Daily Readings - Mon Aug 22 2022
2 Thessalonians
1Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:2Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.3We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.4Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.5All this is evidence that God's judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.11With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.12We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew
13"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.14Verse omitted from the New International Version15"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.16"Woe to you, blind guides! You say, 'If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.'17You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred?18You also say, 'If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.'19You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred?20Therefore, he who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it.21And he who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it.22And he who swears by heaven swears by God's throne and by the one who sits on it.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two distinct yet interconnected messages that invite us to reflect on the nature of faith and hypocrisy. The first reading from 2 Thessalonians is a letter of encouragement, where Paul praises the Thessalonians for their growing faith and abundant love amidst persecution. He commends their patience and faith, which are signs of their worthiness of God's kingdom. Paul also prays for their continued growth in living out their faith, that they may glorify Jesus through their actions and perseverance.
In contrast, the Gospel from Matthew presents Jesus confronting the scribes and Pharisees, criticizing their hypocrisy. He denounces their actions, such as shutting the kingdom of heaven to others and exploiting widows, while also highlighting their flawed reasoning about oaths. Jesus points out their error in valuing material things over the sacred, emphasizing that the container is more significant than its contents. This critique serves as a warning against focusing on outward appearances rather than inner righteousness.
These readings challenge us to examine our own faith. Are we like the Thessalonians, growing in faith and love despite challenges, or are we like the Pharisees, prioritizing the wrong things and living hypocritically? The moral lesson here is the importance of sincerity in faith. True faith is not about outward shows but about living according to God's will, with patience, love, and perseverance. Let us strive to be like the Thessalonians, living out our faith genuinely, and avoid the pitfalls of hypocrisy, focusing instead on glorifying God in all we do.