IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

Don't Neglect the Important Things

Date: Nov. 18, 2015

Passage

Matthew 23:13-24  (ESV)

13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. 15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.

16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ 17 You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred? 18 And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’ 19 You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21 And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it. 22 And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it.

23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 23:23b

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.

First, you shut the door of the kingdom (13-15). The Pharisees obstinately refused to accept Jesus and enter the kingdom of heaven. They also prevented others from entering. They were zealous to make converts to their religious tradition. Jesus called them children of hell.

Second, blind guides (16-20). The Pharisees were spiritual leaders but Jesus said they were blind guides or blind fools. They were blinded by gold and material things. They had no spiritual sight to see the hearts of worshipers or God who accepts them.

Third, the more important matters (21-24). Justice, mercy and faithfulness are important. God desires mercy, not sacrifice (Hos 6:6). Jesus came to reveal his mercy and justice when he died on the cross. God sees our heart. When we accept Jesus in our hearts, he changes our heart.

Prayer: Lord, change my heart and grow me in knowing Jesus.

One Word: Do not neglect the important things

Daily Bread

Servants of God’s House

1 Chronicles 6:1-81

Key Verse: 6:32

They ministered with song before the tabernacle of the tent of meeting until Solomon built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, and they performed their service according to their order.

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