Jesus continues to draw large...

Jesus continues to draw large crowds as He teaches and healsin Judea. Some Pharisees come and try to test Him with a question aboutmany peoplemarriage. When Jesus answers that God‘s intended plan for marriage wasthat the husband and wife should be as one flesh, they point out thatMoses allowed for divorce. However, Jesus explains that Moses‘s teachingwas an accommodation due to the hardened hearts of God‘s people,
not a reflection of how God intended marriage to be. When we want tounderstand God‘s design for us, we should seek to understand His heart.
- P24

God‘s intention at the beginning was for marriage to reflect His love andcommitment. Regardless of our relationship status, let us pray that, withthe help of His Spirit, the marriages in our churches may reflect God‘s loveand commitment as He intended. - P24

16Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"

17"Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments."

- P26

20"All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?"

21Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

22When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

- P27

When people bring their children to receive prayers of blessing from Jesus, the disciples try to stop them. They think children are a distraction from the important work Jesus has to do. However, Jesus not only welcomes them, but also says that children are the ones to whom the kingdom of heaven belongs. - P28

God wants us to approach Him like children, humbly and without pretense—unconcerned with the power or status that might be important in worldly kingdoms. - P28

Children who have a good relationship with their father expect and trust that he loves them and will provide for their needs. Likewise, we are to remember that we are sons and daughters who can freely approach our heavenly Father in prayer with any request at any time.
- P28

A wealthy young man has faithfully kept God‘s laws, but when he askswhat he must do to get eternal life and what is still lacking in his life, Jesustells the man to sell all of his possessions. Jesus knows that the man‘s truedevotion is to himself, to enjoy all of his possessions and the reputationhe has acquired. Friends and neighbors may envy this man, but Jesus seesthe whole picture: Wealth and possessions have become an idol that keepsthe man from giving his whole life to God.  - P28

If we want to grow in Christ,
everything else must be secondary. Our heart‘s devotion should be orientedtoward God, for we were created for His glory. - P28

Heavenly Father, I come to You today in simple faith, like a child. Forgive me for pursuing selfish pleasures when lasting satisfaction can only come from You. I give You my whole life. Use it for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P29

Before his death, Jim Elliot, one of the five martyrs, wroat he cannotlose."in his journal,
"He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannotmissionaries learned what the rich young man who met Jesusdid not. They learned that Jesus is worth more than anything else in life.
No amount of riches or success can measure up to the value of sharing thelove of Jesus with others. In heaven, for many people, the tables will turn:Those who reached the pinnacle of success may find that they have wastedtheir lives pursuing temporary things, while those who set their sights oneternity by devoutly serving God and others will find joy and rest in thepresence of their Savior. - P28

[오늘의 한문장] 리빙라이프 Living Life 2026.3 (영문판)

Jesus leaves Galilee and goes into Judea. Large crowds follow, and He healsthem. Some Pharisees ask if a man may divorce his wife for any reason. Jesusanswers by pointing to God‘s design for marriage in creation. When the disciples comment that it is better to remain unmarried, Jesus teaches about differentcircumstances that may lead to celibacy. - P23

21Then Peter came to Jesus an...

21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?"

22Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

- P138

WhebelysPeter asks Jesus how many times he is to forgive, and Jesus replies seven-ty-seven times. He tells a parable about a servant whose great debt wascanceled by his master but then refused to forgive another who owed himlittle. When the master hears of this, he delivers the servant to be punished.
Jesus concludes that God requires forgiveness from the heart. - P139

When Peter asks how many times he should forgive others, he thinks he is being generous with the suggestion of seven times, but Jesus offers an exponentially larger number. The specific amount is not what Jesus is trying to emphasize; He is telling Peter to offer limitless forgiveness and mercy to fellow believers. - P140

Jesus illustrates His point with a parable about a servant who is forgiven an extraordinary debt after he begs his master for patience. The master is moved by his plea and extends mercy. Such is the God we serve! - P140

He has bestowed incredible forgiveness and mercy on us through His Son for a debt we could not repay, and we are to reflect His character and be gracious and forgiving toward others. - P140

The parable takes a tragic turn when the servant, who was forgiven anextraordinary amount, refuses to forgive his fellow servant for a debt that isconsiderably lower. We see the wickedness of unforgiveness. A believer whohas received incredible mercy should not hesitate to extend mercy to others.
- P140

We should remember the forgiveness that we have received from God andteadily seek to forgive others. If we have truly been transformed by God‘sgrace, we should reflect on how God cancelled our debt and willingly lookto cancel others‘ debts-even if it is the seventh or seventy-seventh time.
In doing so, we begin to see the beauty and grace of forgiveness from God‘sperspective. - P140

Heavenly Father, I praise You for cancelling my debts and continually extending Yourmercy. I receive it with joy and ask that you help me offer such forgiveness and mercyto those who have sinned against me. In Jesus‘ name, amen. - P140

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple mustdeny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." - Matthew 16:24 - P141

Jesus continues the theme of ...

Jesus continues the theme of caring for the lowly by noting how angels carefor each child of God. He then tells a brief parable about a shepherd who isfilled with joy when he finds one sheep who has wandered off. The imageof the shepherd relentlessly pursuing his lost sheep reflects God‘s hearttoward us. When we remember how God has saved us, our hearts shouldbe filled with thanksgiving. Each of us has been that lost sheep, and God isoverjoyed to find and restore us to the flock.  - P136

May we emulate His heart byseeking those who have fallen away, are struggling in their faith, or do notyet know Him, and convey to them how much God loves them. - P136

Dear Lord, I was lost, but You pursued me relentlessly. Use me to demonstrate Yourheart for the lost sheep and to help others in my church community live the way Youhave called us to live. In Your name I pray, amen. - P137

1At that time the disciples c...

1At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"

2He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them.

3And he said: "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

- P130

4Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

- P130

"If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. - P131

8If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. - P131

The disciples ask Jesus who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Jesuscalls a child and says they must become like children to enter the kingdom.
Whoever welcomes a child in Jesus‘ name welcomes Jesus Himself. He thengives a stern warning against causing little ones to stumble and tells Hisdisciples to remove the things that cause them to sin. - P131

The disciples’ question about the greatest person in the kingdom of heaven reveals their concern for personal status and glory, but that is not the way of the kingdom of God. To make His point, Jesus focuses on little children, who were considered among the least important during Jesus’ time. - P132

We are to be like humble and dependent children, acknowledging our absolute need for our heavenly Father. We are not to trust in our own strength or abilities but in God alone. - P132

Humility prevents us from looking down on others and encourages us to value all people; we begin to look more like Jesus, our humble King, reflecting true greatness in God’s eyes - P132

A millstone is a heavy, wheel-shaped stone tied to a pole that a donkeyturns to crush grain into flour. Imagine such a massive stone being tiedaround our necks! Jesus uses this extreme imagery to talk about the severityof leading innocent and inexperienced believers astray. The world certainlyhas many things that cause people to stumble, but we must not add to it.
- P132

We are to take any and all sin seriously and go to great lengths to ensure thatit does not overtake other areas of our life. If we are aware of the severity ofsin, then we will seek to completely eliminate it from our lives and makesure that others are not influenced by it. - P132

"The devil disturbs the church as much by error as by evil. When he cannot enticeChristian people into sin, he deceives them with false doctrine." - John Stott - P132

Dear God, oh how I need You! I acknowledge my full dependence on You and refuse to trust in my greatest strengths. I ask that You help me take sin as seriously as You do for myself and for those around me. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P133

It is a privilege to know the truth of the gospel,
and we must ensure that we are taking Jesus‘ words seriously as we seek tolead others in the path of righteousness. - P133