READING FOR AUGUST 8, 2025: PROVERBS 19, LUKE 4, PSALM 78:21-55                        PROVERBS 19 Throughout the book of Proverbs and particularly in this chapter, Solomon is honest about the challenges of poverty. It is really not an economic situation to be desired. For example, verse 4 suggests the poor can easily lose friends and even contact with family members. Worse yet are those who become poor due to their own laziness (vs.15). Verse 24 describes someone so lazy he can’t lift his hand from his plate to his mouth. But then Solomon suggests in verse 1-5 that there are people who are worse off than the poor: foolish, perverted speakers, overly hurried, and liars.  

Jesus correctly predicted in Mark 14:7 that poverty will not be eliminated on earth, whatever the cause. But does that mean we can ignore the poor? In verse 17, Solomon makes the provocative statement that when we are gracious to the poor, we lend to the Lord. Is he alone in the Bible in suggesting our treatment of the poor relates to our relationship with God? Consider Jesus comments: “I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed and you clothed me... Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matt. 25:35-40). 

Finally, Solomon extols the following actions for our own good: being slow to anger, actively disciplining children while they are young, accepting advice, honoring parents, being a true witness, showing kindness to others, and following God’s direction above all others. These standards might seem impossible to reach, even for those aspiring to them. What can we do? Paul gives Christians plenty of reason to hope, though: “Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you” (Rom. 8: 8-9).

LUKE 4 While it is so hard for us humans to understand how Jesus could be both God and Man, this text indicates that Jesus in His incarnate state was filled with and relied upon the Spirit.  Surprisingly, the Spirit in this chapter led Him to be tempted by the Devil in the wilderness, so that the following could be true: “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. Therefore, let’s approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need” (Heb.4:15-16).                

As we noted regarding the genealogies of Jesus, there are plausible explanations for discre- pancies between Matthew and Luke. Let’s investigate the discrepancies in the order of Jesus’s temptations:   

READING FOR AUGUST 8, 2025: LUKE 4, PSALM 78:21-55                                                                There are several explanations for this apparent discrepancy. Writers of ancient history and gospel writers in particular didn’t consider chronological order as the only or necessarily best way to present historical events. Theological significance or intended audience might dictate order of presentation. This writer is most persuaded by textual details. In Matthew’s account, temptations one and two are joined by the word “then” and temptations two and three by the word “again.” This suggests an ordered sequence. Luke joins all the events simply with the word “and.”  Thus, in this case, the text suggests Matthew’s order as what happened.

The content of this event is far more important than the sequence. For a full analysis, review the study guide of Matthew 4 from Feb. 7, 2025. Here are, however, some points to ponder as we move forward in Luke:        1. Is our knowledge of the Bible sufficient to withstand a Satanic attack?                                                                  2. Do we continually put ourselves in reckless situations and expect God to bail us out?                                           3. Are there any features of life that mean more to us than our relationship with God?  BE HONEST!

Luke once again mentions Jesus acting in the power of the Spirit--as all Christians can. His ministry M.O. in Galilee was to teach in the synagogues (local places of Torah instruction). Everything went well until He said in Nazareth (His hometown) that He was the fulfillment ofIsaiah’s prophecy. In addition, he voiced the many inner doubts they had about Him. He even suggested Gentiles were more receptive to God’s working than Jews. This didn’t endear him to his Jewish former neighbors. Jesus never stays where He isn’t wanted. He quickly moved to Capernaum teaching, casting out demons, and healing many, including Peter’s mother-in-law. She is a wonderful model to us because she utilized her healing to serve Jesus, not herself!

PSALM 78:21-55 Asaph clarifies what unleashes God’s wrath (opposition to sin) against Israel: Not believing Him nor trusting Him for salvation (vs.22), despite how God’s love redeemed them from slavery in Egypt. Despite God’s love sending His Son to bear our sins as an atoning sacrifice, when we disbelieve and don’t trust Him, this same wrath is justly directed against us. In His mercy, God continued to provide safety and even responded to Israel’s complaint about lacking food. Yet, when their desires were met with quail meat, it made them ill. When some died, they seemingly obeyed for a period of time. God, remembering their human weakness, continued to be compassionate and brought them to the promised land. What happens next?