Celebration in the Word
For today, August 31, 2026, as the birds are beginning to chatter and the sun has not quite yet appeared in the sky, I want to approach the Word in a different way. I will take a look at the first twelve texts which have a 31st verse, transcribe them and then close with comments and a prayer. I will alternate between Testaments and begin in Genesis and Matthew, respectively. Although there is an obvious manipulation of a sort here by me, on the other hand, I have no idea what I may encounter in this process! All renderings are from the NASB, 1995 edition. Here it goes:
Genesis 1:31 God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
Matthew 5:31 “It was said, ‘Whoever sends his wife away, let him give her a certificate of divorce’;
Genesis 5:31 So all the days of Lamech were seven hundred and seventy-seven years, and he died.
Matthew 6:31 Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’
Genesis 10:31 These are the sons of Shem, according to their families, according to their languages, by their lands, according to their nations.
Matthew 8:31 The demons began to entreat Him, saying, “If You are going to cast us out, send us into the herd of swine.”
Genesis 11:31 Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went out together from Ur of the Chaldeans in order to enter the land of Canaan; and they went as far as Haran, and settled there.
Matthew 9:31 But they went out and spread the news about Him throughout all that land.
Genesis 18:31 And he said, “Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord; suppose twenty are found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it on account of the twenty.”
Matthew 10:31 So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.
Genesis 19:31 Then the firstborn said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is not a man on earth to come in to us after the manner of the earth.
Matthew 12:31 “Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.
Ah, Lord, the full breath of Your Word is overwhelming. You created your creation to be good, and good it was. Over time, we have sullied Your creation. We have not handled relationships well, we have been overcome by so many cares in the world, despite how much You care for us. Our refusal to give ourselves over wholly to You, have caused us to be dominated by demonic forces. And yet, Your Word is true, and life-giving, and worthy to be shared with others. You have no desire for mankind to be lost, and have a heart of mercy, willing to spare; yet, we must be right before You. Therefore, let us not commit blasphemy against the Spirit but know that our fears are diminished by the value You have placed upon us. Lord, may whoever reads this entry today, find solace in Thee. You are here to save, help some to be drawn to You. Amen.