Today’s reading: Genesis 38-40; Matthew 12:22-50

Selected verses

And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. But Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord put him to death. Genesis 38:6-7

Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. Matthew 12:30-32

Reflections

God reveals Himself in His Word as a holy Judge. As Creator, He has every right over us and we have every obligation to serve and obey Him. Does He not have the right to execute sinful and rebellious creatures? Didn’t Jesus preach about judgment?

God brought the judgment of death on the sons of Judah, Er and Onan. Jesus warned of judgment on those who blaspheme against the Holy Spirit. He spoke of the day of judgment on which the people of Nineveh would rise up and condemn the evil, adulterous, sign-seeking generation of His day that refused a greater prophet than Jonah and a greater king than Solomon.

A common misconception is that Jesus never suggested that there would be judgment, that He only spoke of love and peace. Not so. Rather, Jesus called His hearers to repent and believe the gospel. He warned of a sin that would never be forgiven. He taught that there would be condemnation for careless words and that contemporary society of that day was worse than wicked Nineveh.

But Jesus also gave hope to repentant sinners who recognize their lost, hopeless condition, who receive the revelation of God in Christ, who don’t demand other signs, and who flee from the wrath to come.

Think about it

Jesus Christ is Judge of those who reject Him, but the Savior of those who believe in Him. He came to save His people from their sin, but not all are His people. In eternity, will you know Him as Savior or as Judge? Make sure you know you are His.

© 2017 John A Carroll Used by permission