4/2-4/8 Matthew’s Gospel Holy Week Reading Plan

Introduction

This is a week unlike all the others throughout the year. This is Holy Week. The biblical word that is translated as “holy” can also be translated as “consecrate,” “dedicate,” and “hallow.” You are strongly encouraged to set this week apart from the others throughout the year. Draw closer to Christ during his journey to the cross as we await the celebration of his resurrection on Sunday, April 9th. This week we will read chapters from Matthew’s Gospel documenting the last week of Jesus’ life before his resurrection. The chapters will end with the crucifixion of Christ on Good Friday. You are invited to join us for the Maundy Thursday and Good Friday worship services at 7:00 pm in the AUMC Chapel, as well as to participate in the Lenten Walk that is a guided prayer time focused on the Last Words of Christ from the cross. The walk is located on the AUMC property and begins near the chapel and fellowship hall entrances Door 12 and 13. There is a Lenten Walk devotional booklet and a map to guide you through the prayer journey with our crucified Savior available in the large box near the cross. In regards to this Living Faith Devotional, if you continue using it we will complete the Gospel According to Matthew by April 15th. If you did not begin reading it earlier in the Lenten season, you are encouraged to watch two videos on Youtube about this gospel account before you read the chapters this week. The links and video titles are listed on Palm Sunday of this devotional.

 

*If you do not have a Bible, consider downloading the YouVersion Bible App for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play for your smartphone or tablet. You can also use www.BibleGateway.com to look up and read various translations of Bible verses online for free.

 

Palm Sunday (4/2)

Pray the following words as an invitation for God to speak to you during this devotional time:

“Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth.” – 1 Samuel 3:9 KJV

 

Memory Verse(s): Matthew 22:37-39

*You are encouraged to memorize verses each week of this season of Lent. You can memorize the version listed below or from some other translation:

 

Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” – Matthew 22:37-39 NIV

 

If you have not watched them already, you are encouraged to watch the Bible Project videos about the Gospel of Matthew. The videos are available on YouTube:

Gospel of Matthew Summary: A Complete Animated Overview Part 1 by the Bible Project:

 

Gospel of Matthew Summary: A Complete Animated Overview Part 2 by the Bible Project:

 

Read Matthew 21 for today. If you did not read the previous chapters and verses of Matthew’s Gospel you are encouraged to read chapter 9:1-13, 9:18-26, 9:35-10:8, 11:1-6, and 16:13-27 before reading the chapter for today.

 

Pray in response to Jesus as well as using part of the prayer Jesus taught in Matthew 6, which is listed below. You may find it helpful to return to this portion of Jesus’ prayer throughout the day:

 

“Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.” – Matthew 6:9 NLT

 

 

Monday (4/3)

Pray the following words as an invitation for Jesus to speak to you during this devotional time:

“Jesus, please let your message sink deeply into my heart and mind today, then remind me and guide me to live it.”

 

Memory Verse(s): Matthew 22:37-39

*You can memorize the version listed below or from some other translation:

 

Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” – Matthew 22:37-39 NIV

 

Read Matthew 22. If you did not read the previous chapters and verses you are encouraged to read chapter 9:1-13, 9:18-26, 9:35-10:8, 11:1-6, 16:13-27, and chapter 21 before reading the chapter for today.

 

Pray through your day, including what you will do, or what you have already done, the people you will be with, or those you already were with, then conclude with the portion of the prayer Jesus taught his disciples that is listed below:

 

“Bring about Your kingdom.

Manifest Your will here on earth,

as it is manifest in heaven.” – Matthew 6:10 The Voice

 

 

Tuesday (4/4)

Pray, inviting the Holy Spirit to speak to you:

“Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.” – 1 Samuel 3:9 NRSV

 

Memory Verse(s): Matthew 22:37-39

*Read the Memory Verses a few times as part of this devotional time.

 

Be silent for a few minutes as you imagine being with Jesus as one of his first-century followers during the week of his triumphal entry as he has been welcomed into Jerusalem like a conquering king. You may find it helpful to sit, kneel or lay down with your face towards the ground or go for a walk with Christ.

 

Read Matthew 23. Which word, phrase, or verses are Jesus using to speak to you from the chapter? If you’re unsure, invite the Holy Spirit to reveal the Lord’s message for you for today.

 

Pray for:

• Those closest to you (family members & friends)
• Those who point others towards God (pastors, teachers, mentors, authors, musicians, filmmakers, etc.)
• Leaders (locally, nationally, and globally)
• People in need throughout the world (the people of Turkey and Syria, Ukrainians, Russians, etc.)
• Yourself (share your needs and invite the Lord to guide you)

 

Conclude with the portion of the prayer Jesus taught his disciples that is listed below, and try praying it before each of your meals today:

 

Lord, “give us the food we need for today.” – Matthew 6:11 ERV

 

 

Wednesday 4/5)

Pray, inviting the Holy Spirit to speak to you:

“Lord, help me to receive the message you have for me today,

then to live obediently in response to you as your beloved child.”

 

Memory Verse(s): Matthew 22:37-39

*You are encouraged to spend some time trying to memorize them today.

 

Read Matthew 24 and 25. If you are using a study Bible you may find it helpful to read the study notes for these chapters.

 

Pray for:

• those who are hungry and have food insecurity
• those who lack clean drinking water
• those in need of a place to stay, including the homeless and refugees
• those who lack clothes and other basic needs
• those who are sick, afflicted, and in need of healing
• prisoners

 

Conclude your prayer with the portion of Jesus’ prayer listed below:

 

“And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” – Matthew 6:12 ESV

 

 

Maundy Thursday (4/6)

Invite the Lord to speak to you today:

“Yes, Lord, I’m listening.” – 1 Samuel 3:9 TLB

 

Memory Verse(s): Matthew 22:37-39

*Read the Memory Verses a few times today.

 

Be silent for a few minutes as you imagine being with Jesus and the disciples during the Passover meal that is also referred to as the Last Supper. Notice the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and how you feel.

 

Read Matthew 26, which includes the Last Supper, Judas betraying Jesus, Peter’s denial, and the other disciples deserting Christ. How have you denied, deserted, or betrayed Jesus lately? Remember what Jesus said about drinking from the cup of wine during the Last Supper, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28 NIV). Jesus shared the message of forgiveness with the disciples before their betrayal, denial, and desertion. He offers the same gift of forgiveness to you too.

 

Pray using David’s prayer of confession from Psalm 51:1-13 as your guide, then conclude with the portion of the Lord’s prayer listed below:

 

“Keep us from being tempted and protect us from evil.” – Matthew 6:13 CEV

 

 

Good Friday (4/7)

Pray the following words as an invitation for God to speak to you today:

“Lord, help me to receive the message of Good Friday

and to live in response to what you did for us.”

 

Memory Verse(s): Matthew 22:37-39

*You are encouraged to spend some time trying to memorize them today.

 

Read Matthew 27, that includes Jesus’ crucifixion, death, and burial. What stands out from what you read of the events of Good Friday? How does the crucifixion of Christ reveal Jesus’ love for us?

 

Pray in response to what Jesus has done for us, then conclude with the doxology portion of The Lord’s Prayer that is listed below:

Lord, “Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.” – Matthew 6:13b NKJV

 

 

Holy Saturday (4/8)

Read Matthew 22:37-39, the memory verses for this past week, which are the two greatest commandments. If you have not memorized them spend some time today seeking to memorize them. Think about how Jesus lived those two commandments.

 

How are you going to remember and observe the Sabbath this Easter weekend? The Sabbath is a day each week that is set apart from the others to stop, rest, worship, and delight in the Lord and what he has given us.

 

Read Jesus’ invitation in Matthew 11:28-30. Jesus is letting you know that you will find rest in him. Rest from your weariness and burdens. Rest for your soul. Going along with Jesus’ invitation, our Sabbath theme for this weekend is “REST.”

 

• How will you respond to Jesus’ invitation to “come to me”?

 

• What worries and burdens are you carrying that you can offer to Jesus in prayer?

 

• Taking Jesus’ yoke upon you means living according to King Jesus’ pace for life, with Christ as our Lord, not someone or something else. His “yoke is easy, and his burden is light.” How is Jesus’ pace and humble yoke different and light compared to the yoke or pace of others?

 

• Jesus is “gentle and humble in heart.” Let his gentleness calm and comfort you today so that you can experience the restoration that comes through rest.

 

• Trust Jesus to teach and guide you to become gentle and humble too.

 

Solitude and Silence. You are encouraged to spend ten, twenty, or thirty minutes alone with God seeking to rest in the peace that can only be found in and from the Lord. If you struggle to stop and rest, consider laying down, kneeling, or sitting on a very comfortable chair or seat. If you need a nap, then sleep so that your mind and body

receive the rest that you need.

 

Read Leviticus 23:3.

• What day of the week was Jesus resting in the tomb? How does his time in the tomb connect with the commandment to observe the Sabbath?

 

• Which day this weekend are you setting apart from the other six of the week so that you can rest and observe the Sabbath?

 

• You’re encouraged to join others for a “sacred assembly” during the Easter worship services this weekend. What preparation do you need to do to be ready to gather with God’s people to offer yourself to the Lord in praise and thanksgiving this Easter at 7:00, 9:30, or 11:00 am?

 

Pray and live in response to Jesus. Lift your burdens and worries to him in prayer. Ask Christ to help you to learn from him and his way of living (Matthew 11:29). You may find it helpful to use the words from the verses you read today as a guide for your prayer.