Daily Readings - Tue Aug 28 2018

¹Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,²That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.³Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;¹⁴Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.¹⁵Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.¹⁶Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,¹⁷Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

Matthew

Chapter 23

²³Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.²⁴Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.²⁵Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.²⁶Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

Sermon

In today’s readings, we are reminded of the importance of authenticity and steadfastness in our faith. The first reading from 2 Thessalonians cautions us against being deceived by false claims and encourages us to stand firm in the traditions of our faith. It emphasizes the need for resilience and trust in God’s plan, especially when faced with confusion or false teachings. The context of this passage is likely a time of confusion in the early church, where believers were concerned about the timing of Christ’s return. Paul reassures them that they must remain steadfast and not be swayed by false information. The Gospel from Matthew complements this message by highlighting the importance of inner purity over outward appearances. Jesus criticizes the Pharisees for their hypocrisy, pointing out that while they meticulously observe minor rituals, they neglect the weightier matters of justice, mercy, and faith. He uses the metaphor of cleaning the inside of the cup before the outside, emphasizing that true righteousness comes from within. This passage serves as a reminder to examine our own lives and ensure that our actions align with our faith, rather than just going through the motions. Together, these readings call us to live authentically and with integrity. In our daily lives, it’s easy to get caught up in superficial details and lose sight of what truly matters. We are encouraged to focus on justice, mercy, and faith, and to ensure that our inner lives reflect the values we profess outwardly. Let us take a moment to reflect on our own lives and ask ourselves: Are we standing firm in our faith? Are we living with sincerity and integrity? May we strive to be people of true faith, living out our beliefs in every aspect of our lives.