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Ember Wednesday
First Lesson
Ezekiel 2
1 And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I
will speak unto thee.
2 And the spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and set
me upon my feet, that I heard him that spake unto me.
3 And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children
of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against
me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even
unto this very day.
4 For
they are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto
them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD.
5 And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear,
(for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there
hath been a prophet among them.
6 And
thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of
their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou
dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor
be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.
7 And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will
hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious.
8 But
thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious
like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give
thee.
9 And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo,
a roll of a book was therein;
10 And he spread it before me; and it was written within and
without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning,
and woe.
1st Lesson Questions -
In what ways am I impudent and stiffhearted? (V. 4) Do I sometimes feel a bit like Ezekiel - being in the midst of a rebellious house? (V. 6) Is there a rebellious house today? Am I part of the rebelliousness? (V. 8) How so? RESOLVE.
Second Lesson
Matthew 9:1-13
1 And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into
his own city.
2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying
on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of
the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
3 And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves,
This man blasphemeth.
4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil
in your hearts?
5 For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or
to say, Arise, and walk?
6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth
to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise,
take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
7 And he arose, and departed to his house.
8 But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified
God, which had given such power unto men.
9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named
Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto
him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.
10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold,
many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his
disciples.
11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples,
Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be
whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy,
and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but
sinners to repentance.
2nd Lesson Questions -
Jesus ate with publicans and sinners in order to call them to repentance. Do I do the same, or do I merely eat with sinners for the fun of it, or in friendship's name? RESOLVE.