Week 8, February 16–22: Leviticus 20–27; Matthew 1–10; Psalms 9–14

• Sun      Feb 16 Lev. 20–22      Ps. 9
• Mon     Feb 17 Lev. 23–25      Ps. 10
• Tue      Feb 18 Lev. 26–27      Ps. 11
• Wed     Feb 19 Matt. 1–3         Ps. 12
• Thu      Feb 20 Matt. 4–5         Ps. 13
• Fri        Feb 21 Matt. 6–7         Ps. 14
• Sat       Feb 22 Matt. 8–10      

The reading set for this week includes parts of three different biblical books. We will finish Leviticus then move to the NT and start reading the Gospel of Matthew. Last week we also started including Psalms with the other reading for the day, and that continues this week as well.

As you finish reading Leviticus, notice how the theme of holiness continues right up to the end of the book. Also notice how, in chapter 26, the Lord looks ahead into Israel’s future and tells them what will happen if they are faithful to him and if they keep his commandments, and what will happen if do not listen to him and obey his commandments. Like chapter 28 of Deuteronomy, which will address the next generation of Israelites with similar prophetic predictions, this chapter gives a preview of the rest of the OT. All the consequences for sin outlined here end up coming true, including the exile and the scattering of Israel and Judah among the nations (Lev 26:33). But there is also a glimmer of hope in this chapter. If they confess their sin and turn humbly back to the Lord, he will remember their forefathers. He will remain faithful to his covenant promises (26:40–44).

The Gospel of Matthew is the first book of the NT, and the Mattew opens with a genealogy. This is an interesting literary genre to begin the NT, listing the generations from Abraham through David to Jesus the Christ, the Messiah. The genealogy is just one of several ways Matthew’s Gospel links back to Genesis and to the Pentateuch. We see clearly from the very first verses of Matthew that the whole Bible—what we call the canon of Scripture—fits together as a unified whole; and the focal point of the canon is Jesus, the incarnate Son of God. The pivotal turning point of the story of the whole Bible is Christ coming in the flesh to dwell with his people as Immanuel, God with us (Matt 1:23). As we read in Matthew, and the other Gospels, we will see how Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection fulfill all the hopes and expectations we are reading about in the OT portion of the read thru.

In chapter 4 of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus quotes from Deuteronomy and says, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matt. 4:4, citing Deut. 8:3) We can trust that he will feed and sustain us by his word. Like the manna in the wilderness, we can trust he will provide what we need from his word each day. We don’t need to worry that we are not getting totally stuffed as full as we could get all at once. He is faithful to instruct and guide us, each day giving what we need for that day through the nourishment of the Bible. We pray as Jesus instructed his disciples to pray, asking that he would give us this day our daily bread (Matt. 6:11). And we can trust that he will provide the spiritual sustenance we need through the bread of his word.

Matthew Gospel gives one of four biblical versions of Jesus’ life and ministry. The Gospels all recount the most wonderful story there is, of the God of the universe coming in the flesh to be with the people he created and to save them. They tell the Good News of the long-expected Messiah, of his life and ministry, and his death, resurrection, and ascension. The rest of the New Testament unpacks the significance of this story and builds on what we read in the four Gospel accounts.

Each of the four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—paints a distinct picture, with its own emphasis and message. They are four equally true accounts of Jesus’ life, but when we read them we are not only trying to figure out “what really happened” as much as we are trying to understand and listen to the message each of these four biblical books is trying to convey about what really happened. That may seem like a meaningless distinction, but I think it really matters. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John all had something to say. When we read the Gospels, we are hearing what God has to say through his inspired word. We do well to notice the particular things each of the Gospel writers, carried along by the Holy Spirit, want us to see about Jesus.

Matthew, more than the other Gospels, presents Jesus as the fulfillment of OT promises. He is the promised descendant of Abraham, the King in the line of David, and the new and better Moses who came to usher in a new and better covenant. In Matthew 4, Jesus succeeds where Adam failed and sinned. Jesus resists the devil’s tempting lies. Also in Matthew, in chapters 5–7, Jesus goes up on a mountain, like Moses on Mt. Sinai, and delivers a new set of laws to live by. As you read through Matthew, notice all the ways Matthew points back to the OT to show how Jesus fulfills was the Scriptures anticipated.