and actions. Anything that bears good fruit comes from God and anything that bears bad fruit comes from the enemy.

45 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. 

I would like to end with the parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders. We know that if we live within the scripture and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord we have eternal life. But to follow him and prepare for his return is an example of a wise builder since this builder is building a foundation which will support and with stand any storm.

The Wise and Foolish Builders

6:47-49pp -- Mt 7:24-27

46 "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? 47 I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."