Matthew 12:1-12
English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible
1 At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, "Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath." 3 He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: 4 how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? 5 Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? 6 I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. 7 And if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath."
9 He went on from there and entered their synagogue. 10 And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?"— so that they might accuse him. 11 He said to them, "Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath." 13 Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.
15 Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all 16 and ordered them not to make him known. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:
18 "Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,
my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.
I will put my Spirit upon him,
and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
19 He will not quarrel or cry aloud,
nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;
20 a bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not quench,
until he brings justice to victory;
21 and in his name the Gentiles will hope."
Sunday, I had the great fortune to sit with the rest of my Church family (plus my mom, her wonderful boyfriend Jack and my husband) and hear a wonderful sermon partially on the do not be anxious Scripture. We were God's wheat sitting in His wheat field! Growing on that warm Sunday to be fruitful for God.
Matthew 6:25-34
English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible
"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
34 "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Last week, we talked about a woman who was weeping over more testing needed for re-occurring cancer and was letting me know how she was feeling guilt-stricken that Jesus would not want her to be fearful. And our sermon was about not dwelling on the hurts of the past to grab the peace God would give us as a gift. A supernatural gift.My mom turned to me - glowing - and said it was the best sermon she'd heard in a long time.
God does not want us to suffer in worry over what He is willing to do for us. God is willing to become man, living as truth and grace among us. Understanding our sufferings. Weeping with Lazarus' sisters, freeing people from their illnesses and hurts. Dancing with David in victory.
When we look at today's passage, we see wheat - a harvest of fruitfulness in progress. We see Jesus commenting on getting sheep out of a pit. We have an incredible gift - a miracle of a restored hand from Father God. We are all talking about the same thing. Acts of God. Jesus is telling us His is merciful. Fruit must have time to grow. Supernatural gifts must have room to be celebrated. The man with the restored hand was that sheep in a pit.
The woman who was afraid, about cancer testing, wanted to be strengthened. Jesus is that kind of Savior. He is the Savior willing to be merciful to us as we grow in Him. The lady who was weeping last week, looks forward in hope this week.
Jesus tells us over and over about God's willingness. This is why in all circumstances, in good times, in difficulty, Jesus is our Hope.
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