I can't promise that I'll be able to keep up with posting the reading for every day, but I will do it as often as I can. Here are today's readings, though:
Deuteronomy 27:1-28:68
Psalm 39:12-13
Proverbs 13:7-8
Luke 6:27-49
Post any questions or things you may have learned from today's readings. MGB.
Deut. 27:1-28:68. Moses commanded the Israelites to keep all of the commands that he gave them when they settled in Canaan,
and he commanded the pronouncement of curses on those who disobey and blessings on those who obey.
This passage will be summarized in
Deut. 30:19, which indicates that we have moral free will, which makes us accountable for our attitudes and actions, our belief and behavior, with ultimate logical or appropriate consequences, which are termed heaven or hell (cf. 2Chron. 7:14).
It is this teaching that explains why this life has so much pain and hatred: Most of it results from human sinfulness/ungodliness, both personal and political. If humanity spent as much energy trying to solve problems as it has engaged in KOTH (king of the hill wars), earthly life would be almost heavenly.
Psa. 39:12-13. The Psalmist prays to the Lord for help or salvation from suffering. In the next psalm he will say that the Lord granted his prayer, putting a new song in his mouth and a willingness to do the Lord's will in his heart--not concealing the Lord's love and truth (cf. Matt. 5:13-16).
Pro. 13:7-8. The Proverbist notes that the (wicked) rich have nothing, while the (humble) poor are rich (Matt. 5:3).
Luke 6:27-49. Jesus commanded love for enemies and not seeking revenge by way of applying the Golden Rule.
This passage contains
TOJ #21: GRFS is moral perfection. [Matt. 5:19-20&48//Luke 6:32-34] And no one is perfect
(Rom. 3:22; Adam & Eve were created merely innocent/good).
The Pharisees were criticized by Jesus for being self-righteous hypocrites (TOJ #134), who did not practice what they preached, which was a superficial and legalistic understanding of God’s will that stressed traditions and laws over loving relationships (TOJ #87).
The way to achieve perfection or purity (TOJ #15) or the “fullness of Christ” is explained in Romans 3:21-5:1. The key is Faith in Jesus (God as revealed) or repenting of the Sin of unbelief, which are opposite sides of the same coin (cf. TOJ #8).
This passage also contains
TOJ #30: Love and pray for God’s/your enemies. [Matt. 5:43-47//Luke 6:27-28&32-36] God’s agape/love is unconditional (Rom. 5:6-8). We should “hate what is evil” (Rom. 12:9) while loving people we dislike. This teaching is akin to TOJ #14, #16 & #29. However, God’s forgiveness of Sin is conditional upon repentance (TOJ #8 & #114).
The Luke passage also contains
TOJ #14: Believers manifest Faith by showing mercy. [Matt. 5:7] This teaching is stated in other words {in Matt. 6:14-15, 9:13, Mark 11:25, Luke 6:36-38, 17:3-4} and negatively in James 2:13.
Jesus illustrated this principle with the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant {Matt. 18:21-35}, and He exemplified it while on the cross with a prayer for forgiveness {Luke 23:34}. Mercy can be appropriated only by those who repent of their wrong attitudes and actions (Matt. 18:15-17). See TOJ #114. Reflecting God’s love is the normative sign of saving Faith (TOJ #148).
The distinction between love and mercy parallels that between Faith and faithful works.
Showing mercy does not mean allowing anarchy (Rom. 13:4b); there is a time for leniency and a time for logical consequences (Eccl. 3:3; cf. TOJ #30).
Today's NT passage also includes
TOJ #42: Temper reproof with love so you will not be judgmental. [Matt. 7:1-5//Luke 6:37, 38b, 41-42]
Jesus condemned hypocrisy (TOJ #134) or having a spiritual superiority complex (TOJ #31)
more than any other sin (Matt. 23). However, he did not condemn repentant sinners (TOJ #53), and saints/Believers should be very careful that their explanation of divine wrath does not impugn God’s love as taught by Paul in Romans 5:5-10.
Finally, Luke also includes
TOJ #64: Follow Christ’s example. [Matt. 10:24-25&38//Luke 6:40] Be willing to suffer persecution {John 15:20} or to sacrifice oneself {John 12:24-26} in order to help others (TOJ #199). The “cross” may even include death as a martyr. {Matt. 16:24-25//Mark 8:34-35//Luke 9:23-24, 14:27, 18:22, John 13:36}
Next? :^)