Bible Pathways Daily Bible Reading Devotional

Get guidance on Bible study from C.S. Lewis - Free Course!
<< Bible Pathway

Bible Pathways 10/05/2001



October 05



Read Matthew 12

Jesus was confronted by the Pharisees who criticized His disciples by saying: Behold, your disciples do that which is not lawful to do on the Sabbath Day (Matthew 12:2). Jesus responded: In this place is One greater than the Temple. . . . For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath Day (12:6-8). The Old Testament worship system foreshadowed the life and ministry of Jesus Christ and His Church. Israel was commanded to keep the last day of the week, the Sabbath, as a day of rest to commemorate God's work of creation in six days. Equally important, circumcision distinguished the Israelites as GodÆs own peculiar people.

Most Christians assemble to collectively worship the Lord Jesus Christ on the first day of the week because He rose from the grave on the first day of the week (Mark 16:9). In this way they honor Him as Lord of their lives by putting Him first in every week. The Sabbath day of rest has its counterpart in the New Covenant: That in all things He (Christ) might have the preeminence. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come (Colossians 1:18; 2:16-17). The Sabbath, as well as all Jewish worship days, which were also sabbaths, were a shadow of things to come. The early church recognized this, and, in commemoration of His resurrection, upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached to them (Acts 20:7). A few years later, Paul was led to write: Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God has prospered him (I Corinthians 16:2).

Under the New Covenant, circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter (Romans 2:29). You are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also you are risen with Him (Colossians 2:11-12).

The Passover commemorating Israel's freedom from Egyptian bondage was fulfilled in Christ's final Passover, when He instituted the LordÆs Supper. As Jesus and the apostles were eating the Passover meal, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is My Body. And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink all of it; For this is My Blood of the New Testament (Covenant), which is shed for many for the remission of sins (Matthew 26:26-28).

When we refuse the assembling of ourselves together (Hebrews 10:25) to worship our Lord Jesus Christ, we also miss honoring Him in partaking of the Lord's Supper. The Lord's Supper is not a man-made ordinance! It was instituted by our Lord Jesus Himself. The Apostle Paul reminds us: As often as you eat this Bread, and drink this Cup, you do show the Lord's death till He come (I Corinthians 11:26).

Word Studies: 12:1 corn means grainfields; 12:5 profane means guilty of violating or breaking the law; 12:29 spoil his goods means take away his possessions; 12:44 garnished means put in order.

Cross References:

For Matthew 12:7: See Hos. 6:6. Matt. 12:18-21: See Isa. 42:1-4. Matt. 12:40: See Jonah 1:17.

Prayer Needs:
Government Officials: Rep. Benjamin Cardin (MD) and Rep. Dennis Rehberg (MO) · BPM Staff: Rita Guerra · Pray for Bible Pathway Prayer Partners · Pray for the Bible Pathway International Radio broadcast in honor of Dr. John A. Hash and Family · Country: Botswana (1 million) in southern Africa · Major languages: English and Setswana · Limited religious freedom because of local chiefs · 49% animist; 21% Protestant; 4% Roman Catholic · Prayer Suggestion: Pray for your Christian friends (Philemon 1:4).

Memory Verse for the Week: Matthew 3:17



More Bible Pathway Articles