- Matthew - Studies from the gospel of Matthew
- 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. And Jesus chose them intentionally.
- 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 those we might view as less…
- 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…
- A 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 coarsely and preached in the wilderness, and the people flocked to him in repentance. It's not how we proclaim that matters, it's what…
- 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…
- An Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount - January 4, 2021 - The sermon on the mount is a collection of Jesus' teachings about life in the kingdom. This post is the first in a series on…
- The Beatitudes – Matthew 5:2-12 - April 23, 2012 - Could it be that Jesus is talking to people who were characterized by these things, and he is telling them that the state they are…
- Sermon on the Mount: The Beatitudes – Matthew 5:3-12 - January 11, 2021 - In the beatitudes Jesus identifies 8 or 9 people who are blessed. The world does not appreciate them. But the Kingdom of God is theirs.
- 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.
- Sermon on the Mount: Salt and Light – Matthew 5:13-16 - January 18, 2021 - Jesus identifies his followers as the salt and light of the world. This is reflection of the influence we should have on those around us.
- Fulfilling the Law – Matthew 5:17-20 - July 1, 2013 - Christ has set me free from the tyranny of the law, and by an act of grace, declared me to be righteous. He has set…
- Sermon on the Mount: Understanding the Law – Matt. 5:17-20 - January 25, 2021 - Before Jesus expounds on some teachings of the Law, he first helps his hearers to understand his relationship to the Law.
- Sermon on the Mount: Resolving Conflict – Matthew 5:21-22 - February 1, 2021 - Jesus expands on the Law's prohibition against murder to include all kinds of conflict. We need to work at resolving that conflict quickly.
- Sermon on the Mount: Committing Adultery – Matthew 5:27-30 - February 8, 2021 - Jesus here tells us that adultery is not just a physical action, but is also a matter of the heart. And he calls us to…
- Sermon on the Mount: Divorce – Matthew 5:31-32 - February 15, 2021 - Included in the Sermon on the Mount is a short piece on divorce. And in it Jesus has some pretty explicit things to say about…
- Sermon on the Mount: Taking Oaths – Matthew 5:33-37 - February 22, 2021 - Jesus challenges us to be people of our word. Let our yes and no mean just that. We should not have to make elaborate oaths.
- Sermon on the Mount: Turn the Other Cheek – Matt. 5:38-42 - March 1, 2021 - Turning the other cheek is an example of the upside nature of the Kingdom of God. So unlike the retribution that we more commonly practice.
- 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…
- Prayer, A Wonderful Privilege – Matthew 6:5-15 - March 9, 2014 - Prayer! What a wonderful, and often underutilized, privilege we have. The creator and ruler of the universe essentially has an open door policy for his…
- Forgiving Those Who Hurt You – Matthew 6:14-15 - November 8, 2017 - Do you struggle with forgiveness? Jesus tells us to forgive in order to experience forgiveness from God. But forgiveness also heals our poisoned spirits.
- Enter Through the Narrow Gate – Matthew 7:13-14 - January 27, 2014 - So which will you choose? To walk the easy and well traveled road that ends up with destruction; the road that may lead to happiness…
- The Mark of a Real Disciple of Jesus? – Matthew 7:21-23 - May 19, 2014 - Don't just call Jesus Lord. Let him be Lord. Learn to listen to him, and be responsive to his direction. Don't make the mistake of…
- Doing the Will of the Father – Matthew 7:21-23 - December 16, 2019 - It is easy as believers to substitute church activities for doing the Father's will. But those who do so are in danger of hearing "I…
- Is Your Life Built on Rock or Sand? – Matthew 7:24-27 - September 25, 2014 - I may think I know what's best for my life. But it is hard to imagine that I will know better than my creator. While…
- Build Your House on the Rock – Matthew 7:24-25 - November 9, 2017 - When the storms of life come, will you be able to stand strong in Christ? You can if your life is lived in obedience to…
- The Cost of Following Jesus – Matthew 8:19-20 - November 10, 2017 - Salvation in not a fire insurance policy; it is a call to leave behind the old life and take up the new life he created…
- What Would Jesus Do? – Matthew 9:9-13 - January 6, 2012 - Jesus disciples are those who go where he goes and hang out with those he hangs out with. Am I his disciple? Will I condemn…
- Calling Matthew to Follow Jesus – Matthew 9:9 - November 11, 2017 - I must confess that I am not comfortable interacting with some segments of our society. Lord, give to me a heart that would love like…
- New Patches on Old Garments – Matthew 9:16-17 - January 30, 2012 - Father, my prayer is that you would lead me to be a living sacrifice, to not conform to the ways of this world, but to…
- 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 13:31-32 - November 21, 2012 - Instant gratification! That seems to be the theme anymore; at least for folks in the US. If we don’t see results pretty quickly, and preferably pretty dramatic…
- The Parables of the Precious – Matthew 13:44-46 - September 5, 2012 - One of the tools Jesus used in his teaching was the parable; a simple story using common every day circumstances that had something to say…
- A Pearl of Great Value – Matthew 13:45-46 - November 16, 2017 - The kingdom of heaven is like a pearl of great price. Are you like the merchant who was willing to sell everything in order to…
- 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…
- Was Jesus a Backpacker? – Matthew 14:23 - July 9, 2012 - Jesus dismisses all the people (distractions), and heads up into the hills for some quiet time. And he spends the night there alone. Sounds to…
- Walking On the Water – Matthew 14:30 - 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 - My outward words and actions are merely a reflection of what is on the inside. If I want to be clean outside, I will need…
- And the Gates of Hell Shall Not Prevail – Matthew 16:13-20 - September 25, 2013 - Recently, the church where I serve received an unsolicited letter from an organization that warned us about the potential for lawsuits from members, ex-members, and…
- On This Rock I Will Build My Church – Matthew 16:15-18 - June 10, 2013 - The church will be around for eternity. That may be why Jesus and his apostles were so insistent that we love each other and get…
- Get Behind Me Satan – Matthew 16:23 - November 20, 2017 - I wonder how often Jesus is tempted to say to me, 'get behind me Satan', because I am wanting to do things my way rather…
- Discipleship Involves Following Jesus – Matthew 16:24 - December 12, 2018 - In Matthew 16:24 Jesus issues a call to discipleship. It is not enough to be a fan on the sidelines. He calls us to deny…
- Moving Mountains – Matthew 17:20 - November 21, 2017 - How do you move mountains? Only by trust in the one who called you to journey with him. Faith in him will deal with the…
- Cutting Off Your Hand – Matthew 18:8 - November 22, 2017 - What is it in your life that causes you to sin? Jesus warns us to remove those things from our lives. Don't allow the pleasures…
- 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…
- Leaving It All Behind – Matthew 19:29 - November 24, 2017 - Is there anything that you are unwilling to surrender to the lordship of Jesus? His promise to us is that if we will give him…
- Heading to the Cross – Matthew 20:18-19 - November 25, 2017 - Jesus' trip to the cross seemed like defeat in human eyes. But it was an act of love on his part that brought to us…
- Jesus – The Stone the Builders Rejected - August 9, 2019 - Jesus, when telling the Parable of the Tenants, uses the quotation of the stone that the builders rejected to identify himself with the son of…
- Parable of the Two Sons – Matthew 21:28-31 - November 27, 2017 - How many of us today are guilty of only giving lip service to Christ, bearing his name and going through the motions, but not actually…
- Giving to Caesar – Matthew 22:21 - November 28, 2017 - In matters concerning the physical realm, I live in obedience to my government. But in matters concerning my relationship and walk with God, I obey…
- Full of Greed and Self-Indulgence – Matthew 23:25-26 - November 29, 2017 - Many people are content with living a life that appears good on the outside, while their hearts are corrupt. Jesus tells us to first clean…
- Gathering the Elect – Matthew 24:30-31 - November 30, 2017 - Even though it has been 2000 years since Jesus left, his promise to return for us remains. No matter what we may go through here,…
- 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 - In the 24th chapter of Matthew, Jesus shares with his disciples some information about his return and what to expect as his return draws near.…
- 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! You were faithful over…
- I Will Never Fall Away – Matthew 26:33 - December 2, 2017 - How often do we follow Peter's example of commitment, followed by failure? I am so thankful that Jesus is always ready to pick us up,…
- 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 - When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. - Matthew 27:35 And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they…
- 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. They had…
- 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…
- 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…
Matthew