<\/p>\n
Matthew 9:27-34; Mark 6:1-6; Matthew 13:53-58; Matthew 9:35-38; Mark 6:7-13; Matthew 10:1-42; Luke 9:1-6<\/strong><\/span> Matthew:<\/strong> In Matthew chapter 9 we read about Jesus healing in response to people\u2019s faith. It is amazing to remember that the Old Testament prophet Isaiah predicted these types of healings would take place in the Messianic age.\u00a0 Check out Isaiah chapter 35 verses 5 & 6: \u201cThen will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 This image below of the woman reaching for Jesus\u2019 tassels from today\u2019s readings is one of my favorite images of faith.\u00a0 Have you ever reached out in faith to Jesus like this woman did?<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span> <\/span> In Matthew chapter 10 Jesus sends out the twelve disciples!\u00a0 Verse 7 stands out: \u201cJesus sent the twelve disciples out with these instructions: \u201cDon\u2019t go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans, but only to the people of Israel\u2013God\u2019s lost sheep.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Gentiles are anyone who is not a Jew.\u00a0 Samaritans are a race that resulted in intermarriage between Jews and Gentiles after the Old Testament exiles and captivities \u2013 as we see in 2 Kings 17:24 \u2013 \u201cThe king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath and Sepharvaim and settled them in the towns of Samaria to replace the Israelites. They took over Samaria and lived in its towns.\u201d <\/em>The Matthew 10 verse 7 above does indicate that Jesus\u2019 disciple\u2019s ministry was first to the Jews, but soon thereafter the ministry and the gospel message clearly was for all people.\u00a0 As we see in Acts 10:34-35 \u2013 \u201cThen Peter began to speak: \u201cI now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.\u201d<\/em> And certainly as we see in the Great Commission at the end of Matthew, in chapter 28 verses 19 & 20: \u201cTherefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Below is a Spanish wood panel painting by an unknown artist from the early 12th century of Jesus and the twelve disciples:<\/span><\/p>\n One interesting note on the listing of names of the 12 disciples in Matthew.\u00a0 Peter is listed first and Judas Iscariot last.\u00a0 We\u2019ll read various listings of the 12 disciples throughout the New Testament.\u00a0 And numbers 2 through 11 always vary in order of how the disciples are listed.\u00a0 But in all of the listings, Peter is first.\u00a0 And Judas Iscariot is always listed last.\u00a0 Below is a painting titled \u201d The Sending of the Twelve\u201d by Duccio di Buoninsegna from the early 14th century \u2013 (looks to me like Duccio only painted in 11 here\u2026 )<\/span><\/p>\n Matthew 10 verse 16 stands out: \u201c\u201dLook, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. Be as wary as snakes and harmless as doves.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 This is good advice for us today as well.\u00a0 Jesus is still sending us out today as his followers.\u00a0 And I do think this teaching is wise \u2013 for us to be wary and harmless at the same time.\u00a0 It\u2019s an interesting line to walk, but I believe a very wise one.\u00a0 I believe the only way to really walk this line well is through the blessing of the Holy Spirit.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think we can do it on our own\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n Bible.org\u2019s commentary on today\u2019s readings in Matthew chapter 10 titled \u201cWise as Serpents\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span> <\/span> <\/span> Please join me in memorizing\u00a0and meditating on two verses of Scripture today: <\/strong>\u201cWhoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.\u201d<\/em> Matthew 10:32-33 NIV<\/span><\/p>\n Prayer Point: <\/strong> Pray that you acknowledge Jesus before men in all ways in all of your days.<\/span><\/p>\n Comments from You:<\/strong>\u00a0 What verses or insights stand out to you in today\u2019s readings?\u00a0 Please post up by clicking on the \u201cComments\u201d link below!<\/span><\/p>\n God bless, p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Chronological Bible readings at this link.<\/span><\/p>\n p.s. #2 \u2013 Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.<\/span><\/p>\n p.s. #3 \u2013 I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Matthew 9:27-34; Mark 6:1-6; Matthew 13:53-58; Matthew 9:35-38; Mark 6:7-13; Matthew 10:1-42; Luke 9:1-6~ Click here to read today\u2019s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~~ Listen to today\u2019s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~ Matthew: In Matthew chapter 9 we read about Jesus healing in response to people\u2019s faith. It is amazing to remember that the<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":32659,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[1649,45,46,558,53,231],"class_list":["post-32658","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-bible-study","tag-8th","tag-bible","tag-blog","tag-chronological","tag-october","tag-readings"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32658","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=32658"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32658\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/32659"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=32658"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=32658"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=32658"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
~ Click here to read today\u2019s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~<\/span><\/em>
~ Listen to today\u2019s Scripture with <\/em>The ESV Bible<\/em><\/span> ~<\/p>\n
Verses 37 & 38 are so powerful in today\u2019s readings: \u201cHe said to his disciples, \u201cThe harvest is so great, but the workers are so few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send out more workers for his fields.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 I think each of us can reflect on this teaching from Jesus.\u00a0 Do you agree with Jesus that the harvest is so great?\u00a0 And the workers are few?\u00a0 Will you pray to God for more workers for his kingdom work?\u00a0 Are you one of God\u2019s workers in his kingdom work?<\/span><\/p>\n
Bible.org\u2019s commentary on today\u2019s readings in Matthew chapter 9 titled \u201cThe Authority to Give Sight\u201d <\/strong>is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n
Matthew chapter 10 closes out today with what might be considered some \u201chard teachings\u201d of Jesus.\u00a0 I think what stands out in my mind in reading these teachings is that while Jesus is certainly the Prince of Peace, he also has come into a world that is full of darkness \u2013 and the darkness fights against Jesus\u2019 light.\u00a0 So, if we decide to align ourselves with Jesus, and his eternal goodness and light, the darkness will also then fight against us \u2013 just as it fights against Jesus.\u00a0 As students and servants of Jesus, we will face the same persecutions that Jesus did.\u00a0 And while this is certainly true, think about the alternative \u2013 not following Jesus\u2026 and not walking in the light of God\u2019s love.\u00a0 I\u2019d much rather spend 1 day in Jesus\u2019 light than 1 thousand days elsewhere\u2026\u00a0 How about you?<\/span><\/p>\n
Verse 38 is the first mention of the word cross in the gospel of Matthew: \u201cIf you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0What strikes me about this verse is that Jesus is teaching that we do have a cross to bear.\u00a0 And we have a choice to make of whether we will take up the cross and follow Jesus.\u00a0 So, now may be a good time to ask yourself \u2013 what is your cross in your life?\u00a0 Do you think you know what it is?\u00a0 If not, will you ask Jesus to reveal to you what your cross is?\u00a0 And then, will you bear it daily?\u00a0 And will you follow Jesus daily?<\/span><\/p>\n
Worship Video:<\/strong> Today\u2019s readings in Matthew chapter 10 today about Jesus remind me of the beautiful Jason Castro song, \u201cYou Are:\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
Mike<\/span><\/p>\n