Cover-to-Cover

Matthew 23:1-22   In chapter 22 we see where the Pharisees and Sadducees tried to debate and fault Jesus, but they gave up trying. In chapter 23, Jesus speaks to the crowds and to the disciples about the religiously proud. They can talk about what is right in God’s eyes, but they can’t live it themselves. Why? Because they aren’t living by a reliant faith; they are attempting to live...

Matthew 22:23-46   The Sadducees did not believe in a resurrection. They only accepted the first five books of the Bible, and did not find Scriptural support for an afterlife. God refers to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in Exodus, supporting life after death. The Sadducees questioned Jesus about marriage and the afterlife, thinking it didn’t make sense because you can’t be married to more than one person, so if there...

Matthew 22:1-22   In verses 1-14, Jesus tells a parable of the wedding feast. These parables were stories that had spiritual meaning. This parable was told after the one of the wicked vinedressers in chapter 21. Both parables cover the refusal of many Jews to enter into Christ’s kingdom. In Matthew 21:45, the Pharisees were listening, and they were furious! They knew He was speaking of them. They would have...

Matthew 21   In Matthew 21, we read about the Triumphal Entry, Jesus cleaning the temple, the fig tree that withered, Jesus being questioned, the parable of two sons, and the parable of the wicked vinedressers.    To learn more about the Triumphal Entry, I have a detailed article called “The Triumphal Entry Explained” on www.growchurches.com as a faith download under Resources.    Exodus 27-28   Moses receives and gives...

Matthew 20:17-34   In verses 17-19, Jesus predicts His death and resurrection. This is the third time it is recorded in Matthew.    In verses 20-28 Jesus teaches that greatness comes through serving. Jesus had already told the disciples that they would sit on twelve thrones and serve over the twelve tribes of Israel. The mother of the sons of Zebedee, asked Jesus if her two sons could sit on...

Matthew 20:1-16   The parable of the vinedresser is one of the most powerful stories on grace Jesus ever told. The vinedresser hired a crew at 6:00 AM in the morning for a denarius each, a standard wage for a full day’s work. Then, for the same wage, hired crews at 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 3:00 PM, and 5:00 PM. Then at 6:00 PM, he paid the last crew first,...

Matthew 19   In verses 3-9, Jesus teaches on marriage and divorce. For more notes on this topic, see January 5 commentary. The Pharisees are testing again, this time on a law about marriage, a topic that was controversial at the time. To respond to their question, Jesus goes back before the Mosaic Law, to the beginning, in Genesis. He states the plan of God for one man to be...

Matthew 18:21-35   Let’s remember our context! Previously, Jesus was talking about how to handle conflict among believers and how much power is available when believers are walking in unity.    THEN Peter asks, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times? To the Hebrew, the word seven means full and complete.  Jesus’ answer to the number seven was “seventy times...

Matthew 18:1-20   DEPENDENCY Jesus said you must become like little children to enter the kingdom of heaven. The Greek word for little children actually means a nursing infant. A nursing infant is completely dependent upon its mother for its care. That is the picture of faith, completely dependent on God for our life. The disciples had been talking about who was considered great in the kingdom. Jesus told them...

Matthew 17   THE TRANSFIGURATION In verses 1-13, Jesus and three of the disciples participate in a supernatural open vision. This is the type of vision where the physical realm is affected. During this vision, Jesus talks with Moses and Elijah. Jesus has a light radiating from Him, a light that makes His face shine and His clothes white as the light. Then a voice from heaven says, “This is...

Matthew 16   DISCERNING THE TIMES Jesus called the Pharisees and Sadducees hypocrites. The Greek word for hypocrite is hupokrites, a word that describes an actor, reading a script, putting on an act. They conceal their true motives, a deceptive manipulator. They came to Jesus to test Him, asking for a sign. He called them pretenders, saying they could look at the sky to predict the weather, yet Jesus said,...

Matthew 15:21-39   THE SYROPHOENICIAN  A Gentile woman from Canaan seeks Jesus out and says, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” First, this woman asked for MERCY, calling on the deep love and compassion of the Lord. She trusted in the love of the Lord, even when He stated that His mission was to the Jews. Second, when Jesus said “It is...

Matthew 15:1-20   It isn’t unusual for a person who is bound up in religious pride to come against the one who has freedom in Christ. What do we do about the religiously proud? In verse 14, Jesus says, “Let them alone.” In the Amplified version, it says, “ignore” or “forget” them. Don’t pay them any attention. In the Greek, the meaning is, “to send away or bid to depart,...

Matthew 14:22-36   After feeding the multitude, Jesus immediately gets the disciples in a boat and out to sea while He sends the crowds home. After the people disperse, Jesus desired to get alone to pray. We all need those times of isolation and intimacy with God, don’t we? While Jesus is on the mountain, the disciples are in the middle of the Sea of Galilee. The winds were picking...

Matthew 14:1-21   John the Baptist is beheaded. He was a man of faith, a great prophet. He was a bold man who was definitely making a stir among the Jews, preparing them for a new king, a Messiah. Herod captured him, wanting to kill him, but Herod feared the Jews.    John’s message was repentance, preparing people for the Messiah’s kingship over a kingdom. He told Herod he should...