Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Matthew 21:1-11.

“When they had approached Jerusalem and had come to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied there and a colt with her;  untie them and bring them to Me.  If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.”  This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:

“SAY TO THE DAUGHTER OF ZION,
‘BEHOLD YOUR KING IS COMING TO YOU,
GENTLE, AND MOUNTED ON A DONKEY,
EVEN ON A COLT, THE FOAL OF A BEAST OF BURDEN.’”  

The disciples went and did just as Jesus had instructed them, and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their coats on them;  and He sat on the coats.  Most of the crowd spread their coats in the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them in the road.  The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting,

“Hosanna to the Son of David;
BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD;
Hosanna in the highest!”

When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, “Who is this?”  And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.”  Matthew 21:1-11.

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In sharp contrast to the kings and other rulers of the world who were violent and dominating over their subjects, Jesus was gentle and serving to His people.  We are reminded of yesterday’s Scripture.  “But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them.  It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave;  just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”  Matthew 20:25-28.

The Pharisees lay law upon law on the people:  “And they tie up heavy loads, and lay them on men’s shoulders;  but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger.”  Matthew 23:4.

In contrast, Christ tied up the heavy loads of the law and laid them on His own shoulders and gave us His Spirit as a yoke:  “in order that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit”.  Romans 8:4.

Like the foal, Jesus was a beast of burden in that He could and did carry the burden of our sins away.

The yoke that Christ endured was the cross, but the yoke that Christ gives us is His Spirit.

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30.

Today’s devotion comes from Matthew 20:29-34.

“As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Him.  And two blind men sitting by the road, hearing that Jesus was passing by, cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!”  The crowd sternly told them to be quiet, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”  And Jesus stopped and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?”  They *said to Him, “Lord, we want our eyes to be opened.”  Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes;  and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him.”  Matthew 20:29-34.

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The world wants quick fixes for specific problems.  Even many churches have series of sermons specifically seeking to deal with symptoms of sin:  “How to be a better _____ (you fill in the blank)”.

In sharp contrast to what the world and many churches would seek if they were in the place of the blind men, namely only a cure for blindness, we hear the two blind men twice cry out only for mercy.

It was only after Jesus specifically asked them what they wanted that the two blind men said:  “Lord, we want our eyes to be opened.”

“Moved with compassion”, Jesus healed them.

The lesson for us today is that like the blind men we should first seek mercy.

Whereas other doctrine focuses on man and what man can do better to deal with a specific symptom of sin, Reformed Doctrine focuses on God and His “Unconditional Election”, the fountain of all mercy and all compassion and all good.

“For He says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.”  So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.”  Romans 9:15-16.

“Article 9. …  election is the fountain of every saving good; from which proceed faith, holiness, and the other gifts of salvation, and finally eternal life itself ….”  FIRST HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of Divine Predestination of Canons of Dordt.

“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.  In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.”  James 1:17-18.

“For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;  and these whom He predestined, He also called;  and these whom He called, He also justified;  and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

What then shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who is against us?  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”  Romans 8:29-32.

“Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

Today’s devotion comes from Matthew 20:17-28.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+20&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons, bowing down and making a request of Him.  And He said to her, “What do you wish?”  She *said to Him, “Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit one on Your right and one on Your left.”  But Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking.  Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?”  They *said to Him, “We are able.”  He *said to them, “My cup you shall drink;  but to sit on My right and on My left, this is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father.”

And hearing this, the ten became indignant with the two brothers.  But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them.  It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave;  just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”  Matthew 20:20-28.

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“So the last shall be first, and the first last.”  Matthew 20:16.

We have seen this theme three times in the last three Scriptures.

In Matthew 19:27-30, the disciples questioned Jesus about what they would receive for their sacrifice and service.  In the eyes of the world, the disciples were last for leaving everything to follow Jesus.  But, Jesus assured them that they would receive rewards causing them to be first.

In Matthew 20:1-16, to illustrate the generosity of God, Jesus used a parable of the landowner who paid first and equally his laborers who entered his service last and who worked the least amount of time.

And, in today’s Scripture, Matthew 20:20-28, Jesus used the desire of the mother of the sons of Zebedee for first preference for her sons in standing in the kingdom of God to teach that those who want to be first in the kingdom of God must be a slave (last in standing) to others.

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”  Matthew 6:33.

Today’s devotion comes from Matthew 20:1-16.

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.  When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard.  And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the market place;  and to those he said, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’  And so they went.  Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did the same thing.  And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing around;  and he *said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day long?’  They *said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’  He *said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’

“When evening came, the owner of the vineyard *said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last group to the first.’  When those hired about the eleventh hour came, each one received a denarius.  When those hired first came, they thought that they would receive more;  but each of them also received a denarius.  When they received it, they grumbled at the landowner, saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.’  But he answered and said to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong;  did you not agree with me for a denarius?  Take what is yours and go, but I wish to give to this last man the same as to you.  Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own?  Or is your eye envious because I am generous?’  So the last shall be first, and the first last.”  Matthew 20:1-16.

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Today’s Scripture may begin a new chapter, but it builds upon yesterday’s Scripture which is in a different chapter.

Yesterday’s Scripture (Matthew 19:27-30) starts by establishing God’s justice.  Jesus’ disciples pointed out that they had left everything and followed Jesus and asked what they would receive for such sacrifice and service.  Jesus assured them that they would receive rewards which would be even more than fair compensation.

Today’s Scripture teaches us that God is more than just;  God is generous.  Even in yesterday’s Scripture, we saw the generosity of God.  “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.”  Matthew 19:29.  But, in today’s Scripture we see a dramatic illustration of God’s generosity in Jesus’ parable of the laborers who only worked one hour in the vineyard receiving a full day’s wages.  And, in today’s Scripture, we read the question of the landowner representing God which further establishes the generosity of God by His own admission that He is generous:  “Or is your eye envious because I am generous?”  Verse 15.

What an encouragement these two Scriptures should be to us!  Not only is God just in giving fair compensation for our sacrifice and service;  God is generous!  If we are pleased to work for an earthly employer who is just in giving us fair compensation for our service, how much better is it to work for God Who gives us heavenly compensation AND that heavenly compensation is generous!!

“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”  James 1:5.

Today’s devotion comes from Matthew 19:16-26.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+19&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.  Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”  When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?”  And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”  Matthew 19:23-26.

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“4 Do not weary yourself to gain wealth,
Cease from your consideration of it.
5 When you set your eyes on it, it is gone.
For wealth certainly makes itself wings
Like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.”  Proverbs 23:4-5.

“He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income.  This too is vanity.”  Ecclesiastes 5:10.

“For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”  1 Timothy 6:10.

“And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive.  And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’  Then he said, ‘This is what I will do:  I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.  And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come;  take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.”’  But God said to him, ‘You fool!  This very night your soul is required of you;  and now who will own what you have prepared?’  So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”  Luke 12:16-21.

“And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.”  Verse 23.

“Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.”  John 6:27.

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”  Matthew 6:33.

Today’s devotion comes from Matthew 19:13-15.

“Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray;  and the disciples rebuked them.  But Jesus said, “Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me;  for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”  After laying His hands on them, He departed from there.”  Matthew 19:13-15.

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Other doctrine believes that salvation belongs to the strong and the wise.

But, Reformed Doctrine sees that Scripture teaches that salvation belongs to the LORD Who has chosen the weak and foolish like children for salvation.

“For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;  but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God.  But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.”  1 Corinthians 1:26-31.

“For He says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.”  So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.”  Romans 9:15-16.

Today’s devotion comes from Matthew 18:18-20.

“Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven;  and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.

“Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven.  For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”  Matthew 18:18-20.

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This Scripture reminds us of the following Matthew 16:17-19, especially verse 19.

“17 And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.  18 I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church;  and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.  19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven;  and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”  Matthew 16:17-19.

Some misuse Matthew 16:17-19 to try to reserve powers for only the Apostle Peter or his successor.

Although we do honor the Apostles and prophets and our fathers in the faith, we should not so reserve powers for them nor improperly exalt them.  Today’s Scripture helps us realize that these powers apply to common believers by Matthew 18:18’s use of almost identical language to Matthew 16:19.  And, if some would argue that Jesus is again only talking to Peter, we do notice that the very next verse starts with “Then Peter came and said to Him …” indicating that Peter was not there when Jesus said these words and to clarify that Peter was not being specifically singled out as the only one who had these powers.

Likewise, we consider the following Scriptures which show that in Christ, all believers possess all these blessings.

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.”  Ephesians 2:19-22.

“What then is Apollos?  And what is Paul?  Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one.  I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.  So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.”  1 Corinthians 3:5-7.

“Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us you may learn not to exceed what is written, so that no one of you will become arrogant in behalf of one against the other.  For who regards you as superior?  What do you have that you did not receive?  And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?”  1 Corinthians 4:6-7.

“So then let no one boast in men.  For all things belong to you, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas (Peter) or the world or life or death or things present or things to come;  all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ;  and Christ belongs to God.”  1 Corinthians 3:21-23.