Daily Readings - Fri Jul 16 2021
Exodus
10Moses and Aaron performed all these wonders before Pharaoh, but the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let the Israelites go out of his country.
1The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt,2"This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year.3Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household.4If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat.5The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats.6Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the people of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight.7Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs.8That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast.9Do not eat the meat raw or cooked in water, but roast it over the fire-head, legs and inner parts.10Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it.11This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the LORD's Passover.12"On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn-both men and animals-and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD.13The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.14"This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD -a lasting ordinance.
Matthew
1At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them.2When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, "Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath."3He answered, "Haven't you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?4He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread--which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests.5Or haven't you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple desecrate the day and yet are innocent?6I tell you that one greater than the temple is here.7If you had known what these words mean, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the innocent.8For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."
Sermon
In today's readings, we journey through two significant moments in scripture that invite us to reflect on the nature of faith, freedom, and mercy. The first reading from Exodus recounts the Passover, a defining event for the Israelites as they prepared to escape slavery in Egypt. The detailed instructions for marking their doorposts with lamb's blood underscore the profound trust required in God's plan for their salvation. This act of obedience was not merely a ritual but a life-saving gesture that distinguished them from their oppressors, setting the stage for their liberation.
The Gospel reading from Matthew shifts our focus to Jesus, who challenges the Pharisees' strict interpretation of the Sabbath. When His disciples pick grain to satisfy their hunger, Jesus defends their actions by referencing David and the priests, emphasizing that human needs and mercy take precedence over rigid rules. He declares Himself the Lord of the Sabbath, asserting that the spirit of the law—compassion and care for others—should guide our actions rather than mere observance.
These readings connect through their emphasis on mercy and the spirit of the law. The Passover in Exodus is a merciful act of salvation, while Jesus in Matthew teaches that true faith involves understanding and compassion. Together, they remind us that our actions should be guided by love and flexibility, rather than strict adherence to rules. As we navigate our daily lives, let us embrace this lesson, allowing mercy and kindness to shape our decisions and interactions, just as Jesus exemplified. In doing so, we honor the spirit of God's law and live as true followers of Christ.