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A lot to think about…

December 9, 2023

Amos 5:18-27  |  Psalm 20-21  |  Jude 17-25  |  Matthew 22:15-22

In the Amos reading, while this passage is about darkness rather than light, this is the verse that speaks to me: 

²⁴But let justice roll down like waters,
    and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

These two Psalms (20 and 21) are paired together in today’s reading. Psalm 20 is a Prayer for Victory (“Give victory to the king, O Lord; answer us when we call), and Psalm 21 is Thanksgiving for Victory (Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength! We will sing and praise your power). It is believed that Selah signified a pause, but it also may have signified a musical interlude!

In the Gospel passage, the Pharisees send their disciples and the Herodians to try to trip Jesus up with a question about paying taxes.  They lavish praise on Jesus, telling him that they know he is sincere, and that he teaches the way of God truthfully. They also tell him that they know that he does not regard people with partiality. However, Jesus knows what they are trying to do, and calls them hypocrites! He asks them to show him a coin, the denarius, and then asks them whose head is on it, and what is this person’s title. They answer that it is the emperor’s head. Jesus tells them to give to the emperor what is his, and to God the things that are God’s. The Pharisees were “amazed” at his answer.  

Pat Cichy