Daily Readings - Tue Aug 25 2020

¹But we ask you, brothers, concerning the advent of our Lord Jesus Christ and of our gathering to him²that you not be readily disturbed or terrified in your minds, by any spirit, or word, or epistle, supposedly sent from us, claiming that the day of the Lord is close by³Let no one deceive you in any way. For this cannot be, unless the apostasy will have arrived first, and the man of sin will have been revealed, the son of perdition¹⁴He has also called you into truth through our Gospel, unto the acquisition of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ¹⁵And so, brothers, stand firm, and hold to the traditions that you have learned, whether by word or by our epistle¹⁶So may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who has loved us and who has given us an everlasting consolation and good hope in grace¹⁷exhort your hearts and confirm you in every good word and deed

Matthew

Chapter 23

²³Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! For you collect tithes on mint and dill and cumin, but you have abandoned the weightier things of the law: judgment and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, while not omitting the others²⁴You blind guides, straining out a gnat, while swallowing a camel²⁵Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! For you clean what is outside the cup and the dish, but on the inside you are full of avarice and impurity²⁶You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the dish, and then what is outside becomes clean

Sermon

The readings today offer a profound reflection on the nature of faith and authenticity. In 2 Thessalonians, we are reminded to remain steadfast and not be swayed by false claims about the second coming of Christ. The apostle reassures the community that certain events must unfold before Christ's return, emphasizing the importance of holding fast to the traditions of the faith. This message of stability and hope is a comfort to believers, encouraging them to trust in God's grace and not be deceived by false teachings. In the Gospel, Jesus confronts the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees, critiquing their focus on minor details of the law while neglecting the more significant virtues of judgment, mercy, and faith. His metaphors of straining out a gnat while swallowing a camel and cleaning the outside of a cup while ignoring the inside illustrate the disparity between outward appearances and inner righteousness. Jesus calls for a genuine faith that prioritizes the heart over external displays of piety. These readings connect through their emphasis on authenticity in faith. Both warn against superficiality—whether in believing false teachings or in practicing religion without inner integrity. They challenge us to look beyond the surface and cultivate a faith that is rooted in truth and moral consistency. In our daily lives, this means being vigilant against false ideas and ensuring our actions reflect genuine faith. The moral lesson is clear: true faith is about inner righteousness, not outward appearances. Let us strive to live with authenticity, focusing on what truly matters in our walk with God.