My 'One Year Bible' Journey

Today I read from the following books;

JOSHUA 21:1 - 22:20
LUKE 20:1-26
PSALM 89:1-13
PROVERBS 13:15-16

Today my readings talked about the completion of the lords gift to the Israelites. It talks a little more about what final pieces of land were divided up between the remaining tribes. It also mentions that the land that was promised to the Levites was finally given to them.

It tells of some Israelites that had built a Imposing Alter to worship something/someone other than god. When word got out that they had done this the other tribes sent their leaders to go talk to them about this. It says they were angry and told them that they are going against the lord and that God would punish all Israelites for that sin just like he did with Achan sinned. It states that "He (Achan) was not the only one who died for his sin."

Luke 20:1-26 was good today, it talks about how Jesus preaching in the temple and then the high priests questioned him on how Jesus got the authority to do and say the things that he did. He answered them with another question about John's baptism and whether it was from heaven or from man.

The priests talked about it and couldn't decide which answer they should give because each one would lead them to be looked down upon. They ended up saying "We don't know where it is from". And Jesus replied back with "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."

- I don't quite understand this part. There must have been a reason why Jesus didn't answer them with "GOD" but I can't see it at this point. I guess he might not have answered them because that could look like he was giving in to the questioning or that he had to defend himself for something, so simply saying he won't tell them is his way of staying on top....as he should be. -

He then tells a parable about a man that bought a large vineyard. He left the vineyard and had some tenants take care of it. Later he sent one of his servants to the vineyard to get some grapes but the tenants beat him up and sent him back empty handed.

He sent more servants who were beaten and sent away empty handed as well. he then finally sent his own son to the vineyard thinking that the tenants would surly respect him, but actually they say him and knew that he was the heir to the vineyard so they killed him so that the vineyard could still be in their possession.

Jesus then asks and then answers a question. (this part is confusing to me, I'm not sure what it means) "What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others."

- That is a mystery to me, I can't imagine that Jesus is condoning murder in any way, but that is what it sounds like to me. Weird! The next few lines are confusing as well, it reads: When the people heard this, they said "May this never be!" Jesus looked directly at them and asked, "Then what is the meaning of that which is written: "'The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone'". -

It then talks about how the priests were desperately trying to find something that they could pin on Jesus to put him to death but they could not find anything. So they sent spy's to watch Jesus looking for something that they could punish him with. The spy's questioned him about paying taxes to Caesar thinking they would catch him in a crime and he simply replied with "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's".

- Awesome. -

The Proverb for today is PROVERBS 13:15-16 "Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the unfaithful is hard. Every prudent man acts our of knowledge, but a fool exposes his folly."

Labels: daily readings, God, Israelites, Jesus, Joshua, Priests, Vineyard