Matthew – Page 34 – Len Bilén's blog, a blog about faith, politics and the environment.

January 27, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

The reading for today is the first chapter of the Gospel of Matthew and three chapters of Exodus.

January 27: Matthew 1, Exodus 5, Exodus 6, Exodus 7 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Matthew 1 tells of the spiritual genealogy of Jesus, starting with Abraham. Joseph was of the kingly line of David and he, not being the father, adopted Jesus. It then tells of the birth of Jesus. It also tells of Mary remaining a virgin until his birth.

in Exodus 5 Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and asked for a 3 day reprieve for his people so they can go and worship God. Like all dictators Pharaoh reacted to this petition by making life even more miserable for the Hebrews; he wanted them to gather their own straw and still make as many bricks as before. The Hebrews blamed Moses for stirring up trouble for them.

In Exodus 6 the LORD (Jehovah) promised deliverance from and He would give them the land He had promised Abraham. The narrative continues with an interlude where the names of the heads of the clans of Israel are listed. Moses protested and did not want to talk to Pharaoh any more, so Aaron would have to do the speaking.

In Exodus 7 God promised Moses to give him the words to all he must say, and Aaron was to tell it to Pharaoh. God also said he would harden Pharaoh’s heart and not let the people go. Aaron threw down his rod and it became a snake. The Egyptians duplicated it. The first plague out of ten occurred, turning the water of the Nile to blood.

February 23, read through the Bible in a year.

Today there are four chapters to read, ponder the significance of Matthew 28.

February 23: Matthew 28, Numbers 2, Numbers 3, Numbers 4 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Matthew 28 begins with Jesus being in the grave for the two adjoining sabbaths, the first day of unleavened bread followed by the normal sabbath, an earthquake and the stone was rolled away and Jesus was no longer in the grave. The guards were bribed to tell that the disciples took the body, but two women, the two Marys met Jesus, and he told them to tell the remaining disciples that he is risen from the dead. Matthew ends with Jesus giving the great commission.

Numbers 2 tells how the tribes are to be arranged around the tabernacle, three to the east, three to the south, three to the west and three to the north and the Levites in the middle.

Numbers 3 counts the Levites by clan.

Numbers 4 tells of the duties of the Kohathites, the Gershonites and the Merarites. Then these Levite clans are numbered.

February 22, read through the Bible in a year.

Today there are only two chapters to read, do it and contemplate.

February 22: Matthew 27, Numbers 1 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Matthew 27 depicts the longest day, beginning with Jesus being handed over to Pilate, the Roman governor, since the Jews did not have right to execute capital punishment. Judas hanged himself, the thirty pieces of silver was used to buy the Potter’s field. Pilate tries to wiggle out of the role as a judge, his wife had warned him, so he comes up with the idea to release one prisoner at Passover which was the custom. Pilate chooses Jesus or Barabbas to be released and of the two the people chooses Barabbas to be released and Jesus to be crucified. Pilate acquiesces to the mob and so Jesus is flogged by the soldiers for a public spectacle and then he is led away, but after the flogging Jesus is too weak to carry his own cross, so they force Simon from Cyrene to carry Jesus cross all the way to the place of the skull, and there Jesus was crucified together with two criminals. To identify Jesus they put and inscription on the top of the cross “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” A number of prophecies were fulfilled, and Jesus finally dies on the cross. At that very moment the Temple vail was torn in two, from bottom to top and for the first time the holy of holiest is revealed. Jesus, now being dead is taken down from the cross and put in a tomb, a stone is rolled in front of the entrance and the tomb is sealed, and – this is important, they put up a guard to secure the tomb. Why did they do that? Think about that.

Numbers 1 is by comparison simple, it just lists the heads of the people that left Egypt, the first census.

February 21, read through the Bible in a year.

Today there are only two chapters to read, but when you do you’ll understand why.

February 21: Matthew 26, Leviticus 27 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Matthew 26 is enormous. It begins with the plot against Jesus, continuing with his anointing at Bethany, then Judas agrees to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, continuing with the Lord’s supper being initiated, Jesus predicting who is going to betray him, moving on to the Mount of Olives, Jesus praying in the garden of Gethsemane where he predicts Peter’s denial, and continues in prayer: “Not my will, but yours be done.” Jesus prayed three times and then came the betrayal and arrest of Jesus and he is taken to the Sanhedrin to be interrogated. The chapter ends with Peter’s denial.

Leviticus 27 deals with redeeming people and property and what is to be dedicated to God.