south ridge blog

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Luke 23:34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”

During Jesus’ trial, He refused to offer any kind of defense for His actions. He knew He was innocent from breaking any Roman or Jewish laws, but also knew that blood needed to be shed for the forgiveness of sins. 

When looking through the entirety of Jesus’ life and ministry, we must remember that He was both fully human and fully God. In His humanity, Jesus experienced the pain and sorrow of living in a broken world. He wept over the death of His friend Lazarus, as He knew that death was not part of the original created order. He wept over the city of Jerusalem, desiring the people of God to be back into right relationship with Him. 

And at the end of His life, He wept again. Not just for the physical, emotional, and spiritual pain He was experiencing – which would have been excruciating. He also wept for those who were crucifying Him. Father! They don’t know. They just don’t know what they’re doing. Forgive them. 

READING & PRAYERS:

     MATTHEW 27:1-66 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)

QUESTION: Think about the last time you sinned against God and/or somebody else. How do you understand Jesus’ words, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing?” 

REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Are you overcommitting? Practice slowing down and living life at the pace of your soul by utilizing the One Minute Pause app at least twice daily. The app is free, and is available on iPhone and Android devices.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I confess there are times when I realize the truth of John 3:16 – that God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son. But even though I believe the truth of this passage, I struggle to believe that You so loved me You gave Your one and only Son. May this truth of Your resounding love permeate deep into my heart and soul today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.  

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Matthew 26:42 “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”

Think back on the prayers you’ve prayed over the previous 3-6 months. What have you prayed for? 

If we’re honest, many of us would acknowledge that we pray for things we want. God, please heal my friend or relative so-and-so who is currently ill. Amen. Or, God, please give me some kind of sign so I know what to do in this difficult situation I’m in. Amen. 

These kinds of prayers aren’t necessarily wrong, but they don’t always follow the examples from the Scriptures. Jesus prayed that He wouldn’t have to experience death on a cross, but also acknowledged His willingness to do it saying, “…may Your will be done.” 

As pastor and author Timothy Keller has written, “It is remarkable that in all of his writings Paul’s prayers for his friends contain no appeals for change in their circumstances…[what] he most frequently prayed for his friends, was for them to know God better.”

READING & PRAYERS:

     MATTHEW 26:36-46 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)

QUESTION: Do you find yourself more regularly praying for God to accomplish your will, or for you to have the understanding and discernment to live out His will for your life? If the former, what steps can you take to pray more intentionally for God’s will to be done? 

REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Are you overcommitting? Practice slowing down and living life at the pace of your soul by utilizing the One Minute Pause app at least twice daily. The app is free, and is available on iPhone and Android devices.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I confess that far too often I pray for my will to be accomplished. Today, I humbly pray for Your will to be done, whatever it may be. Continue to reveal Your will and purpose for my life, and provide me the wisdom and discernment to live it out well. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

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Matthew 26:26-28 “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.”

Jesus’ final meal with His disciples was the Jewish celebration of the Passover meal. Historically, there were six different food items and four cups of wine included in the Passover. 

Bitter herbs were consumed to represent the bitterness of slavery the Israelites experienced in Egypt. A mixture of nuts, apples and spices to represent the mud the Israelites used for buildings in Egypt. Another vegetable, this one dipped in salt water to represent the tears the Israelites experienced in slavery. Lamb, a symbol of the blood the Israelites spread around their doorframes for protection on the night of Passover. A roasted egg, eaten to symbolize mourning. The bread, used to symbolize God’s provision for His people. 

As for the various cups of wine, the third cup symbolizes God redeeming His people. The act of redemption was to reclaim His people as His own. It was likely this third cup of wine and the bread, which Jesus references in the Last Supper.

READING & PRAYERS:

     MATTHEW 26:17-30, JEREMIAH 31:31-34 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)

QUESTION: The Passover meal was heavy on symbolism about the Israelites freedom from slavery and God’s provision in their lives. In what ways can you worship God today for His deliverance from sin and death and His provisions in your life? 

REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Are you overcommitting? Practice slowing down and living life at the pace of your soul by utilizing the One Minute Pause app at least twice daily. The app is free, and is available on iPhone and Android devices.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, today’s reading has helped me realize that the Passover Meal was so much more than bread and wine. There is rich symbolism regarding God bringing His people out of slavery, forced to meet the needs and desires of others. This week, help me to live in the complete and total freedom You have provided Your people. Not the freedom to do what I want, but the experience of freedom from the consequences of sin and death. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

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Take some time today to journal and reflect on the following questions:

In what ways have you seen God at work within you this week? Within your family? Within others you may interact with? 

In what ways have you resisted God’s work within you this week? 

Take a Step: Remember to continue utilizing the One Minute Pause app throughout the week. If possible, begin to explore and practice the 3, 5 or 10 minute pause to more deeply root yourself in Christ.

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Matthew 23:27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.”

Our society often loves what is new and what looks good. We landscape our houses to be sure the outside looks pleasing to those passing by. We wash and wax our cars. Maybe it’s just to keep them clean, but maybe it’s to ensure we present ourselves to others as well as possible. We may even dress with a desire to impress others, not simply to stay warm. 

But when we live our lives with the motive of impressing others and getting others to like us, we’re much more likely to experience pain, hurt, and frustration. Somebody else will always have a nicer house with better landscaping. Somebody else will always have a nicer, cleaner looking car. Somebody else will always have nicer clothing. If we live in this way, we ultimately begin to feel like we’re always falling short. 

To live in the new family of Jesus is to to focus on what’s inside of our heart and soul first. In time, what’s on the inside will be visible to everybody on the outside as well. 

READING & PRAYERS:

     JAMES 2:1-13 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)

QUESTION: What verses in James 2:1-13 speak most to you today? How may God be inviting you to live out these verses today? 

REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Are you doing too much?Practice slowing down and living life at the pace of your soul by utilizing the One Minute Pause app at least twice daily. The app is free, and is available on iPhone and Android devices.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times when I have lost sight of what’s most important. The times when I’ve lost sight of who I am. The times when I have lost sight of who You are. The times when I have lost sight of where you are in my life right now. And even the times when I lose sight of where You may be leading me and try to forge my own path. Today, may I reset my sights and follow Your lead for my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

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Matthew 23:25-26 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.”

Our culture often emphasizes lawbreaking based on the severity of the offense. As such, somebody who steals a small sum of money will be punished less severely than somebody who murders. For a group of people trying to build a society with one another, this makes complete sense. 

But one of the unfortunate consequences of this same mindset is that followers of Jesus can be tempted to put sins in a level of different tiers. There are the “small” sins that aren’t such a big deal, and then there are the “big” sins which are much more severe. 

This is where the Gospel differs from our society. In the new family of Jesus, everybody is on the same playing field. Everybody has sinned and will sin again. So instead of pointing fingers at others, we recognize our own fallenness first. 

READING & PRAYERS:

     MATTHEW 23:13-39, LUKE 18:9-14 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)

QUESTION: Be honest: How regularly do you find yourself ranking “little” sins vs. “big” ones? In what ways may this lead you to seeing yourself as better than others? 

REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Are you doing too much?Practice slowing down and living life at the pace of your soul by utilizing the One Minute Pause app at least twice daily. The app is free, and is available on iPhone and Android devices.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, today’s reading has served as a reminder that there are times I could have been in the same position as the Pharisees in Jesus’ day. There are times when I see myself as better or morally superior to others because I think I would never do what that person did. Continue to help me be more like the tax collector in Luke 18, who easily acknowledged, “Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.” In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

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Matthew 23:23-24 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees…YOU have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness.”

In Matthew 23:13-39, Jesus continues to confront the religious leaders of His day by sharing a number of “woes” against them. In all, He shares seven woes of judgment. 

Some scholars see these seven woes in a chiastic structure. This means that woe 1 and 7 are paired together, as well as 2 and 6, and 3 and 5. Woe number 4, then, would be the central theme of what Jesus wanted to communicate to them. 

So Matthew 23:23-24 is the heart of the matter. The religious leaders have neglected the most important aspects of the Old Testament law — justice, mercy, and faithfulness. 

Was Jesus teaching that they should just forget about other aspects of the Old Testament law? Certainly not. Instead, He was clearly communicating that the Old Testament law prioritized justice, mercy, and faithfulness. And these attributes were missing from the lives of the Pharisees themselves. 

READING & PRAYERS:

     MATTHEW 23:13-39 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)

QUESTION: Practically speaking, what does it look like to live from a heart of justice, mercy, and faithfulness? Write down at least 3-5 examples as to how you can live this out today. 

REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Are you doing too much?Practice slowing down and living life at the pace of your soul by utilizing the One Minute Pause app at least twice daily. The app is free, and is available on iPhone and Android devices.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, when I think of what it looks like to live from a heart of justice, mercy, and faithfulness, I cannot help but to realize there are moments when I do not see another person. I may turn my head from the person begging on the street. I may walk away from the single mom with a screaming child at the grocery store. I may get frustrated with another driver who may be going slower than I want to go. Continue to help me grow into somebody who really sees people as image bearers. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

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Matthew 23:2-3 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.” 

The Gospel of Matthew has been building to a dramatic climax, and the value of the Kingdom of God continues to be on full display. Prior to His arrest, trial, and crucifixion, Jesus takes aim at the religious leaders of His day. 

It’s important to remember, however, that the Pharisees in Jesus’ day were doing what they were trained and educated to do. They were well-educated and had tremendous knowledge of the Old Testament. 

Unfortunately, they didn’t live out what they were preaching. They could teach people what the Word of God said, but their hearts were missing the heart of God’s message. Jesus had welcomed the broken, downtrodden, sinful people to be with Him and enjoy fellowship with Him. But those who refused to acknowledge their own brokenness and elevated themselves above others – Jesus was now calling them to account. 

READING & PRAYERS:

     MATTHEW 23:1-12 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)

QUESTION: On a scale of 1-10, how well do you recognize your own brokenness? Similarly, on a scale of 1-10, how well are you able to rest in God’s grace and experience freedom from that brokenness? 

REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Are you doing too much?Practice slowing down and living life at the pace of your soul by utilizing the One Minute Pause app at least twice daily. The app is free, and is available on iPhone and Android devices.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I continue to recognize that the balance between seeing my own brokenness and resting in Your grace despite that brokenness is a difficult balance to manage. Some days I wallow in self-pity, and other times I am able to rest well in Your infinite grace. Continue to help me see that I though I am broken and flawed, I am also Your child – one whom is dearly loved by You. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

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Take some time today to journal and reflect on the following questions:

In what ways have you seen God at work within you this week? Within your family? Within others you may interact with? 

In what ways have you resisted God’s work within you this week? 

Take a Step: Remember to continue utilizing the One Minute Pause app throughout the week. If possible, begin to explore and practice the 3, 5 or 10 minute pause to more deeply root yourself in Christ.

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Matthew 21:8 Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.

In the Gospel of Matthew, the first time we see Jesus enter the city of Jerusalem is during His Triumphal Entry in Matthew 21. But as we saw in yesterday’s reading, this was not His first visit to Jerusalem. 

Previously, Jesus had been in the city and had identified Himself as the source of “living water” for God’s people. As you can imagine, this created quite a stir! Some believed Jesus to be the promised prophet or Messiah for God’s people, while others were angry or confused. 

In either case, approximately six months pass between Jesus making this grand statement and His Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. Some saw Jesus as royalty. Some saw Jesus as the coming Messiah. Some were angry and continued to question why Jesus would allow such a procession to take place. Others were confused or curious, silently wondering who Jesus could be. The real question is: Who do you believe Jesus to be? 

READING & PRAYERS:

     MATTHEW 21:1-11 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)

QUESTION: Many people have questions about Jesus, but only one person knows exactly what you believe and why — you. Who do you believe Jesus to be? 

QUESTION: What questions do you have about Jesus? What steps will you take to discover the answers to those questions? 

REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Are you doing too much?Practice slowing down and living life at the pace of your soul by utilizing the One Minute Pause app at least twice daily. The app is free, and is available on iPhone and Android devices.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I confess there are times when I’m lazy and I depend on others to tell me what I believe. Today’s reading has been a great reminder that the only person who knows exactly what I believe — is me. Be with me as I wrestle with my own unhealthy beliefs, and provide me with the confidence to share my healthy beliefs with others. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

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