Justin Houtz

2 Samuel 16, Matthew 23

DateVersionReading Plan
October 10, 2025ESV (2016)OT/NT Plan 2025 – 2027

2 Samuel 16

Observation & Interpretation

2 Sam. 16:1-4 – [David met with Ziba] When David asked about Mephibosheth, Ziba falsely reported (see 19:27) that the son of Jonathan had stayed in Jerusalem in hopes that the kingdom would return to the house of Saul and thus to him as next in line. David believed this lie and ordered that Mephibotheth’s property should become Ziba’s. (BBC)

2 Sam. 16:5-8 – Shimei confronted David, proclaiming that the LORD had avenged on him all the blood of the house of Saul in whose place David reigned and that the kingdom had been given into the hand of David’s son Absalom.

2 Sam. 16:15-20 – Hushai expresses his allegiance to Absalom.

2 Sam. 16:23 – Ahithophel’s counsel was as if one consulted God

  • Ahithophel’s counsel was highly respected in those days. Absalom followed it unquestioningly, as his fathers had done. But when we remember that Ahithophel was Bathsheba’s grandfather, we can see how the desire for revenge might determine his particular counsel. (BBC)

Matthew 23

Observation & Interpretation

Matt. 23:1-12 – Christian leaders should be especially zealous to give glory to God and not to claim it for themselves. Because churches are prone to exalt their pastors, pastors should strive to deflect attention from themselves and direct praise to God. Display is the perennial temptation of religious people…Leaders should hide their good deeds if possible. (ESVEC – Response)

Matt. 23:13-39 – … a woe is a warning and a rebuke. It both condemns evil and laments it. It expresses righteous anger toward sin and grief or sorrow over its consequences, including impending judgment…the hermeneutical challenge is greatest [re: Pharisees] for contemporary teachers and readers. Neither have much connection with the Pharisees. One could argue that there is hardly anyone alive with much in common with them. The resulting danger is twofold. Casual readers dismiss texts that seem far from them, while teachers may see links that do not exist and so falsely condemn the wrong group. (ESVEC – Section Overview)

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