Thursday after the Second Sunday after Epiphany of our Lord
Posted on January 20, 2022 by under
Scripture: St. Matthew 5:17-26 (NKJV)
5:17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. 23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26 Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.
Devotion
False teachers lead others to ignore and break the commandments of God. Whether these wicked people are declaring the Ten Commandments obsolete, or are acting as though perversion and vanity are acceptable, they are working against the Word of God and His kingdom.
Our Lord does not teach us mere generic statements about “love” and “peace”. He works mightily through the whole counsel of His Law and Gospel, and through His Spirit and Truth. Christ reveals His glory according to His divine will and wisdom, not according to man’s reason or manipulations. This is why we are taught to observe all that He commands. The children of God are taught to hear, learn, serve, and obey, in all things. Our small works and our major life-events are all meant to be in fear, love, and trust in Him above all other things. Through these He makes things work together and He declares His wisdom. However, the devil would have us think otherwise.
God calls us to listen to His Son because in Him is all truth and righteousness. There is no way for us to improve on the wisdom of God’s grace and mercy in Jesus Christ. Hold fast to that one true Faith in all things, in all our works and deeds, because He is the only One who can fulfill all good things in the lives of those who are His through faith.
Prayer: Almighty and everlasting God, Who dost govern all things in heaven and earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of Thy people, and grant us Thy peace all the days of our life; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
