Scripture Union Daily Guide – 3 September 2025: Today’s Devotional Reading and Reflection – Wednesday
Are you looking for the Scripture Union Daily Guide – 3rd September 2025? Discover today’s devotional reading, Bible passage, and reflection to strengthen your spiritual journey. This Daily Guide provides clear, scripture-based insight and life applications to help you grow in faith, understand God’s Word, and live a Christ-centered life. Whether for personal devotion or group study, today’s message is a timely word for your walk with God.
TOPIC: Outwardly righteous, inwardly perverse
Opening Prayer
Open my eyes O Lord that I might behold wondrous things from your word in Jesus name.
Bible Text
Matthew 23:16-28
16 “How terrible for you, blind guides! You teach, ‘If someone swears by the Temple, he isn’t bound by his vow; but if he swears by the gold in the Temple, he is bound.’ 17 Blind fools! Which is more important, the gold or the Temple which makes the gold holy? 18 You also teach, ‘If someone swears by the altar, he isn’t bound by his vow; but if he swears by the gift on the altar, he is bound.’ 19 How blind you are! Which is the more important, the gift or the altar which makes the gift holy? 20 So then, when a person swears by the altar, he is swearing by it and by all the gifts on it; 21 and when he swears by the Temple, he is swearing by it and by God, who lives there; 22 and when someone swears by heaven, he is swearing by God’s throne and by him who sits on it.
23 “How terrible for you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You give to God one tenth even of the seasoning herbs, such as mint, dill, and cumin, but you neglect to obey the really important teachings of the Law, such as justice and mercy and honesty. These you should practice, without neglecting the others. 24 Blind guides! You strain a fly out of your drink, but swallow a camel!
25 “How terrible for you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You clean the outside of your cup and plate, while the inside is full of what you have gotten by violence and selfishness. 26 Blind Pharisee! Clean what is inside the cup first, and then the outside will be clean too!
27 “How terrible for you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look fine on the outside but are full of bones and decaying corpses on the inside. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear good to everybody, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and sins.
Meditation Question
► Q2: Is there any example for me to follow or not to follow?
► Q5: Is there any warning for me to heed?
► Q7: What truth is God revealing to me in this passage?
Scripture Union Daily Guide – 3rd September 2025 OUTLINE
Spiritual blindness is emphasized here:
– blind guides (Matthew 23:16),
– blind fools (Matthew 23:17), and
– blind men (Matthew 23:19).
It is still common today that people claim to know what they really don’t know. They teach what they really don’t understand. Think of some examples. The sanctuary dedicated to the Lord, with the altars and the gifts we bring upon it, should be reverenced. The religious leaders, like the children of Eli majored in minor and disregarded what should be held sacred (Matthew 23:23,24). We should watch against hypocrisy.
Hypocrisy is likened to the leaven in Matthew 16:6. How is this a common practice in our days among various denominations? Read Matthew 23:24-28 again and identify the specific sins of the religious leaders. Extortion, self-indulgence, uncleanness, and lawlessness are all around us. Why then are we surprised that God refuses to answer our prayers (James 4:2-4)?
Instead of condemning the Scribes and the Pharisees, we would do well to look inwardly into our lives and ask how acceptable our worship is before God. What you outwardly present to men, does it reflect who you are on the inside?
Food for Thought
How can I make Jesus in me reflect on the outside?
Insight
* Any new insight or reinforcement of what you already know?
Closing Prayer
Help me Lord that the change I want to see in others will be seen in me.
Prayer of Faith
Offer a prayer of faith in line with
One Year Bible Reading Plan
Ezekiel 13-15.
One Year Bible Reading Plan – Hard Copy version
Ezekiel 23-24
National Prayer Bulletin – Wed Sep 03, 2025
PRAYER FOCUS
CHILDREN AND PRIMARY SCHOOL WEEK CONTINUES
“Teach a child how he should live and he will remember it all his life.” Prov. 22:6
THANK GOD FOR:
* His word is sure, no lies are found in it, and His promises are true. • The activities that have been well planned for the Week of Emphasis.
PRAY FOR:
* A greater understanding of the mandate to evangelize children more than ever before at a time like this • A great impact of the activities of this week on all and sundry.
Scripture Union is an international, interdenominational, evangelical Christian organization. It was founded in 1867, and works in partnership with individuals and churches across the world. The organization’s stated aim is to use the Bible to inspire children, young people and adults to know God.