The Daily Lectionary
with Expository Commentary by Kenny Sallee, ThM
Saturday, February 17, 2024
Seeking Forgiveness and Finding Grace
Psalm 25:1-10; Psalm 32; Matthew 9:2-13
(Revised Common Lectionary Year B)
(Lent 1)
Introduction
with Expository Commentary by Kenny Sallee, ThM
Saturday, February 17, 2024
Seeking Forgiveness and Finding Grace
Psalm 25:1-10; Psalm 32; Matthew 9:2-13
(Revised Common Lectionary Year B)
(Lent 1)
Introduction
In this sacred collection of scriptures, we delve into the profound themes of repentance, forgiveness, and the transformative power of grace. Psalm 25:1-10 beseeches the Lord for guidance and forgiveness, illustrating a heart earnest in seeking divine mercy and truth. Psalm 32 celebrates the joy of forgiveness and the serenity found in confessing our sins to God, who is ever-ready to pardon. In Matthew 9:2-13, we witness Jesus' compassion as He heals a paralytic, teaching us about the paramount importance of spiritual healing over physical. This passage also underscores Christ's mission to call sinners, not the righteous, embracing all who seek redemption. Together, these scriptures offer a tapestry of hope, reminding us that in the embrace of God's love and forgiveness, we find true peace and renewal.
A Psalm and A Prayer
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions
Psalm 25:1-10
Your Paths are Love and Faithfulness
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions
Psalm 25:1-10
Your Paths are Love and Faithfulness
Psalm 25, a deeply personal prayer of David, is an earnest plea for God's guidance and protection. In verses 1-10, David expresses his unwavering trust in the Lord, despite facing adversaries and personal anxieties. This section of the Psalm resonates with themes of seeking divine direction, understanding God's ways, and a heartfelt desire for forgiveness. As we delve into these verses, we find a profound acknowledgment of God's steadfast love and faithfulness. It's a passage that speaks to the heart of those yearning for a closer walk with God amidst life's challenges.1 To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, in you I trust; *
Do not let me be put to shame;
do not let my enemies exult over me.
3 Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; *
Let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
4 Make me to know your ways, O LORD; *
Teach me your paths.
5 Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation; *
For you I wait all day long.
6 Be mindful of your mercy, O LORD, and of your steadfast love, *
For they have been from of old.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; *
According to your steadfast love remember me,
for your goodness’ sake, O LORD!
8 Good and upright is the LORD; *
Therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
9 He leads the humble in what is right, *
And teaches the humble his way.
10 All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, *
For those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
O Lord, my God, in You I trust, as I lift up my soul to Your divine grace. Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation, and in You I wait all day long. Remember, O Lord, Your merciful love and Your steadfastness, for they have been from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to Your steadfast love remember me, for Your goodness' sake, O Lord.
Good and upright is the Lord; therefore, He instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right and teaches the humble His way. All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep His covenant and His decrees.
Be with us today and every day in Jesus Christ, Who taught us to pray:
“Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who 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, forever and ever. Amen.”
Psalm 32 is a deeply reflective and uplifting psalm attributed to King David. It begins with an expression of blessedness for those whose transgressions are forgiven and whose sins are covered. The psalmist vividly describes the agony of unconfessed sin and the profound relief and joy that come from God's forgiveness. Through a blend of confession, wisdom, and praise, Psalm 32 offers guidance on the importance of acknowledging one's sins to God and the peace that follows divine pardon. It emphasizes the steadfast love of God and encourages the faithful to be righteous and upright in heart, trusting in the Lord's guidance and protection.32 1 Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
2 Happy are those to whom the LORD imputes no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
3 While I kept silence, my body wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
and I did not hide my iniquity;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,”
and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah
6 Therefore let all who are faithful
offer prayer to you;
at a time of distress, the rush of mighty waters
shall not reach them.
7 You are a hiding place for me;
you preserve me from trouble;
you surround me with glad cries of deliverance. Selah
8 I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
9 Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle,
else it will not stay near you.
10 Many are the torments of the wicked,
but steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the LORD.
11 Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, O righteous,
and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.
Expository Commentary
Verses 1-2: These verses express the joy of being forgiven. David speaks about the blessedness of those whose transgressions are forgiven and whose sin is covered. He mentions that blessed is the person against whom the Lord does not count iniquity and in whose spirit there is no deceit. This highlights the relief and peace that comes from God's forgiveness.
Verse 3: Here, David describes his silence and refusal to confess his sins. He talks about how keeping silent about his sins caused him physical distress. This verse teaches about the consequences of unconfessed sin.
Verses 4-5: These verses contrast the previous one. David describes how God's hand was heavy upon him, making his strength diminish as in the heat of summer. Then, he acknowledges his sin to God and does not hide his iniquity. He decides to confess his transgressions, and the Lord forgives the guilt of his sin. This passage underscores the importance of confession and the immediacy of God's forgiveness.
Verses 6-7: David advises the faithful to pray to God while He may be found. He speaks of God as a hiding place, who preserves from trouble and surrounds with glad cries of deliverance. This part of the psalm emphasizes God's protection for those who seek Him.
Verses 8-9: In these verses, God speaks, promising to instruct and teach the way one should go and to counsel with an eye upon them. It's a call for trust and obedience, warning not to be like a horse or mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle.
Verses 10-11: The psalm concludes with a contrast between the wicked and the righteous. Many are the torments of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the Lord. David calls on the righteous to be glad, rejoice, and shout for joy.
Throughout Psalm 32, there's a clear message about the importance of confession, the joy of forgiveness, and the guidance God provides to those who seek Him. It's a powerful reminder of God's mercy and the peace that comes from a relationship with Him.
Matthew 9:2-13 presents a series of interconnected events showcasing Jesus' divine authority and compassionate nature. The passage begins with the healing of a paralytic, where Jesus not only cures the man's physical ailment but also forgives his sins, demonstrating his authority over both physical and spiritual realms. This act of mercy leads to questions from religious leaders, to which Jesus responds with profound wisdom. The narrative then shifts to the calling of Matthew, a tax collector, highlighting Jesus' inclusive approach to his ministry. Jesus' willingness to dine with tax collectors and sinners further illustrates his mission of bringing salvation to all, regardless of social status or past transgressions. This section of Matthew's Gospel encapsulates key themes of forgiveness, inclusion, and the transformative power of Jesus' teachings and actions.9 2 And just then some people were carrying a paralyzed man lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” 3 Then some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” 4 But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and walk’? 6 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Stand up, take your bed and go to your home.” 7 And he stood up and went to his home. 8 When the crowds saw it, they were filled with awe, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to human beings.
9 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him.
10 And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But when he heard this, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.”
Expository Commentary
Verses 2-3 — Healing of a Paralytic:
- Verse 2: Jesus encounters a paralytic being brought to him. Seeing their faith, Jesus addresses the paralytic, not just with physical healing, but by forgiving his sins. This act demonstrates that Jesus prioritizes spiritual healing over physical healing.
Verses 4-7 — Jesus’ Response:
- Verse 3: Some scribes consider Jesus' declaration of forgiving sins as blasphemous. In Jewish tradition, only God can forgive sins, so this claim by Jesus is seen as a direct challenge to religious authority and theological understanding.
- Verse 4: Jesus, aware of their thoughts, challenges their reasoning. This verse shows Jesus' insight into human hearts and intentions.
- Verse 5-6: Jesus poses a rhetorical question about the ease of saying, 'Your sins are forgiven,' versus, 'Stand up and walk.' He then heals the paralytic to prove his authority to forgive sins, linking his miraculous powers to his divine authority.
Verses 9-10 — The Calling of Matthew:
- Verse 7: The crowd is amazed at this display of power and gives glory to God. This miracle leads to a recognition of Jesus’ divine authority.
- Verse 9: Jesus calls Matthew, a tax collector. Tax collectors were often despised in Jewish society for their collaboration with the Roman occupiers and their corrupt practices.
Verses 11-13 — Question about Associating with Sinners:
- Verse 10: Jesus dines at Matthew's house with many tax collectors and sinners. This act of fellowship with sinners is a radical departure from the societal norms of the time, emphasizing Jesus’ inclusive ministry.
- Verse 11: The Pharisees question Jesus' disciples about his willingness to associate with sinners, highlighting the religious leaders' concern with ritual purity and association.
Conclusion: Matthew 9:2-13 illustrates key aspects of Jesus’ ministry: his divine authority to forgive sins and his mission to reach out to those marginalized by society. It challenges traditional views of righteousness and purity and emphasizes the importance of mercy and compassion in Jesus' teaching and actions.
- Verse 12-13: Jesus responds by stating that he came not for the righteous, but for sinners. He references Hosea 6:6, emphasizing mercy over sacrifice, indicating that compassionate love is more important than ritual observance.
Optional parts of the readings are set off in [square brackets.]
The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle, and Gospel lessons are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Commentaries are by Kenny Sallee, ThM, aided by ChatGPT.
The Daily Lectionary is a three year cyclical lectionary. We are currently in Year B. Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent in 2024, we will be in Year C. The year which ended at Advent 2023 was Year A. 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 on 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 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Commentaries are by Kenny Sallee, ThM, aided by ChatGPT.
The Daily Lectionary is a three year cyclical lectionary. We are currently in Year B. Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent in 2024, we will be in Year C. The year which ended at Advent 2023 was Year A. 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 on what they heard in worship. Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, copyright © 2005 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org
