Sunday, February 20, 2022

The Sunday Bible Readings and Prayers for Sunday, February 20, 2022 — Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany

 

The Sunday Bible Readings and Prayers
Sunday, February 20, 2022
Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany
Genesis 45:3-11, 15; Psalm 37:1-11, 39-40;
1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50; Luke 6:27-38
with commentaries from Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible

Love Your Enemy
Jesus could have said to create peace with our enemy, but he doesn’t. He told us to love our enemy. Sami Awad, a Christian Palestinian shares what it looks like to actually follow Jesus’ challenging words while living in one of the most hostile parts of the world. Who are the enemies in our lives, and how can we love them?

Introduction & Theme

Today’s scriptures address questions relevant to our time: “How are we supposed to treat others?” and “Does God’s love extends to all?” In Genesis, God sends Joseph into Egypt to save the world from famine. The psalmist warns us not to grow angry because the wicked are prospering, for God will soon set everything right and give sinners their just desserts. As we saw last week, Jesus’ sermon on the plain begins with blessings for the poor and suffering, and woes to the rich and comfortable. But today’s continuation of that sermon moves beyond crime and punishment. The Golden Rule teaches us to do unto others as we would have them do unto us—regardless of whether they are friend or foe, saint or sinner. Indeed, God is kind to even ungrateful sinners. How we choose to focus these scriptures determines how we answer the questions asked above. But Jesus makes clear that the crime and punishment paradigm has been replaced with the Golden Rule—no matter how annoyed and angry people make us.

Opening Prayer
(Luke 6)

Inexhaustible source of love and life, be with us in our time of worship as we seek the love it takes to walk in the ways of your Son. Help us love our enemies and bless those who wrong us, for we cannot do so alone. Teach us the joy of treating others with all the same respect and goodness with which we hope to be treated. May our every word and deed make known that we are your beloved children and vessels of your love. Amen.

Call to Confession
(Psalm 37, Luke 6)

Teacher of hard truths, it is difficult to let go of our anger toward those who prosper through deceit and unscrupulous ways; it is not easy to make ourselves believe that the meek will inherit the earth, when they are being crushed by the powerful. We long to see the vindication of the righteous and the prosperity of those who work selflessly to bring your realm here on earth. We yearn for the day when all people will treat one another as they wish to be treated. Help us live into that day, Holy One, even when it is difficult, that your love might shine like the sun through our lives and our ministries. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon
(Luke 6)

When we treat others as we would have them treat us, Jesus calls us beloved children of the Most High.

If God is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked, how much more will God be kind to those who love the Lord and seek to live the Golden Rule? Rest in this assurance and be at peace.

Today’s Verse-of-the-Day:
Proverbs 17:9

Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.
How does love cover a multitude of sins? Because it stops a transgression before it can multiply. For example, if someone wrongs you, you might be tempted to react in anger or vengeance, and may even gossip about it to others. In that case, the iniquity reproduces itself. If you respond with God’s love and forgive the person, you not only stop the sin from going any further, you may even lead the offender to the healing he or she needs (Prov. 10:12; 17:9; 1 Cor. 12:4–7; James 5:20).

Today’s Lectionary Readings:
From the Pentateuch
Genesis 45:3-11, 15
Joseph Forgives His Brothers

45:3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence.

4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

8 “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. 9 Now hurry back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay. 10 You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. 11 I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.’

15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterward his brothers talked with him.

Commentary

Joseph comforts his brethren, and sends for his father.

Joseph let Judah go on, and heard all he had to say. He found his brethren humbled for their sins, mindful of himself, for Judah had mentioned him twice in his speech, respectful to their father, and very tender of their brother Benjamin. Now they were ripe for the comfort he designed, by making himself known. Joseph ordered all his attendants to withdraw. Thus Christ makes himself and his loving-kindness known to his people, out of the sight and hearing of the world. Joseph shed tears of tenderness and strong affection, and with these threw off that austerity with which he had hitherto behaved toward his brethren. This represents the Divine compassion toward returning penitents. "I am Joseph, your brother." This would humble them yet more for their sin in selling him, but would encourage them to hope for kind treatment. Thus, when Christ would convince Paul, he said, I am Jesus; and when he would comfort his disciples, he said, It is I, be not afraid. When Christ manifests himself to his people, he encourages them to draw near to him with a true heart. Joseph does so, and shows them, that whatever they thought to do against him, God had brought good out of it. Sinners must grieve and be angry with themselves for their sins, though God brings good out of it, for that is no thanks to them. The agreement between all this, and the case of a sinner, on Christ's manifesting himself to his soul, is very striking. He does not, on this account, think sin a less, but a greater evil; and yet he is so armed against despair, as even to rejoice in what God hath wrought, while he trembles in thinking of the dangers and destruction from which he has escaped. Joseph promises to take care of his father and all the family. It is the duty of children, if the necessity of their parents at any time require it, to support and supply them to the utmost of their ability; this is showing piety at home, 1 Timothy 5:4. After Joseph had embraced Benjamin, he caressed them all, and then his brethren talked with him freely of all the affairs of their father's house. After the tokens of true reconciliation with the Lord Jesus, sweet communion with him follows.


From the Psalter
Psalm 37:1-11, 39-40
The Lowly shall Possess the Land

1 Do not fret because of those who are evil
     or be envious of those who do wrong;
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
     like green plants they will soon die away.

3 Trust in the Lord and do good;
     dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
     and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the Lord;
     trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
     your vindication like the noonday sun.

7 Be still before the Lord
     and wait patiently for him;
  do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
     when they carry out their wicked schemes.

8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
     do not fret—it leads only to evil.
9 For those who are evil will be destroyed,
     but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.

10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
      though you look for them, they will not be found.
11 But the meek will inherit the land
      and enjoy peace and prosperity.

39 The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord;
      he is their stronghold in time of trouble.
40 The Lord helps them and delivers them;
      he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
      because they take refuge in him.


Commentary

David persuades to patience and confidence in God, by the state of the godly and of the wicked (vv. 1-11). The reliable help and deliverance of the LORD (vv. 39-40).

Verses 1-6: When we look abroad we see the world full of evil-doers, that flourish and live in ease. So it was seen of old, therefore let us not marvel at the matter. We are tempted to fret at this, to think them the only happy people, and so we are prone to do like them: but this we are warned against. Outward prosperity is fading. When we look forward, with an eye of faith, we shall see no reason to envy the wicked. Their weeping and wailing will be everlasting. The life of religion is a believing trust in the Lord, and diligent care to serve him according to his will. It is not trusting God, but tempting him, if we do not make conscience of our duty to him. A man's life consists not in abundance, but, Thou shalt have food convenient for thee. This is more than we deserve, and it is enough for one that is going to heaven. To delight in God is as much a privilege as a duty. He has not promised to gratify the appetites of the body, and the humors of the fancy, but the desires of the renewed, sanctified soul. What is the desire of the heart of a good man? It is this, to know, and love, and serve God. Commit thy way unto the Lord; roll thy way upon the Lord, so the margin reads it. Cast thy burden upon the Lord, the burden of thy care. We must roll it off ourselves, not afflict and perplex ourselves with thoughts about future events, but refer them to God. By prayer spread thy case and all thy cares before the Lord, and trust in him. We must do our duty, and then leave the event with God. The promise is very sweet: He shall bring that to pass, whatever it is, which thou has committed to him.

Verses 7-11: Let us be satisfied that God will make all to work for good to us. Let us not discompose ourselves at what we see in this world. A fretful, discontented spirit is open to many temptations. For, in all respects, the little which is allotted to the righteous, is more comfortable and more profitable than the ill-gotten and abused riches of ungodly men. It comes from a hand of special love. God provides plentifully and well, not only for his working servants, but for his waiting servants. They have that which is better than wealth, peace of mind, peace with God, and then peace in God; that peace which the world cannot give, and which the world cannot have. God knows the believer's days. Not one day's work shall go unrewarded.

Verses 39-40: The salvation of the righteous will be the Lord's doing. He will help them to do their duties, to bear their burdens; help them to bear their troubles well, and get good by them, and, in due time, will deliver them out of their troubles. Let sinners then depart from evil, and do good; repent of and forsake sin, and trust in the mercy of God through Jesus Christ. Let them take his yoke upon them, and learn of him, that they may dwell for evermore in heaven. Let us mark the closing scenes of different characters, and always depend on God's mercy.


From the Epistles
1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50
The Mystery of the Resurrection

15:35 But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” 36 How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. 38 But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body.

42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.

If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
45 So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. 46 The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. 47 The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. 48 As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man.

50 I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

Commentary

Objections against the resurrection answered.

1. How are the dead raised up? that is, by what means? How can they be raised? 2. As to the bodies which shall rise. Will it be with the like shape, and form, and stature, and members, and qualities? The former objection is that of those who opposed the doctrine, the latter of curious doubters. To the first the answer is, This was to be brought about by Divine power; that power which all may see does somewhat like it, year after year, in the death and revival of the corn. It is foolish to question the Almighty power of God to raise the dead, when we see it every day quickening and reviving things that are dead. To the second inquiry; The grain undergoes a great change; and so will the dead, when they rise and live again. The seed dies, though a part of it springs into new life, though how it is we cannot fully understand. The works of creation and providence daily teach us to be humble, as well as to admire the Creator's wisdom and goodness. There is a great variety among other bodies, as there is among plants. There is a variety of glory among heavenly bodies. The bodies of the dead, when they rise, will be fitted for the heavenly bodies. The bodies of the dead, when they rise, will be fitted for the heavenly state; and there will be a variety of glories among them. Burying the dead, is like committing seed to the earth, that it may spring out of it again. Nothing is more loathsome than a dead body. But believers shall at the resurrection have bodies, made fit to be for ever united with spirits made perfect. To God all things are possible. He is the Author and Source of spiritual life and holiness, unto all his people, by the supply of his Holy Spirit to the soul; and he will also quicken and change the body by his Spirit. The dead in Christ shall not only rise, but shall rise thus gloriously changed. The bodies of the saints, when they rise again, will be changed. They will be then glorious and spiritual bodies, fitted to the heavenly world and state, where they are ever afterwards to dwell. The human body in its present form, and with its wants and weaknesses, cannot enter or enjoy the kingdom of God. Then let us not sow to the flesh, of which we can only reap corruption. And the body follows the state of the soul. He, therefore, who neglects the life of the soul, casts away his present good; he who refuses to live to God, squanders all he has.


Today’s Gospel Reading
Luke 6:27-38
Love Your Enemies


6:27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.

32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”


Commentary

Christ exhorts to mercy.

Verses 27-36: These are hard lessons to flesh and blood. But if we are thoroughly grounded in the faith of Christ's love, this will make his commands easy to us. Every one that comes to him for washing in his blood, and knows the greatness of the mercy and the love there is in him, can say, in truth and sincerity, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? Let us then aim to be merciful, even according to the mercy of our heavenly Father to us.

Verses 37-38: All these sayings Christ often used; it was easy to apply them.


Here end the Readings

The Nicene Creed

  • We believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.
  • And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, begotten from the Father before all ages, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made; of the same essence as the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven; he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary, and was made human. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried. The third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead. His kingdom will never end.
  • And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life. He proceeds from the Father and the Son, and with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified. He spoke through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We affirm one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look forward to the resurrection of the dead, and to life in the world to come. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Holy Communion

A nondenominational serving of bread and wine
Though no video can truly replace the experience of celebrating together in our places of worship, we know that where two or more are gathered, the Lord is present. This table is open to all who recognize Jesus Christ as healer and redeemer. This table is open to all who work to bring God’s Kingdom here on earth. No one is turned away because of life circumstances. No one is barred from this table. No one seeking God’s abundant grace and mercy is turned aside. We see before us the abundance that a life of faith offers as we respond to God’s everlasting mercy in prayer and deed.

Benediction
(Luke 6)

Go with God’s blessings. As followers of Jesus, we will love our enemies and do good to those who hate us. As disciples of Christ, we will bless those who curse us and pray for those who persecute us. As people of the Way, we will do unto others as we would have them do unto us.

Love One Another
Jesus' commandment is to love one another as He has loved us.


Today’s Lectionary Readings are selected from the Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, a three-year cyclical lectionary. We are currently in Year C. Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent in 2022, we will be in Year A. The year which ended at Advent 2021 was Year B. These readings complement the Sunday and festival readings: Thursday through Saturday readings help prepare the reader for the Sunday ahead; Monday through Wednesday readings help the reader reflect and digest what they heard in worship. Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, copyright © 2005 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org. The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle, and Gospel lessons are from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Commentaries from Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible.

The Morning Prayer for Sunday, February 20, 2022

 

The Morning Prayer
Sunday, February 20, 2022


My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.
Proverbs 3:11-12, NIV


Lord our God, we thank you that in spite of all the evil, we may look toward the good and toward a change for the better. For your love, your Spirit of love, can be with us. In spite of all that has gone wrong, we can change. Through genuine faith we can become worthy in your sight. Everything can turn to the good. The nations can become glad, rejoicing in life because you are working among them to help them change. Amen.

Verse of the Day for Sunday, February 20, 2022

 

Verse of the Day
Sunday, February 20, 2022


Proverbs 17:9
Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.
How does love cover a multitude of sins? Because it stops a transgression before it can multiply. For example, if someone wrongs you, you might be tempted to react in anger or vengeance, and may even gossip about it to others. In that case, the iniquity reproduces itself. If you respond with God’s love and forgive the person, you not only stop the sin from going any further, you may even lead the offender to the healing he or she needs (Prov. 10:12; 17:9; 1 Cor. 12:4–7; James 5:20).

Read the full chapter

Listen to Proverbs Chapter 17


Scripture from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

Our Daily Bread — Leaning into God

 

Leaning into God

Pray continually. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

READ 1 Thessalonians 5:12–24

Harriet Tubman couldn’t read or write. As an adolescent, she suffered a head injury at the hands of a cruel slave master. That injury caused her to have seizures and lapses of consciousness for the rest of her life. But once she escaped slavery, God used her to rescue as many as three hundred others.

Nicknamed “Moses” by those she freed, Harriet bravely made nineteen trips back to the pre-Civil War South to rescue others. She continued even when there was a price on her head and her life was in constant danger. A devoted believer in Jesus, she carried a hymnal and a Bible on every trip and had others read her verses, which she committed to memory and quoted often. “I prayed all the time,” she said, “about my work, everywhere; I was always talking to the Lord.” She also gave God credit for the smallest successes. Her life was a powerful expression of the apostle Paul’s instruction to the earliest Christians: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18).

When we lean into God in the moment and live dependently in prayer, praising Him despite our difficulties, He gives us the strength to accomplish even the most challenging tasks. Our Savior is greater than anything we face, and He will lead us as we look to Him.

By James Banks
REFLECT & PRAY


How does spending time in God’s presence make you stronger? In what ways will you “lean into Him” today?

Loving and Almighty God, please help me to live every moment with You today and to receive the strength You alone can give.

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT

A fitting title for Paul’s first epistle to the Thessalonians might be “The Must-Read Letter.” Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:27: “I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters.” Paul wanted first-century believers in Jesus to embrace his Spirit-inspired instruction. And his timeless teaching continues to benefit believers today. Among other things, the book of Thessalonians can be viewed as a “primer on eschatology” (the biblical doctrine that concerns “last things”). Each of the five chapters includes information related to Christ’s return. Commentator William Hendriksen notes: “It is a well-known fact that in 1 Thessalonians every chapter ends with a reference to the second coming. See 1:10; 2:19, 20; 3:11–13; 4:13–18; 5:23, 24.” We must not lose sight of the day when Jesus will return and rule as the righteous Judge. Reading and following 1 Thessalonians will help prepare us for that day.

Arthur Jackson