The New Testament
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Devotional
Weekly Bible Devotion By Books
Oct. 2 - 7, 2023
Enter the presence of the Lord-
Sing praises to God, sing praises;
Sing praises to our King, sing praises.
For God is the King of all the earth, sing to him a psalm of praise;
God reigns over the nations; God is seated in His holy throne. (Psalm 47; 6-8)
Confession
Lord of our hope, in midst of the human sufferings and frustrations all around us, we turn to you, our most high. May your active caring power and deeds from the beginning time continue. We need you. We confess our insensitivity to others and the self-centered selfishness. Rescue us from our own fallen nature. Empower us to do good. Thanks. Amen.
Adoration
Lord, the designer and executor of our salvation, we do not understand how you understand us so deep and how you can carry your salvation plan in all ups and downs of our humanity in such a long, long time stream. We simply feel awed in your unmeasurable grace and unfathomable wisdom. Who are you? We bow down to worship you as our only God. We adore you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!
Scripture Reading: Matthew
1:1 This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham:
2:1-2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
4:12-13, 17 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali…17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
13: 24-30 Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. 27 “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ 28 “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’29 “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”
27: 11 Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied.
Thoughts to Share: The Kingdom of God is at hand!
Most Biblical scholars in the 20th century agreed that the Gospel of Matthew was placed at the first book of entire the New Testament because of its theological significance. The book not only bridges the time from the Old to the New but also it continues a prominent theme in the Old Testament: The Kingdom of God.
By the end of the Old Testament time, we know that the exiled Israelites already returned to their promised land, but they existed not as a nation, but as a region under other super powers. The Temple was rebuilt but the God’s way of living was not achieved. A promise of a forever kingdom of God to King David was still an unrealized dream. The Israelites were left many hopeful promises and unclarified confusions and questions: the wonderful baby, the suffering servant, the victory king, the son of man… who would those figures be? Were they all related or were they independent to each other?
The book of Matthew opens our eyes to see how God continued to bring out his promise and turn that fuzzy dream into a clear reality among the Israelites. We often encounter such an expression,” all this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet...” or similar ones. Furthermore, Jesus started to explain more and clearer about what the Kingdom of God really means, and who was that Forever King that they have waited generation after generation, century after century.
In the descriptions of the birth story in the book of Gospel of the Matthew, we see
-Jesus Christ was one of real chosen Israelites, and the decedents of the great King David.
-He was pregnant in a virgin lady from the Holy Spirit, grew up in the family of Mary and Joseph.
-His mission was the save his people from their sins.
-He will be the king of the Jews, shepherding his people.
Then during Jesus ministry years, we see that he announced the Kingdom of heaven was at hand. He explained the heart attitudes, lifestyles when one was in the kingdom of God. He reaffirmed the 10 commandments. He distinguished the false religion and the truth in the kingdom of God. He redefined the interpersonal relations with the gentles. He used many parables to explain what the kingdom of God would be alike. In one parable of the wheats and tares, he particularly implied that the kingdom of God was vague and not so clear to all at current stage. He allowed people, even his disciples to guess who he was. One time, he gently revealed that he was the Christ, the son of the eternal God. Then more then three times, he hinted his disciples that he also would be the suffering servant to be crucified on the cross, to be buried, and to be resurrected. Still, not many understood what he was talking.
In his final week in Jerusalem, Jesus seized the time and opportunities to teach, to heal, to cleanse, and to correct. He did all to demonstrate the kingdom of God at hand indeed. He redefined the bread and grape wine in the Passover to his body and blood, to symbolize the kingdom of God near. At two courts, he admitted that he was the Christ, son of God. He was the king of the Jews. The kingdom of God was in intense conflict with the kingdoms of the earth. When Jesus was raised after his death and bury, he proved that he was that promised eternal King passed through the end road for everyone: death.
So, in the book of Matthew, we have the answers of many unresolved mysteries in the Old Testament prophets’ sayings. The Kingdom of God has finally arrived in the person of Jesus Christ. The king has been revealed. King’s mission has been pointed out and accomplished. The ultimate solution for the sins that the Old Testament people struggled has been given out as a gift through the work of Jesus on the cross. A new Israel in the form of church by the kingdom of God in the person of Jesus Christ was in formation. An eternal kingdom of God was yet to come.
Prayer Suggestion
Lord of clarity, praise you that you did not leave us in forever darkness and confusion. You came to make yourself known, to make all the mystery in the Old Testament clear to us. Yes, your kingdom has come in Jesus Christ. We pretested the wonderfulness in your kingdom. Yes, our world is not perfect. Yet, we know that we are not alone. Your kingdom power is with us and is active in our existence. Moreover, you will come again, and you remember us. We will be in your forever kingdom one day and rejoice with you all days long. Thank you. Amen.
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