Daily Bible Reading – April 2023 God’s Saving Word: HopeIsampula

April 3

Introduction

The religious leaders question Jesus’s authority, and Jesus tells two stories (parables) that teach who will enter the Kingdom of God.

Scripture Reading

Matthew 21:23-46

Today’s Key Verse: Matthew 21:42b

[Jesus said:] ‘The stone which the builders rejected as worthless turned out to be the most important of all.’

Reflect

Jesus says that the Kingdom of God will be “given to a people who will produce the proper fruits” (verse 43). How do you interpret this passage? Who is the “owner’s son” referred to in the second story (verse 38)? Why do you think Jesus told these two stories to the religious leaders?

Pray

Lord Jesus, teach me to follow your ways and to produce the proper fruits that will usher in your Kingdom. In your holy name, I pray, Amen.

And now, join us in thanking God that Angola’s Umbangala people recently celebrated the completion of the very first translation of the New Testament in their heart language. Loving God, until this translation was completed, the nearly 400,000 Umbangala people had no version of the Bible in their own language. The majority of the people live in poverty, and the lack of Scripture in their own language caused many in the community to feel forgotten. Thanks to the generous support from Bible-A-Month Partners, the Umbangala New Testament was blessed and dedicated in the midst of exuberant singing and dancing. We pray, Lord God, for the continued translation work on the Old Testament, and for the Umbangala people to come to faith in Christ as they hear your Word in their own language. Amen.

Tomorrow’s Reading

Matthew 26:1-35: Jesus eats the Passover meal with his disciples.