SCRIPTURE READING: MATTHEW 10:26-42SCRIPTURE HIGHLIGHTS:10:28 “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”  10:31 “Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”10:38-39 “And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his...  Read More

“Therefore, be wise as snakes and innocent as doves.” How wise are snakes? How innocent are doves? What a strange thing to say!  Read More

Matthew 9:27-38SCRIPTURE HIGHLIGHT35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but...  Read More

The success of our faith is not in what we believe but in whom we believe. Not the prayer warriors getting a prayer through but in the one they are calling on to intercede.  Read More

The religious leaders (Pharisees) complained that Jesus was eating with people who were known for their sinful conduct. Eating with people who lived immoral lives in open violation of the Jewish law was considered to defile the “righteous” person. Eating together was a sign of unity with and approval of those you were eating with.  Read More

Jesus issued a pronouncement that sins of the paralytic were forgiven. Jesus was clearly not forgiving him of a personal offense against himself, but declaring that his sins were forgiven by God.  Read More

We should remember three things when facing storms that will show up in our lives...  Read More

Jesus’ amazing healing ministry draws crowds, but he isn’t interested going viral. He gives orders to escape over to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. This is a good way to get rid of people.  Read More

Two men who approached Jesus had faith and courage to approach even though their status (a leper and a Roman) would have given Jesus reason to ignore their needs.   Read More

In today's scripture, Jesus challenges my understanding of faith. He urges me to move beyond mere words and rituals, and instead embody our faith through actions that align with God's will.  Read More

There appear to only be two path options which lead to diametrically opposite destinations. One destination is destruction but the path to it is easy, wide and travelled by many while the other path leads to life and that path is narrow, hard and travelled by few.  Read More

Jesus encourages us to pray by telling us that God will respond to us. Jesus also tells us to pray continually. The tense of the Greek verbs translated as “ask, seek, and knock” indicate that the action called for is a continuous one.  Read More

Jesus doesn't want us to judge others harshly for their problems or sins. That doesn't mean we shouldn't discern right from wrong. In other passages, Jesus encourages us to have good discernment.   Read More

Jesus instructs us to “store up heavenly treasures” rather than earthly treasures” because the former have no lasting value whereas the later do. People’s treasures reveal the desires of their heart.   Read More

The disciples asked Jesus how to pray. Jesus didn’t rebuke the disciples for asking how to pray.   Read More

Matthew begins with a serious warning: Beware. Watch out. Don’t perform your righteousness for an audience of people. Three examples of fake righteousness follow, all with the same structure...   Read More

Jesus continues to open our eyes to our true position in God’s kingdom: A Royal Priesthood. These passages outline that we are to live and behave as kingdom citizens.  Read More

Jesus is beginning to give examples of what he meant in vs 20 when he told his disciples that their righteousness must surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees. Their eighteousness was superficial. They held to the letter of the law but not the spirit of the law.   Read More