Category: Matthew

Reaching out His hand He touched him, saying, “I am willing; be made clean.” Immediately his disease was healed. Can we truly comprehend the amazing depth and humility of Jesus statement? He is willing. What else matters? The Incarnate God of the Universe is willing to touch us in the most leprous part of our … Continue reading The Willingness Of God – Matthew 8:3 →

Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” In the face of pure evil (satan himself), Jesus (God in the flesh), addresses every single temptation, each of which was designed to personally derail Jesus and His mission, with … Continue reading It Is Written – Matthew 4:10 →

Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Mark 14:38 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” This truth still affects every believer today. Our spirit infused by the Holy … Continue reading Internal Strife – Matthew 26:41 →

So he went right up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. Right up until the very last minute Judas the liar is deceiving. The true sign of his friendship with Christ becomes the final act of betrayal. What a miserable being he was, Judas. As the Psalmist prophesied, " Even my closest … Continue reading Phony Fatal Friendship – Matthew 26:49 →

And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him.” And Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me.” "O faithless and twisted generation..." My tendency when reading this statement is to … Continue reading Faithless and Twisted – Matthew 17:16-17 →

And they were offended by Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his household.” How easy it is to be offended by truth and those who speak it. For the one who is nominally faithful or flat out evil-seeking, the contrast of truth and … Continue reading Offended – Matthew 13:57 →

Anyone finding his life will lose it, and anyone losing his life because of Me will find it. There are those lives among us or who have gone before us that clearly demonstrate what this looks like. Yet, in my own life, I really wonder what this looks like. From my perspective it seems I … Continue reading Be a Good Loser – Matthew 10:39 →

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better … Continue reading The Severity of Sin – Matthew 5:27-30 →

And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” It is simply God’s irony that those who sought to have him murdered and who gladly took full responsibility for His crucifixion articulate in their anger the very truth that saves us today. By the grace of God, Jesus’ blood is … Continue reading God’s Irony – Matthew 27:25 →

Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? Look, now you’ve heard the blasphemy! Irony of all ironies is that the high priest puts Jesus under oath before His Father, God, (I and the Father are One) and then promptly condemns Him to death for … Continue reading Blasphemy? – Matthew 26:65 →

But Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God. I’m not really sure what this legal term implies; however, the phrase in general certainly describes these so called religious leaders, the Saducees. It also seems to clearly describe many who claim to be Christian leaders … Continue reading Double Jeopardy – Matthew 22:29 →

At that, the whole town went out to meet Jesus. When they saw Him, they begged Him to leave their region. Can there be a sadder event ever recorded in Scripture regarding those who directly encountered Jesus? Granted, He didn’t present Himself to them as they might have expected but still, those who needed Him … Continue reading Please Leave – Matthew 8:34 →

The men were amazed, and said, “What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?” This is the question all men must ask, “What kind of man is this?” Who is this Man who can speak the sea calm? Who is this man who can exorcise demonic powers? … Continue reading Who Is This? – Matthew 8:27 →

But He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” In the midst of His physical hunger and the temptation specifically tied to this need, Jesus redirects His focus to the spiritual companion of this physical hunger - the spiritual hunger … Continue reading Hunger – Matthew 4:4 →

Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance. Repent - turn 180 degrees and walk. The turning is crucial. The walking is key. To simply turn and stand is only the beginning. True repentance produces fruit that speaks of its authenticity. True repentance will bring good works that clearly display the change that has occurred by the … Continue reading Turn and Walk – Matthew 3:8 →

Then Judas, His betrayer, replied, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” “You have said it,” He told him. Spoken like a true deceiver. Judas has ALREADY committed Himself to the Jewish leaders to betray Jesus. He has already received payment. The evil plan is in motion, yet, Judas, speaking as a sorry liar and thief, feigns ignorance. … Continue reading Surely not I? – Matthew 26:25 →

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem! She who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, yet you were not willing! It is willingness that moves one into the saving arms of Christ. He is standing, waiting, inviting. … Continue reading Unwilling – Matthew 23:37 →

Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted. It is the challenge of all who follow Christ - to humble oneself. It does not come natural. The self is central to all we do and all we are. Our own desires always seem to rise up and cloud our vision. … Continue reading Up Is Down – Matthew 23:12 →

And Jesus stopped and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” Do we have the courage to answer such a question from God? The Lord of the Universe looked at this humbled, outcast, handicapped man and asked him what He could do for him. “What do you want child?” … Continue reading God’s Question – Matthew 20:32 →

“Then, after he had summoned him, his master said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Shouldn’t you also have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ And his master got angry and handed him over to the jailers to be tortured … Continue reading Forgive to be Forgiven – Matthew 18:32-35 →