January 21

Reading 1 - Genesis 36

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v.2 - This caused family upset and grief - Gen.26:34,35. It has been a problem throughout time - Gen.6:2, Jud.3:6. There is a warning about it issued to the king in Deut.17:17 which Solomon ignored - 1Kings 11:3,4. There has to be a lesson in this when we see the way that Paul uses the marriage state in Ephesians to represent Christ and the church (5:28-33).
Peter Cresswell

In listing the generations of Esau we are being given a framework of his descendants as a point of reference. Later some of these name will crop up again. Therefore it is important to take account of this genealogy.
Peter Forbes

36:6 In leaving Canaan and going 'from the face of' Jacob Esau is showing yet again that the things of the land and the promises really meant nothing to him.
Peter Forbes

Genesis 36 - "The Chronicles of Esau 'The Woman Chaser.' " - Lodged in between two chapters describing the fortunes and otherwise of Jacob's family, the Divine record opens a brief window on the family of Esau. With Jacob dwelling faithfully in the land in tents, as his father Isaac and grandfather Abraham had done, Esau goes out of his way to build a "stable" family dynasty of Tribal Chieftains. No identifiable remnant of Esau's family remains today, but the descendants of Jacob are back in their land just as God promised that they would be. Man's glory lasts but a short while, and will disappear like the grass of the field - Psalm 49:16-20.
Cliff York

Reading 2 - Psalm 38

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v.1 says 'rebuke me not' David recognises that God was involved in his life chastening him. He knows he deserves it (v.4) and that he cannot resolve it himself. He makes a very necessary move (v.18) and in v. 21 his appeal to God brings about forgiveness. He is forgiven by God and should not therefore have to endure human criticism. But we know all to well that this is not the case. v.19,20 show that he certainly did.
Peter Cresswell

v.8 - This word roar, when applied to a man, seems to indicate a cry of distress, rather than anger, which we may think when it is of an animal. It is also applied to God in scripture - Jer.25:30, Hos.11:10, Joel 3:16, Amos 1:2
Peter Cresswell

David speaks of his condition as being like an unacceptable animal sacrifice :3, 7 no soundness :11 sore. This is how David felt after committing adultery with Bathsheba. It was this realisation which caused him to say :18 'I will be sorry for my sins. Which echoes Psalm 32:5 - another Psalm from this time in David's life.
Peter Forbes

Psalm 38 - There is a striking resemblance between this psalm and Psalm 6:1-10, in the general structure, and in some of the particular expressions. Both appear to have been composed in a time of sickness, though not probably in the same sickness; and both express substantially the same feelings. The forty-first psalm, also, appears to have been composed on a similar occasion. Some think that this Psalm may be another that David penned chronicling his physical and mental experiences and anguish after his dalliance with Bathsheba. From the time of the very first transgression in the Garden of Eden, mankind has suffered mentally and physically, and such Psalms as David has penned here give all of us the necessary thoughts we need to take any of our problems to the Father in prayer.
Cliff York

Reading 3 - Matthew 23

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v.38 - The things in which they placed their trust were temporal and to their consequent destruction. Matt.24 carries straight on from here, and see what Jesus says to the disciples (v.2). The desolation of Jerusalem, and especially the temple (representing spiritual Jerusalem) was predicted by God's foreknowledge through the prophets. Isa.64:10,11, Jer.7:9-14, Zech.11:1-6.
Peter Cresswell

Jesus' Language in Matthew 23 - Matthew 23 was spoken just prior to Jesus leaving Jerusalem to go to the mount of Olives a couple of days before his death. However it was a distillation of what he had already said to the scribes and Pharisees on different occasions, commencing with the time of his baptism:

Matt.3,Luke 3	Matthew 6	Matthew 12	Luke 11	Luke 13	Matt.23, Mark 12, Luke 20
Jesus' Baptism	Sermon on the Mount				in the Temple in the last week
	Matt.6:5				seen of men - Matt.23:5
			Luke 11:43		uppermost - Mt.23:6 Mr.12:39
			Luke 11:43		greetings in the market - Mt.23:7 Lk.20:46
					devour widow's houses - Mt.23:14 Mr.12:40 Lk 20:47
					long prayers - Mt.23:14 Mr.12:40 Lk.20:47
			Luke 11:42		tithe - Mt.23:23
			Luke 11:47,48		sepulchres - Mt.23:27,29
Mt.3:7 Lk.3:7		Matt.12:34			vipers Mt.23:33
				Luke 13:34	O Jerusalem Mat.23:37

Peter Forbes

We should beware of being smug when reading Jesus' reproof of the scribes and Pharisees. Their love of the praise of men was a consequence of their humanity. Human nature likes praise. These men manifested this characteristic because the Scriptures had not affected their minds on this matter. Human pride - which produced their attitude - is all pervasive and we can easily manifest it ourselves.
Peter Forbes

:12 In warning the disciples about self aggrandisement Jesus is reminding them of things he has already said (Luke 14:11)
Peter Forbes

Matthew 23 - A chapter containing 8 woes pronounced by Christ against hypocritical religion. These woes counterbalance the 8 Blessings pronounced by Jesus in Matthew 5.

Matthew 23:15 - "twofold more a child of hell" - lit. 'a son of Hinnom'. These were not Sons of Abraham, as was manifest by their hypocritical religious demands and expectations of their fellows v25. Just as the children who were in times previous offered to Molech, [when Israel caused their children to "pass through the fires of Molech" in this very valley of Hinnom], were so terribly scorched and burnt beyond recognition, so Jesus says the teachings and practises of the Pharisees and religious leaders of the nation has so grotesquely "disfigured" their pupils spiritually, to the point where Christ is absolutely unable to recognise these wretches as His children.

Matthew 23:37 - What an exhortation to us here, as Jesus describes His care for us all as a mother hen protecting her vulnerable brood. Note what He says about their attitude - "I would... but you would not!" A mother hen will defend to the death, but these "would not" come under the shelter of the protecting wings. Where are we? Wilfully rebelling? Or under the shadow of the wings of the Almighty?
Cliff York