The second in a series of 6 sermons
Series Theme
‘God in Christ’s death on the cross for us, has shown us incredible mercy… In view of this mercy how then should we live?’
Readings reproduced on this page:
The Holy Bible: New International Version. 1996, 1984. Grand Rapids: Zondervan
Readings
Genesis 6:1–8 (NIV84)
1When men began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them,
2the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose.
3Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his days will be a hundred and twenty years.”
4The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of men and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown.
5The Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.
6The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.
7So the Lord said, “I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air—for I am grieved that I have made them.”
8But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.
Text
Matthew 23:29–39 (NIV84)
29“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous.
30And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our forefathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’
31So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets.
32Fill up, then, the measure of the sin of your forefathers!
33“You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?
34Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town.
35And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.
36I tell you the truth, all this will come upon this generation.
37“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.
38Look, your house is left to you desolate.
39For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
