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Matthew 5: 33 - 48 Jesus is still speaking to the crowd and laying out His way, the way of a changed and renewed heart and mind, not the way of rule making and rule breaking.  Jesus goes into talking about how society of the time spoke of promises as made to each other or to God.  He wants our word to be what makes our promises right.  He wants us to be true to our promises, to uphold our duties, to be true to what we say, not try to qualify or quantify our words and duties with extra words... Read Full Story

Matthew 5:27 - 32 Jesus is still speaking on our responsibilities as Christians in our world.  He continues to speak on how we should be on the inside, not just a practicer of ritual on the outside.  Everyone He is speaking to knows that adultery is wrong, and many of them probably pulled out their mental notebooks and thought, "Well, I can check that one off - I know I'm not an adulterer!  But wait a minute, looking lustfully is adultery?  I better get out the eraser now.  I thought I was ok... Read Full Story

Matthew 5: 21 - 26 Jesus has instructed us on how we are to be light and salt to the world; He has given us instructions on living the law in our hearts and then He goes deeper into what is expected of us as believers.  He reflects back to the law - "Do not murder."  We all feel pretty good about that one.  Ok, Jesus, we can clear that hurdle.  We are feeling pretty good at that point, when then we hear - anyone angry at their brother will be subject to judgement.  Wait a minute, does Jesus... Read Full Story

Matthew 5:13-20 Jesus is continuing his speaking to the people.  He is covering much and is hitting all the points for our instruction in Christian life.  He tells us that we are the salt of the earth.  Have you ever noticed food without enough salt?  Nothing else seems to have its full savoriness and taste unless properly salted.  Even many of the sweetest cookies and cakes have salt in them to bring out the full flavor of the dish.  Such is our place in the world, without the love and... Read Full Story

Matthew 5: 1-12 Jesus is teaching with his disciples close at hand. Teaching the masses, but also informing his closest friends and helpers. Jesus begins laying out the blueprint for what we are to be if we are to be Christ-like, Christ in a world that so needs the benefits of changed and transformed people. The poor in spirit. What is poor in spirit? To me, it's the person who has Christ and knows of our spiritual poverty if we are to draw upon ourselves and not God. It' s the person who... Read Full Story

Matthew 4: 23 - 25 Jesus has called those who are following close to him. They have dropped everything to follow and with them at His side, their tasks begin. Jesus begins teaching, preaching and healing. He goes straight to where the people currently are going to learn and be instructed - the synagogues and starts preaching obviously in a way not heard of before. Most likely, He's telling them - the structured rules that are impossible to follow have been supplemented with His love and grace... Read Full Story

Jesus has heard that John was out of commission in telling the tale of repentance and the Kingdom of God. So, Jesus comes into his own, preaching and teaching the Good News to others. Once He starts his ministry, He builds His support team. He first finds two sets of brothers and calls them and they follow. They leave their jobs to take on the heavenly mission that Christ has for them. I think there are many pertinent facts to this that can be overlooked if you just read the story on the... Read Full Story

(Matthew 4: 1-11 below) Jesus is baptized, God speaks His favor of the event and immediately, Jesus is carried into the wilderness. A little aside here....Have you ever noticed when you are really trying to do your best to follow Christ, the most ridiculous, trying, ungodly temptations, trials and stresses enter your life? Satan knows we often tie our feelings and emotions to our faith, and if the devil beats on us enough, he knows we might give up. Take heart, if the devil isn't trying to... Read Full Story

(Matthew 3: 13 - 17 below) As I had written in my last posting, people were all coming out to John, showing repentance and being cleansed by baptism. Jesus goes out to His cousin to get the same baptism. Isn't this peculiar when you think of it? God in the flesh who needs no purification, no washing, no cleansing asks for baptism - the outward sign of a cleansed heart that is willing to repent. Why did He do it? I think it was to show that although He was God, at this moment, He was a man... Read Full Story

(Matthew 3:1-12 below) John the Baptist, First Baptist, no less....Sorry, couldn't resist. John was Jesus' first cousin. Nothing is said of their relationship prior to their adulthood. Sometimes I wish we had more fill in the blank info on the years not recorded in scripture. John and Jesus had to have known each other growing up. In John's adulthood, he has either been called by God and/or seen who Jesus really is and has gone forth to notify the world of the impending ministry of Jesus... Read Full Story