Matthew
Political & Doctrinal Questions
The Lord’s enemies were smarting from the series of parables Jesus had given. They decided to try to trap Him through a series of “loaded” questions (v. 15). The Herodians (v. 16) were a party that favored the dynasty of Herod and stood with Rome. They were non-religious and didn’t get along …
The Olivet Discourse
This section forms Jesus’ most prophetic message of the coming of the end of the world (or the present age) which is often referred to as His Olivet Discourse. After Jesus left his discussion with the religious leaders he returned to Bethany by way of the Mount of Olives where He could look …
Future Events
Matthew 24 is a very exciting passage. There is no biblical subject which can create the same amount of curiosity that this subject can create. It is a great sermon on the Second Coming preached by our Lord Jesus Christ. It is known as the Olivet Discourse. As I stated in yesterday’s passage it …
Divorce, Hard-Heartedness, & Childlike Faith
The religious leaders had tried on several occasions to trick Jesus with questions and had failed. Now we find them trying again with a very controversial issue. Is it ever right for a man to divorce his wife (vv. 1-3)? It is interesting how Jesus answers by saying, “Have you read the Bible?” …
A Question About Jesus Authority
Jesus returned to the temple (v. 23). At the end of one of His teaching sessions, the chief priests and elders challenged Jesus’s authority. They were trying to protect their traditions by trapping Jesus in his answers. Jesus asked them a question in response (v. 24). Where did John the Baptizer …
Reaching Sinners and Tax Collectors
When Jesus returned to Capernaum (v. 1), four men carrying a paralyzed man on a mat were unable to get to him because of the density of the crowd. They resorted to lowering him through the roof to where Jesus was. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the crippled man, “Don’t worry, your …
Jesus Ministers to Gentiles
Jesus went into Tyre and Sidon (present day Lebanon), Gentile country (v. 21). Jesus wanted His disciples to have a compassion for Gentiles as well as Jews. The gospel “is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Rom. 1:16). A …
The Virgin Birth of Jesus Through Mary
Engaged means that Mary was already bound to Joseph, although they were not yet actually married. Hebrew marriages were arranged for individuals by parents, and contracts were negotiated. The marriage vows were said at the time of engagement and required a divorce to end …
The Parable of the Seeds
Today’s passage covers the first in a series of 8 parables that Jesus shared with his followers. A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning, used to arouse the listener’s curiosity and gain their attention. In this passage Jesus uses such familiar figures as soil, seed, birds, thorns …
Take the Log Out of Your Own Eye
Next, Jesus addresses the matter of judging and hypocrisy (v. 1). The Pharisees were judging Jesus because He was not offering the kind of kingdom they anticipated or the kind of righteousness they were exhibiting. Jesus was not condemning all judgment. Taking everything at face value …