Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 04, 2023: SOAP #4900: 2Samuel 8,9; 1Chronicles 18,19; Matthew 21

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 21:12 Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a ‘den of robbers’.”…
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’?”…
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’?

OBSERVATION:  Three times in this chapter, Jesus, the Living Word, refers to the Written Word of God.  He would not have needed to make reference to the Written Word for His spoken words carried the same authority as those written by men inspired by the Holy Spirit.  The Written Word should have prepared them for the Living Word. 

The people to whom Jesus was speaking should have had no trouble with Jesus actions and teachings.  He had come in fulfillment of the Old Testament scriptures.  Reading the scriptures would have prepared them for Jesus and His ministry. 

APPLICATION:  The closer I get to Jesus, the more my life will take on the priority of the Bible.  But how can I live according to His Word if I do not read it.  Reading the Bible should be a priority in my life.

Faithfully reading God’s Word will prepare me for the day.  I will approach the day with understanding and better respond to what happens.  How can I expect God to speak to me when I refuse to read what He has already said!  

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, thank you for your Word.  Holy Spirit, open my understanding as I read it today.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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