This first Scripture is one that has caused me to scratch my head more than once. In one simple sentence, Jesus distinguishes between works-based thinking and grace-based truth: “This is the only work...  Read More

We read here how people came from all over the region to see Jesus—quite the opposite of the reception He received when He traveled to the Gadarenes and delivered the demon-possessed man. It is striki...  Read More

Immediately after the feeding of the 5,000, Jesus tells the disciples to go to the other side of the lake by boat while He sends the people home. He then goes up into the hills to pray. This is the fi...  Read More

For context, just before this, Jesus hears about the beheading of His cousin, John the Baptist. He attempts to withdraw by Himself, yet He is moved with compassion for the needs of the crowds. Those i...  Read More

Jesus, at this point, has performed many miracles and returns home only to be met with opposition. The hometown boy is not so welcome. What is the saying? “Familiarity breeds contempt.”This is unfortu...  Read More

Do we live our daily lives mindful of this truth? I am often amazed at the mercy and patience of God in what He allows to go on in this world, knowing that at any moment He could bring everything to i...  Read More

The Kingdom of Heaven is worth whatever effort is required to find it, understand it, and walk in it.Did you know the Bible says that as believers in Christ, we are now citizens of heaven? Citizenship...  Read More

Jesus tells the disciples the Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds, which we can read in Matthew 13:24–29—there is not enough room to include the entire passage here. As He did with the Parable of the S...  Read More

Jesus often spoke to the crowds in parables. Interestingly, in Matthew’s account (Matthew 13:12), Jesus separates the parable from its explanation with this statement, as we discussed yesterday:“To th...  Read More

We need to show genuine interest in learning about God before He entrusts us with deeper truths. Jesus even warned His disciples not to cast their pearls before swine. In other words, we are not to wa...  Read More

Is doing the will of the Father important? Absolutely—according to Jesus. So much so that He says those who do the will of God are more spiritually connected to Him as family than even our own flesh a...  Read More

For a little context here, in Matthew chapter 12, Jesus has just delivered a demon-possessed man who was blind and unable to speak.The Pharisees heard about the miracle and accused Jesus of getting Hi...  Read More