Daily Readings - Thu Jun 28 2018
2 Kings
8Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Nehushta the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.9And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father had done.10At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up to Jerusalem, and the city was besieged.11And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to the city while his servants were besieging it,12and Jehoiachin the king of Judah gave himself up to the king of Babylon, himself and his mother and his servants and his officials and his palace officials. The king of Babylon took him prisoner in the eighth year of his reign13and carried off all the treasures of the house of the LORD and the treasures of the king's house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold in the temple of the LORD, which Solomon king of Israel had made, as the LORD had foretold.14He carried away all Jerusalem and all the officials and all the mighty men of valor, 10,000 captives, and all the craftsmen and the smiths. None remained, except the poorest people of the land.15And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon. The king's mother, the king's wives, his officials, and the chief men of the land he took into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon.16And the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon all the men of valor, 7,000, and the craftsmen and the metal workers, 1,000, all of them strong and fit for war.17And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin's uncle, king in his place, and changed his name to Zedekiah.
Matthew
21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.22On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?'23And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'24"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.25And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.26And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.27And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it."28And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching,29for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful lessons about faith, action, and the consequences of our choices. The first reading from 2 Kings describes the fall of Jerusalem and the exile of King Jehoiachin. This passage is part of the larger narrative of the kings of Judah, highlighting the consequences of turning away from God and ignoring His laws. The kingdom’s downfall was not just a political or military defeat but a spiritual one, rooted in the people’s refusal to remain faithful to the Lord. The once-great kingdom, blessed by God, was reduced to rubble and captivity because its leaders and people chose evil over righteousness.
The Gospel reading from Matthew offers a complementary yet contrasting message. Jesus teaches that not everyone who claims to know Him will enter the kingdom of heaven. It is not enough to call Him “Lord” or to perform impressive deeds in His name. True discipleship requires doing the will of the Father, which is rooted in love, obedience, and humility. Jesus uses the parable of the two builders to drive this point home. The wise builder, who constructs his house on rock, represents the one who hears God’s word and lives by it. The foolish builder, who builds on sand, represents those who hear God’s word but fail to act on it. The storms of life will reveal the foundation of our faith.
These readings remind us that our relationship with God is not about words or outward appearances but about the actions that flow from a deep commitment to Him. Like the kingdom of Judah, we risk spiritual exile when we neglect God’s will. On the other hand, when we build our lives on the solid foundation of faith and obedience, we can withstand the challenges and uncertainties of life. Let us reflect on our own lives today: Are we merely going through the motions of faith, or are we truly living out God’s will in our thoughts, words, and actions? May we strive to be wise builders, constructing our lives on the rock of Christ, so that we may stand firm in the face of life’s storms.