READING FOR FEBRUARY 20, 2026: HOSEA 5, MATTHEW 15, PSALM 10:12-18 HOSEA 5 The opening of this chapter seeks the attention of the spiritual and national leaders of Israel. God’s judgment here is directed at them because they have been like an evil trap for their people, instead of pointing them towards God. Want to be a leader? Be aware of the extra responsibility to be a Godly and obedient one, not rebelling against God’s word. What are the promises of God to Israel in this case? God will discipline Israel/Ephraim for their unfaithfulness and evil deeds. They don’t have a relationship with God because of their pride—even though there is absolutely no reason to be proud. Let’s ask ourselves, are we proud in our seeming good works so that we no longer humble ourselves before the Lord?
Verse five suggests this problem has spread from Israel to Judah. Judah had maintained an appearance of seeking God, but their actions toward God were deceptively disobedient. Thus, God had withdrawn from them, which will lead to Illegitimate children and a barren land. Once God withdraws from us, we are in big trouble: "God gave them up to a depraved mind, to do those things that are not proper, people having been filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, and evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unfeeling, and unmerciful” (Rom 1:29-31).
In the last eight verses God alternates between judgments directed at Israel and Judah. These verses are not likely used as memory verses for Sunday School, but we are being shortsighted to skip them. To sum up, the people were following man’s commands instead of God’s (vs. 11) and seeking man’s help (i.e., Assyria) instead of God’s (vs. 13). Do churches today bring Bibles to their board meetings to seek Godly wisdom? Some do, and some don’t.
So again, what does God promise to His wayward people? “I [God] will be like a lion to Ephraim and
like a young lion to the house of Judah. I, yes, I, will tear to pieces and go away, I will carry away, will be no one to rescue. I will go away and return to My place” (vs.14-15). But there is hope for them and us: "Until they acknowledge their guilt and seek My face; In their distress they will search for Me” (vs. 15).
MATTHEW 15 Some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus with a question, which could be good thing. Either because of their tone of voice or Jesus’s ability to read their thoughts, He could tell they were trying to catch him in an inconsistency. They asked why Jesus’s disciples failed to follow the elders’ tradition of washing their hands when eating. Jesus responded by asking the scribes why they maintain their tradition rather than obeying God’s fifth commandment to honor their parents. Their “tradition” was to give away money set aside for their parents under the pretense of giving to God. Before social security, Medicare, and pensions, older parents depended on their children financially: “If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Tim. 5:8).
READINGS FOR FEBRUARY 20, 2026 CONTINUED: MATTHEW 15, PSALM 10:12-18 Jesus called the Pharisees and scribes hypocrites (talk about being direct). His quotation from Isaiah implied they had problems of the heart, making their worship and extra rules worthless. He then circled back to their question. He said unwashed hands are not a spiritual problem, but a contaminated heart is. Following manmade traditions that sound spiritual but violate God’s Word is a problem in churches today. READ AND OBEY THE BIBLE! The disciples then informed Jesus He had offended the Pharisees (as if He didn’t know). Referring back to His sower parable, He implied the Pharisee were not believers and were leading others astray.
The story of Jesus with the Canaanite woman has become hot topic lately. A well-known figure in the church cites it as an example of Jesus sinning, showing He is more like us than the Bible claims: “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things just as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15). He thinks Jesus’s responses to the woman lacked compassion. A better interpretation is that Jesus was drawing her out toward a deeper confession of faith, which as we have seen is more significant eternally than physical health. Notice how profusely He compliments her faith in verse 28.
PSALM 10:12-18 In the first half of this Psalm (read yesterday), it appeared the wicked had gained the upper hand. In this part, David remembers that the Lord is “King forever and ever.” By keeping that in mind, we can consider the totality of reality, not just the sliver of depressing events we might experience or see on the news. David rightly appeals to God on behalf of those most vulnerable: the orphan, the oppressed, and the humble. David is confident God will “strengthen their heart and vindicate them.” His outlook for the future is rightly positive.
Yes, David strays from expressing love for his enemies, but at least he, himself, took no violent action. Knowing what we know about Jesus’s teaching and possessing what we possess with the Holy Spirit, our battle plan today is well described in Rom. 12:17-21: “Never repay evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all people. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written: ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. ‘But if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.”
