Studies in Matthew
The posts listed here are studies in the book of Matthew.
- Matthew - Studies from the gospel of Matthew
- Five Scandalous Women – Matthew 1:3, 5, 6, 16 - November 2, 2017 - Why does Matthew include these five scandalous women in Jesus' genealogy? To show that he loves all people, even the less desirable.
- Jesus Is God, Come to Save His People – Matthew 1:21 - May 17, 2019 - The name Jesus means Yahweh saves. It is a common name, but Matthew identifies this Jesus as the one who would save his people. This…
- Immanuel: God With Us – Matthew 1:22-23 - December 5, 2018 - This Christmas, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, remember him as Immanuel, God with us. Not just a newborn baby, but God incarnate; God…
- We Have Seen His Star in the East – Matthew 2:1-2 - November 3, 2017 - A star in the east led wise men to Jesus. The same one who was responsible for that star shines a light in our hearts.…
- Dressed in Camel’s Hair – Matthew 3:4 - November 5, 2017 - John dressed in camel's hair and preached in the wilderness, and people flocked to him in repentance. Our methods are not as important as the…
- Produce Fruit In Keeping With Repentance – Matthew 3:8 - March 2, 2022 - Many are satisfied with a repentance that makes no change in their lives. But we are called to produce fruit in keeping with real repentance.
- Two Responses to Satan’s Temptation – Matthew 4:10 - February 24, 2020 - Both Eve and Jesus experienced the temptation of Satan. Eve succumbed and fell into sin and death. Jesus resisted and brought new life to all…
- A Light Shining In the Darkness – Matthew 4:16 - December 20, 2013 - Honor Christ today as Lord and God! Let the light of Christ shine out into the darkness that is enveloping our world, bearing witness to…
- Becoming Fishers of Men – Matthew 4:19 - November 6, 2017 - Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James, and John to leave all behind and to follow him. But most of us he calls to follow him where…
- Blessed Are the Peacemakers – Matthew 5:9 - November 7, 2017 - Blessed are the peacemakers. those who seek resolution to the the things that divide us rather than further fanning the flames that drive us apart.
- Love Your Enemies and Pray for Them – Matthew 5:43-45 - December 7, 2020 - Jesus teaching was often quite contrary to the convention wisdom of the day. And none more so that to "love your enemies and pray for…
- The Privilege of Prayer – Matthew 6:5-13 - March 9, 2014 - Prayer! What a wonderful, and often underutilized, privilege we have. The creator and ruler of the universe invites us into his presence.
- Forgiving Those Who Hurt You – Matthew 6:14-15 - November 8, 2017 - Do you struggle with forgiving those who hurt you? Jesus tells us it is necessary if we want God's forgiveness. And, it brings healing to…
- Storing Up Treasure In Heaven – Matthew 6:19-21 - January 24, 2022 - Jesus encourages us to store up treasure in heaven where it will be secure. I can do that by helping out other people who are…
- Enter Through the Narrow Gate – Matthew 7:13-14 - January 27, 2014 - Which gate will you enter? The one to life? Or the one to destruction? Choose the road less traveled, and walk down it with Jesus.
- The Mark of a Real Disciple of Jesus? – Matthew 7:21-23 - May 19, 2014 - The mark of a real disciple is not based on religious activity. Instead it is centered around doing the will of God. To obey is…
- Is Your Life Built on Rock or Sand? – Matthew 7:24-27 - September 25, 2014 - Have you built your life on the rock of Christ or the sand of self. The life built on Christ will survive. The life built…
- Taking Our Place at the Feast – Matthew 8:11 - January 26, 2022 - God has prepared a place at the heavenly feast for all who come to him. It does not matter if you are Jew or Gentile.…
- The Cost of Following Jesus – Matthew 8:19-20 - November 10, 2017 - We do people a disservice when we call them to salvation without challenging them to count the cost of following Jesus. Following him costs us…
- What Would Jesus Do? – Matthew 9:9-13 - January 6, 2012 - What would Jesus do if he came to town? I think he would be hanging out with 'sinners' rather than us good Christian folk, safely…
- New Patches on Old Garments – Matthew 9:16-17 - January 30, 2012 - Putting new patches onto old garments may work in fashion, but not in our walk with Christ. Instead, we need to ditch the old man,…
- Diversity in the Body of Christ, A Good Thing – Matthew 10:2-4 - July 15, 2019 - We don't know much about many of Jesus' disciples. But they included a tax collector and a zealot. Political opposites. But chosen intentionally.
- Shrewd as Snakes and Innocent as Doves – Matthew 10:16 - February 2, 2022 - Be as shrewd as a snake and as innocent as a dove. Walk through this life with your eyes wide open. And seek to live…
- Don’t Be Afraid; God Loves You – Matthew 10:29-31 - November 28, 2018 - Are you a child of God? Don't be afraid of this world and the people in it. You are of great value to God. So…
- Taking Up My Cross and Following – Matthew 10:38 - November 13, 2017 - Jesus' call to take up our cross and follow him is a call to self-denial, a call to die to self and to live for…
- Take Up the Yoke of Jesus – Matthew 11:28-30 - November 14, 2017 - The yoke of this world is heavy and burdensome. Throw if off and take up Jesus' yoke instead. His burden on us is light and…
- Brothers and Sisters of Jesus – Matthew 12:50 - November 15, 2017 - How does one come into the family of God as a brother or sister of Jesus? By doing the will of the Father; coming to…
- The Parables of Small Beginnings – Matthew 13:31-33 - November 21, 2012 - The parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast illustrate that the kingdom of God works with small beginnings to produce big changes in people…
- The Parables of the Precious – Matthew 13:44-46 - September 5, 2012 - The parable of the pearl and the parable of the hidden treasure express the value of the kingdom of God. Will we give up everything…
- And They Took Offense at Him – Matthew 13:57 - February 9, 2022 - Have many of us who grew up in the church and have heard and read about Jesus for years take offense at what he tells…
- The Consequence of Saving Face – Matthew 14:9 - November 17, 2017 - When you make a commitment and then discover it was a mistake, do you correct that mistake, or does your pride force you to follow…
- Going into the Mountains to Pray – Matthew 14:23 - July 9, 2012 - I love Jesus example of going out into the mountains to pray. I enjoy the time when I can get out like that and spend…
- Walking On the Water – Matthew 14:27-31 - December 2, 2019 - When Jesus calls you to walk out on the water, don't look at the storms that are blowing around you. Instead, keep your eyes fixed…
- The Mouth Reflects the Heart – Matthew 15:18 - November 18, 2017 - The words from my mouth and my actions merely reflect what is in my heart. If I want to be clean outside, I will need…
- Time Spent with Jesus – Matthew 15:32 - February 16, 2022 - How much time would I invest in listening to Jesus teach? 3 days? Or just an hour? Especially when sitting on the ground with nothing…
- Guard Against the Yeast of the Pharisees – Matthew 16:6 - February 21, 2022 - Be on guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, corrupting teachings and influences that can sneak into our midst and corrupt the whole body.
- The Gates of Hell Shall Not Prevail – Matthew 16:13-20 - September 25, 2013 - It is easy to be afraid of what our culture will do to us. But Jesus promise to us is that the gates of hell…
- On This Rock I Will Build My Church – Matthew 16:15-18 - June 10, 2013 - Jesus said that on this rock I will build my church. What is this church that Jesus will build on the rock. And what is…
- Disciples Follow Jesus Where He Leads – Matthew 16:24 - April 8, 2021 - Jesus calls us to discipleship. It is not enough to be a fan on the sidelines. He expects us to deny ourselves, and to follow…
- Having the Faith of a Mustard Seed – Matthew 17:20 - November 21, 2017 - Having the faith of a mustard seed will allow you to do whatever God has called on you to do. Even if that is to…
- Cutting Off Your Hand or Foot – Matthew 18:8 - November 22, 2017 - I don't believe Jesus is literally calling for us to cut off our hands. Instead, seek to remove anything from your life that leads you…
- Forgiving One Who Sins Against Me – Matthew 18:32-33 - December 19, 2018 - As those that have received mercy and forgiveness from God, let us in turn show mercy to others, and be willing to forgive the hurts…
- Unless You Forgive – Matthew 18:35 - March 9, 2022 - Forgiveness is hard to do. Especially when we have been hurt, But Jesus is clear that unless we forgive, we will not be forgiven.
- Leave It All Behind for Christ’s Sake – Matthew 19:29 - November 24, 2017 - What are you unwilling to surrender to the lordship of Jesus? His call is for us to leave everything else behind us, and follow him.
- Heading to the Cross – Matthew 20:18-19 - November 25, 2017 - Jesus heading to the cross seemed like defeat. But it was an act of love on his part that brought to us forgiveness of sin…
- Whoever Wants to Become Great – Matthew 20:25-28 - July 14, 2022 - This is an example of the upside down nature of God's kingdom. The one would wants to become great should be the servant of all.
- Jesus – The Stone the Builders Rejected – Matthew 21:42 - August 9, 2019 - Jesus, when telling the Parable of the Tenants, used the stone that the builders rejected to identify himself with the son of the parable.
- Which Son Did His Father’s Will? – Matthew 21:28-31 - November 27, 2017 - Which son did his Father's will. The one who committed, but failed to follow through? Or the one who refused, but was obedient in the…
- Submitting to the Proper Authority – Matthew 22:21 - November 28, 2017 - It is important to submit to the proper authority. Human government in the physical realm. And to God in the spiritual realm.
- Loving the Lord Your God With All Your Mind – Matthew 22:37 - April 30, 2021 - Jesus tells us to love the Lord with our minds. How does one do that? By exercising it and seeking to understand God, knowing him…
- The Greatest Commandment(s) – Mathew 22:37-40 - April 7, 2022 - Jesus told us the greatest command is to love God with all that we are and others as ourselves. Let your love make a difference…
- Full of Greed and Self-Indulgence – Matthew 23:25-26 - November 29, 2017 - Many people live a life that appears good on the outside, but are full of greed. Jesus tells us to first clean the inside, then…
- Stand Firm Until the End – Matthew 24:9-13 - April 11, 2022 - Jesus warns us that we will face many challenges in this life. But he encourages us that if we stand firm through it all, we…
- Gathering the Elect – Matthew 24:30-31 - November 30, 2017 - Even though it has been 2000 years since Jesus left, his promise to come back remains. He will return and will gather his elect to…
- Coming at an Unexpected Time – Matthew 24:44 - August 10, 2020 - Jesus will be coming at an unexpected time. Will you be ready for him when he returns? Or will you be caught unprepared and living…
- Are You Ready? – Matthew 24:45-25:13 - October 16, 2012 - Jesus promised that he would return for those who are his. Are you ready for it? We don't know when. But we should live in…
- Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant – Matthew 25:21 - December 1, 2017 - When I stand before my Lord someday, I long to hear him say to me, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! Come and share your…
- A Reward for Faithful Stewardship – Matthew 25:28-30 - January 3, 2022 - As followers of the Lord Jesus we have been given gifts to serve his body. Will we be faithful in our stewardship and experience reward?
- One of the Least of These – Matthew 25:40 - April 12, 2022 - Jesus, in the parable of the sheep and goats, teaches us the importance of generosity. Not just to some. But even to the least of…
- I Will Never Fall Away – Matthew 26:33 - December 2, 2017 - How often do we affirm that we will never fall away, followed by failure? I am so thankful that Jesus is always ready to restore…
- Yet not as I Will, But as You Will – Matthew 26:39 - April 13, 2022 - All too often my will is at odds with God's will for me. Jesus set the example for me when that is true. "Not as…
- Four Responses to Jesus’ Arrest – Matthew 27 - October 18, 2019 - Matthew 27 records 4 responses to Jesus' arrest & sentencing. Remorse, indifference, avoidance, & conformity. Choose instead to follow him as Lord and God.
- And They Crucified Him – Matthew 27:35 - June 2, 2014 - And they crucified him. Those simple little words describe the event on which our faith as believers hang. It is well worth dwelling on it.
- Come Down from the Cross – Matthew 27:42 - December 4, 2017 - Would the religious leaders have believed in Jesus if he had come down from the cross in response to their challenge? Probably not.
- The Curtain Was Torn in Two – Matthew 27:50-51 - April 14, 2022 - At Jesus' death, God tore the curtain that separated humanity from himself. Atonement for sin had been accomplished, offering us new life.
- He Is Risen Indeed – Matthew 28:5-7 - April 8, 2012 - Today is a good day to remember what Jesus has done for us. Take the time to meditate on his death and resurrection, and what…
- The Mystery of the Empty Tomb – Matthew 28:12-15 - April 17, 2022 - The mystery of the empty tomb has led to many attempts to explain it away. But, to the believer, it clearly points to his resurrection.
- I Am With You Always – Matthew 28:20 - December 5, 2017 - Jesus commissioned us to make disciples throughout the world. But he did not leave us to do it alone. He promised to be with us…
