Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 4, 2022: SOAP #4535:  2Samuel 8,9; 1Chronicles 18,19; Matthew 21

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 21:15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. 16 “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “‘From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise’?”

23 Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. …
42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? …45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them.

OBSERVATION: Twice in this chapter we find Jesus asking a question of the chief priest, elders, and teachers.  Why would Jesus direct his question to the religious leaders and not the crowds that listened to his teachings and received his miracles?  I believe the Lord showed me that the religious leaders would be in and out of the temple and the synagogues where copies of the Old Testament scriptures were in the scrolls.  It was expected that they would read the scriptures. 

The greater population would not have a copy of the Scriptures in their home, and no access to personally reading the scriptures.  They depended on someone reading it to them.  In 1Timothy 4:13 Paul encourages Timothy to be faithful in the “public reading” of Scripture.

APPLICATION: It is important that our faith have the solid foundation of the Word of God.  Some homes may have many copies of the Bible, some may have just the New Testament and others may have only a page or a verse somewhere in their home.  We need to honor the Word by reading it and asking the Holy Spirit to show us personal applications.  We will not be judged by how many copies we have in our home, but how much is hidden in our heart! 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, we honor you and your word by reading it and setting ourselves to follow through with what it says. Holy Spirit, show me how the word applies to my life.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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