Daily Readings - Tue Aug 25 2020

¹Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers,²not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come.³Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.¹⁴He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.¹⁵So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.¹⁶May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope,¹⁷encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

Matthew

Chapter 23

²³"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.²⁴You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.²⁵"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.²⁶Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be 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.