One Story That Leads to Jesus, Day 245
Matthew 19
19When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went down to the region of Judea east of the Jordan River.G2532G1096G3753G2424G5055G5128G3056G3332G575G1056G2532G2064G1519G3725G2449G4008G24462Large crowds followed him there, and he healed their sick.G2532G4183G3793G190G846G2532G2323G846G15633Some Pharisees came and tried to trap him with this question: "Should a man be allowed to divorce his wife for just any reason?"G5330G2532G4334G846G3985G846G2532G3004G846G1487G1832G444G630G846G1135G2596G3956G1564"Haven't you read the Scriptures?" Jesus replied. "They record that from the beginning 'God made them male and female.'G1161G611G2036G846G314G3756G314G3754G3588G4160G575G746G4160G846G730G2532G23385And he said, 'This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.'G2532G2036G5127G1752G444G2641G3962G2532G3384G2532G4347G846G1135G2532G1417G2071G1519G3391G45616Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together."G5620G1526G3765G1417G235G3391G4561G3739G3767G2316G4801G5563G3361G444G55637"Then why did Moses say in the law that a man could give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away?" they asked.G3004G846G5101G3475G3767G1781G1325G975G647G2532G630G846G6308Jesus replied, "Moses permitted divorce only as a concession to your hard hearts, but it was not what God had originally intended.G3004G846G3754G3475G4314G4641G5216G4641G2010G5213G630G5216G1135G1161G575G746G1096G3756G37799And I tell you this, whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery—unless his wife has been unfaithful."G1161G3004G5213G3754G3739G302G630G846G1135G1508G1909G4202G2532G1060G243G3429G2532G1060G3588G630G342910Jesus' disciples then said to him, "If this is the case, it is better not to marry!"G846G3101G3004G846G1487G156G444G2076G3779G3326G1135G4851G3756G4851G106011"Not everyone can accept this statement," Jesus said. "Only those whom God helps.G1161G2036G846G3956G3756G5562G5126G3056G235G3739G132512Some are born as eunuchs, some have been made eunuchs by others, and some choose not to marry for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. Let anyone accept this who can."G1063G1526G2135G3748G3779G1080G1537G3384G2836G2532G1526G2135G3748G2134G5259G444G2532G1526G2135G3748G2134G1438G2134G1223G932G3772G1410G5562G556213One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.G5119G4374G846G3813G2443G2007G5495G2007G846G2532G4336G1161G3101G2008G84614But Jesus said, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children."G1161G2424G2036G863G3813G2532G2967G846G3361G2064G4314G3165G1063G5108G2076G932G377215And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left.G2532G2007G5495G2007G846G4198G156416Someone came to Jesus with this question: "Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?"G2532G2400G1520G4334G2036G846G18G1320G5101G18G4160G2443G2192G166G222217"Why ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. But to answer your question—if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments."G1161G2036G846G5101G3004G3165G18G3762G18G1508G1520G2316G1161G1487G2309G1525G1519G2222G5083G178518"Which ones?" the man asked. And Jesus replied: "'You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely.G3004G846G4169G1161G2424G2036G5407G3756G5407G3431G3756G3431G2813G3756G2813G5576G3756G557619Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.'"G5091G4675G3962G2532G3384G2532G25G4675G4139G5613G457220"I've obeyed all these commandments," the young man replied. "What else must I do?"G3495G3004G846G3956G5023G5442G1537G3450G3503G5101G5302G208921Jesus told him, "If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."G2424G5346G846G1487G2309G1511G5046G5217G4453G4675G5224G2532G1325G4434G2532G2192G2344G1722G3772G2532G1204G190G342722But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.G1161G3495G191G3056G565G3076G1063G2192G2258G4183G293323Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.G1161G2036G2424G846G3101G281G3004G5213G3754G4145G1423G1525G1519G932G377224I'll say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!"G1161G3825G3004G5213G2076G2123G2574G1330G1223G5169G4476G2228G4145G1525G1519G932G231625The disciples were astounded. "Then who in the world can be saved?" they asked.G1161G846G3101G191G4970G1605G3004G5101G686G1410G498226Jesus looked at them intently and said, "Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible."G1161G2424G1689G2036G846G3844G444G5124G2076G102G1161G3844G2316G3956G2076G141527Then Peter said to him, "We've given up everything to follow you. What will we get?"G5119G611G4074G2036G846G2400G2249G863G3956G2532G190G4671G5101G2254G2071G68628Jesus replied, "I assure you that when the world is made new and the Son of Man sits upon his glorious throne, you who have been my followers will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.G1161G2424G2036G846G281G3004G5213G3754G5210G3588G190G3427G1722G3824G3752G5207G444G2523G1909G2362G846G1391G5210G2532G2523G1909G1427G2362G2919G1427G5443G247429And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life.G2532G3956G3739G863G3614G2228G80G2228G79G2228G3962G2228G3384G2228G1135G2228G5043G2228G68G3450G3686G1752G2983G1542G2532G2816G166G222230But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.G1161G4183G4413G2071G2078G2532G2078G4413
Matthew 20
20"For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the landowner who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard.G1063G932G3772G2076G3664G444G3617G3748G1831G260G4404G3409G2040G1519G846G2902He agreed to pay the normal daily wage and sent them out to work.G1161G4856G3326G2040G1537G1220G2250G649G846G1519G846G2903"At nine o'clock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some people standing around doing nothing.G2532G1831G4012G5154G5610G1492G243G2476G692G1722G584So he hired them, telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day.G2036G2548G5217G5210G2532G1519G290G2532G3739G1437G5600G1342G1325G5213G1161G5655So they went to work in the vineyard. At noon and again at three o'clock he did the same thing.G3825G1831G4012G1623G2532G1766G5610G4160G56156"At five o'clock that afternoon he was in town again and saw some more people standing around. He asked them, 'Why haven't you been working today?'G1161G4012G1734G5610G1831G2147G243G2476G692G2532G3004G846G5101G2476G5602G3650G2250G6927"They replied, 'Because no one hired us.' "The landowner told them, 'Then go out and join the others in my vineyard.'G3004G846G3754G3762G3409G2248G3004G846G5217G5210G2532G1519G290G2532G3739G1437G5600G1342G29838"That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first.G1161G3798G1096G2962G290G3004G846G2012G2564G2040G2532G591G846G3408G756G575G2078G2193G44139When those hired at five o'clock were paid, each received a full day's wage.G2532G2064G4012G1734G5610G2983G303G122010When those hired first came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day's wage.G1161G4413G2064G3543G3754G2983G4119G2532G2532G2983G846G303G122011When they received their pay, they protested to the owner,G1161G2983G1111G2596G361712'Those people worked only one hour, and yet you've paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.'G3754G3004G3778G2078G4160G3391G5610G2532G4160G846G2470G2254G3588G941G922G2532G2742G225013"He answered one of them, 'Friend, I haven't been unfair! Didn't you agree to work all day for the usual wage?G1161G611G1520G846G2036G2083G91G4571G3756G91G4856G3780G4856G3427G122014Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you.G142G4674G2532G5217G1161G2309G1325G5129G2078G2532G5613G467115Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?'G2228G3756G1832G3427G4160G3739G2309G1722G1699G1487G2076G4675G3788G4190G3754G1473G1510G1816"So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last."G3779G2078G2071G4413G2532G4413G2078G1063G4183G1526G2822G1161G3641G158817As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them what was going to happen to him.G2532G2424G305G1519G2414G3880G1427G3101G2596G2398G1722G3598G2532G2036G84618"Listen," he said, "we're going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die.G2400G305G1519G2414G2532G5207G444G3860G749G2532G1122G2532G2632G846G228819Then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, flogged with a whip, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead."G2532G3860G846G1484G1519G1702G2532G3146G2532G4717G2532G5154G2250G45020Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor.G5119G4334G846G3384G2199G5207G3326G846G5207G4352G2532G154G5100G3844G84621"What is your request?" he asked. She replied, "In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left."G1161G2036G846G5101G2309G3004G846G2036G2443G3778G3450G1417G5207G2523G1520G1537G4675G1188G2532G1520G1537G2176G1722G4675G93222But Jesus answered by saying to them, "You don't know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?" "Oh yes," they replied, "we are able!"G1161G2424G611G2036G1492G3756G5101G154G1410G4095G4221G3739G1473G3195G4095G2532G907G908G3739G1473G907G3004G846G141023Jesus told them, "You will indeed drink from my bitter cup. But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. My Father has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen."G2532G3004G846G4095G3303G3450G4221G2532G907G908G3739G1473G907G1161G2523G1537G3450G1188G2532G1537G3450G2176G2076G3756G1699G1325G235G3739G2090G5259G3450G396224When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant.G2532G1176G191G23G4012G1417G8025But Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them.G1161G2424G4341G846G2036G1492G3754G758G1484G2634G846G2532G3173G2715G84626But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant,G1161G2071G3756G2071G3779G1722G5213G235G3739G1437G2309G1096G3173G1722G5213G2077G5216G124927and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave.G2532G3739G1437G2309G1511G4413G1722G5213G2077G5216G140128For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many."G5618G5207G444G2064G3756G1247G235G1247G2532G1325G846G5590G3083G473G418329As Jesus and the disciples left the town of Jericho, a large crowd followed behind.G2532G846G1607G575G2410G4183G3793G190G84630Two blind men were sitting beside the road. When they heard that Jesus was coming that way, they began shouting, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"G2532G2400G1417G5185G2521G3598G3844G191G3754G2424G3855G2896G3004G1653G2248G2962G5207G113831"Be quiet!" the crowd yelled at them. But they only shouted louder, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"G1161G3793G2008G846G2443G4623G1161G2896G3185G3004G1653G2248G2962G5207G113832When Jesus heard them, he stopped and called, "What do you want me to do for you?"G2532G2424G2476G5455G846G2532G2036G5101G2309G4160G521333"Lord," they said, "we want to see!"G3004G846G2962G2443G2257G3788G45534Jesus felt sorry for them and touched their eyes. Instantly they could see! Then they followed him.G1161G2424G4697G680G846G3788G2532G2112G846G3788G308G2532G190G846
Psalms 90
90[A prayer of Moses, the man of God.] Lord, through all the generations you have been our home!H8605H4872H376H430H136H4583H1755H1755 2Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God.H2022H3205H2342H776H8398H5769H5704H5769H410 3You turn people back to dust, saying, “Return to dust, you mortals!”H7725H582H1793H559H7725H1121H120 4For you, a thousand years are as a passing day, as brief as a few night hours.H505H8141H5869H3117H865H5674H821H3915 5You sweep people away like dreams that disappear. They are like grass that springs up in the morning.H2229H8142H1242H2682H2498 6In the morning it blooms and flourishes, but by evening it is dry and withered.H1242H6692H2498H6153H4135H3001 7We wither beneath your anger; we are overwhelmed by your fury.H3615H639H2534H926 8You spread out our sins before you—our secret sins—and you see them all.H7896H5771H5956H3974H6440 9We live our lives beneath your wrath, ending our years with a groan.H3117H6437H5678H3615H8141H1899 10Seventy years are given to us! Some even live to eighty. But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble; soon they disappear, and we fly away.H3117H8141H7657H8141H7657H1369H8084H8141H7296H5999H205H2440H1468H5774 11Who can comprehend the power of your anger? Your wrath is as awesome as the fear you deserve.H3045H5797H639H3374H5678 12Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.H3045H4487H3117H935H3824H2451 13O Lord, come back to us! How long will you delay? Take pity on your servants!H7725H3068H5162H5650 14Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives.H7646H1242H2617H7442H8055H3117 15Give us gladness in proportion to our former misery! Replace the evil years with good.H8055H3117H6031H8141H7200H7451 16Let us, your servants, see you work again; let our children see your glory.H6467H7200H5650H1926H1121 17And may the Lord our God show us his approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful!H5278H3068H430H3559H4639H3027H4639H3027H3559
Dublin, OH
G1161
