“He said to them, “Then how does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying, ‘The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Until I put Your enemies under Your feet’?” (Matthew 22:43-44)

Let the mystery of the Incarnation rest upon you.  Will we ever be able to fully understand?  We often limit our understanding to worldly and human knowledge, but the Lord God is above all things.  Jesus tells us plainly: I and the Father are One.  He who has stepped into time is here.  The creator of David is also a descendent of David.  Focus upon the promise that our Lord will put all enemies under our feet.  The enemies – sin, death, and the devil – are put under our feet.

Lord, the mystery is great and I am often overwhelmed with the thought of You, the One true God, being a younger man, walking around, and living an ordinary human life.  Yet, this is what You have done.  You have personally invited me to walk with You now and forever.  You, who created life, offers me eternal life.  When I stop and marvel, and I am tempted to be overwhelmed by unbelief, take my hand and lead me forward in faith.

Lord Jesus, one moment I see an ordinary man, living amongst ordinary people.  In the next moment, You are displaying power and authority such as no one has seen before.  Lead me into the mystery in order that I may live the life You are offering.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to humbly follow where You lead.  Teach me how to live a new life, for through You alone do all things have their being.  Amen.

“Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question:  “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is He?” They said to Him, “The son of David” (Matthew 22:41-42).

Jesus will lead us into thinking, if we are willing to go there.  We each have our own ideas, but Scripture is the revelation of God, not the speculation of man.  But we often begin with speculation.  God has given us enough information that we can begin to think, but if we listen to the Lord we can begin to know.  Through knowledge, comes understanding and through understanding, learning more about the heart of our Lord.

Lord, I may have answers, but they are not always right.  I speculate about so many things, which are often not true.  I need Your guidance to ask the right questions and seek the right answers.  This world is filled with speculation, but You have come giving us the truth.  You have come with salvation and offer it to all who believe.  Lead me out of speculation to rely on Your truth.

Lord Jesus, You are the truth.  You, through whom all things have their being, have come into the world bringing life, liberty, and hope.  Lead me into the truth, for You are, in the flesh, the descendent of David, but You are also the One through whom David was created.  In the marvelous mystery of Your revelation, You have offered us a new life.  Help me to live into the new life You have given me.  Amen.

“This is the great and foremost commandment.  The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  Upon these two commandments hang the whole Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:38-40).

Lord, the law reflections Your character.  Born in this age, we learn who we are to love and who are to hate.  We segregate and divide.  You have called for us to see all people as Your creation, equally loved by You, and as our neighbor.  This is a clear distinction between You and how this world is doing things.  Care for the other as I want to be cared for.  Consider the well-being of all equally.

I hear these words and the first part is easier.  I want to love You, Lord.  But there are some neighbors I do not want to love.  Lead me beyond myself so that I learn how to love others the way You would have me love them.  Teach me what all of this means, taking me beyond my inclination to stop thinking I am where I need to be.  Take me to where You know I need to be.

Lord Jesus, You know what all of this means.  You know what it means for me.  Lead me through all that needs to happen so that I learn how to love as You love.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to be gracious and merciful to others.  Teach me how to love You, Lord.  Help me to see others as those who have been created in Your image, and to love all others, reflecting Your love for me.  Amen.

“And one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him:  “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”  And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind’” (Matthew 22:35-36).

Why have we been created?  To love the Lord.  When you ask what is important to God, you begin to realize that this creation is about love.  He has invited us into an eternal relationship and desires that we love Him as He loves us.  To be love, it must include your heart, soul, and mind.  You know this, for to truly love, you give everything you are and have.  Love the Lord.  He loves you.

Lord, I have heard this many times and I am familiar with the idea, but I really do not understand what love is.  You have placed in me the capacity to love and there are many things I love in part, but I am often all over the place.  Guide me to live learning how to love as You love.  Lead me to want what is right and fitting.  Help me to see that all of the other commandments are an extension of this one.

Love Incarnate, Jesus my Savior, You loved me enough to give Your life for mine.  You have loved me enough to provide everything I need to be with You in eternity.  You first loved me.  Teach me how to love You.  Help me to understand what love is.  Help me to live out love in my life through all that I do.  Guide me now and always so that I may walk in Your love and learn from You.  Amen.

“When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at His teaching.   But when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together” (Matthew 22:33-34).

Authority is authority and one knows when they have been in the presence of authority.  Of course, the crowds were astonished.  Where else had they heard the truth?  This is what their hearts longed for.  But those who think in terms of this world hate the truth.  They gather together and plot to be rid of the truth.  The truth is forever, and the lie is a temporary illusion.  Which will you follow?

Lord, things have not changed.  You speak truth and unhindered, my heart knows the truth when it hears it.  The world speaks lies and seeks to lead us away from the truth.  You have spoken the words of truth.  Lead me into all truth and help me to have a discerning mind to both know the truth when I hear it, but also to recognize the lies that seek to counter the truth You have spoken.  Guide me into all truth.

Holy Spirit, You know clearly the way this world deceives many.  Let me not be deceived, but hear the words Jesus has spoken and live them in my heart.  Guide me in the way You know I need to live.  Help me to stay away from the dissensions of this age and humbly live in the truth You have spoken.  Lead me in the way of everlasting life.  Keep me in Your grace today.  Amen.

“But regarding the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God:  ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living” (Matthew 22:31-32).

Jesus is telling us that we are not here for a little while and then gone.  God is not indifferent to what He has created.  He cares about those whom He has created.  If Jesus has not been raised from the dead, we hope in vain.  But He has been raised from the dead, therefore we shall be raised with Him.  In this age, we are to be conformed to His image as God prepares us for what is to come.

Lord, there is more going on than I realize.  You have called me to follow You and You have shared that I am to have the hope of the resurrection.  Lead me out of the despair of this age to have hope in You.  Guide me in Your goodness to recognize the simple truth You have spoken.  This world seems to live by endless speculations, but You give us the words of eternal life.

Help me, Lord Jesus, to learn what it means to live by faith.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to humbly walk with You, my Lord and God.  Lead me in the upward call, for You are the God of the living and not of the dead.  Teach me in my daily life how to live this truth.  Let the life You give me be a witness of Your grace and mercy.  Thank You, Lord, for providing all that I need.  Amen.

“But Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, since you do not understand the Scriptures nor the power of God.  For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven” (Matthew 22:29-30).

Jesus is not guessing, but telling us the way it is.  What we are here and now is different than what we will be.  Is your hope in what you want or imagine things to be, or is it on what the Lord is telling you?  Why then the way of this world?  Ask the better question and ask the Lord what it is we need to learn:  “What are You teaching me, Lord, in what You have established in this age?”  What is it we need to learn?

Lord, I do often second guess You and think things need to be the way I want them to be.  Help me to hear You as You tell me things.  You tell me to live in today.  Help me to live in the moments You give me.  Help me understand more clearly that You are making of me what You will and that what I know here and now is that I am to be like You, Jesus.  Help me to be willing to learn and to understand.

Lord Jesus, You have come to lead the way into eternal life.  You have come from eternity to lead us into eternity.  Grant that I would look to You for understanding, and not assume that I know.  You have the words of eternal life.  Lead me in the way of life so that I may live my life as it is meant to be lived.  Through Your grace and by Your mercy, continue to grow in me Your likeness, dear Savior.  Amen.

“Last of all, the woman died.  In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her in marriage” (Matthew 22:27-28).

People use the law as if has the final answer.  We know that the Holy Spirit told St. Paul that the law was weak.  The law condemns; we all are sinners and therefore guilty.  The reality of eternity is not what the law does, but what the Lord has done in fulfilling the law.  The law reflects the heart of the Lord.  Jesus is the Lord Who calls us to Himself.  Yes, the law reflects the goodness of God, but our Lord is the Way and Truth of salvation.

Lord, You have shown Your light into this world.  You are not distant and far off, but know the number of hairs on our head.  Guide me so that I learn from You and live the life You have given me to live.  Lead me out of the mire of lies that surround me in order that I may celebrate in the freedom You have given me by grace.  Help me to see more clearly each day the truth You have revealed.

Lord Jesus, You have told me that what is to come is not just a continuation of what we have experienced here.  Guide me in the call You have given me, knowing that only in You is there hope and a future.  Lead me to see through the clouds of this age to in live the hope You give me.  Because You live, I shall live.  My life is in You alone, for You are the One who created me.  Help me to live into the life You have in store for me.  Amen.

“Now there were seven brothers among us; and the first married and died, and having no children, he left his wife to his brother.  It was the same also with the second brother, and the third, down to the seventh” (Matthew 22:25-26).

How tricky can we make the puzzle Lord so that we may trap You?  Is this not the way the world works?  Create intricate situations and then put the Lord on the spot?  We do this to one another also.  The fabrication of lies in this age leads us to wonder what we are to believe.  In the beginning, the Lord created all things.  He has come and walked among us offering redemption.  Whom will you believe?

Lord, I have been polluted by the double speech of this world.  This world is filled with hatred.  Lead me out of hatred and into Your love.  Whatever happens will happen and You know the outcome of all that will happen.  Teach me to look to You, the One who created all things, and know that the words You have given me are truth.  Help me so that I am not tricked by this world’s confusion.

Be the One who guides me, Lord Jesus, in every circumstance.  Lead me so that I see more clearly each day the promises You have spoken.  No matter what the world says, help me to trust You above all things.  You are the Resurrection and the Light of Life, and in You is all hope.  Because You live, I too shall live.  Help me to live these words of life and believe them as most certainly true.  Amen.

“On that day some Sadducees (who say there is no resurrection) came to Jesus and questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies having no children, his brother as next of kin shall marry his wife, and raise up children for his brother’” (Matthew 22:23-24).

The created come to the Creator and, from their unbelief, ask a question about that which they do not believe. This is the way of the world. People think they are smart when they are thinking foolishly. The Lord of all creation has told us that we will be where He is. He has risen from the dead and we shall too. It is not if, but when. This faith is about eternity which begins here and now.

Lord, I am sometimes like the Sadducees and from my doubts and fears say things that are foolish. Lead me so that I may look to You, listen and hear what You are saying. I may not understand all these things, but You are giving me what I need. Help me to walk the path You have set before me and learn wisdom as You grow in me the kind of person You are making me to be.

Lord Jesus, You have told me that I will be raised on the last day. You have told me that You are preparing a place for me. Help me to trust You above all things. Help me to not lean on my own understanding but walk in the way You have taught me. Guide me so that I do not question You and, instead, listen to the answers You give me. With the Father and the Holy Spirit You reign, One God now and forever. Amen.