understands

Hebrews 4 

12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. 

It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, 

cutting between soul and spirit, 

between joint and marrow. 

It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. 

13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. 

Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, 

and he is the one to whom we are accountable.

14 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, 

Jesus the Son of God, 

let us hold firmly to what we believe. 

15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, 

for he faced all of the same testings we do, 

yet he did not sin. 

16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. 

There we will receive his mercy, 

and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

vineyard workers

Matthew 20 

1 “For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the landowner 

who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 

2 He agreed to pay the normal daily wage and sent them out to work.

3 “At nine o’clock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some people standing around doing nothing. 4 So he hired them, telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day. 5 So they went to work in the vineyard. At noon and again at three o’clock he did the same thing.

6 “At five o’clock that afternoon he was in town again and saw some more people standing around. He asked them, ‘Why haven’t you been working today?’

7 “They replied, ‘Because no one hired us.’

“The landowner told them, ‘Then go out and join the others in my vineyard.’

8 “That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first. 9 When those hired at five o’clock were paid, each received a full day’s wage. 10 When those hired first came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day’s wage. 11 When they received their pay, they protested to the owner, 12 ‘Those people worked only one hour, and yet you’ve paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.’

13 “He answered one of them, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage? 14 Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. 15 Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?’

16 “So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.”

one

 

Psalm 1

1 Oh, the joys of those who do not
    follow the advice of the wicked,
    or stand around with sinners,
    or join in with mockers.
2 But they delight in the law of the Lord,
    meditating on it day and night.
3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
    bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
    and they prosper in all they do.

4 But not the wicked!
    They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.
5 They will be condemned at the time of judgment.
    Sinners will have no place among the godly.
6 For the Lord watches over the path of the godly,
    but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.

Greatest

 Matthew18 

1 About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, 

“Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?”

2 Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. 3 Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. 4 So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

5 “And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. 6 But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.

when...

Titus 3 

4 When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, 

5 he saved us, 

not because of the righteous things we had done, 

but because of his mercy. 

He washed away our sins, 

giving us a new birth 

and new life 

through the Holy Spirit. 

6 He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. 

7 Because of his grace 

he made us right in his sight 

and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.

losing & keeping

Matthew 16 

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, 

“If any of you wants to be my follower, 

you must give up your own way, 

take up your cross, 

and follow me. 

25 If you try to hang on to your life, 

you will lose it. 

But if you give up your life for my sake, 

you will save it. 

26 And what do you benefit 

if you gain the whole world 

but lose your own soul? 

Is anything worth more than your soul?

4000+

Matthew 15 

32 Then Jesus called his disciples and told them, 

“I feel sorry for these people. 

They have been here with me for three days, 

and they have nothing left to eat. 

I don’t want to send them away hungry, 

or they will faint along the way.”

33 The disciples replied, “Where would we get enough food here in the wilderness for such a huge crowd?”

34 Jesus asked, “How much bread do you have?”

They replied, “Seven loaves, and a few small fish.”

35 So Jesus told all the people to sit down on the ground. 36 Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, thanked God for them, and broke them into pieces. He gave them to the disciples, who distributed the food to the crowd.

37 They all ate as much as they wanted. Afterward, the disciples picked up seven large baskets of leftover food. 38 There were 4,000 men who were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children. 39 Then Jesus sent the people home, and he got into a boat and crossed over to the region of Magadan.

4000 men, maybe 4000 women, 8000 children = 16000 fed?

whew...