Matthew 21
December 21, 2022
“When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them. They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.” (v45-46)
Even though the Pharisees are “indignant” (v15) about Jesus receiving praise from the people, they hesitate to arrest Jesus because “they are afraid of the people” (v46). What a contrast between One who spoke the truth without fear of offending the people, and the religious leaders, who measured everything they said and did based on their fear of offending the people.
Lord Jesus, I praise You for being the Way, the TRUTH, and the Life. And I thank You for not pulling punches, for telling us what we need to hear, even if it offends our pride. Give me this kind of resolve to be solely concerned with Your opinion when I speak or preach. Like the little children shouting out Your praise, despite offending those who hated You (v15), may I take every opportunity to lift You up in my conversations - regardless of who I’m talking to - or what they might think of You.
— Pastor Joshua Brooks
Use the following steps to guide your daily time with the Lord…
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Start with prayer. Ask God to open your heart to help you understand and receive His Word.
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Read and observe the passage carefully. As needed, read a second Bible version to help with understanding.
➡️ What does it say?
What does this passage teach me about God? What does it say about my sinful nature and my need for God’s grace? How does this passage point to Jesus?
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➡️ What am I going to do about it?
Does this passage include a promise to claim, an action/attitude to avoid/embrace, or a principle to apply? How can this truth apply to my life? What could my next step be? How can I share this with others? Is there a verse or section of Scripture I need to memorize?
