Matthew – Page 7 – Be Still…

Matthew 26:14-30 – The Final Meal

Today’s reading opens with Judas’ surprising visit to the high priests. How do you picture Judas? Has he always been a bit of an outcast among the disciples? Does he have a sinister look about him? Has he ever really accepted any of Jesus’ teachings? Is he a devout follower merely being used by God to orchestrate the beautiful plan? Is he greedy? Is his need for money greater than his loyalty to a friend? Do we have a little of Judas in us?

We are able to witness Jesus’ final meal with his friends, including Judas. Jesus is fully aware of what has happened and what is to come. What must Jesus be feeling? Has he lost his appetite? Imagine the men all seated around the table celebrating the Passover feast. It has happened before. But tonight is special. They are sitting with their very own Passover Lamb on the eve of his slaughter.

Matthew 26:1-13 – The Plot Thickens

Read Matthew 26:1-13

Jesus has been setting the stage for his departure from this world. Now we see the plotting of the religious leaders begin. It’s what needs to happen so that Jesus can fulfill his role as our Savior King. He needed to sacrifice his life for ours. That could not happen if everyone loved him and his ministry was all sunshine and roses. God orchestrated this so beautifully to coincide with the Passover, a time already recognized as a time to celebrate the lambs who gave their blood to save the people. Jesus is our lamb.

So what about the woman and her perfume? This story is memorialized just as Jesus said it would be. We all look to her extravagance. How do we see it? As a waste? As a tribute? Our answer may speak to our own faithfulness. This story is also told in John 12:2-8. We get more details here and learn this woman was Jesus’ friend, Mary.

Matthew 25:31-46 – Sheep or Goats?

Read Matthew 25:31-46

I’ll never forget this text and a teachable moment I had with my kids when they were little. We had just gone through a drive-thru. The aroma of french fries was filling the car, and then I saw him. A man in tattered clothes who was begging. I rolled down my window, and handed him our bag of food. I told him we’d be praying for God’s blessing on him. His face lit up with joy, and my kids were about to panic. What had their mother just done?

We drove back around and through the drive-thru again. As we were waiting for our food a second time, I explained how I understood this passage. We are to be giving to those less fortunate. Our faith calls us to look beyond our own needs and desires and be willing to help the needy, those who are hungry, who need warm clothes for winter. We are called to serve in this way. When we serve others in this way, we are serving Jesus.

Matthew 25:14-30 – Playing it Safe

Read Matthew 25:14-30

Playing it safe is what the third servant thought was the right choice. But it wasn’t. There are many situations where playing it safe is the smarter option. When life or death decisions need to be made, it’s usually best to err on the side of caution. However, this story is showing us a different lesson.

The three servants have been given something of value from their master. From the start, the master could see and rate their abilities. He didn’t give them more than they could handle. Two of the three were able to use and multiply that which was given. The third chose to bury the treasure believing that was a safe bet. He was afraid of failure.

Matthew 25:1-13 – How Many Bridesmaids?

Read Matthew 25:1-13

Weddings are such a glorious time of celebration. Once the planning and stress of preparation is over, that is. One huge detail, especially for the bride, is how many bridesmaids she should invite to share in her day. How many do you need? How do you choose who? What about those you don’t have “room” for. I remember one church whose front chancel area could only comfortably “fit”5 bridesmaids and 5 groomsmen, in addition to the bride and groom. Imagine if you had 10 you wanted to include?

In our reading today, the bridesmaids, also referred to as “virgins,” seemed more interested in the groom. So our common understanding of the maids being the bride’s friends may need a little adjustment. Other translations and even the study notes suggest these were 10 “virgins.” In this day and age, sad to say, finding 10 virgins for one bridal party may be difficult. But we’re missing the point.