Matthew 23:13 - 39  Jesus uses this last message to the scribes and Pharisees to pronounce His judgements against them..  He calls them "hypocrites" - pretenders.. actors.. because they:

V13 ".. shut off the kingdom of heaven from men.. " 

v14 ".. devour widows' houses.. " 

v15 ".. travel about on sea and land to make one proselyte and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves." 

V 16-22  Jesus condemns them because they believed that to swear by the temple is nothing, but to swear by the gold is binding.. They did not understand that it is the Temple of God that is binding and the gold is nothing unless sanctified by the Temple.  They valued the offering more than the altar it was offered on..   Jesus condemns them because they have given worth to things.. instead of to God's House, the Temple.. and to God's Throne in Heaven.. or to God, Himself. 

V23  Jesus condemns them because they are careful to tithe "mint and dill".. the small things .. "But have neglected the weightier provisions of the law:  justice and mercy and faithfulness.. "

V24-27  They are condemned because they worry about the outside appearance.. "but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence".  They are like a tomb.. outwardly "beautiful".. but "inside are full of dead man's bones.. " 

"Even so you too outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness." 

The sins of the scribes and Pharisees would bring the guilt "of all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah.."  they would "not escape the sentence of hell." 

Father in heaven, search our hearts and the intentions of our thoughts.  Reveal any hypocrisy in us that we might repent and be cleansed from all iniquity.  Lead us in Your righteous ways and keep us from the schemes of the devil, as well as  from self-indulgence and self-righteousness.   Oh Lord may we have clean hands and pure hearts, devoted to You alone.  May justice and mercy and faithfulness be found in us as we carefully and diligently seek to serve You. Open our eyes to see Your glory and our ears to hear Your voice.. help us to walk in the power of Your Holy Spirit today.. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. 

 Matthew 23  Jesus gives one final indictment against the Pharisees before He heads to the cross.  It begins with these words.. "The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses."   They considered themselves the final authority over all things religious.  They failed to recognize the True authority.. God Himself and Jesus Christ the Son.  In verses 8-10 Jesus expresses the only true authority over the Kingdom of God.. 

V 8 "But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers." - The scribes and Pharisees loved to be recognized as "Rabbi".. loved to lord it over everyone else.. loved to think themselves better. They did not ever see themselves as the same as a common man.. a brother to those that walked beside them or worked for them. Only Jesus and His Holy Spirit have the kind of authority that the scribes and Pharisees claimed for themselves. 

V 9 "And do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven."  This position of fatherhood is not talking about being a physical parent.. it is talking about authority and honor that belongs to God alone. This place of ultimate sovereignty belongs only to the Lord. 

V10 "And do not be called leaders, for One is your Leader , that is, Christ." We are follow Jesus only. We are His followers and we pray for others to follow Him too. We do not hold that position of master over anyone.. only Jesus can perfectly lead anyone into the kingdom of God. 

The scribes and Pharisees were so far from perfect leaders.. from good teachers.. from being worthy of the authority and honor that they claimed.  They thought they were the "greatest" and exalted themselves.  Jesus said that only the "servant".. the "humble" ones were worthy to be called great and to be exalted. 

Father in heaven, to You all glory and honor and praise belong!  May we never consider ourselves any better or greater or "more" than our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.  Help us to see ourselves as Paul wrote to the Romans.. ".. I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think but to think so as to have sound judgement, as God has allowed to each a measure of faith."  We .. who follow Jesus- are members of one body.. having different functions.. but all serving the same Lord. Teach us Your ways, Lord Jesus.  We will follow You. Strengthen our faith and our minds and our hearts to serve You every day. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. 

Matthew 22: 15-46  The religious leaders wanted to trap Jesus into saying something that they could use to convict Him.  So they sent their followers to ask what they thought were hard questions.. 

First came the Herodians to ask about paying taxes.  Jesus answered them by asking to see the coins used to pay these poll taxes to the Romans.. and of course it was a Roman coin.  "Whose likeness and inscription is this?"  Jesus asked them.  "Caesar's" they answered.  " Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's." Jesus told them.  They went away marveling at His answer.  

Next came the Sadducees. They did not believe in the resurrection, but their question was about what would happen if there was life after death.  They might have used this argument to defend their own belief about the resurrection.. this would be an impossible situation, therefore it couldn't happen...in their opinion.   A woman married and before she had any children her husband died. Her husband's brothers .. 7 of them.. each married her and then died before any children were born. Finally, she died.  The question was about what would happen with her if there was a resurrection.. who would she be married to? Jesus told them clearly.. "You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures or the power of God."

First of all, Jesus explained.. Marriage is a covenant established for this mortal life.  It is not a part of the resurrection.  "For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven."  That.. is something that we don't necessarily like when we think about our husbands or wives that we love so much.. but we also know that we will have to wait and see how much more God has for us in eternity!  Secondly, Jesus corrects the Sadducees by telling them that God is the God of the living.. ".. have you not read that which was spoken by God, saying I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead but of the living."  These were astonishing words to all those who heard them... causing the Sadducees to be "silenced". 

So the Pharisees decided to send an expert in the Law to question Jesus.  His question was about which Law was the greatest. "And He said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."  Note that neither of these laws were listed in the 10 commandments which were written on the stone tablets.. but they reach far deeper and cover far more than all of them together.  To obey these two commandments is to obey them all.. 

Now Jesus turns the tables and asks the Pharisees His own question. " What do you think about the Christ, whose son is He?"  It was a no-brainer.. they knew the answer.. "The son of David".  What they did not understand was Psalm 110:1 "The Lord said to my Lord, sit at My right hand...."  Who was David calling "Lord"?  His son? Or someone greater than an earthly son?  The Pharisees had no answer. ".. nor did anyone dare from that day on to ask Him another question." 

Father in heaven, You are the God of the living and we are so thankful.  We thank You for the living hope that we have because of Jesus Christ our Lord. We are thankful that He came as the Son of David, the Son of man.. and the Son of God. He is our great Redeemer and coming King.  We watch and wait for that day when we will know the answers to all of our questions.. but meanwhile we trust You and rest in Your perfect plan.  Help us to love as You have commanded, Lord.. to love You with all of our being and to love others as we would ourselves. . Direct our hearts into Your love we pray. Amen. 

 Matthew 22 Jesus tells the parable of the marriage feast comparing the kingdom of heaven "to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son."  We know this story.. those invited to the wedding refused to come.. making excuses.. mistreating  and killing the slaves who were sent to bring them to the feast.. causing the king to become "enraged".   To the point that the king sent his armies to destroy the city and those who murdered his slaves. 

The king did not stop there.  He sent his slaves out to the highway to invite anyone they found to the wedding feast.  Everything was ready.. all they needed to do was come.  But.. "both evil and good" came to the wedding feast and the "hall was filled with dinner guests."  When the king came across a man who was "not dressed in wedding clothes" he was insulted.. "Friend, how did you come here without wedding clothes?"  he asked.  The man had no excuse and the king told the servants to bind him and throw him out "into the utter darkness; in the place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." 

Jesus tells us that this parable has this point. "For many are called but few are chosen." (v14) 

Called.. invited.. to the wedding feast of the Son.  We can get the meaning of this parable easily.. The King.. God Almighty.. invited the Jews to come into His Kingdom and to honor His Son, Jesus the Messiah.  But.. they ignored those who came to bring them to the feast.. they killed the servants.. the prophets.. and they enraged God to the point that He will pour out His wrath on all those who will not come in response to His invitation.  We also see that God opened up that invitation to any who would come.. and many did!  But, not all came with the right clothing.. they did not come through the Way, the Truth, and the Life.. through Jesus.  They wanted to come in.. but failed to turn away from unrighteousness and they will be cast out just as surely as the man without his wedding clothes. 

Jesus said ( in verse8) "...the wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy.."  They were not deserving or suitable.. they did not merit the privilege of the Kingdom.  They had been invited.. called.. but they were not chosen.. Not selected.. not favored... not worthy. 

We know that in reality that none of us are worthy of such a privilege.. but that it is only by God's great grace that we can be saved.. through the Son who went to the cross.  It is His righteousness that covers us.. clothing us in garments washed in His blood and made whiter than snow!  The invitation is open to all who would come.. but only those who come through the cross of Jesus Christ will enter into the Kingdom. 

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Father, You are the God of grace and compassion and we are so amazed and grateful. Thank You for calling us and making the way for us to be chosen as we put our faith in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. We pray for those who have heard the invitation.. but have ignored it.. refused it.. or have tried to come without knowing Jesus. Open their blind eyes, Lord God. Let Your glory and grace overflow in our lives so that others might see Jesus and find their way through Him.  We ask this in His glorious name. Amen. 

 Matthew 21 Jesus went into Jerusalem on a donkey's colt.. and fulfilled prophecy. The people shouted "hosanna" to Him.. fulfilling prophecy.  He cleansed the temple from those "making it a robber's den".. quoting scripture " My house shall be called a House of prayer."  He answered the chief priests when they became upset that the children were praising Him...with scripture.. "Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babes Thou hast prepared praise for Thyself..."

Every Word that was prophesied about the coming Messiah was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Every word He spoke was aligned with known Scripture.  Yet.. they stilled challenged Jesus about His authority.  The Jewish leaders were like the fig tree.. covered with leaves.. but without any fruit.  And like the tree, they would become withered and barren. 

v43 "Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation producing the fruit of it." Jesus told them.  The two parables were given as warnings and lessons.. The parable of the two sons.. one who said yes.. but did not obey;  one who said no but repented and obeyed. Only those who would come to Jesus and believe would enter God's kingdom.. even "tax-gatherers and harlots.. "... but not those who refused to "do the work of the Father".   

The parable of the landowner is so clearly the story of Jesus. The landowner sent His servants to receive the fruit of his harvest.. but the hired vine-growers beat them and killed some of them.  He then sent His own Son.. and they killed Him too. The priests and Pharisees recognized the wretchedness of the vine-growers.. but they did not recognize their own wretchedness... for they were about to kill the Son. 

Where do we see ourselves in this passage of the Word?  Are we the children singing "Hosanna" to the King?  Are we the priests complaining because they were praising Jesus?  Are we like the fig tree.. all show and no fruit?  Or are we like the son who repented and went out to do the Father's will? Have we rejected the Cornerstone? Or have we embraced Him.. believed Him.. and submit to His authority?

Father in heaven, may we come to You with whole hearts and willing minds.. trusting You with our whole beings.. loving You with all that we are.  Thank You Jesus, for coming for us.. for dying for us..for giving us eternal life.. for we do believe.. May our faith grow as we walk with You this day. Amen. 

 Matthew 19:30 -20:16  " But many who are first will be last; and the last, first."  The disciples had just watched the rich young ruler walk away from Jesus. They heard Jesus say that it was "hard" for the rich to enter God's kingdom.. hard but not impossible.. because "with God all things are possible".  Peter asked Jesus what would happen to them.. those who followed Him.. those who had given up everything.. and Jesus promised them a great reward.. "But.. "  they needed to learn about being last instead of trying to be first... a lesson that they would take a while longer to learn.. 

Jesus tells another parable to teach this lesson.  It is about a landowner who hires some workers for his vineyard.  The first group is hired and agree to do a day's work for a day's pay... 6:00 am to 6:00 pm.   But.. more workers come.. at 9:00, 12:00, 3:00, and even at 5:00.. All of these are called to come and join the work.. agreeing that the landowner would give "whatever is right".  They probably thought that anything would be better than nothing... 

At the end of the day.. 6:00... it was time for the pay to be handed out. The landowner called the last group that worked first. Everyone was shocked when he paid them for a full day when they only worked 1 hour. And then he did the same for those who had worked 3 hours, 6 hours, and 9 hours.. and those who had worded the whole 12 hours.  Everyone got the same.  And everyone rejoiced.. except the first workers.. they grumbled.  They wanted more than those who hadn't worked as long or as hard.  But.. the owner said. "did you not agree with me for a denarius?"  They had no argument.  It was the landowners right to be generous. Their problem was that they were "envious".  Jesus repeats the point of His story...  "Thus the last shall be first, and the first last." 

The "first" workers turned vicious.. or as other translations render it.. "evil".. when they witnessed the landowner being "good".  He had been good to them too.. hiring them.. paying them what they asked for.. but they were so angry that they weren't getting rewarded more than the others.. that they forgot to be thankful!   Jesus tells this parable to teach the disciples what it means to be "last".

It still wasn't sinking in!  The mother of James and John approached Jesus as they headed towards Jerusalem.  He told them what was going to happen... but they were still thinking that the Kingdom was about to come in its fulness and James and John wanted to be right at the top.. sitting to the left and right of Jesus on those thrones He had told them about.  Jesus asked them a question, "You do not know what you are asking for. Are you able to drink the cup I am about to drink?"  They were sure that they would be able... and they would.. but not until they came through the other side of what was coming.. through His crucifixion.. His burial.. His resurrection.. and His ascension.. through the coming of the Holy Spirit.  They would drink His cup.. but that did not mean they would be given the places they wanted in the Kingdom.. for that was the Father's place to grant... and whatever He gave them would be "good"!

The lesson that they still needed to learn was the lesson of being last.. being the ones who served.. not the ones lording over the rest.. not the ones with authority.. but the ones being the slaves.  They needed to see Jesus as the One who came "to serve.. to give up His life  a ransom for many.."  They would learn that lesson very soon. 

Father in heaven, we are so quick to want our own way and our own desires.. and so slow to be humble and thankful and "last".  Teach us to walk in Your Light, Lord Jesus. Make me a vessel that You fill and use the way You choose.. to serve.. to lay it all down and follow You. Amen. 

 Matthew 19:13-30  When the children were brought to Jesus, the disciples wanted to send them away.  But.. Jesus welcomed them ... for they belonged to the kingdom of heaven.  The disciples had already forgotten the lesson about not being a stumbling block.. about being like a child.. about being a servant. Another lesson was about to be taught... 

The man who came to Jesus had a sincere question.. " .. what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?"   Jesus told him to do what he already knew.. "keep the commandments". But, the young man felt the lack in his life.. he was missing something.  He had great wealth.. He had religious training.. He worked hard at being "good".  Yet.. he knew deep down that it was not enough. 

Jesus gave the young man a great challenge.. "If you wish to be complete (perfect).. go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."  But.. the young man "went away grieved".. it was too great a cost "for he was one who owned much property." 

Jesus told His disciples.. " it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.."  and they were shocked!  If the rich aren't saved.. who can be? Well.. Jesus says.. "(looking upon them).. With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." 

Not just the rich.. not just the law-keepers..but no-one else either..   can be saved.. unless God does it! A child can.. a servant can.. anyone can.. because we have a God who does the impossible! Hallelujah!

Peter wanted to know if he and the other disciples were going to be saved.. after all they followed Jesus.."what then will there be for us?"  Oh.. Jesus assures them.. ".. you who have followed Me.. will sit upon twelve thrones.. shall receive many times as much.. (as they gave up).. and shall inherit eternal life."  What will those who follow Jesus receive.. more than they .. more than we.. can imagine.

Father in heaven, will we ever learn to trust You with everything we have and everything we are? So thankful that nothing is impossible for You! So thankful for the vastness of Your grace and love that draws us to follow Jesus. Help us to be like the children that run into Your arms Jesus! Hold us there.. keep us on level ground by Your good Spirit .  Fill us with Your love today we ask, Father.. in the name of Jesus.  Amen. 

Matthew 19 :1-12 As Jesus once again ministers grace and healing to the multitudes ... the Pharisees come to ask their questions and test Jesus. This time the question is about divorce.  "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause at all?" 

And.. once again sends them back to the Word of God.. " Have you not read, that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ' For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh.'"  Jesus always bases His answers on the Word of God.  Divorce is not God's plan or desire.  He made men and women to unite together into one unit.. one body.. a lasting bond that God Himself "joined together".  This is the Truth that God's Word proclaims. 

The Pharisees were not satisfied with that answer.. "Why then did Moses command to give her a certificate of divorce and send her away?"   They twisted Moses' words.. which Jesus corrected.. Moses did not make such a command.. he "permitted" divorce "because of your hardness of heart.. "  But.. "from the beginning it has not been this way."   A "certificate of divorce" given to an innocent woman because of her husband's infidelity would free her to remarry without being guilty of adultery.  Without the certificate.. if she was just sent away.. she could not remarry.. she would be an adulteress if she did.  The certificate was for her protection.. if she was innocent.  But.. if she was the unfaithful spouse.. then she was already an adulteress and the divorce would not change anything for her.. but the innocent husband would be freed from the marriage bond.  Jesus is clear that any other reason for divorce is unacceptable. 

I'm sure the Pharisees didn't like that answer either.. for even the disciples were shook up!  "If the relationship of the man with his wife is like this, it is better not to marry." they said..  Jesus had an answer for them too. Think about never marrying.. "Not all men can accept this statement."  Some men are forced into a celibate life.. some choose it for themselves.. Jesus tells them.. "He who is able to accept this, let him accept it."   I wonder if he had a twinkle in His eye as He looked at these men..  we know Peter was already married. I don't know if any of the others were.. but I would guess some were.  Those who were not... would they be able to accept bachelorhood for the rest of their lives?  It would be interesting to know if they did. 

It seems to me that all of those questioning Jesus needed to know the truth about marriage and divorce.  As we all do.  Marriage is a sacred relationship.  Jesus was pointing out the fact that this uniting of two lives is from God.. "What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate."  Marriage is not just a casual, temporary, throw-away relationship that our world thinks it is sometimes.  They didn't understand it in Jesus's day.. and they don't understand it now. Most of us have seen.. known.. or even experienced the pain and sadness of divorce in our lives.  We pray for our children and grandchildren to have good, godly marriages. We want them to know that God has the perfect plan for them.. if they will seek Him first.. especially in the pursuit of a spouse.  O Lord, help us!

Father in heaven, we do ask for Your Word to flow into our hearts and into the lives of our children and grandchildren and every generation after us!  Let them know the power of Your love and grace in finding a wife or husband.. let them seek You first and allow You to lead them in the path of righteousness and truth. We pray for the marriages of our loved ones.. that they will be blessed.. faithful.. and godly.  Bring healing and forgiveness for those who have gone through divorce or unfaithfulness.  Bring us all to Your throne of grace, Lord God..  sanctifying us entirely.. that we may be preserved complete without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ... we pray.. for in Him nothing is impossible.. Thank You Lord..  in Jesus' Name. Amen. 

 Matthew 18:21-35 Peter asked Jesus a question.. " Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" 

This is an important question. Sometimes we have trouble forgiving even once.. let alone seven times.. but Jesus gives us an impossible  number.. "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven."  Beyond our own ability or will.. beyond our capacity to truly forgive this persistent sin  done against us.. This kind of forgiveness is not seen in us mortal beings, is it?  No, I don't think so.. I think  it is a forgiveness that is possible only with God's power and grace.. 

Jesus tells a parable about forgiveness.  The king "wished to settle accounts with his slaves."  The one brought to him first owed a huge amount.. ten thousand talents. My Bible footnote says this is about $10,000,000 dollars worth of silver!  More than a slave would ever be able to pay, that's for sure.  But, this guy asks the king to be patient so that he can repay it, and the king forgives the debt.  Whew!  That guy should be so happy!

But.. no.. he goes out and sees someone who owes him some money.. "a hundred denarii" .  One denarii was a day's wage, so this guy did have a large debt. He also asked for patience and promised to repay the debt.. but his friend, his fellow slave, the one who had just been forgiven an impossible debt.. refused to forgive the fellow his 100 denarii.. or even wait to be paid. Of course, this did not go unnoticed... 

When the king was told what had happened he summoned the first slave back.. " You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you entreated me. Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, even as I had mercy on you?" 

Jesus tells His disciples that His heavenly Father will do just like the king in the parable.. God will bring judgement against those who do not "forgive his brother from [his] heart". 

Our Father in the heaven patiently forgives us.. over and over and over again.  Just read through the Old Testament accounts of Israel.. how many times did the Lord give His people the opportunity to start over.. to repent and be forgiven?  How many times does He forgive us when we mess up.. when we fail to have faith.. when we fail Him?  Jesus paid it all! He paid every debt we have.. in full! And He calls us to have mercy on those who mess up.. those who fail us.. those who hurt us.. 

Father in heaven, how we thank You for patiently and graciously forgiving us for our sins and trespasses and debts.  Father, let the Truth of this Word fill our hearts that we might be merciful and forgiving to those who trespass against us.  We need Your help Lord, to do what You call us to do. May Your Spirit of love and grace fill us again and again so that we can glorify You as we obey this Word. In Jesus' name we ask this.. Amen. 

 Matthew 18:12-20 Jesus asked His disciples a question.. "What do you think?"  They had just been talking about coming into the kingdom with the humility of a child.. being servants instead of being the powerful leaders they wanted to be.. getting rid of anything that would cause them to stumble or cause them to be a stumbling block... and most importantly.. that the whole reason He came was to "save that which was lost.." 

"What do you think?" He asked.  What if.. you were a shepherd and one of your sheep went astray?  Wouldn't you go look for it? Wouldn't you be so happy if you found it and brought it home?  Jesus says that this is how the Father thinks... He doesn't want anyone to perish. 

What do you think?  Are we thinking about our position.. our status.. our place in the church or in the world? Or are we thinking about the lost sheep.. the child that has been caused to stumble.. the loved one that is sinking into the darkness of sin? 

Jesus said, " And if your brother sins go and reprove him in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.." But.. if not.. don't stop there.. take some witnesses.. take it to the church.. do whatever you can to win your brother.  And, if all else fails... "let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax-gatherer".  In other words.. don't fellowship with him anymore until he repents. 

"Truly I say to you, whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."  The bible dictionary says that this binding/loosing is determined by the sinner's response.  If the sinner repents.. forgive him.. loose him.  If not.. condemn the sin.. bind him.. let him go under the judgement of the law.  But.don't quit caring.. . pray.. gather others to pray.. agree and pray together!  For the Father hears and answers these kinds of prayers. Pray.. .knowing that Christ Himself is with us in this kind of prayer. 

What do you think? The Father desires that the lost be found.. that the sinner repent.. that we pray for those who are bound.. and that Jesus will be in it with us when we pray. 

Father in heaven, rescue the perishing.. care for the dying.. that is what You call us to do.. and we begin by coming together to pray.  Move in Your church Father.. that we might truly be a people of prayer.. glorifying Your Name and being a part of Your plan to save those who are lost.  We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen. 

 Matthew 18:1-11   The disciples had a question for Jesus.. they wanted to know "who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"  Would it be Peter? After all Jesus had told Peter that He would build His church on that rock.  Would it be James and John? They had gone up the mountain with Jesus, so they must have a special place..  Would the rest of the disciples have a place of privilege in the kingdom? After all they were special followers involved in the ministries of Jesus. 

Jesus answered the question in a totally unexpected way.. "And He called a child to Himself and set him before them."  First of all, Jesus said, ".. unless you are converted and become like children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.."  A change of thinking was needed here.. they weren't even looking in the right direction!  Jesus wasn't calling them into positions of power.. He was calling them into a position of service.. of humility.. of sacrifice.. of holiness... 

"Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."  The disciples wanted to have a higher rank.. just like the Pharisees. They hadn't learned yet that God's way is totally different than the world's ways. 

Jesus had more to say to His disciples about His kingdom... not only is it about coming into the kingdom humbly like a child.. but it is about receiving others in the same manner. " And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me."  

I picture Jesus.. calling this child to Himself.. opening His arms and putting the child on His lap.  The child came willingly.. unafraid.. loving and being loved in the arms of Someone he knew and trusted. This is how we come into the kingdom.. isn't that a wonderful picture!  And then.. we turn around and open our arms for others.. calling them to come.. receiving them with love and compassion and kindness.. so that they too might find the joy of the Kingdom of God and  the love of the King. 

But, Jesus is not done with His answer.  "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it is better for him that a heavy millstone be hung around his neck, that he be drowned in the depth of the sea."    Oh may we never be one to cause someone to stumble... may we not offend or cause someone to sin or to give up their faith.. may we not cause someone to fall away from Jesus. 

Jesus said that whatever part of us might be a "stumbling block" to others.. or to ourselves..  needs to be "cut off".  Whether it is a hand or a foot, an eye.. or an attitude.. if we offend.. if we cause someone.. even a child.. especially a child to fall away from Jesus.. we will be "cast into the fiery hell." We must keep ourselves from stumbling.. and we need to never cause someone else to stumble either. 

Jesus said, "See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually behold the face of My Father who is in heaven, for the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost." 

The disciples asked about greatness.. Jesus told them about Himself.  He didn't come to find power.. He already had all the power and glory and honor there is.. He came, humbly, as a child Himself.. in order to save the lost. 

Father in heaven, thank You for the love and compassion and grace You have shown us through Jesus, Your beloved Son. Thank You for salvation through His death.. that paid for our sins.. a debt we cannot pay on our own.  Thank You for showing us Your way.. the way of Love and Truth..Thank You for calling us to Yourself and allowing us to run into Your arms.. into Your love....into Your Kingdom. Hallelujah. Amen. 

 Matthew 17:14-27  As Jesus, Peter, James, and John descend from the mountain where Jesus was transfigured, they came to a multitude, but one man comes to Jesus, falling before Him on behalf of his son.  This boy was demon possessed in such a way that he would fall into fire or water.  The disciples were unable to help him and Jesus told them that the problem was the "littleness" of their faith.   

Puny faith... smaller than a mustard seed!   Jesus said, " I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it shall move; and nothing shall be impossible to you." 

This is hard to hear... the disciples who followed Jesus.. who had gone out and performed many miracles.. who participated in feeding 4000 with a few loaves of bread.. didn't have enough faith to help one little boy.  And.. I know that my faith must be even punier.. for I don't know that I have enough faith to move a  pebble let alone a mountain. Not that I need to move anything.. but I know my God can do anything.. I know it in my head.. I just need to learn to trust Him completely with all  my heart and soul... 

O Lord.. let my faith grow.. let my heart be wholly Yours.. let Your grace flow into my life. Let my ears be open to hear My Savior's call..

For the third time  Jesus tells His disciples that He is "going to be delivered into the hands of men; and they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day."  (16:21; 17:9.12; 22)  This time Matthew tells us that "they were deeply grieved"... but they still didn't understand. Their faith was still puny. 

Father  in heaven, thank You for leading us in paths of righteousness, for forgiving our sins and making us whole. Thank You for a Savior who understands even when we don't.. Who moves mountains even when we can't.. Who loves us even when we fail.  Fill us with Your Spirit that we might have understanding and wisdom, love and grace.  We pray in Jesus' name. Amen. 

Matthew 16:24 -17:13  Peter had recognized that Jesus was "the Christ, the Son of the living God".. a revelation that Jesus said came from the Father.. then he turned around and rebuked Jesus for saying that He would be killed and would rise again.  It is in this context that Jesus makes a very important statement to His disciples.. " If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me."  

To be a disciple of Jesus is to lose your life for His sake. It is to know that nothing on this earth is worth losing your soul for.. . How do you "deny" yourself?   This Greek word is so much more than what we think on the surface.. it means to forget one's self, lose sight of your own interests.. to disown or abstain.. The disciples had a hard time with this.. and so do we.  It takes a cross to put one's self aside. It takes losing your life to find it.. 

Jesus told His disciples that they needed to look beyond this life.. "For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and will recompense every man according to his deeds." There is a future reward.. a repayment for all that is given to the Lord willingly in this denial of self.. of taking up the cross and giving this life to Jesus.  It will be glorious for everyone who will see His coming!

Peter, James, and John were granted a preview of this glorious kingdom of Jesus Christ.  They went up a "high mountain" with Jesus. They watched Him be transfigured before their very eyes.  They saw His face and garments become "white as light".  They watched as Moses and Elijah came to talk with Jesus.  They must have thought that the kingdom was already there!  They were ready to build tabernacles for the three men.. They had no idea what they were really seeing.  But, then they heard God's voice, "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!".  This brought the three disciples to the ground as they" fell on their faces."

Jesus brought the disciples back down the mountain. They were not allowed to speak of what they saw until after the resurrection.. but I'm sure it must have been on their minds for a long time. So many questions ! 

Father in heaven, we long to see Jesus coming in Your glory!  We long to live in a way that pleases You.. laying down our lives, denying ourselves.. so that we can have real life in Jesus. Like the disciples.. we are so easily confused.. so easily distracted... help us to simply listen to Your beloved Son.. and follow Him. We can do nothing except as we abide in Jesus.. so help to Lord, to be constantly abiding.  In the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ we pray.  Amen. 

 Matthew 16  The Pharisees and Sadducees come again.. asking for a sign.. again.  And once again Jesus tells them that they will be given only one more sign.. the "sign of Jonah."  They were so blind.  Jesus rebuked them because they refused to discern the truth right in front of them.  "An evil and adulterous generation.. "  He called them.  These men who considered themselves above everyone else.. more holy than the rest.. better than Jesus.. the Son of God, Himself... were full of evil in their hearts. 

".. beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.. " Jesus warned His disciples.. but they thought He was talking about bread!  You can almost sense Jesus shaking His head.. how were these men ever going to learn?  He reminded them that bread.. physical bread.. was not an issue.  It is what comes from the heart that is the issue.. and the "leaven" in the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees..was full of evil. 

But, Jesus wouldn't give up on His chosen disciples. He would keep leading them into the Truth. "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"  He asked them.  And more importantly.. " ..who do you say I am?" It is Peter who makes the declaration, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."  This revelation, Jesus tells Peter, comes from the Father.  It is not something that he could know from his own mind. Jesus tells Peter that he would be an important part of the church that He would build. Peter would be given " the keys of the kingdom of heaven..."  He would make decisions that would "bind" or "loosen".  It would be a vital role in the days ahead.  

Yet...when Jesus told His disciples that He was going to go to Jerusalem..that He would be persecuted.  That He would be killed. And  that He would rise again....Peter that gets so agitated ...that he actually tries to rebuke Jesus.. the One who he just acknowledged to be God! Peter.. the rock.. the one just given the keys to the Kingdom of God.. is now called. "Satan.. a stumbling block.." He was thinking like a man.. not looking for God's plan in all of this. 

Father in heaven, help us to beware of all false teaching and false thinking. Help us to discern the "signs of the times" and the truth of Your word. Help us to know that Jesus Christ is the son of the Living God and that He did die and rise again.. that we might be saved.. Yours forever and ever.  Lord, we pray for those who still walk in darkness and lies and ask that You would once again reveal Yourself.. that they might find life in Jesus Christ the Lord. We ask this in His holy name. Amen. 

 Matthew 15:29-39  After Jesus and His disciples left Tyre and Sidon they returned to the Sea of Galilee. Mark tells us that they went to the east side of the sea.. in the area of the Decapolis... again an area outside of Israel. 

As Jesus sat on the mountainside there.. people began to gather, bringing everyone they could.. "the lame, crippled, blind, dumb, and many others, and they laid them down at His feet; and He healed them."  For three days the multitude came and watched and "they glorified the God of Israel." 

Jesus called His disciples to attention.. "I feel compassion for the multitude.. "  Jesus wanted to give these people food before He sent them home.. and the disciples were once again unprepared.  They had 7 loaves of bread and a few fish between them.  They had to have remembered what Jesus did before with such a little bit that multiplied and fed 5000.  Would they have been surprised that Jesus would take what little they had and feed this multitude of 4000?  Would they wonder why Jesus would do these miracles for Gentiles?

Jesus gave thanks for the 7 loaves and fish.  He broke them.. He gave them to the disciples.. and the disciples gave to the multitude. "And they all ate, and were satisfied and they picked up what was leftover of the broken pieces, seven large baskets full." 

Are we thankful for the little we have?  Are we willing to give it to those who are in need of compassion? Jesus will take what we have and use it for His purposes.. whether or not we agree with what He wants to do. Are we with Him in this?  I don't know what the disciples were thinking about this.. but I wonder if they learned from that experience. Did they learn to give everything?  To be thankful for the little bit as well as the abundance? 

Father , let me learn to give .. to have compassion.. to be thankful.. and to trust You to do what You alone can do..Amen. 

 Matthew 15:21-28 Jesus went to Tyre and Sidon...on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea...  outside of Israel.. in Syria/Phoenicia.  A land of the Gentiles.  It is not surprising that He would meet a Canaanite woman there. What is surprising is that this woman knew who Jesus was.. and that she called Him "Lord, Son of David"..  What is also surprising is that Jesus would " not answer her a word."

The woman came because of her demon-possessed daughter. She came in desperation and in faith.  She came.. not intending to give up.. even when Jesus didn't answer her at first.. or when He did answer but not the way she wanted.  " I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." 

The woman asked for crumbs.  She had no other hope but Jesus "Lord, help me!" she pleaded. Finally, Jesus answered her prayer.."O woman, your faith is great; be it done for you as you wish. And her daughter was healed at once." 

Jesus told the Israelites to "ask.. seek.. knock".  He told them to keep asking..to ask in His name.. to trust that the Father knew what they needed and that He would provide.  This Gentile woman is a living example of one who asked and kept on asking.. who sought Jesus and kept on seeking.. who knocked and waited until the door was opened.  She is and example of true faith .  She asked for a "crumb".. but received so much more.  

Father help us to have this kind of faith.. to live with this humble desperation for the Savior. Even when we don't hear Your voice.. or feel that You are not going to answer.. may we keep on trusting and obeying and asking. Fill us with Your Spirit as we seek You today.  In Jesus' name. amen. 

 Matthew 15 :1-20   Traditions.. in themselves are not sinful.. . honestly we love our celebrations and family traditions, don't we?  But, in this case the traditions of men interfered with the commandment of God and that was sinful..  and the Pharisees didn't like that one bit when Jesus pointed it out to them.  

The controversy started when the Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus to complain about his disciples not following their hand-washing rituals. 

Jesus turned the conversation around and asked "And why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?"  This is not the reaction that they were prepared for!   Jesus reminded them that God commanded His people to "Honor your Father and Mother and He who speaks evil of Father or Mother let him be put to death." (v4)  The religious experts ignored the Law and told people to give their money to God ( to them!) ... instead of obeying God and helping their parents in need.  "And thus you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition." 

The problem with the Pharisees and scribes was a matter of the heart.  Their hearts were evil.  It was not the washing of their hands that they needed.. it was the washing of their hearts.  "But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile man.  For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders.  These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man," (v18-20)

The Pharisees and scribes were offended by the words of Jesus.. but Jesus told the disciples to "let them alone".. they were like the tares from His parable.. and "Every plant which My heavenly Father did not plant shall be rooted up."  As long as they refused to admit their sin and repent of it they were "blind guides of the blind.. " 

Father, examine our hearts and cleanse us from all those things that keep us walking in our own ways instead of Yours.  Let Your will be done.. in me.. in the church.. in this world.. as it is in heaven.  May our hearts be cleansed and kept pure as the Spirit of God abides in us and sanctifies us completely.. to the glory of Your Name!  Jesus, we need Your life in us so that we might walk in Truth.. come and rule in us today we pray. Amen. 

 Matthew 14 The death of John the Baptist...jealousy, bitterness, foolishness, sensuality.. all came to a head at Herod's birthday celebration.  The news came to Jesus from John's disciples.  Jesus withdrew from the crowd to be by Himself.. but the crowd just followed Him anyway. 

Instead of insisting on His own right to a time of grief, Jesus had compassion on the crowd and "healed their sick".  Even when it became late and the disciples wanted to send the crowd away, Jesus went one step further  and multiplied the 5 loaves and 2 fish to feed all of the 5000 men plus woman and children. 

Finally, Jesus sent the disciples away on the boat and sent the crowd away.. able to go up into the mountain by Himself to pray. Alone. 

Later He would walk on the water... summon Peter onto the waves.. save him from drowning.. stop the wind and bring them to Gennesaret.  This time Jesus was not sent away from the area but the people gathered around Him and brought the sick to Him to heal. 

So many sides of this One who is the  Son of God and Son of Man are revealed in this chapter.. the genuine sorrow of losing John, the compassion on a crowd that would not let Him escape their neediness,, the concern for His own disciples.. the power to take a little and feed a multitude.. the supernatural ability to walk on water.. and the exhortation to Peter to have no more doubts.. 

We feel as if our struggles are sometimes too much to bear.. but they are not.. for even on the worst day.. Jesus still shares our burdens!  He knows our sorrows. He has compassion on our neediness. He is concerned for our well-being.. He has the power to provide for all who will follow Him.  He does the impossible.. and He exhorts us to stop doubting.. 

Father, let our faith be multiplied.. let our love for Jesus our dear Lord fill our lives and overflow into the world that needs to know Him. Have Your way in our lives and help us to be ready for whatever You have for us today.. girded with Truth, covered with His righteousness, shielded by faith with salvation on our heads and peace on our feet.  We take up the sword of Your Spirit who lives in us.. firmly wielding the Word of God so that we might stand firm against the darkness.  Let the Name of Jesus be magnified in Your people today, Amen. 

 Matthew 13: 24- 52   Matthew records 6 parables that Jesus presented.. all focused on the "kingdom of heaven".  Matthew tells us in verse 35 that Jesus spoke in parables as prophesied in Psalm 78.. to "utter things hidden since the foundation of the world." Psalm 78 is a recount of all that God did for Israel.. all the ways He had guided them.. in spite of their unfaithfulness.  It is a reminder of the unbelief and rebellion of God's people who did not keep their covenant with Him and forgot all the wonders that He performed before them.  It also speaks of God's choice of the tribe of Judah and of David His servant.

Each of these parables is a comparison of the kingdom of God to a familiar thing or event. 

The kingdom of heaven is like a field, Jesus tells them, where good seed is planted, but the enemy comes and plants "tares" alongside the good plants. The master allows both seeds to grow.. but at the harvest.. the tares will go in the fire and the good wheat is brought into the storehouse.  Jesus explains this parable to His disciples in verses 36-43.  "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one; and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age."  There is coming a day when all those who are evil will be gathered and "cast" into "the furnace of fire.. " But, the righteous will "shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father." 

The kingdom of heaven is also like a mustard seed.  It is small, but it will grow until it is a large tree capable of providing branches for the nests of the birds. 

It is also like leaven that is hidden but still affects all the meal it is added to. 

It is like a hidden treasure or a precious, valuable pearl.. worth more than anything else of value. 

The kingdom is also like a "dragnet cast into the sea".. Both good and bad fish fill the net, but when brought to shore the bad are thrown out and only the good are kept. 

Jesus asks His disciples if they have understood His parables and they say that they do.  These are a "treasure" for those who are disciples of the kingdom of heaven. 

At our Wednesday night prayer meeting we are studying a book about  prayer based on A W Tozer's writings. We talked last night about anticipating "acute troubles.. temptations.. and Satan's attacks" by being "prayed up"... abiding in Christ through His Word and in prayer so that when these things occur we can stand firm.  I was thinking that perhaps Tozer was a little negative.. talking about Satan always on the attack.. but this passage makes me think again.. The tares are right here among us.. the bad fish right alongside the good.. we need to remember that we are not immune from their influence.. that there are  "sons of evil" living in our world and we need to be abiding in Christ so that we can recognize them ...The kingdom of God is more valuable than any temptation that Satan throws at us.. any fiery dart headed towards our hearts..any distraction that the world provides.. and he will use his "sons" for these evil purposes. 

Father, give us ears to hear. May we seek Your Kingdom and Your righteousness and nothing else.. for it is more precious than any pearl, any treasure, yes.. than anything this world affords. Give to us the grace to understand and to abide in your Word and in Jesus Christ our Lord. Deliver us from the evil one and fill us  with the Spirit of God we pray, in Jesus' name. Amen.