Daily Reading Passages

Click below to see the passages online. Although, I recommend that if you can you read these in your own Bible. That way you can underline, comment, and become familiar with your own Bible.

Exodus 21:22 - 23:13

Matthew 24:1-28

Psalms 29:1-11

Proverbs 7:6-23

Coaching Comments

The Old testament reading for today, Exodus 21:22 - 23:13, continues with the original laws God gave Israel through Moses. Remember the context. This is vital in order to understand why this stuff is even in the Bible. The Hebrews have been slaves for 400 years. Their own culture, heritage, and sense of how to live together as a community has been largely wiped out. God is re-forming them into the new community with a new culture. These finely detailed laws show us God, pointing the way toward how these former salves can live together peacefully and productively. This is how they will learn to live together in peace, respecting each other's personhood, becoming the culture that God will use to impact the world.

In this section we get property laws, social laws, laws regarding the judicial system, and laws regarding the Sabbath.

Interesting points of note along the way: Exodus 21:23 is where we get the famous, "Eye for an eye " statement." Undoubtedly, these laws are harsh. They're establishing firm boundaries about what it means to be responsible, and what it means to take care of each other . Exodus 22:22 is the first spot where we encounter God's heart for widows and orphans. This is an interesting threat putting all the force of God's power against someone who takes advantage of those who can't take care of themselves. Exodus 22:25 is the basis of the Jewish practice of when I am I am whom whom interest to one another when they make a loan. God saw interest as a way of taking advantage of people, and ultimately enslaving them.

The New testament reading today, Matthew 24:1-28, takes us into a teaching of Jesus on the end times. It begins with Jesus talking about the destruction of the temple and various instructions for His followers during times of persecution. There is a lot of interesting stuff in here. There's also lot of confusing stuff as well. It's important as we read this that we understand Jesus primary purpose in this teaching. Jesus goal for his disciples was to make a difference. The mission He gave them was to going to all the world communicating about Him and His kingdom to all those that don't know him. Jesus gives these warnings as a way to help them be prepared for the difficulty to come. The key point is in Jesus' first few words, "Watch out that no one deceives you." There are lot of things mentioned in this passage that, when they happen, will be distracting to the average follower Jesus. Jesus' concern is that these inevitable events will not keep his followers from being on mission.

The 29th Psalm is our Psalm Reading for the day. This is a song of pure praise and worship. Every word is focused on the power of God. There's no complaint, no request, nothing about David. It's all about God! A great model of worship for us.

Today's Proverb reading is uncharacteristically long. It's Proverbs 7:6-23. This is the rest of chapter seven's story about the young man led astray when he abandoned wisdom and chased after what would fulfill him sexually. It looks great going in. It sounds like it will be fun, satisfying, and harmless. But the end result is terrible. Spiritual, emotional, relational death.

2007 Cohort Comments