Matthew
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
Todayâs 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 listenerâs 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 …
White Washed Sepulchers
In our next woe Jesus gives an analogy of the Pharisees who appeared righteous on the outside. (like unto white washed tombs) however they were corrupt and decaying on the inside (vv. 27-32). It was a tradition for the Pharisees to build and decorate the tombs of the martyrs. How …
Clear Teaching of The Word
Here we find Jesus pronouncing condemnation against the cities in which some of His most significant miracles had occurred (vv. 20-24). Chorazin was a village about two and a half miles north of Capernaum; Bethsaida was about three miles east. All three cities had witnessed Jesusâs …
Jesus is Sentenced to Die
As Jesus enters Pilate’s judgment hall the Jewish leaders accused Him of the following crimes: 1.. Guilty of misleading the nation 2. Forbidding the paying of taxes 3. Claiming to be a kingPilate focused on the third charge when he asked,"Are you the King of the JewsââŹÂ …
Jesus on Trial
The focus of this passage is when Jesus was asked by the high priest if He was truly the Son of God and He remained silent. After Jesus’ was arrested He was taken to the home of Annas, the former high priest who was the father-in-law of Caiphas who is now the high priest (J …
Peter’s Trial
Peter had followed the Lord and gained entrance into the residence of the high priest. While Jesus was on trial inside Caiaphas’ palace, Peter was on trial in the courtyard. As he sat in the courtyard awaiting the outcome of the trial, he had three opportunities to speak up for h …
The Baptism of Christ
We find Jesus going south from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized (v. 13). When John learned that Jesus wanted to be baptized, he didnât want to do it because he felt unworthy (v. 14). Jesus said it is necessary to fulfill what God wanted them to do (v. 15). While He walked this earth …
Christ’s Transfiguration
Discipleship involves a cost (vv. 24-26). Jesus said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (v.24). To deny self does not necessarily mean to give up things but to give yourself wholly to Christ and identify in His shame and death …