Day 30: February 26

February 26th, 2024
by Randy Eliason

SCRIPTURE READING: MATTHEW 12:15-37

SCRIPTURE HIGHLIGHTS:

Vs 17-18 This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah concerning him: “Look at my Servant, whom I have chosen. He is my Beloved, who pleases me. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.

Vs. 30“Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.

Vs. 35 “A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.”

OBSERVATIONS:
Verses 15-21 draw a contrast between the unjust use of the law by the Pharisees and their insensitivity to the sick and weak with the justice and compassion of Jesus. Matthew reveals Jesus as God’s suffering servant from Isaiah; the one who will not only proclaim justice, show mercy, and bring hope to the whole world. This suffering servant will eventually give his life as an atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world (Isaiah 53).

Verses 22-37 document the continuing conflict between Jesus and the Pharisees; a conflict that is due solely to the jealousy of, and hatred for, Jesus which filled the hearts of the Pharisees. Jesus continues to do good works and they continue to try and create a narrative that Jesus' good works are somehow evil. When Jesus heals, they pick on the fact that it was done on the Sabbath. When Jesus delivers a man from a demon they suggest his authority over them comes from Satan. PLEASE, STOP ALREADY!!!

The rest of this section consists of Jesus using various examples to make the point that you can tell the heart/character/nature of people by the fruit that comes from their lives. Evil people don’t heal and deliver people from evil! Those who belong to God’s kingdom will be found doing works that are consistent with God’s kingdom.

APPLICATION:
Jesus is such a beautiful and powerful savior! It is amazing how he fulfilled the promise of God to send his servant who would demonstrate true justice, care for the broken and hurting, and give his life as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. I love the picture of Jesus as the one who “will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle.”

If I am indeed a child of God through faith in Christ, born again by the Spirit, and raised to new life, then my works will bear witness to that professed reality. If I am for Jesus, I will be working with Jesus. If I am not actively doing the works Jesus created me to do, my failure to do so will actually place me in a position of working against the will of God. What a critical truth to be reminded of! I need to remember that my behavior (fruit) is the product of the condition of my heart (my character; who I am). Being before doing. How I am behaving flows from who I am becoming.

PRAYER:
Dear Lord, these words from the great old hymn are my prayer to you:
Take my will and make it Thine, it shall be no longer mine
Take my heart, it is Thine own, it shall be Thy royal throne
Take my love, my Lord I pour at Your feet, it's treasure store
Take myself and I will be ever, only, all for Thee
Here am I, all of me, take my life, it's all for Thee