Daily Readings - Thu Jun 28 2018
2 Kings
8Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother's name was Nehushta daughter of Elnathan; she was from Jerusalem.9He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father had done.10At that time the officers of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon advanced on Jerusalem and laid siege to it,11and Nebuchadnezzar himself came up to the city while his officers were besieging it.12Jehoiachin king of Judah, his mother, his attendants, his nobles and his officials all surrendered to him. In the eighth year of the reign of the king of Babylon, he took Jehoiachin prisoner.13As the LORD had declared, Nebuchadnezzar removed all the treasures from the temple of the LORD and from the royal palace, and took away all the gold articles that Solomon king of Israel had made for the temple of the LORD.14He carried into exile all Jerusalem: all the officers and fighting men, and all the craftsmen and artisans-a total of ten thousand. Only the poorest people of the land were left.15Nebuchadnezzar took Jehoiachin captive to Babylon. He also took from Jerusalem to Babylon the king's mother, his wives, his officials and the leading men of the land.16The king of Babylon also deported to Babylon the entire force of seven thousand fighting men, strong and fit for war, and a thousand craftsmen and artisans.17He 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 only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'24"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."28When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching,29because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
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.