Daily Readings - Thu Jun 28 2018
2 Kings
8Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. And his mother's name was Nehushta, the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.9And he did that which 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 against Jerusalem, and the city was besieged.11And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came against the city, and his servants did besiege it.12And Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he, and his mother, and his servants, and his princes, and his officers: and the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his reign.13And he carried out thence 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 which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the LORD, as the LORD had said.14And he carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valour, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths: none remained, save the poorest sort of the people of the land.15And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, and the king's mother, and the king's wives, and his officers, and the mighty of the land, those carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon.16And all the men of might, even seven thousand, and craftsmen and smiths a thousand, all that were strong and apt for war, even them the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon.17And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah his father's brother king in his stead, and changed his name to Zedekiah.
Matthew
21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.24Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:25And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.26And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:27And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.28And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:29For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the 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.