Welcome back to the Words to Build a Life On series, focusing on the Sermon on the Mount. We took a six-week break for Advent & Christmas, and now we’ll finish up this series in the next seven weeks.
Our main passage for this week is actually only one verse: Matthew 7:6 (read it right now). But each day, we’ll read the whole passage for context. Focusing on a single verse of scripture can be worthwhile, but too much singularization of scripture can prove to be misleading. Imagine if the only thing you knew of your mother was a time she disciplined you or if the only thing someone ever had to remember you by was the time you got in a car accident. There’s much more to an individual or a situation than five minutes or one statement. This is why reading scripture continually and over again helps us find the Word and heart of God.
So this verse is an interesting one and gives us a cliche sometimes heard today: “Don’t throw your pearls before swine.” Which, if we’re thinking pragmatically, might lead us to respond to Jesus: “Um...okay, I’ll be sure not to do that!”
But more than likely, Jesus is not speaking literally. So what is he saying? What are pearls? What is swine? Why would we throw pearls to the pigs? When might we do so unintentionally?
May the Lord meet you as you seek the Word this week. Pray for the Lord to lead and guide you as you read and as you work and live your day.
Monday, January 9 - Read the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)
Tuesday, January 10 - Matthew 7:1-11, Psalm 96
Wednesday, January 11 - Matthew 7:1-11, Leviticus 11:7-8, Deuteronomy 14:8
Thursday, January 12 - Matthew 7:1-11, Luke 15
Friday, January 13 - Matthew 7:1-11, Romans 12:3-8
Saturday, January 14 - Matthew 7:1-11, 2 Corinthians 4:1-7
Sunday, January 15 - Come to worship with your church family!
