September 28

September 28

Jesus' "Work" on the Sabbath -- Jesus heals on the Sabbath & the unpardonable sin.

Today's Readings:

Reading 1: Matthew 12

Reading 2: Hosea 6:6

Reading 3: Isaiah 42:1-4

Jesus shows Himself true to one of the prophecies about Him in today's readings: Isaiah prophesied "He will not falter or lose heart until justice prevails throughout the earth." In Matthew 12 we see Jesus faithfully declaring God's heart, motivation, and priority: "I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings."

By contrast, the Pharisees are obsessed with detail (such as the disciples snacking on the Sabbath) and with devaluing Jesus as a way to reinforce their own position. As such, they fail on both counts. They focus on the detail yet miss the reason for the detail. They reject Jesus and end up accepting satan instead.

We have a faithful Savior who longs for us to know Him. Let's not allow satan to distract us with self-effort or condemnation!

Have a great day!

Mark.