True Wisdom | Visual Resources for Both Lectionaries on February 5, 2023

This post offers visual resources for the Revised Common Lectionary and the Narrative Lectionary for February 5, 2023. This week the RCL takes us to the next section of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:13-20 and to 1 Corinthians 2:1-12. The NL takes us to the final section of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7:1-14, 24-29

Jump to Narrative Lectionary resources.

Revised Common Lectionary | Matthew 5:13-20 and 1 Corinthians 2:1-12

This week the Revised Common Lectionary continues the journey through the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:13-20. See the video below for commentary. This is week two of a mini-series through 1 Corinthians. Paul speaks of the true wisdom of God.

Scroll down for visuals on all of these texts.

Here are quick links to all the texts for this week:

Finally, our Gospel reading is from Matthew 5:13-20. Jesus did not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it. I discuss this in the video below.

This image comes from page 5 in A Cartoonist’s Guide to Matthew.

Preview PowerPoint

Feel free to use any or all of these slides and images in your own preaching and teaching.

Narrative Lectionary | Matthew 7:1-14, 24-29

This is part three of the NL’s three-week series in the Sermon on the Mount. See the video and PowerPoint above for the downloads.

In Matthew 7:1-12 Jesus gives specific examples of how to avoid the hypocrisy that so characterized the religious leaders of his day. Don’t judge others, because you’ve got enough junk of your own. Don’t waste time arguing with people who don’t really want to learn (throwing pearls before swine), Don’t be afraid to ask God, because God loves you and invites you to be in relationship.

Then, Jesus sums up all his teaching in one statment. “In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you.” 

Jesus highlights the importance of his teaching by offering four contrasts in Matthew 7:13-27. Each of these couplets highlights the kind of people whose heart reflects the heart of God and life in the commonwealth of the heavens with those who live for their own kingdom and seek to better themselves over the needs of others. 

The final contrast, about buildings, drives home the point that being a citizen of God’s commonwealth is  not about correct doctrine or orthodoxy; merely hearing Jesus’ words. It is about correct action or orthopraxis; actually living a life that reflects the heart of God’s love for neighbor.

Jesus blew the crowd away. They were amazed at what he taught and how he taught it. The crowds continued to follow him as he traveled around the country preaching and healing.

This image comes from page 5 in A Cartoonist’s Guide to Matthew.