“Therefore, whatever they tell you, do and comply with it all, but do not do as they do; for they say things and do not do them.  And they tie up heavy burdens and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as their finger” (Matthew 23:3-4).

Learn how to honor authority.  It is not that all who hold authority are honorable, but honor the truth that all authority comes from the Lord.  Yes, we are laden with burdens that those who give them will not bear.  Serve as if you are serving the Lord.  If you are one with authority, do not burden another with a burden you would be unwilling to carry.  Sinners love a display of power.  Saints serve one another.

Lord, help me to see the difference clearly.  This world encourages us to climb rungs of a ladder to become powerful.  You have leveled the field, and we are to treat others as we want to be treated.  The difference between sin and Your rule are clear.  Teach me to understand the line clearly.  Guide me to live under Your authority.  Help me to live out this reality in my daily life, for I am one under Your authority.

Lord Jesus, in our day there seems to be an increasing lack of respect for authority.  There are increasing burdens upon those who can on behalf of those who won’t.  Help me to respect legitimate authority no matter how I feel about any situation.  Let me not fall into the trap of crawling over others to get to the top.  Guide me so that I am respectful of all whom You appoint to positions of authority.  Lead me so that I always look to You, the One who holds all power and authority.  Amen.

“Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses” (Matthew 23:1-2).

Sinful humanity loves to set themselves up in seats in which they imagine that they have power.  A simple principle applies here: Jesus is the One who has all power.  We live under authority, but even that is granted by God.  God has all authority.  Do not seek power or authority, but live humbly by the call of the Lord.  He will place you where He knows you need to be.  We are all under His ultimate authority.

Lord, calm the internal wrestling in me.  Guide me so that I humbly walk where You would have me walk.  Lead me in Your goodness and mercy to live in the truth that You alone are God.  All things are possible because of You.  Let me not be led astray by the vain things of this world, but live in the truth of Your provision alone.  You have given me the words of eternal life.  Help me to take comfort in You alone.

Lord Jesus, You came to set me free from the bondage of this world.  The problem is, I am comforted by what I know.  But this is a false comfort.  Lead me forward to be comforted by You alone.  Guide me so that I humbly walk where You lead and live the life You have given me to live.  Let me not settle for what this world offers, but press on for the prize of the eternal life You give me by grace through faith.  Amen.

“Therefore, if David calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his son?”  No one was able to offer Him a word in answer, nor did anyone dare from that day on to ask Him any more questions” (Matthew 22:45-46).

No one was able to answer.  Jesus also didn’t give the answer then, but we know the answer.  He who is Lord is also the Son.  The Creator of David is also the son of David.  The only begotten Son of the Father has set all things into motion.  The unseen God is made visible through the Son.  Each time we speak the Creeds, we say these things.  Our Savior has come.  Ask questions, but do not question our Lord.

Lord, You know how easily confused I am in this world.  Help me, I pray, to go beyond what I do not understand to learn how to live by faith.  I do this is so many ways in this world, yet for some reason, I limit myself to this world.  Guide me, Lord Jesus, to live the way You have created me to live.  Lead me into the new life for which I was created.  Help me to seek answers, but to no longer question You, the One through whom all things have their being.

Lord Jesus, with great patience and wisdom You have dealt with the foolish questions of every generation.  You have humored my constant questioning.  The answer is before me, but often I will not listen.  Guide me so that I learn how to listen to You, for You have given me the words of everlasting life.  Help me so that I trust You above all things.  In Your goodness and mercy, keep me close to You.  Amen.

“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.