OCTOBER 21, 2021 ~ JOURNEY THROUGH THE BIBLE CHRONOLOGICALLY

OCTOBER 21, 2021 READINGS... Luke 18:9-14 & Mark 10:1-12 & Matthew 19:1-12 &

Mark 10:13-16 & Matthew 19:13-15 & Luke 18:15-17 & Mark 10:17-31 & Matthew 19:16-30 & Luke 18:18-30

In our reading Jesus begins by sharing important truths for us. The first has to do with how we humans come before a holy and powerful God. Jesus tells the story of a Pharisee and a tax collector. The Pharisee is proud and extremely impressed with himself…the tax collector was broken and humble, realizing there was nothing good in himself. Jesus said that it would be the tax collector, not the Pharisee, that would be made right with God. Second, Jesus speaks about marriage and divorce. He says that divorce was allowed by Moses because of people’s hearts. Jesus also speaks important words of truth for us today about homosexual marriage and gender confusion. He said God made humans male and female and that it was God’s plan for male and female to marry. Third, Jesus speaks of how important it is to bring the children to Him. He even says that unless a person comes to Him like a child they will not enter the kingdom of heaven. What is a child like? Open, receptive, and trusting…it is how we must all come to Jesus.

In the second part of our reading the Lord is approached by a rich young religious leader. Interestingly, Matthew, Mark, and Luke all record this event. The man asks what he must do to be saved. Jesus tells him to keep the law…to which the man says he has done so. Then Jesus tells him he needs to do one more thing…he needed to sell all he had and follow Jesus. The man left sad, for he was rich, and was unwilling to do what Jesus instructed. Some have told me when reading this that it seems unfair for Jesus to require him to do this, and not everyone. Listen, Jesus requires all of us to leave behind anything that stands in the way of us truly following Him. It may not be riches…it may be something else, but Jesus requires that whatever is in our lives that is more important than Him must be set aside.

Please share your thoughts from today’s reading.

TOMORROW’S READINGS… Matthew 20:1-16 & Mark 10:32-34 & Matthew 20:17-19 &

Luke 18:31-34 & Mark 10:35-45 & Matthew 20:20-34 & Mark 10:4-52 & Luke 18:35-19:27