“And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.” Matthew 10:1-4
The previous chapter concluded with Jesus requesting prayer for laborers for the harvest. Now, our Lord Jesus endues twelve of His disciples with power to cast out unclean spirits, and to heal all kinds of sickness and disease. Why did He confer power unto the twelve? Matthew 9:36 says, “He was moved with compassion for them [the crowds of people], because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.” Jesus multiplied Himself in the lives of others so that more people could be revived, unified and guided to the provisions that they needed.
“These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: ‘Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Provide neither gold, nor silver nor copper in your money belts, nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.” Matthew 10:5-10
Jesus called them to focus on the lost sheep of Israel. The Gentiles and Samaritans might have been more receptive and grateful for their ministry, but Israel was to have the first opportunity to hear the message of the kingdom of heaven. Jesus commissioned them with authority to heal the sick, cleanse lepers (there must have been many), and to cast out demons. They received this power from Jesus without earning or deserving it and were to give it out in the same manner. As far as provisions to meet their daily needs, Jesus assured them that they were worthy of such resources, and the resources would be provided for them.
“Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. And when you go into a household, greet it. If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!” Matthew 10:11-15
When they entered a geographical location, they were to find the worthy person in it and stay with them. If those in the household were truly worthy of God’s messenger, God’s messenger would experience God’s peace to remain there, otherwise, he would not. If the people of a house or city did not receive them, they were to shake the dust from that place off from their place. The disciples wiped the dust from their feet as a prophetic sign that they did not want any share in the judgment due for such a place.
In Act 13:51, the apostle Paul obeyed this directive. After being driven out of the district of Pisidian Antioch, he “shook off the dust of their feet in protest against them.” In Act 18:6, Paul “shook out his garments and said to them, ‘Your blood be on your own heads! I am clean.’”
“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore, be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.” Matthew 10:16-20
Sheep do not survive amidst wolves unless the Good Shepherd guides and protects them.
Jesus coached His disciples to be wise. Men, referring to religious and political authorities, would betray and bring them to trial. Jesus assured His disciples that the Spirit of the Father would speak in and through them during such circumstances.
In the Gospels, the religious and political leaders teamed up against Jesus to silence Him. They were the thought police of their time. They did not want to lose the perks of their positions.
In the Book of Acts, the same religious and political leaders continued in their effort to suppress faith in Jesus. Then, in Acts 16:16-24, new adversaries appear, and they arrest and beat Paul and Silas. After Paul rebuked a spirit of divination out of a woman, her traffickers were outraged because their ability to make money from her was gone. In Acts 19:18-20:1, Ephesians who made much profit from selling idols caused an uproar because people were forsaking idols. Paul left Ephesus, but later in Acts 20:17-38, he met with the church leaders of Ephesus in the city of Miletus. His instruction from the Lord helped them to build a strong Christian community.
“Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My Name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.” Matthew 10:21-23
Authority figures shall betray them. Family members shall also betray them. Jesus mentions specific examples of which family members shall betray them: brothers, fathers, one’s children. Family members shall put them to death. Jesus warned His disciples that they will be hated for His Name’s sake. He urged them to be faithful unto death. He confirmed that fleeing from persecution was the right thing to do. In other words, survive to preach another day.
“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household! Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed and hidden that will not be known.” Matthew 10:24-26
We should not think it a strange thing that some will see our zeal for the Name of Christ as fanaticism or as a work of the devil. Recently, the Lord gave me 1 Peter 3:18 to help me keep on loving those who treat me unjustly and mischaracterize me. 1 Peter 3:18 speaks of Christ’s suffering for our sins, the just for the unjust, to bring us to God. My goal is the same as the prophets, apostles and Jesus... to bring people to God no manner how they treat me.
“Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light. And what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:27-31
Our Lord Jesus urged His disciples to go public with their witness for Him. In Acts 12:1-28. Peter and James were arrested by King Herod. Herod had James beheaded. He would have done the same to Peter, but God’s people prayed, and God sent an angel to rescue Peter from Herod.
Herod ended the earthly life of James, but not his eternal soul. James is with the Lord now. He has a new body that will never perish again. The Lord was with James during the moment of his death. Not a hair of his head fell to the ground apart from the Father’s will. His life was more precious to God than the lives of many sparrows.
“Therefore, whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 10:32-33
Thus, we should confess the Name of Jesus before people. Not just the generic name of “God” but the specific name of “Jesus Messiah.” Each time we do, Jesus confesses us before the Father in heaven. Praise the Lord!
“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be those of his own household. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” Matthew 10:34-39
I have a friend in Broomfield, Colorado, named Arthur. His friends and I sometimes call him King Arthur. He told me that for many years he was the type of Christian who went to church every Sunday, but did not consider himself a disciple of Jesus during those years. When Arthur began to read his Bible and pray daily, he realized that his life was out of alignment with God. He asked the Lord to forgive his sins and to help him be a disciple. The Lord answered Arthur’s prayers. He was so happy in Christ, but his wife and many of his friends abandoned him after that.
Its not that we want our father, mother, mother-in-law or household members to be against us.
In John 15:19, Jesus said, “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” In John 15:21, Jesus said that persecution comes to us because the perpetrators do not know Him or His Father.
Thus, we cannot afford to love father, mother, son or daughter more than Jesus. We must take up our crosses and follow Jesus. When we lose our lives for His sake, we gain it.
“He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.” Matthew 10:40-42
Jesus closes out this chapter on discipleship with promises of rewards for those who treat His servants well. He mentions first, second and third place rewards. Rewards for receiving His prophets, His righteous men and for giving a cup of cold water to one of His little ones.
There are many “good” causes that people give their time, treasure and talent to support. In Matthew 10, Jesus pinpoints the preaching of the Gospel as the worthiest of all causes. He anoints those who serve this cause with the Spirit of His Father. He promises rewards to those who support preachers of His Gospel.
The Lord advises us in Jude 1:20-23 saying, “Beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. On some have compassion, making a distinction, but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.”
Outcomes I seek: To glorify Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior - To build people's faith in Christ
Sunday, February 15, 2026
The Worthiest of All Causes – Matthew 10
The Heavenly Father has granted to me a wonderful relationship with Him through faith in His Son and by filling me with His Holy Spirit. I want everyone to experience God's love and salvation.
Saturday, February 14, 2026
Be of Good Cheer Your Sins Are Forgiven – Matthew 9
God’s forgiveness yields many blessings. A conscious free from guilt! Peace of mind! A sense of being loved by God unconditionally and not by a limited measure of what we deserve! A relationship with God! The indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit! Miracles of healing!
In Luke 24:46-47, before Jesus ascended into heaven, He told His disciples, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His Name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.”
In other words, when convicted about the ugliness of our past sin, we should envision Jesus Christ, the Son of God, hanging on a cross, pierced for our transgressions, and believe God’s Word that He went through this suffering to purchase our pardon. 1 Peter 3:18 says that “Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.”
“So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city. Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘Son, be of good cheer. Your sins are forgiven you.’” Matthew 9:1-2
Jesus and His disciples were on the central-east side of the Sea of Galilee in Gergesa or the Country of the Gergesenes. Today, it is identified as Kursi. They traveled by boat to the shores of the northwest corner of the sea to reach Capernaum. Jesus conducted the early stages of His ministry from Capernaum.
From Mark 2:2-4, we learn that Jesus was in a house so packed with people that there was no room to bring a paralytic man in before Him. So what did they do? Four men tore off a portion of the roof and lowered the man and his bed down in front of Jesus. Luke 5:19 says that they removed the tiling on the roof to lower him down.
What were people thinking as debris dropped on them from the ceiling? What caught their attention? There were religious scribes (lawyers) there. They may have been calculating the cost to repair the roof. They may have been delighting in the pandemonium.
Matthew says, “Jesus saw their faith.” He noticed the faith of the four men. What did Jesus have to say about this moment? Jesus spoke to the paralytic saying, “‘Son, be of good cheer. Your sins are forgiven you.”
“And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, ‘This Man blasphemes!’ But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, ‘Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier to say, your sins are forgiven you, or to say, arise and walk? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins’—then He said to the paralytic, ‘Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.’ And he arose and departed to his house. Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.” Matthew 9:3-8
The scribes were quick to accuse Jesus of blasphemy which was a crime punishable by death.
Jesus asked them why they had such evil thoughts in their hearts. Then, He did a visible miracle to let them know that His invisible forgiveness was valid. Jesus said to His accusers, “That you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins...” God’s forgiveness is real. It seems that the scribes were speechless after the man walked.
“As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, ‘Follow Me.’ So, he arose and followed Him. Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples.” Matthew 9:9-10
God’s grace is great!
Matthew collected taxes on behalf of the Romans from his people the Jews. His fellow Jews considered him a traitor. The Romans expected him to extract money from the Jews without mercy. Perhaps, some Jews had to pay with a child... selling their child into slavery.
Jesus called Matthew to follow Him. Mark 2:15 says that Jesus dined in the home of Levi which was Matthew’s Hebrew name. Many other tax collectors and sinners joined the meal with them.
“And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, ‘Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ When Jesus heard that, He said to them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.’” Matthew 9:11-13
Perhaps, this was an outdoor event. How did the Pharisees see Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners? How did they approach His disciples? Or did their questions come after the event was over? In any case, it seems to me that the Pharisees wanted to sabotage faith in Jesus. The question words “Why does” were probably asked in a very demeaning way.
Jesus did the work that the Pharisees should have been doing. He made house calls. He visited those who were sick with sin and healed them. He showed mercy. Jesus did not limit Himself to ministry among those who agreed with Him. He took the time to meet with people who were captive to sin that He might set them free from it.
“Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, ‘Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?’ And Jesus said to them, ‘Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse. Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.” Matthew 9:14-17
Jesus did not say that His disciples were exempt from fasting. He said now was not the time for it. The bridegroom was with His friends. This was a time for blessings and miracles. To fast now would be like putting an old patch on a new garment or like putting new wine in old wineskins. It would ruin the moment that His people had anticipated for many generations.
“While He spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live.’ So Jesus arose and followed him, and so did His disciples.” Matthew 9:18-19
Here was a man that needed Messiah’s redemptive power to resurrect His daughter from the dead. He believed that Jesus would make her live again.
There is such a contrast between those who questioned what Jesus was doing and those who believed in what He was doing.
“And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. For she said to herself, ‘If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.’ But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, ‘Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.’ And the woman was made well from that hour.” Matthew 9:20-22
Before Jesus reaches the dead girl, a woman intercepted His help. She didn’t ask. She just touched the hem of His garment. She believed that an act of faith was enough to receive her miracle. It is likely that she touched the hem of His prayer shawl. It represented Messiah’s faith.
Jesus had a word for her, “Be of good cheer, daughter. Your faith has made you well.” And she was healed from that hour going forward.
“When Jesus came into the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd wailing, He said to them, ‘Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping.’ And they ridiculed Him. But when the crowd was put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. And the report of this went out into all that land.” Matthew 9:20-26
Flute playing, noisy crowd, and people laughing at Him… would all these distractions keep Jesus from doing a miracle? No. He was responding to the girl’s father’s faith. He believed that Jesus would resurrect her. After the room was cleared, Jesus took her by the hand and she awoke from the dead. News of this miracle spread about.
“When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, ‘Son of David, have mercy on us!’ And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, ‘Do you believe that I am able to do this?’ They said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord.’ Then He touched their eyes, saying, ‘According to your faith let it be to you.’ And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, saying, ‘See that no one knows it.’ But when they had departed, they spread the news about Him in all that country.” Matthew 9:27-31
It must have been a sight to see two blind men attempting to follow Jesus. They cried out to Him for mercy. They addressed Him as Messiah when they called Him Son of David. The Messiah was prophesied to stem from David’s royal line.
Jesus gave them an opportunity to profess faith in Him. Their answer was short and to the point, “Yes, Lord.” Jesus touched their eyes. They went away seeing. Jesus told them to keep the miracle to themselves, but they spread the news of it all about the country.
At the beginning of this article, I quoted 1 Peter 3:18. Christ is the Just One who suffered for unjust ones. He did this to bring us to God. Jesus did not require honorariums. His disciples did not pass around offering plates. When Jesus healed two blind man, He told them not to talk about it. Jesus gave while expecting nothing in return.
“Lord, please help me and help us all to love people as You love them for Your glory. Please help us to rely on faith in Your grace and kindness to love people freely.”
“As they went out, behold, they brought to Him a man, mute and demon possessed. And when the demon was cast out, the mute spoke. And the multitudes marveled, saying, ‘It was never seen like this in Israel!’ But the Pharisees said, ‘He casts out demons by the ruler of the demons.’” Matthew 9:32-34
A paralytic man, a woman with a chronic blood flow, a dead girl, two blind men and a mute man with demons... Jesus healed them all. What were the religious leaders saying about this? They thought the worst of Jesus saying that He did it by the power of the ruler of demons.
“Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the Gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.’” Matthew 9:35-38
If Jesus had required just treatment, He would not have accomplished His mission. He traveled to many cities and villages (little towns). He taught in their gathering places. He revealed truth to people about God’s kingdom. He healed sicknesses and diseases. He had compassion on weary, scattered and unguided sheep. He wanted His disciples to pray for more laborers who would help with the harvest.
Jesus says to us, “Be of good cheer your sins are forgiven.” He paid a debt He did not owe. I owed a debt I could not pay. I needed saved and Jesus saved me. I do want to honor Jesus.
In Luke 24:46-47, before Jesus ascended into heaven, He told His disciples, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His Name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.”
In other words, when convicted about the ugliness of our past sin, we should envision Jesus Christ, the Son of God, hanging on a cross, pierced for our transgressions, and believe God’s Word that He went through this suffering to purchase our pardon. 1 Peter 3:18 says that “Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.”
“So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city. Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘Son, be of good cheer. Your sins are forgiven you.’” Matthew 9:1-2
Jesus and His disciples were on the central-east side of the Sea of Galilee in Gergesa or the Country of the Gergesenes. Today, it is identified as Kursi. They traveled by boat to the shores of the northwest corner of the sea to reach Capernaum. Jesus conducted the early stages of His ministry from Capernaum.
From Mark 2:2-4, we learn that Jesus was in a house so packed with people that there was no room to bring a paralytic man in before Him. So what did they do? Four men tore off a portion of the roof and lowered the man and his bed down in front of Jesus. Luke 5:19 says that they removed the tiling on the roof to lower him down.
What were people thinking as debris dropped on them from the ceiling? What caught their attention? There were religious scribes (lawyers) there. They may have been calculating the cost to repair the roof. They may have been delighting in the pandemonium.
Matthew says, “Jesus saw their faith.” He noticed the faith of the four men. What did Jesus have to say about this moment? Jesus spoke to the paralytic saying, “‘Son, be of good cheer. Your sins are forgiven you.”
“And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, ‘This Man blasphemes!’ But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, ‘Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier to say, your sins are forgiven you, or to say, arise and walk? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins’—then He said to the paralytic, ‘Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.’ And he arose and departed to his house. Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.” Matthew 9:3-8
The scribes were quick to accuse Jesus of blasphemy which was a crime punishable by death.
Jesus asked them why they had such evil thoughts in their hearts. Then, He did a visible miracle to let them know that His invisible forgiveness was valid. Jesus said to His accusers, “That you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins...” God’s forgiveness is real. It seems that the scribes were speechless after the man walked.
“As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, ‘Follow Me.’ So, he arose and followed Him. Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples.” Matthew 9:9-10
God’s grace is great!
Matthew collected taxes on behalf of the Romans from his people the Jews. His fellow Jews considered him a traitor. The Romans expected him to extract money from the Jews without mercy. Perhaps, some Jews had to pay with a child... selling their child into slavery.
Jesus called Matthew to follow Him. Mark 2:15 says that Jesus dined in the home of Levi which was Matthew’s Hebrew name. Many other tax collectors and sinners joined the meal with them.
“And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, ‘Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ When Jesus heard that, He said to them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.’” Matthew 9:11-13
Perhaps, this was an outdoor event. How did the Pharisees see Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners? How did they approach His disciples? Or did their questions come after the event was over? In any case, it seems to me that the Pharisees wanted to sabotage faith in Jesus. The question words “Why does” were probably asked in a very demeaning way.
Jesus did the work that the Pharisees should have been doing. He made house calls. He visited those who were sick with sin and healed them. He showed mercy. Jesus did not limit Himself to ministry among those who agreed with Him. He took the time to meet with people who were captive to sin that He might set them free from it.
“Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, ‘Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?’ And Jesus said to them, ‘Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse. Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.” Matthew 9:14-17
Jesus did not say that His disciples were exempt from fasting. He said now was not the time for it. The bridegroom was with His friends. This was a time for blessings and miracles. To fast now would be like putting an old patch on a new garment or like putting new wine in old wineskins. It would ruin the moment that His people had anticipated for many generations.
“While He spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live.’ So Jesus arose and followed him, and so did His disciples.” Matthew 9:18-19
Here was a man that needed Messiah’s redemptive power to resurrect His daughter from the dead. He believed that Jesus would make her live again.
There is such a contrast between those who questioned what Jesus was doing and those who believed in what He was doing.
“And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. For she said to herself, ‘If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.’ But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, ‘Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.’ And the woman was made well from that hour.” Matthew 9:20-22
Before Jesus reaches the dead girl, a woman intercepted His help. She didn’t ask. She just touched the hem of His garment. She believed that an act of faith was enough to receive her miracle. It is likely that she touched the hem of His prayer shawl. It represented Messiah’s faith.
Jesus had a word for her, “Be of good cheer, daughter. Your faith has made you well.” And she was healed from that hour going forward.
“When Jesus came into the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd wailing, He said to them, ‘Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping.’ And they ridiculed Him. But when the crowd was put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. And the report of this went out into all that land.” Matthew 9:20-26
Flute playing, noisy crowd, and people laughing at Him… would all these distractions keep Jesus from doing a miracle? No. He was responding to the girl’s father’s faith. He believed that Jesus would resurrect her. After the room was cleared, Jesus took her by the hand and she awoke from the dead. News of this miracle spread about.
“When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, ‘Son of David, have mercy on us!’ And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, ‘Do you believe that I am able to do this?’ They said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord.’ Then He touched their eyes, saying, ‘According to your faith let it be to you.’ And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, saying, ‘See that no one knows it.’ But when they had departed, they spread the news about Him in all that country.” Matthew 9:27-31
It must have been a sight to see two blind men attempting to follow Jesus. They cried out to Him for mercy. They addressed Him as Messiah when they called Him Son of David. The Messiah was prophesied to stem from David’s royal line.
Jesus gave them an opportunity to profess faith in Him. Their answer was short and to the point, “Yes, Lord.” Jesus touched their eyes. They went away seeing. Jesus told them to keep the miracle to themselves, but they spread the news of it all about the country.
At the beginning of this article, I quoted 1 Peter 3:18. Christ is the Just One who suffered for unjust ones. He did this to bring us to God. Jesus did not require honorariums. His disciples did not pass around offering plates. When Jesus healed two blind man, He told them not to talk about it. Jesus gave while expecting nothing in return.
“Lord, please help me and help us all to love people as You love them for Your glory. Please help us to rely on faith in Your grace and kindness to love people freely.”
“As they went out, behold, they brought to Him a man, mute and demon possessed. And when the demon was cast out, the mute spoke. And the multitudes marveled, saying, ‘It was never seen like this in Israel!’ But the Pharisees said, ‘He casts out demons by the ruler of the demons.’” Matthew 9:32-34
A paralytic man, a woman with a chronic blood flow, a dead girl, two blind men and a mute man with demons... Jesus healed them all. What were the religious leaders saying about this? They thought the worst of Jesus saying that He did it by the power of the ruler of demons.
“Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the Gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.’” Matthew 9:35-38
If Jesus had required just treatment, He would not have accomplished His mission. He traveled to many cities and villages (little towns). He taught in their gathering places. He revealed truth to people about God’s kingdom. He healed sicknesses and diseases. He had compassion on weary, scattered and unguided sheep. He wanted His disciples to pray for more laborers who would help with the harvest.
Jesus says to us, “Be of good cheer your sins are forgiven.” He paid a debt He did not owe. I owed a debt I could not pay. I needed saved and Jesus saved me. I do want to honor Jesus.
The Heavenly Father has granted to me a wonderful relationship with Him through faith in His Son and by filling me with His Holy Spirit. I want everyone to experience God's love and salvation.
Friday, February 13, 2026
Walking With Jesus – Matthew 8
“When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.’ Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, ‘I am willing. Be cleansed.’ Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus said to him, ‘See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.’” Matthew 8:1-4
The scene was reminiscent of Exodus 24:9-11 when God met with Moses, Aaron, Nadab and seventy elders of Israel on Mount Sinai to give them His Word. Jesus, His disciples and those who listened to Him from Matthew 5–7 made an exodus down from the mountain, and out into the world where people were waiting for help.
The first person mentioned who approaches Jesus and worships Him is a leper. His prayer is simple but expresses complete confidence in Jesus Messiah to do a miracle for him. “Lord!” He acknowledges that the One He speaks with is Messiah. “If you are willing!” According to Hosea 6:1, God can either wound or heal us, whichever is best for us. “You can make me clean!” He believes Jesus Messiah has the power to heal leprosy even though no medical doctor at that time could do so.
Jesus does not need many words or much build up to generate the power to heal the man. He spoke five words, “I am willing. Be cleansed.” The leprosy is gone. Jesus urges him to show himself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded. This commandment is described with detail in Leviticus 14:1-31. He wanted the man to testify to the priests not to others.
Mark 1:45 tells us that the man did not obey Jesus. “He went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to Him from every quarter.”
I confess I made the same foolish mistake this man did. I testified of the miracles that Jesus did for me to the wrong kinds of people. Afterwards, I saw that some only wanted to gawk. Some wanted to harness His miracles to make fame and fortune. I was leading a discipleship ministry in China at the time. The Lord taught me to be obedient to His leading in regards to sharing testimonies. This way, I helped not hindered His ministry.
“Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, ‘Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘I will come and heal him.’ The centurion answered and said, ‘Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, go, and he goes; and to another, come, and he comes; and to my servant, do this, and he does it.’ When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ Then Jesus said to the centurion, ’Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.’ And his servant was healed that same hour.” Matthew 8:5-13
The first man Jesus met was a leper. The second man He met was a Roman centurion. A Roman centurion had 100 soldiers under his command. Surprise! This Roman of position and authority pled with Jesus (a Jew) for help. He addressed Jesus as Lord. His petition was “My servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.” He simply described to Jesus who was in need and what the man’s situation was like. The centurion felt compassion for his servant because the man was dreadfully tormented... perhaps moaning and groaning.
Jesus offered to come to the centurion’s house and heal his servant. If Jesus had done this, it would have been the second time in a row that He would have offended the sensibilities of the religious leaders. First, He touched the leper to heal him. They would never do such a thing. Next, he offered to enter the home of a Gentile. How scandalous!
The Roman has his own take on what Jesus said to him. First of all, he felt unworthy for the Lord to come under his roof. Secondly, he believed that Jesus only needed to speak a word to the illness as he did to people under his command, and the servant would be made whole.
The centurion’s faith in Him blessed Jesus. He had not found such great faith among His own people. He prophesied that many shall come into the kingdom of heaven from the east and west of Israel (Gentiles). Praise God! They shall sit down with the biological patriarchs of the faith. Sadly, some sons of the kingdom (biological Jews but not believers in Messiah) shall be thrown into darkness where they shall weep and gnash their teeth.
Jesus told the centurion, “As you have believed, so let it be done for you.” His servant was healed that same hour
“Now when Jesus had come into Peter’s house, He saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever. So, He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them.” Matthew 8:14-15
Next, Jesus touched the hand of Peter’s mother-in-law to heal her and she was healed. In Orthodox Judaism, men are forbidden from touching women who are not their wives or immediate family members. Jesus was more concerned about a person’s well-being than He was about the dominant culture’s dictations on such matters. She got up and served everyone.
“When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a Word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: ‘He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.’” Matthew 8:16-17
Jesus expelled demons with a word. Are words powerful? Yes, when God Almighty Maker of heaven and earth speaks them. Jesus healed all who were sick. These miracles fulfilled the prophecy that God gave to His prophet in Isaiah 53:5. I have seen people freed from demons and healed of sickness as I have walked with Jesus. These miracles made them happy and built up my faith and the faith of others who were eyewitnesses to them.
“And when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side. Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, ‘Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.’ Then another of His disciples said to Him, ‘Lord, let me first go and bury my father.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.’” Matthew 8:18-22
Perhaps, these men had seen or heard of the miracles that Jesus did. Great crowds were following Jesus. They wanted Jesus to let them share in the excitement and blessings. They may have assumed that association with Jesus would elevate their reputation with family and friends.
The scribe promised to go with Jesus wherever He went. Really? How about the cross? Jesus told the scribe that foxes and birds had better homes than He did.
A disciple wanted permission to bury his father before following Jesus, likely meaning, he wanted to wait until after his father died before following Jesus. Jesus was under orders from His Heavenly Father. He would not delay to obey them for the sake of this man. He urged the man to follow Him and to let others take care of his father. Others could do that. Followers and disciples of Jesus are rare and needed.
Farmers rely on wisdom and knowledge to pair oxen together under one yoke. If they are not well matched they will hinder one another’s efforts to work for their master. They may also cause injury to one another. Jesus was careful to ensure that those who joined His team were a good match for the work that needed to be done.
“Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, ‘Lord, save us! We are perishing!’ But He said to them, ‘Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?’ Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. So the men marveled, saying, ‘Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?’” Matthew 8:23-27
Matthew 8:18 says, “When Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side.” So they are getting into a boat to escape the crowds which seem to be getting out of control. Perhaps, the disciples sighed a sigh of relief. But as it is so often with mission work, you leave behind one trial to experience another. They experienced a storm burst that was rocking the boat and soaking them with water. At least four of the disciples were seasoned fishermen, but they were afraid. They turned to Jesus to save them. So, they did believe He could do so, and Jesus did calm the storm. They knew that the immediate change of circumstances was because Jesus did a miracle. The disciples experienced fear during adverse circumstances due to their little faith, but at least, their little faith looked to Jesus for help.
“When He had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way. And suddenly they cried out, saying, ‘What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?’” Matthew 8:28-29
In Ephesians 6:12, Paul wrote, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Everyone who joins Jesus in the ministry of presenting the Gospel to people will encounter persecution from the evil one. The devil, like the Pharaoh in the Old Testament, does not want to let his captives go.
The disciples of Jesus experienced a great storm on the Sea of Galilee that really shook them to the core. Then, when they got their feet on solid ground, two demon-possessed men came out from tombs and met Jesus. The demons cried out because they feared that Jesus, the Son of God, had come to torment them. Perhaps, the disciples were once again very afraid.
“Now a good way off from them there was a herd of many swine feeding. So the demons begged Him, saying, ‘If You cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of swine.’ And He said to them, ‘Go.’ So, when they had come out, they went into the herd of swine. And suddenly the whole herd of swine ran violently down the steep place into the sea and perished in the water.” Matthew 8:30-32
The demons begged Jesus for permission to be transferred from the two men to a herd of pigs. So, it seems these disembodied spirits can inhabit animals. These are the spirits of fallen angels. They lost a lot when they followed Lucifer to wage war against God. They lost their place in heaven. They lost their beauty. Now, they are willing to indwell even the stinkiest and dirtiest of creatures on earth... pigs. Jesus gave them permission to go, but then, the pigs ran violently into the sea and died. Demons are destructive. Their fruit is torment and death.
All who rebel and war against our Lord Jesus Christ will lose.
“Then those who kept them fled; and they went away into the city and told everything, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus. And when they saw Him, they begged Him to depart from their region.” Matthew 8:33-34
The scene was reminiscent of Exodus 24:9-11 when God met with Moses, Aaron, Nadab and seventy elders of Israel on Mount Sinai to give them His Word. Jesus, His disciples and those who listened to Him from Matthew 5–7 made an exodus down from the mountain, and out into the world where people were waiting for help.
The first person mentioned who approaches Jesus and worships Him is a leper. His prayer is simple but expresses complete confidence in Jesus Messiah to do a miracle for him. “Lord!” He acknowledges that the One He speaks with is Messiah. “If you are willing!” According to Hosea 6:1, God can either wound or heal us, whichever is best for us. “You can make me clean!” He believes Jesus Messiah has the power to heal leprosy even though no medical doctor at that time could do so.
Jesus does not need many words or much build up to generate the power to heal the man. He spoke five words, “I am willing. Be cleansed.” The leprosy is gone. Jesus urges him to show himself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded. This commandment is described with detail in Leviticus 14:1-31. He wanted the man to testify to the priests not to others.
Mark 1:45 tells us that the man did not obey Jesus. “He went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to Him from every quarter.”
I confess I made the same foolish mistake this man did. I testified of the miracles that Jesus did for me to the wrong kinds of people. Afterwards, I saw that some only wanted to gawk. Some wanted to harness His miracles to make fame and fortune. I was leading a discipleship ministry in China at the time. The Lord taught me to be obedient to His leading in regards to sharing testimonies. This way, I helped not hindered His ministry.
“Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, ‘Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘I will come and heal him.’ The centurion answered and said, ‘Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, go, and he goes; and to another, come, and he comes; and to my servant, do this, and he does it.’ When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ Then Jesus said to the centurion, ’Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.’ And his servant was healed that same hour.” Matthew 8:5-13
The first man Jesus met was a leper. The second man He met was a Roman centurion. A Roman centurion had 100 soldiers under his command. Surprise! This Roman of position and authority pled with Jesus (a Jew) for help. He addressed Jesus as Lord. His petition was “My servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.” He simply described to Jesus who was in need and what the man’s situation was like. The centurion felt compassion for his servant because the man was dreadfully tormented... perhaps moaning and groaning.
Jesus offered to come to the centurion’s house and heal his servant. If Jesus had done this, it would have been the second time in a row that He would have offended the sensibilities of the religious leaders. First, He touched the leper to heal him. They would never do such a thing. Next, he offered to enter the home of a Gentile. How scandalous!
The Roman has his own take on what Jesus said to him. First of all, he felt unworthy for the Lord to come under his roof. Secondly, he believed that Jesus only needed to speak a word to the illness as he did to people under his command, and the servant would be made whole.
The centurion’s faith in Him blessed Jesus. He had not found such great faith among His own people. He prophesied that many shall come into the kingdom of heaven from the east and west of Israel (Gentiles). Praise God! They shall sit down with the biological patriarchs of the faith. Sadly, some sons of the kingdom (biological Jews but not believers in Messiah) shall be thrown into darkness where they shall weep and gnash their teeth.
Jesus told the centurion, “As you have believed, so let it be done for you.” His servant was healed that same hour
“Now when Jesus had come into Peter’s house, He saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever. So, He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them.” Matthew 8:14-15
Next, Jesus touched the hand of Peter’s mother-in-law to heal her and she was healed. In Orthodox Judaism, men are forbidden from touching women who are not their wives or immediate family members. Jesus was more concerned about a person’s well-being than He was about the dominant culture’s dictations on such matters. She got up and served everyone.
“When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a Word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: ‘He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.’” Matthew 8:16-17
Jesus expelled demons with a word. Are words powerful? Yes, when God Almighty Maker of heaven and earth speaks them. Jesus healed all who were sick. These miracles fulfilled the prophecy that God gave to His prophet in Isaiah 53:5. I have seen people freed from demons and healed of sickness as I have walked with Jesus. These miracles made them happy and built up my faith and the faith of others who were eyewitnesses to them.
“And when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side. Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, ‘Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.’ Then another of His disciples said to Him, ‘Lord, let me first go and bury my father.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.’” Matthew 8:18-22
Perhaps, these men had seen or heard of the miracles that Jesus did. Great crowds were following Jesus. They wanted Jesus to let them share in the excitement and blessings. They may have assumed that association with Jesus would elevate their reputation with family and friends.
The scribe promised to go with Jesus wherever He went. Really? How about the cross? Jesus told the scribe that foxes and birds had better homes than He did.
A disciple wanted permission to bury his father before following Jesus, likely meaning, he wanted to wait until after his father died before following Jesus. Jesus was under orders from His Heavenly Father. He would not delay to obey them for the sake of this man. He urged the man to follow Him and to let others take care of his father. Others could do that. Followers and disciples of Jesus are rare and needed.
Farmers rely on wisdom and knowledge to pair oxen together under one yoke. If they are not well matched they will hinder one another’s efforts to work for their master. They may also cause injury to one another. Jesus was careful to ensure that those who joined His team were a good match for the work that needed to be done.
“Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, ‘Lord, save us! We are perishing!’ But He said to them, ‘Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?’ Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. So the men marveled, saying, ‘Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?’” Matthew 8:23-27
Matthew 8:18 says, “When Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side.” So they are getting into a boat to escape the crowds which seem to be getting out of control. Perhaps, the disciples sighed a sigh of relief. But as it is so often with mission work, you leave behind one trial to experience another. They experienced a storm burst that was rocking the boat and soaking them with water. At least four of the disciples were seasoned fishermen, but they were afraid. They turned to Jesus to save them. So, they did believe He could do so, and Jesus did calm the storm. They knew that the immediate change of circumstances was because Jesus did a miracle. The disciples experienced fear during adverse circumstances due to their little faith, but at least, their little faith looked to Jesus for help.
“When He had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way. And suddenly they cried out, saying, ‘What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?’” Matthew 8:28-29
In Ephesians 6:12, Paul wrote, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Everyone who joins Jesus in the ministry of presenting the Gospel to people will encounter persecution from the evil one. The devil, like the Pharaoh in the Old Testament, does not want to let his captives go.
The disciples of Jesus experienced a great storm on the Sea of Galilee that really shook them to the core. Then, when they got their feet on solid ground, two demon-possessed men came out from tombs and met Jesus. The demons cried out because they feared that Jesus, the Son of God, had come to torment them. Perhaps, the disciples were once again very afraid.
“Now a good way off from them there was a herd of many swine feeding. So the demons begged Him, saying, ‘If You cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of swine.’ And He said to them, ‘Go.’ So, when they had come out, they went into the herd of swine. And suddenly the whole herd of swine ran violently down the steep place into the sea and perished in the water.” Matthew 8:30-32
The demons begged Jesus for permission to be transferred from the two men to a herd of pigs. So, it seems these disembodied spirits can inhabit animals. These are the spirits of fallen angels. They lost a lot when they followed Lucifer to wage war against God. They lost their place in heaven. They lost their beauty. Now, they are willing to indwell even the stinkiest and dirtiest of creatures on earth... pigs. Jesus gave them permission to go, but then, the pigs ran violently into the sea and died. Demons are destructive. Their fruit is torment and death.
All who rebel and war against our Lord Jesus Christ will lose.
“Then those who kept them fled; and they went away into the city and told everything, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus. And when they saw Him, they begged Him to depart from their region.” Matthew 8:33-34
The disciples of Jesus heard excellent Bible teaching from Jesus in chapters 5-7. In Matthew 8, our Lord Jesus Christ provided instantaneous relief from ostracizing leprosy, from painful torment, from debilitating fever, from life-threatening storms and from demonic oppression. At last, a whole city of people begged Jesus to depart from their region.
The disciples witnessed all kinds of miracles as they walked with Jesus. Would they be able to keep pace with Him in the days ahead? Yes, they did, by His grace.
What about us? If Jesus began to do miracles among us as He did in this chapter, would we still walk with Him? Or would we like the people of the Gergesenes ask Jesus to depart from us?
Even more important for each of us, Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. We can enter heaven when our sins are forgiven by God. Thus, we should ask Him to forgive us our sins and to grace us with His power and His Spirit to continuously walk with Him. No matter what ups and downs His ministry to others takes us through, it is a divine privilege to know and walk with Jesus.
The Heavenly Father has granted to me a wonderful relationship with Him through faith in His Son and by filling me with His Holy Spirit. I want everyone to experience God's love and salvation.
Thursday, February 12, 2026
Loving with God’s Love – Matthew 7
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye;’ and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:1-5
In Matthew 5:20, Jesus urged His followers to pursue a righteousness that was greater than that of the scribes and Pharisees. The scribes and Pharisees presumed themselves more righteous than others due to their perceptions of them.
Jesus advocated for fair judgment because we will be judged in the same way that we judge others. Jesus was for love, forgiveness, and goodness to others. If we want more of those things from God, we should give more of them to others. [1]
According to the teaching of some rabbis in Jesus’ time, God had two measures that He used to judge people. One was a measure of justice and the other was a measure of mercy. Whichever measure you want God to use with you, you should use that same measure with others. [2]
Jesus used the illustration of a person with a plank of wood in his eye trying to remove the speck of wood in his brother’s eye. He rightly called such behavior hypocrisy. Jesus helps us to realize that we tend to be far more tolerant of our own sin than we are of the sin of others. [3]
In John 8:7, when the religious leaders brought the woman taken in adultery to Jesus, He said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” The scribes and Pharisees were guilty of rejecting God’s Messiah. They turned many people away from the only One who could save their souls from eternal hell. Their sin was like a plank compared to the woman’s speck.
In Matthew 26:6-13, the disciples spoke against the woman who anointed Jesus with oil. They asked, “Why this waste?” Jesus said she did a good work that would be remembered.
We are more apt to render fair judgment to others when our hearts are filled with God’s love. Romans 5:5 says, “God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Paul blessed his readers with grace. For example, in Romans 1:7, he wrote, “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Peter 4:8 says, “Above all, maintain an intense love for each other, since love covers a multitude of sins.” I remember when I first fell in love with my wife. At that time, she seemed to me like an angel. My intense love for her helped me to see all the good in her.
God is full of intense love for people. I must confess that I am seldom like God in this regard. So, I must start each day by praying for His love to fill me so I can love as He loves by His grace.
When I love with God’s love, I am more apt to think the best of others. When I love with God’s love, I am more apt to see and affirm the good in others.
“Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.” Matthew 7:6
How do we discern dogs and pigs from good prospects for the kingdom? Wild dogs and pigs exemplify creatures whose gods are their stomachs. They live to please their flesh.
Hypocrites prefer a world where performers are treated lavishly, and genuine followers of Christ are despised and hated. Authentic followers of Christ expose imposters by being Christlike.
Jesus fed the dogs and swine, He spoke to hypocrites, but He reserved the pearls of His teachings for His disciples. Disciples leave everything to follow Him. They are yokefellows with Christ. They put their hand on the plow and don’t look back. They deny themselves, pick up crosses and follow Jesus Christ.
When I think of modern day disciples, I think of missionary couples like Hudson and Marie Taylor, Jim and Elizabeth Elliott, and Jonathan and Rosalind Goforth.
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” Matthew 7:7-11
Ask… seek… knock! Jesus urged us to be persistent in prayer. Receiving is the reward of asking. Finding is the reward of seeking. Having an open door to God is the reward of knocking. [4]
The image of knocking also implies that there is a door that can be opened. [5]
Hans Von Staden made this statement about prayer, “When man works man works; when man prays, God works.” A.T. Pierson once said, “Every step in the progress of missions is directly traceable to prayer.” [6]
God works through prayer because prayer requires a relationship with Him.
Jesus made it clear that God doesn’t have to be persuaded or appeased in prayer before He will give good gifts to us. He wants to give to us even more than what we ask for.
Martin Luther wrote, “Prayer is not a battle to force a reluctant God to act, but rather an act of engaging with His pre-existing, loving willingness to help.” [7]
“Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:12
Philippians 2:3-8 says, “Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross.”
The nature of God is to pour Himself out on others. The Father poured Himself out by giving His Son to be the sacrifice for humankind’s sin. The Son poured out Himself by being that sacrifice for our sin. The Holy Spirit poured Himself out by coming to dwell in us who believe in Jesus.
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13-14
The narrow gate is Jesus. He is the only way to the Father. The reason that He is difficult to find is because there is a broad way that tends to dominate the vision and conversation of people. The broad way offers that which is appealing to the physical senses. The narrow way is spiritually discerned. Only Jesus can reveal it to someone via His Word and Spirit.
Donald A. Carson wrote, “Jesus is commanding His disciples to enter the way marked by persecution and rewarded in the end.” [8]
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” Matthew 7:15-20
The first step to combating false prophets is to simply beware of them. Donald A. Carson wrote, “The Gospel’s enemies conceal their hostility and try to pass themselves off as fellow believers.” [9]
William Barclay wrote, “The basic fault of the false prophet is self-interest. It can be expressed by a desire for gain or an easy life, a desire for prestige, or the desire to advance one’s own ideas and not God’s Word. We should pay attention to their manner of living. Do they behave in righteous, humble and faithful ways. We should pay attention to the content of their teaching. Are they speaking God’s Word. Is their theology man-centered or Christ-centered. Do they seek to tickle their hearers’ ears? Are people growing in Christlikeness or just being entertained? Are people falling away from the faith? Are they bearing good fruit? Whose glory are they seeking?” [10]
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your Name, cast out demons in Your Name, and done many wonders in Your Name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” Matthew 7:21-23
Lawlessness is the character trait of the antichrist. He does whatever evil he wants to do to people and feels no remorse. He delights in deceiving and exploiting people.
Our Lord Jesus Christ surrendered Himself to the law of love. I am glad that Jesus did not do miracles and prophesy for selfish reasons. Everything that Jesus did began from love.
We must confess that Jesus is Lord but we must also do as He would do. This warning of Jesus applied to people who say things to Jesus or about Jesus, but don’t really mean them. They believe there is some kind of value in the words but their heart and soul is not in them. They may go to church but live as any other person does otherwise. [11]
“Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” Matthew 7:24-27
The foundation of our lives proven in the storm. Proverbs 10:25 says, “When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more, but the righteous has an everlasting foundation.” F.F. Bruce wrote, “Wherein lay the second builder’s folly? Not in deliberately seeking a bad foundation, but in taking no thought of foundation.” [12]
We need to do more than hear the Word. We need to line up our practices with it.
“And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” Matthew 7:28-29
Jesus Christ spoke from God. When I ask the Lord to reveal to me the correct interpretation of the Scriptures, He helps me to see Him in the text that otherwise would have been hidden from me. His Holy Spirit brings to my mind other passages in the Bible that help me to interpret the text. I also look at commentaries, but even then, I am asking the Holy Spirit to bear witness to that which is of God. Thus, preparing messages becomes a wonderful time of fellowship with the Lord, and a blessing to pass onto others. Glory to God!
[1] Enduring Word Commentary
[2] Ibid
[3] Ibid
[4] Ibid
[5] Ibid
[6] The Hour that Changes the World by Dick Eastman
[7] Google Sources
[8] Enduring Word Commentary
[9] Ibid
[10] Ibid
[11] Ibid
[12] Ibid
In Matthew 5:20, Jesus urged His followers to pursue a righteousness that was greater than that of the scribes and Pharisees. The scribes and Pharisees presumed themselves more righteous than others due to their perceptions of them.
Jesus advocated for fair judgment because we will be judged in the same way that we judge others. Jesus was for love, forgiveness, and goodness to others. If we want more of those things from God, we should give more of them to others. [1]
According to the teaching of some rabbis in Jesus’ time, God had two measures that He used to judge people. One was a measure of justice and the other was a measure of mercy. Whichever measure you want God to use with you, you should use that same measure with others. [2]
Jesus used the illustration of a person with a plank of wood in his eye trying to remove the speck of wood in his brother’s eye. He rightly called such behavior hypocrisy. Jesus helps us to realize that we tend to be far more tolerant of our own sin than we are of the sin of others. [3]
In John 8:7, when the religious leaders brought the woman taken in adultery to Jesus, He said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” The scribes and Pharisees were guilty of rejecting God’s Messiah. They turned many people away from the only One who could save their souls from eternal hell. Their sin was like a plank compared to the woman’s speck.
In Matthew 26:6-13, the disciples spoke against the woman who anointed Jesus with oil. They asked, “Why this waste?” Jesus said she did a good work that would be remembered.
We are more apt to render fair judgment to others when our hearts are filled with God’s love. Romans 5:5 says, “God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Paul blessed his readers with grace. For example, in Romans 1:7, he wrote, “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Peter 4:8 says, “Above all, maintain an intense love for each other, since love covers a multitude of sins.” I remember when I first fell in love with my wife. At that time, she seemed to me like an angel. My intense love for her helped me to see all the good in her.
God is full of intense love for people. I must confess that I am seldom like God in this regard. So, I must start each day by praying for His love to fill me so I can love as He loves by His grace.
When I love with God’s love, I am more apt to think the best of others. When I love with God’s love, I am more apt to see and affirm the good in others.
“Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.” Matthew 7:6
How do we discern dogs and pigs from good prospects for the kingdom? Wild dogs and pigs exemplify creatures whose gods are their stomachs. They live to please their flesh.
Hypocrites prefer a world where performers are treated lavishly, and genuine followers of Christ are despised and hated. Authentic followers of Christ expose imposters by being Christlike.
Jesus fed the dogs and swine, He spoke to hypocrites, but He reserved the pearls of His teachings for His disciples. Disciples leave everything to follow Him. They are yokefellows with Christ. They put their hand on the plow and don’t look back. They deny themselves, pick up crosses and follow Jesus Christ.
When I think of modern day disciples, I think of missionary couples like Hudson and Marie Taylor, Jim and Elizabeth Elliott, and Jonathan and Rosalind Goforth.
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” Matthew 7:7-11
Ask… seek… knock! Jesus urged us to be persistent in prayer. Receiving is the reward of asking. Finding is the reward of seeking. Having an open door to God is the reward of knocking. [4]
The image of knocking also implies that there is a door that can be opened. [5]
Hans Von Staden made this statement about prayer, “When man works man works; when man prays, God works.” A.T. Pierson once said, “Every step in the progress of missions is directly traceable to prayer.” [6]
God works through prayer because prayer requires a relationship with Him.
Jesus made it clear that God doesn’t have to be persuaded or appeased in prayer before He will give good gifts to us. He wants to give to us even more than what we ask for.
Martin Luther wrote, “Prayer is not a battle to force a reluctant God to act, but rather an act of engaging with His pre-existing, loving willingness to help.” [7]
“Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:12
Philippians 2:3-8 says, “Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross.”
The nature of God is to pour Himself out on others. The Father poured Himself out by giving His Son to be the sacrifice for humankind’s sin. The Son poured out Himself by being that sacrifice for our sin. The Holy Spirit poured Himself out by coming to dwell in us who believe in Jesus.
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13-14
The narrow gate is Jesus. He is the only way to the Father. The reason that He is difficult to find is because there is a broad way that tends to dominate the vision and conversation of people. The broad way offers that which is appealing to the physical senses. The narrow way is spiritually discerned. Only Jesus can reveal it to someone via His Word and Spirit.
Donald A. Carson wrote, “Jesus is commanding His disciples to enter the way marked by persecution and rewarded in the end.” [8]
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” Matthew 7:15-20
The first step to combating false prophets is to simply beware of them. Donald A. Carson wrote, “The Gospel’s enemies conceal their hostility and try to pass themselves off as fellow believers.” [9]
William Barclay wrote, “The basic fault of the false prophet is self-interest. It can be expressed by a desire for gain or an easy life, a desire for prestige, or the desire to advance one’s own ideas and not God’s Word. We should pay attention to their manner of living. Do they behave in righteous, humble and faithful ways. We should pay attention to the content of their teaching. Are they speaking God’s Word. Is their theology man-centered or Christ-centered. Do they seek to tickle their hearers’ ears? Are people growing in Christlikeness or just being entertained? Are people falling away from the faith? Are they bearing good fruit? Whose glory are they seeking?” [10]
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your Name, cast out demons in Your Name, and done many wonders in Your Name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” Matthew 7:21-23
Lawlessness is the character trait of the antichrist. He does whatever evil he wants to do to people and feels no remorse. He delights in deceiving and exploiting people.
Our Lord Jesus Christ surrendered Himself to the law of love. I am glad that Jesus did not do miracles and prophesy for selfish reasons. Everything that Jesus did began from love.
We must confess that Jesus is Lord but we must also do as He would do. This warning of Jesus applied to people who say things to Jesus or about Jesus, but don’t really mean them. They believe there is some kind of value in the words but their heart and soul is not in them. They may go to church but live as any other person does otherwise. [11]
“Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” Matthew 7:24-27
The foundation of our lives proven in the storm. Proverbs 10:25 says, “When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more, but the righteous has an everlasting foundation.” F.F. Bruce wrote, “Wherein lay the second builder’s folly? Not in deliberately seeking a bad foundation, but in taking no thought of foundation.” [12]
We need to do more than hear the Word. We need to line up our practices with it.
“And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” Matthew 7:28-29
Jesus Christ spoke from God. When I ask the Lord to reveal to me the correct interpretation of the Scriptures, He helps me to see Him in the text that otherwise would have been hidden from me. His Holy Spirit brings to my mind other passages in the Bible that help me to interpret the text. I also look at commentaries, but even then, I am asking the Holy Spirit to bear witness to that which is of God. Thus, preparing messages becomes a wonderful time of fellowship with the Lord, and a blessing to pass onto others. Glory to God!
[1] Enduring Word Commentary
[2] Ibid
[3] Ibid
[4] Ibid
[5] Ibid
[6] The Hour that Changes the World by Dick Eastman
[7] Google Sources
[8] Enduring Word Commentary
[9] Ibid
[10] Ibid
[11] Ibid
[12] Ibid
The Heavenly Father has granted to me a wonderful relationship with Him through faith in His Son and by filling me with His Holy Spirit. I want everyone to experience God's love and salvation.
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
You Lord are the Treasure We Seek – Matthew 6
Jesus Christ described our eyes as the lamps of our bodies. Good eyes yield a body full of light.
“Please lead me Lord Jesus to focus on Your light. Please help me to do as David wrote in Psalm 34:5... to look to You and be radiant.”
“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise, you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.” Matthew 6:1-4
In Mark 1:41-45, after healing a man of leprosy, “Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: ‘See that you don’t tell this to anyone.’” Jesus did not do miracles to impress people, He did them to help them because He loved them.
Jesus is still doing miracles in secret. There have been numerous times in my life when I prayed and He answered my prayer, but I did not notice it until days and in some cases years later.
Doing charitable deeds to gain attention for one’s self is not about love of God or others. Jesus said that the Heavenly Father rewards openly those who do their charitable deeds in secret.
“Heavenly Father, please fill us afresh with Your Holy Spirit so Your love leads our deeds.”
“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.” Matthew 6:5-7
Luke 5:16 says that Jesus “often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed. Mark 1:35 says, “In the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.” Jesus preferred closeness with the Father over public attention.
When we pray in secret, we demonstrate that we believe that God exists, that He listens and that He answers our prayers. In Luke 18:8, Jesus asked, “When the Son of Man comes, shall He find faith on the earth?” Faith in Him is the fruit that the Lord wants to harvest.
Jesus said not to pray using vain repetitions as though our personal vanity will gain God’s favor. God knows our thoughts. He meets many of our needs before we even ask Him to do so, so why would He need us to repeat a particular petition over and over again. It is better to ask and then, thank Him for hearing and answering our prayer in advance.
Jesus modeled for us short prayers. In John 11:41-42, before He resurrected Lazarus from the dead, He prayed, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” In Matthew 15:36, before He multiplied seven loaves and two fish to feed a hungry multitude, He simply, “gave thanks” to God His Father.
The Lord tells us In Hebrews 11:6 that the key element of prayer is faith in God. “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
“Therefore, do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.’” Matthew 6:8-13
“Our Father in heaven” is the One to whom we pray. He knows our needs. He is not an absent or neglectful Father. He is watching over us and enjoys helping us.
God’s Name is hallowed or sanctified, but we ask that His would hallow it. That we would love the Lord our God with all our hearts, minds, souls and strength, so much that His Name would be like honey on our lips.
In regards to the petition, “Hallowed be the Your Name,” Luther wrote, “God’s name is certainly holy in itself, but we pray in this petition that it may be kept holy among us also. God’s Name is kept holy when the Word of God is taught in its truth and purity, and we, as the children of God, also lead holy lives according to it. “Help us to do this, dear Father in heaven!”
In regards to the petition, “Your kingdom come,” Luther wrote, “The kingdom of God certainly comes by itself without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may come to us also. God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead godly lives here in time and there in eternity.
In regards to the petition, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” Luther wrote, “The good and gracious will of God is done even without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also. God’s will is done when He breaks and hinders every evil plan and purpose of the devil, the world, and our sinful nature, which do not want us to hallow God’s Name or let His kingdom come; and when He strengthens and keeps us firm in His Word and faith until we die.”
In regards to the petition, “Give us this day our daily bread,” Luther wrote, “God certainly gives daily bread to everyone without our prayers, even to all evil people, but we pray in this petition that God would lead us to realize this and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving.”
We ask our Father to forgive our debts as we forgive others. Daily we breathe God’s air and walk on His earth. Our bodies, souls and everything around us were created by God. We owe God a debt to big to repay. Thus, we should forgive others the debts that are too big for them to repay.
In regards to the petition, “And lead us not into temptation,” Luther wrote, “God tempts no one. We pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us so that the devil, the world, and our sinful nature may not deceive us or mislead us into false belief, despair, and other great shame and vice. Although we are attacked by these things, we pray that we may finally overcome them and win the victory.” And I add, “By His grace!”
For, “Deliver us from evil,” Luther wrote, “We pray in this petition, in summary, that our Father in heaven would rescue us from every evil of body and soul, possessions and reputation, and finally, when our last hour comes, give us a blessed end, and graciously take us from this valley of sorrow to Himself in heaven.”
At the beginning of our prayer time, we stated who we were praying to and at the end we acknowledge to whom belongs the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever.
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:14-15
There is absolutely no other way to get to heaven apart from God’s forgiveness. Thus, we also need, in accordance with the words of Jesus, to forgive those who have transgressed against us. Forgiveness is good for us and for those who have sinned against us.
In Luke 23:34, Jesus forgave those who crucified Him. He said, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”
Acts 7:59-60 says, “They stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not charge them with this sin.’” Stephen forgave his murderers.
“Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” Matthew 6:16-18
In Matthew 4:2, Jesus was alone and in a wilderness when He fasted for forty days and nights.
Fasting in secret is a statement of faith to the Heavenly Father that we know He responds generously with those who deny themselves for the sake of His kingdom’s glory.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21
Some of the treasures of heaven are God’s felt presence with us wherever we go. His love! His joy! His peace! Revelations from His Word about Him, about ourselves and about the world.
I have experienced losses of possessions and of loved ones, and God’s grace filled the void.
“The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” Matthew 6:22-23
A soul that is filled with God’s light shines His blessings to those around it. The light originates with God. It is from God above. Ephesians 5:8 says, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.” 1 Thessalonians 5:5 says, “You are all sons of the light and sons of the day; we do not belong to the night or to the darkness.”
A soul that is filled with darkness, tends to absorb good things and convert them into darkness. Titus 1:15 says, “To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted.”
“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24
Jesus did not give to material possessions the glory that His Heavenly Father deserved. In John 4:34, Jesus told His disciples, “My food is to do the will of the one who sent Me and to complete His work.” In Luke 9:58, He told a would-be follower, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” In Matthew 26:38, Jesus told His disciples, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death.” In Matthew 26:39, He fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” Jesus served God not things.
1 Peter 4:19 says, “Let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.”
“Therefore, I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you, by worrying, can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” Matthew 6:25-30
Here, our Lord Jesus assures us that people are more valuable to God than birds and flowers. Some people may love their pets and gardens more than anything else but God is not that way. He made clothes for Adam and Eve after they sinned. Wars and nuclear testing have done great harm to the environment, but God is still managing to meet our needs. Our Lord Jesus urges us to keep our faith in God’s faithfulness strong.
“Therefore, do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:31-34
Our Lord Jesus urges us to keep our eyes on God’s kingdom and His righteousness. God is well aware of our bodily needs. He ensures that birds and flowers are supplied with what they need and He promises to do the same for us. He doesn’t want us to be weighed down with concerns about survival.
In John 10:10, our Lord Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” 2 Corinthians 8:9 says, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” In Luke 23:43, Jesus told the believing thief next to Him on a cross, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
God’s plans for us are out of this world. “Father, thank You for helping us to keep our eyes on You and on Your kingdom! You are the treasure that we seek.”
“Please lead me Lord Jesus to focus on Your light. Please help me to do as David wrote in Psalm 34:5... to look to You and be radiant.”
“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise, you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.” Matthew 6:1-4
In Mark 1:41-45, after healing a man of leprosy, “Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: ‘See that you don’t tell this to anyone.’” Jesus did not do miracles to impress people, He did them to help them because He loved them.
Jesus is still doing miracles in secret. There have been numerous times in my life when I prayed and He answered my prayer, but I did not notice it until days and in some cases years later.
Doing charitable deeds to gain attention for one’s self is not about love of God or others. Jesus said that the Heavenly Father rewards openly those who do their charitable deeds in secret.
“Heavenly Father, please fill us afresh with Your Holy Spirit so Your love leads our deeds.”
“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.” Matthew 6:5-7
Luke 5:16 says that Jesus “often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed. Mark 1:35 says, “In the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.” Jesus preferred closeness with the Father over public attention.
When we pray in secret, we demonstrate that we believe that God exists, that He listens and that He answers our prayers. In Luke 18:8, Jesus asked, “When the Son of Man comes, shall He find faith on the earth?” Faith in Him is the fruit that the Lord wants to harvest.
Jesus said not to pray using vain repetitions as though our personal vanity will gain God’s favor. God knows our thoughts. He meets many of our needs before we even ask Him to do so, so why would He need us to repeat a particular petition over and over again. It is better to ask and then, thank Him for hearing and answering our prayer in advance.
Jesus modeled for us short prayers. In John 11:41-42, before He resurrected Lazarus from the dead, He prayed, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” In Matthew 15:36, before He multiplied seven loaves and two fish to feed a hungry multitude, He simply, “gave thanks” to God His Father.
The Lord tells us In Hebrews 11:6 that the key element of prayer is faith in God. “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
“Therefore, do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.’” Matthew 6:8-13
“Our Father in heaven” is the One to whom we pray. He knows our needs. He is not an absent or neglectful Father. He is watching over us and enjoys helping us.
God’s Name is hallowed or sanctified, but we ask that His would hallow it. That we would love the Lord our God with all our hearts, minds, souls and strength, so much that His Name would be like honey on our lips.
In regards to the petition, “Hallowed be the Your Name,” Luther wrote, “God’s name is certainly holy in itself, but we pray in this petition that it may be kept holy among us also. God’s Name is kept holy when the Word of God is taught in its truth and purity, and we, as the children of God, also lead holy lives according to it. “Help us to do this, dear Father in heaven!”
In regards to the petition, “Your kingdom come,” Luther wrote, “The kingdom of God certainly comes by itself without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may come to us also. God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead godly lives here in time and there in eternity.
In regards to the petition, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” Luther wrote, “The good and gracious will of God is done even without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also. God’s will is done when He breaks and hinders every evil plan and purpose of the devil, the world, and our sinful nature, which do not want us to hallow God’s Name or let His kingdom come; and when He strengthens and keeps us firm in His Word and faith until we die.”
In regards to the petition, “Give us this day our daily bread,” Luther wrote, “God certainly gives daily bread to everyone without our prayers, even to all evil people, but we pray in this petition that God would lead us to realize this and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving.”
We ask our Father to forgive our debts as we forgive others. Daily we breathe God’s air and walk on His earth. Our bodies, souls and everything around us were created by God. We owe God a debt to big to repay. Thus, we should forgive others the debts that are too big for them to repay.
In regards to the petition, “And lead us not into temptation,” Luther wrote, “God tempts no one. We pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us so that the devil, the world, and our sinful nature may not deceive us or mislead us into false belief, despair, and other great shame and vice. Although we are attacked by these things, we pray that we may finally overcome them and win the victory.” And I add, “By His grace!”
For, “Deliver us from evil,” Luther wrote, “We pray in this petition, in summary, that our Father in heaven would rescue us from every evil of body and soul, possessions and reputation, and finally, when our last hour comes, give us a blessed end, and graciously take us from this valley of sorrow to Himself in heaven.”
At the beginning of our prayer time, we stated who we were praying to and at the end we acknowledge to whom belongs the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever.
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:14-15
There is absolutely no other way to get to heaven apart from God’s forgiveness. Thus, we also need, in accordance with the words of Jesus, to forgive those who have transgressed against us. Forgiveness is good for us and for those who have sinned against us.
In Luke 23:34, Jesus forgave those who crucified Him. He said, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”
Acts 7:59-60 says, “They stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not charge them with this sin.’” Stephen forgave his murderers.
“Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” Matthew 6:16-18
In Matthew 4:2, Jesus was alone and in a wilderness when He fasted for forty days and nights.
Fasting in secret is a statement of faith to the Heavenly Father that we know He responds generously with those who deny themselves for the sake of His kingdom’s glory.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21
Some of the treasures of heaven are God’s felt presence with us wherever we go. His love! His joy! His peace! Revelations from His Word about Him, about ourselves and about the world.
I have experienced losses of possessions and of loved ones, and God’s grace filled the void.
“The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” Matthew 6:22-23
A soul that is filled with God’s light shines His blessings to those around it. The light originates with God. It is from God above. Ephesians 5:8 says, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.” 1 Thessalonians 5:5 says, “You are all sons of the light and sons of the day; we do not belong to the night or to the darkness.”
A soul that is filled with darkness, tends to absorb good things and convert them into darkness. Titus 1:15 says, “To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted.”
“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24
Jesus did not give to material possessions the glory that His Heavenly Father deserved. In John 4:34, Jesus told His disciples, “My food is to do the will of the one who sent Me and to complete His work.” In Luke 9:58, He told a would-be follower, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” In Matthew 26:38, Jesus told His disciples, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death.” In Matthew 26:39, He fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” Jesus served God not things.
1 Peter 4:19 says, “Let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.”
“Therefore, I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you, by worrying, can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” Matthew 6:25-30
Here, our Lord Jesus assures us that people are more valuable to God than birds and flowers. Some people may love their pets and gardens more than anything else but God is not that way. He made clothes for Adam and Eve after they sinned. Wars and nuclear testing have done great harm to the environment, but God is still managing to meet our needs. Our Lord Jesus urges us to keep our faith in God’s faithfulness strong.
“Therefore, do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:31-34
Our Lord Jesus urges us to keep our eyes on God’s kingdom and His righteousness. God is well aware of our bodily needs. He ensures that birds and flowers are supplied with what they need and He promises to do the same for us. He doesn’t want us to be weighed down with concerns about survival.
In John 10:10, our Lord Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” 2 Corinthians 8:9 says, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” In Luke 23:43, Jesus told the believing thief next to Him on a cross, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
God’s plans for us are out of this world. “Father, thank You for helping us to keep our eyes on You and on Your kingdom! You are the treasure that we seek.”
The Heavenly Father has granted to me a wonderful relationship with Him through faith in His Son and by filling me with His Holy Spirit. I want everyone to experience God's love and salvation.
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
But I Say to You – Matthew 5:21-48
Is what I have been taught and what I have believed correct?
In Matthew 5:21-43, Jesus provides for us five “You-have-heard-that-it-was-said” statements followed by the phrase, “But I say to you.” Jesus made it clear that the correct interpretation of the God’s Word was different than what they had been hearing. Perhaps, they did not read God’s Word for themselves and therefore depended on what others said about it.
In Matthew 5:21-48, Jesus reveals the correct understanding of the sixth, seventh, ninth commandments. He makes straight their understanding of the law of retribution recorded in Exodus 21:22-27 which God made to protect pregnant women and servants from abuse. He corrects their understanding of Deuteronomy 23:3-6 which God spoke specifically against the Ammonites. God told them not to seek the peace or prosperity of the Ammonites, but He did not say to hate them. What’s more, their teachers taught them to hate all enemies.
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.” Matthew 5:21-26
William Barclay commented on the Greek word translated, “angry,” saying, “So Jesus forbids forever the anger which broods, the anger which will not forget, the anger which refuses to be pacified, the anger which seeks revenge.” [1]
William Barclay commented that “Raca is an almost untranslatable word because it describes a tone of voice more than anything else. Its whole accent is the accent of contempt…It is the word of one who despises another with an arrogant contempt.” [2]
God’s Word teaches us that we are all sinners in need of God’s grace to do and say what is right.
Jesus taught us to be reconciled with a brother, before offering a gift to God at the altar. Our service towards the Lord does not exempt us from loving our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Jesus advised us to agree with our adversary quickly. Don’t hold onto your anger, let it go. Ask him to forgive you for being angry at him and for calling him a demeaning name.
Romans 12:18 says, “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.”
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. Furthermore, it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.” Matthew 5:27-32
In Jeremiah 3:8-9 and Hosea 3:1, God connected physical adultery with spiritual adultery. Proverbs 22:14 says, “The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit. He who is abhorred by the Lord will fall there.” Along city streets in Hong Kong, I noticed idols by the entrances of brothels. I noted that spiritual adultery manifests itself in the physical realm.
Did Jesus speak strongly against spiritual adultery? Yes, He said that if your right eye or hand causes you to sin, remove them. “It is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.” Perhaps, it would be good idea to keep a picture of hell’s fire next to the TV remote or the computer screen to be reminded that God condemns lustful thoughts. Pondering them is playing with fire... an eternity in the lake of fire from which there is no escape.
Donald A. Carson wrote, “Imagination is a God-given gift; but if it is fed dirt by the eye, it will be dirty. All sin, not the least sexual sin, begins with the imagination. Therefore what feeds the imagination is of maximum importance in the pursuit of kingdom righteousness.” [3]
Psalm 119:9 says, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By taking heed according to Your Word.” Or as Jesus said in John 15:4, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” When we abide in Jesus, He occupies our eyes and heart with that which is best for us.
Jesus segways from the topic of adultery to divorce. In Jeremiah 3:8, God gave Judah a certificate of divorce. Judah had played the harlot with many lovers according to Jeremiah 3:1. Even so, God urged the people of Judah to return to Him. In the Book of Hosea, God had Hosea marry an unfaithful woman to model for Israel His deep love for them despite the fact that they had continuously betrayed His trust.
Jesus urged husbands to remain faithful to their wives except if they had committed physical adultery. This principle applies to wives toward their husbands as well. God faithfully upholds covenants that He makes. He has great delight in seeing couples reconciled with each other.
“Again, you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.” Matthew 5:33-37
“Having to swear or make oaths betrays the weakness of your word. It demonstrates that there is not enough weight in your own character to confirm your words. How much better it is to let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ be ‘No.’” [4] Jesus emphasized building a trustworthy reputation.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.” Matthew 5:38-42
The eye for eye tooth for tooth quote is from Exodus 21:22-27. God made this law out of love to protect pregnant women and servants from abuse.
Jesus Messiah exemplified for us a life of love, grace, and forgiveness towards others.
Everything that Jesus taught us, He modeled for us. He was slapped on the cheek. His garment was taken from Him. Jesus went the distance that the Romans demanded Him to go and He did it carrying a very heavy cross. Jesus gave to people. Such as healing their sons and daughters. I can’t recall an incident where someone asked Jesus to loan them something, but in Matthew 17:27 when Peter needed to pay His taxes, He told Peter to catch a fish and he would find sufficient money in the fish’s mouth to pay both his tax and Peter’s. We do borrow His Name when we pray for blessings from our heavenly Father.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:43-48
Jesus demonstrated for us love of His enemies. In John 13:5, 26, Jesus knew that Judas Iscariot was about to betray Him yet treated him as a friend. He gave Judas a position of honor, likely seating him near himself at the Last Supper. Jesus washed the feet of all his disciples, including Judas. He offered him a morsel of bread at the last supper, which was a gesture of friendship. Jesus did not force Judas to be loyal or to accept forgiveness. He treated him with consistent love while allowing him to make his own tragic choice.
In Matthew 26:50, Jesus did not treat Judas as an enemy. Even after Judas arrived with the soldiers to arrest Him, Jesus called him “friend.”
Romans 5:6-8 says, “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
As I meditated on what Jesus taught me in Matthew 5:1-20, the Holy Spirit led me to pray for myself and for many others, “Heavenly Father, please help us to live by Your grace, and not in same old ways we have been living. Apart from Your grace, we will keep on being who we always have been, and I want to be more like You.” I prayed this in the Name of Jesus.
[1] Enduring Word Commentary
[2] Ibid
[3] Ibid
[4] Ibid
In Matthew 5:21-43, Jesus provides for us five “You-have-heard-that-it-was-said” statements followed by the phrase, “But I say to you.” Jesus made it clear that the correct interpretation of the God’s Word was different than what they had been hearing. Perhaps, they did not read God’s Word for themselves and therefore depended on what others said about it.
In Matthew 5:21-48, Jesus reveals the correct understanding of the sixth, seventh, ninth commandments. He makes straight their understanding of the law of retribution recorded in Exodus 21:22-27 which God made to protect pregnant women and servants from abuse. He corrects their understanding of Deuteronomy 23:3-6 which God spoke specifically against the Ammonites. God told them not to seek the peace or prosperity of the Ammonites, but He did not say to hate them. What’s more, their teachers taught them to hate all enemies.
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.” Matthew 5:21-26
William Barclay commented on the Greek word translated, “angry,” saying, “So Jesus forbids forever the anger which broods, the anger which will not forget, the anger which refuses to be pacified, the anger which seeks revenge.” [1]
William Barclay commented that “Raca is an almost untranslatable word because it describes a tone of voice more than anything else. Its whole accent is the accent of contempt…It is the word of one who despises another with an arrogant contempt.” [2]
God’s Word teaches us that we are all sinners in need of God’s grace to do and say what is right.
Jesus taught us to be reconciled with a brother, before offering a gift to God at the altar. Our service towards the Lord does not exempt us from loving our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Jesus advised us to agree with our adversary quickly. Don’t hold onto your anger, let it go. Ask him to forgive you for being angry at him and for calling him a demeaning name.
Romans 12:18 says, “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.”
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. Furthermore, it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.” Matthew 5:27-32
In Jeremiah 3:8-9 and Hosea 3:1, God connected physical adultery with spiritual adultery. Proverbs 22:14 says, “The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit. He who is abhorred by the Lord will fall there.” Along city streets in Hong Kong, I noticed idols by the entrances of brothels. I noted that spiritual adultery manifests itself in the physical realm.
Did Jesus speak strongly against spiritual adultery? Yes, He said that if your right eye or hand causes you to sin, remove them. “It is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.” Perhaps, it would be good idea to keep a picture of hell’s fire next to the TV remote or the computer screen to be reminded that God condemns lustful thoughts. Pondering them is playing with fire... an eternity in the lake of fire from which there is no escape.
Donald A. Carson wrote, “Imagination is a God-given gift; but if it is fed dirt by the eye, it will be dirty. All sin, not the least sexual sin, begins with the imagination. Therefore what feeds the imagination is of maximum importance in the pursuit of kingdom righteousness.” [3]
Psalm 119:9 says, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By taking heed according to Your Word.” Or as Jesus said in John 15:4, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” When we abide in Jesus, He occupies our eyes and heart with that which is best for us.
Jesus segways from the topic of adultery to divorce. In Jeremiah 3:8, God gave Judah a certificate of divorce. Judah had played the harlot with many lovers according to Jeremiah 3:1. Even so, God urged the people of Judah to return to Him. In the Book of Hosea, God had Hosea marry an unfaithful woman to model for Israel His deep love for them despite the fact that they had continuously betrayed His trust.
Jesus urged husbands to remain faithful to their wives except if they had committed physical adultery. This principle applies to wives toward their husbands as well. God faithfully upholds covenants that He makes. He has great delight in seeing couples reconciled with each other.
“Again, you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.” Matthew 5:33-37
“Having to swear or make oaths betrays the weakness of your word. It demonstrates that there is not enough weight in your own character to confirm your words. How much better it is to let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ be ‘No.’” [4] Jesus emphasized building a trustworthy reputation.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.” Matthew 5:38-42
The eye for eye tooth for tooth quote is from Exodus 21:22-27. God made this law out of love to protect pregnant women and servants from abuse.
Jesus Messiah exemplified for us a life of love, grace, and forgiveness towards others.
Everything that Jesus taught us, He modeled for us. He was slapped on the cheek. His garment was taken from Him. Jesus went the distance that the Romans demanded Him to go and He did it carrying a very heavy cross. Jesus gave to people. Such as healing their sons and daughters. I can’t recall an incident where someone asked Jesus to loan them something, but in Matthew 17:27 when Peter needed to pay His taxes, He told Peter to catch a fish and he would find sufficient money in the fish’s mouth to pay both his tax and Peter’s. We do borrow His Name when we pray for blessings from our heavenly Father.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:43-48
Jesus demonstrated for us love of His enemies. In John 13:5, 26, Jesus knew that Judas Iscariot was about to betray Him yet treated him as a friend. He gave Judas a position of honor, likely seating him near himself at the Last Supper. Jesus washed the feet of all his disciples, including Judas. He offered him a morsel of bread at the last supper, which was a gesture of friendship. Jesus did not force Judas to be loyal or to accept forgiveness. He treated him with consistent love while allowing him to make his own tragic choice.
In Matthew 26:50, Jesus did not treat Judas as an enemy. Even after Judas arrived with the soldiers to arrest Him, Jesus called him “friend.”
Romans 5:6-8 says, “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
As I meditated on what Jesus taught me in Matthew 5:1-20, the Holy Spirit led me to pray for myself and for many others, “Heavenly Father, please help us to live by Your grace, and not in same old ways we have been living. Apart from Your grace, we will keep on being who we always have been, and I want to be more like You.” I prayed this in the Name of Jesus.
[1] Enduring Word Commentary
[2] Ibid
[3] Ibid
[4] Ibid
The Heavenly Father has granted to me a wonderful relationship with Him through faith in His Son and by filling me with His Holy Spirit. I want everyone to experience God's love and salvation.
Monday, February 9, 2026
Glory in the Lord – Matthew 5:1-20
“And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’” Matthew 5:1-3
Jesus saw the multitudes, but He sat down with His disciples to teach them. The fact that the Scripture says that He opened His mouth to teach them likely indicates that He spoke loud enough for those surrounding them to hear as well. This scene is reminiscent of Exodus 24:9-11 when God met with Moses, Aaron, Nadab and seventy elders of Israel on Mount Sinai to give them His Word.
The ancient Greek had a word for the “working poor” and a word for the “truly poor.” Jesus used the word for the truly poor here. It indicates someone who must beg for whatever they have or get.
In 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, the Lord said to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Paul responded, writing, “Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
It is better to rely on God’s grace than to rely on our own limited abilities.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4
In Luke 19:41, Jesus, like Jeremiah, wept over Jerusalem. He had done so many miracles among them and yet they did not believe in Him. A day was coming when their city would be destroyed by the Romans. They had not listened to the previous prophets who prophesied such things to them, and they were not listening to Him. In 70 A.D., the Romans totally destroyed Jerusalem.
In John 11:32-36, Jesus wept when He saw Mary and others weeping due to the death of Lazarus. People remarked, “See how He loved him.”
Jesus mourned due to deep love for people. Deep love for people is a blessing. And the Lord does comfort us following times of mourning for others. Psalm 126:5-6 says, “Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5
In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Jesus invited the weary and burdened, not the energetic and carefree to be yokefellows with Him. He assures such people that He is gentle and humble, not harsh and arrogant. Jesus is the kind of yokefellow that is not hard and unrealistic on His partners. Prior to saying this, Jesus had said in Matthew 11:27, “No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.” Jesus is looking for yokefellows who want to know the Father as He knows the Father.
The meek will inherit the earth. The Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint) primarily uses the Greek word 𝛾𝜂̃ (gē) to translate the Hebrew word אֶרֶץ (erets) to represent the land of Israel.
In Deuteronomy 30:16, God told Israel, “I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess.”
Praise the Lord! Jesus is willing to walk with us in this humble submission to the will of the Father and ensure that we inherit the heavenly Promised Land.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6
In John 4:8, the disciples left Jesus to buy some food in the city. While they were gone, Jesus met a Samaritan woman. Jesus led her to believe that He was the Messiah. When the disciples returned from buying food, they were surprised to find Jesus speaking to the woman. In John 4:28, the woman left them to tell her village about Jesus. In John 4:31, the disciples urged Jesus to eat. In John 4:32, Jesus responded to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.” In John 4:34, Jesus added, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.”
The hunger Jesus had was for saved souls. Undoubtedly, He and all the angels of heaven were filled with joy when that woman believed in Messiah, but then, in John 4:39, “many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman.” What joy!
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” Matthew 5:7
Jesus exemplified mercy when He healed the blind eyes of two men who followed Him. They cried out to Him for mercy , and He healed them. Jesus had mercy on the Canaanite mother whose daughter was demon-possessed. She cried out to Him for mercy, and He set her daughter free. Jesus had mercy on a father of an epileptic son. The father asked the Lord for mercy. Jesus healed the father’s son instantaneously.
These were people that Jesus met while walking from one location to another. We don’t know their names. Jesus demonstrated spontaneous acts of merciful lovingkindness to strangers. He taught that we will be blessed (happy) and receive mercy from God when we are merciful.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8
From time to time, the people of Judah were blessed with kings who purged their land of idols. Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 17:6), Asa (1 Kings 15:11-13), Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:4) and Josiah (2 Kings 23; 2 Chronicles 34) cleansed the land of Judah from idols during their reigns. After they purified the land, and their hearts, they saw God move in mighty ways in their nation.
Isaiah 59:2 says, “Your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.”
1 John 1:8-9 says, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Only God can cleanse our hearts from impurities. He does so when we confess to Him that we are sinners in need of His forgiveness.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Matthew 5:9
Isaiah 9:6 names the coming Messiah as the “Prince of Peace.” Peace with God comes through His sacrifice. Jesus restores humanity's broken relationship with God, offering justification and peace. When a lost soul hears the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and believes in Him, his or her soul receives a peace that surpasses all understanding.
May the Lord Jesus grant each of us grace to lead people to faith in Jesus Christ. To be called sons and daughters of God, and to work with Him to bring more people into the family.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:10
The Book of Acts contains stories of Peter, James, John and Paul being persecuted for preaching the Gospel to lost souls. When Jesus preached the Gospel in His hometown of Nazareth, people wanted to toss Him off the side of a cliff.
When have I been persecuted for righteousness’ sake? Almost exclusively when I have been witnessing for Jesus.
Why are the righteous persecuted? Shouldn’t rulers and peoples of the nations be grateful to God for such bright shining stars in the darkness?
The good news is that Jesus Christ blesses those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake. He gives to us the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven is better than kingdoms people are fighting for here on earth.
“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:11-12
In the Old Testament, people behaved in evil ways against the prophets. In Exodus 14:11-12, people falsely accused Moses of wanting to kill them. In 1 Samuel 21-24, King Saul sought to kill David, falsely framing him as a traitor. In 1 Kings 19:1, Queen Jezebel wanted the prophet Elijah dead. In 2 Chronicles 22:10, 23:15, 24:22-25, Jehoiada the priest had saved King Joash’s life when he was a boy. Later, Joash forsook the Lord, and when Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada the priest, confronted him about it, Joash had Zechariah stoned to death. In Jeremiah 37:13-14, Jeremiah was accused of treason, and imprisoned.
What did Jesus do after people reviled, persecuted and said all kinds of evil against Him. In Luke 23:34, He prayed for them, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” What did Stephen do when unjustly sentenced to death. In Acts 7:60, “He knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not charge them with this sin.’” Jesus and Stephen are enjoying a wonderful eternity together in paradise.
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:13-16
The prophetic ministry of God’s Word is the salt and light that Jesus desires from His disciples.
In Genesis 18:32, God told Abraham that He would not destroy Sodom and Gomorrah if 10 righteous people could be found there. The 10 were not found but God rescued Lot and his family from the city.
In Jeremiah 5:1, God told Jeremiah, “Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem. See now and know and seek in her open places if you can find a man, if there is anyone who executes judgment, who seeks the truth, and I will pardon her.” He did not find that man. The city was destroyed.
We should never underestimate the value of being salt and light in the earth.
“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:17-20
Jesus told us not to think that He came to destroy the Law or Prophets. Sadly, many who claim to be followers of Christ, seldom read the Law and Prophets. Jesus said that the smallest letters of the Hebrew language will not be removed from these prophecies until they are fulfilled. He said that whoever does and teaches the Law will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
In Mark 7:9, Jesus said to the scribes and Pharisees, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.” In Matthew 15:6, Jesus said to them, “Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.”
Those who skillfully poison God’s Word with false teaching are more dangerous than those who outright oppose it. Pagans proclaim their opposition to faith in Christ, whereas false prophets claim to be of Christ while stealthily sabotaging and destroying their followers’ faith in Christ.
We need a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ to exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees.
In Philippians 3:5, Paul wrote of being “a Hebrew of Hebrews, concerning the Law, a Pharisee.” But then, in Philippians 3:8-9, he wrote, “I count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.”
Paul forsook pride in his former life as a Pharisee. Pharisees were professional imposters. They were self-performance oriented. Paul gained his righteous standing with God through faith in the shed blood of Christ which had washed His sins away. Jesus transformed Paul into His likeness by the power of His indwelling Holy Spirit. Paul’s righteousness was by God’s grace, and not by works which he had done.
In whom did Paul boast? In Galatians 6:14, Paul wrote, “God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” In 1 Corinthians 1:31, he wrote, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.” Amen.
The “blessed” in the beatitudes are those who know Christ and walk with Him in His ways.
[1] Abridged: “Dictionaries – Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology – Meekness”
Jesus saw the multitudes, but He sat down with His disciples to teach them. The fact that the Scripture says that He opened His mouth to teach them likely indicates that He spoke loud enough for those surrounding them to hear as well. This scene is reminiscent of Exodus 24:9-11 when God met with Moses, Aaron, Nadab and seventy elders of Israel on Mount Sinai to give them His Word.
The ancient Greek had a word for the “working poor” and a word for the “truly poor.” Jesus used the word for the truly poor here. It indicates someone who must beg for whatever they have or get.
In 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, the Lord said to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Paul responded, writing, “Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
It is better to rely on God’s grace than to rely on our own limited abilities.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4
In Luke 19:41, Jesus, like Jeremiah, wept over Jerusalem. He had done so many miracles among them and yet they did not believe in Him. A day was coming when their city would be destroyed by the Romans. They had not listened to the previous prophets who prophesied such things to them, and they were not listening to Him. In 70 A.D., the Romans totally destroyed Jerusalem.
In John 11:32-36, Jesus wept when He saw Mary and others weeping due to the death of Lazarus. People remarked, “See how He loved him.”
Jesus mourned due to deep love for people. Deep love for people is a blessing. And the Lord does comfort us following times of mourning for others. Psalm 126:5-6 says, “Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5
In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Jesus invited the weary and burdened, not the energetic and carefree to be yokefellows with Him. He assures such people that He is gentle and humble, not harsh and arrogant. Jesus is the kind of yokefellow that is not hard and unrealistic on His partners. Prior to saying this, Jesus had said in Matthew 11:27, “No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.” Jesus is looking for yokefellows who want to know the Father as He knows the Father.
The meek will inherit the earth. The Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint) primarily uses the Greek word 𝛾𝜂̃ (gē) to translate the Hebrew word אֶרֶץ (erets) to represent the land of Israel.
In Deuteronomy 30:16, God told Israel, “I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess.”
Praise the Lord! Jesus is willing to walk with us in this humble submission to the will of the Father and ensure that we inherit the heavenly Promised Land.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6
In John 4:8, the disciples left Jesus to buy some food in the city. While they were gone, Jesus met a Samaritan woman. Jesus led her to believe that He was the Messiah. When the disciples returned from buying food, they were surprised to find Jesus speaking to the woman. In John 4:28, the woman left them to tell her village about Jesus. In John 4:31, the disciples urged Jesus to eat. In John 4:32, Jesus responded to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.” In John 4:34, Jesus added, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.”
The hunger Jesus had was for saved souls. Undoubtedly, He and all the angels of heaven were filled with joy when that woman believed in Messiah, but then, in John 4:39, “many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman.” What joy!
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” Matthew 5:7
Jesus exemplified mercy when He healed the blind eyes of two men who followed Him. They cried out to Him for mercy , and He healed them. Jesus had mercy on the Canaanite mother whose daughter was demon-possessed. She cried out to Him for mercy, and He set her daughter free. Jesus had mercy on a father of an epileptic son. The father asked the Lord for mercy. Jesus healed the father’s son instantaneously.
These were people that Jesus met while walking from one location to another. We don’t know their names. Jesus demonstrated spontaneous acts of merciful lovingkindness to strangers. He taught that we will be blessed (happy) and receive mercy from God when we are merciful.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8
From time to time, the people of Judah were blessed with kings who purged their land of idols. Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 17:6), Asa (1 Kings 15:11-13), Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:4) and Josiah (2 Kings 23; 2 Chronicles 34) cleansed the land of Judah from idols during their reigns. After they purified the land, and their hearts, they saw God move in mighty ways in their nation.
Isaiah 59:2 says, “Your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.”
1 John 1:8-9 says, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Only God can cleanse our hearts from impurities. He does so when we confess to Him that we are sinners in need of His forgiveness.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Matthew 5:9
Isaiah 9:6 names the coming Messiah as the “Prince of Peace.” Peace with God comes through His sacrifice. Jesus restores humanity's broken relationship with God, offering justification and peace. When a lost soul hears the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and believes in Him, his or her soul receives a peace that surpasses all understanding.
May the Lord Jesus grant each of us grace to lead people to faith in Jesus Christ. To be called sons and daughters of God, and to work with Him to bring more people into the family.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:10
The Book of Acts contains stories of Peter, James, John and Paul being persecuted for preaching the Gospel to lost souls. When Jesus preached the Gospel in His hometown of Nazareth, people wanted to toss Him off the side of a cliff.
When have I been persecuted for righteousness’ sake? Almost exclusively when I have been witnessing for Jesus.
Why are the righteous persecuted? Shouldn’t rulers and peoples of the nations be grateful to God for such bright shining stars in the darkness?
The good news is that Jesus Christ blesses those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake. He gives to us the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven is better than kingdoms people are fighting for here on earth.
“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:11-12
In the Old Testament, people behaved in evil ways against the prophets. In Exodus 14:11-12, people falsely accused Moses of wanting to kill them. In 1 Samuel 21-24, King Saul sought to kill David, falsely framing him as a traitor. In 1 Kings 19:1, Queen Jezebel wanted the prophet Elijah dead. In 2 Chronicles 22:10, 23:15, 24:22-25, Jehoiada the priest had saved King Joash’s life when he was a boy. Later, Joash forsook the Lord, and when Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada the priest, confronted him about it, Joash had Zechariah stoned to death. In Jeremiah 37:13-14, Jeremiah was accused of treason, and imprisoned.
What did Jesus do after people reviled, persecuted and said all kinds of evil against Him. In Luke 23:34, He prayed for them, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” What did Stephen do when unjustly sentenced to death. In Acts 7:60, “He knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not charge them with this sin.’” Jesus and Stephen are enjoying a wonderful eternity together in paradise.
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:13-16
The prophetic ministry of God’s Word is the salt and light that Jesus desires from His disciples.
In Genesis 18:32, God told Abraham that He would not destroy Sodom and Gomorrah if 10 righteous people could be found there. The 10 were not found but God rescued Lot and his family from the city.
In Jeremiah 5:1, God told Jeremiah, “Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem. See now and know and seek in her open places if you can find a man, if there is anyone who executes judgment, who seeks the truth, and I will pardon her.” He did not find that man. The city was destroyed.
We should never underestimate the value of being salt and light in the earth.
“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:17-20
Jesus told us not to think that He came to destroy the Law or Prophets. Sadly, many who claim to be followers of Christ, seldom read the Law and Prophets. Jesus said that the smallest letters of the Hebrew language will not be removed from these prophecies until they are fulfilled. He said that whoever does and teaches the Law will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
In Mark 7:9, Jesus said to the scribes and Pharisees, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.” In Matthew 15:6, Jesus said to them, “Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.”
Those who skillfully poison God’s Word with false teaching are more dangerous than those who outright oppose it. Pagans proclaim their opposition to faith in Christ, whereas false prophets claim to be of Christ while stealthily sabotaging and destroying their followers’ faith in Christ.
We need a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ to exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees.
In Philippians 3:5, Paul wrote of being “a Hebrew of Hebrews, concerning the Law, a Pharisee.” But then, in Philippians 3:8-9, he wrote, “I count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.”
Paul forsook pride in his former life as a Pharisee. Pharisees were professional imposters. They were self-performance oriented. Paul gained his righteous standing with God through faith in the shed blood of Christ which had washed His sins away. Jesus transformed Paul into His likeness by the power of His indwelling Holy Spirit. Paul’s righteousness was by God’s grace, and not by works which he had done.
In whom did Paul boast? In Galatians 6:14, Paul wrote, “God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” In 1 Corinthians 1:31, he wrote, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.” Amen.
The “blessed” in the beatitudes are those who know Christ and walk with Him in His ways.
[1] Abridged: “Dictionaries – Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology – Meekness”
The Heavenly Father has granted to me a wonderful relationship with Him through faith in His Son and by filling me with His Holy Spirit. I want everyone to experience God's love and salvation.
Sunday, February 8, 2026
Jesus the Son of God – Matthew 4
Twice, the devil tempted Jesus to do something “IF” He was the “Son of God?” Jesus was and is the Son of God. Did He need to prove His identity to the devil? No. The devil knew who He was.
In Matthew 8:28-29, Jesus met two demon-possessed men. They cried-out, saying, “What do we have to do with You, Son of God? Did You come here to torment us before the time?”
The devil knew who he was dealing with Jesus the Son of God.
“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted 40 days and 40 nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, ‘If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.’ But He answered and said, ‘It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:1-3
Jesus Messiah is the Son of God! He passed the test the human race failed.
Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden with ample food when tested by the devil. The devil quickly broke down their resistance. Jesus was in a wilderness. He had not ate in 40 days. He was extremely hungry. The devil tempted Jesus to turn stones into bread. This would have alleviated His hunger pains. Bread would have tasted good. Didn’t God make bread for the Israelites in the wilderness?
Jesus did not act on the devil’s words. In John 5:30 Jesus said, “The Son can do nothing of His own accord, but only what He sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.” In John 5:30, Jesus said, “I can do nothing on My own. As I hear, I judge, and My judgment is just, because I seek not My own will but the will of Him who sent Me.” In John 12:50, Jesus said, “So whatever I say is just what the Father has told Me to say.”
In Deuteronomy 5:32 God told Israel, “Be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you. Do not turn aside to the right or to the left.”
Jesus did not turn to the right or to the left of God’s commands. His mission was to live a sinless life and to give His life as a ransom for us.
“It isn’t that Jesus refused supernatural help in feeding Himself. He was more than happy to eat what the angels brought to Him when the time of testing was over. It wasn’t a matter of refusing supernatural help. It was a matter of submitting to His Father’s timing and will in all things.” [1]
Jesus did not need to prove His worth. Neither do we! Our worth is found in the Word of God. The Bible says that God created us in His image. He so loved us that He sent His only begotten Son into the world that if we believed in Him we would not perish but have everlasting life.
“Jesus endured temptation both so that He could identify with us, and to demonstrate His own holy, sinless character.” [2]
By way of example, Jesus taught us to: Know the Word of God well, and to be led by God’s Holy Spirit.
“Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, ‘If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: He shall give His angels charge over you, and In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ Jesus said to him, ‘It is written again, You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’” Matthew 4:5-7
Jesus is the Son of God. To act on the devil’s temptation would be to act on a doubt, and not on reality. The devil tempted Jesus to take a risk. To gamble! To act independently of God and believe that everything would be okay... if You are the Son of God.
The correct response was to not to act on a doubt. The correct response was not to gamble. Jesus did not presume on God’s protection if He willfully acted independently of God.
In Jeremiah 7:8-11, God condemned the lie that people could willfully sin against Him and He would always deliver them. “Behold, you trust in lying words that cannot profit. Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods whom you do not know, and then come and stand before Me in this house which is called by My Name, and say, ‘We are delivered to do all these abominations?’ Has this house, which is called by My Name, become a den of thieves in your eyes? Behold, I, even I, have seen it, says the Lord.”
“Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, ‘All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! For it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.” Matthew 4:8-11
The devil tempted Jesus to commit idolatry. From the time of King Solomon until the time of the Babylonian captivity, Israel experienced many humiliating losses due to the sin of idolatry. They built altars to idols in high places (mountains) and bowed down to them and worshipped them. They even sacrificed their children to their idols during extended years of time in their history.
In Matthew 22:37-38, Jesus taught, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment.” Jesus was not about to take the honor and love that belonged to God alone and give it to the devil.
Worship God and worship Him only!
God is eternal. The devil is temporary.
In John 8:44, Jesus said the devil “was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”
The majority of addicts and alcoholics that I have listened to have cited a lack of meaningful relationships, or a loss of a meaningful relationship as the starting point from which their substance abuse began.
It is impossible to enjoy healthy relationships with God and people when the devil has you captive to serving his will. He tells people to be proud, perverse, vulgar, idolatrous, bitter, a liar, a deceiver, a thief, a hater, and to be in solidarity with those who stay far from God.
In Mark 8:36, Jesus asked, “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” To have the whole world but lack love for God and love for people is poverty.
The devil attacks our ego to lure us away from the life of God.
Jesus said, “Worship the Lord our God, and serve Him only.”
After Jesus told Satan to go away, the devil left Him, and angels came and ministered to Him. Yes, God did “give His angels” in due season to support Jesus.
“Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee. And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: ‘The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles: the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.’ From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” Matthew 4:12-17
Jesus did not withdraw from ministry when the government arrested a fellow servant of God. He went to Capernaum.
The people in Capernaum loved darkness. They did not hide themselves under the shadow of God’s loving wing. No, they sat under the shadow of death. A horrible place to rest. They had a highly inflated opinion of themselves. In Matthew 11:23-24, Jesus said of them, “Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.”
Jesus gave the people of Capernaum the opportunity to see the light. In Capernaum, Jesus casted out demons. He healed Peter's mother-in-law, a paralytic, a centurion’s servant, a woman with an incurable health crisis and in Capernaum Jesus resurrected the daughter of Jairus from the dead. In Capernaum, Jesus taught people that He was the “Bread of Life.” In Capernaum, Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James, John, and Matthew to be His disciples.
“And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ They immediately left their nets and followed Him. Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed Him.” Matthew 4:18-22
We should not assume that cities which are infamous for being evil are not worth the Lord’s time and attention. Remember what happened when Jonah preached God’s Word in Ninevah! They fasted, repented and God forgave them. Jesus found five of His twelve outstanding disciples in Capernaum. Later, in Galatians 2:9, Paul wrote of James, Peter, and John as being pillars of the Church. Pillars are able to hold up under very heavy loads. Jesus found them in Capernaum. Not everyone in the darkness wants to stay there.
In Acts 14:19, when Paul was preaching in Lystra, Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there. They persuaded a mob to stone Paul and drag him out of the city, supposing he was dead. Paul survived, and later, in Acts 16:1, he returned to Lystra. Would you return to a town that previously stoned you and nearly killed you? Paul did, and this time, he met Timothy. Timothy became like a son to Paul and later Timothy became the pastor of the Church in Ephesus.
“And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the Gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. Great multitudes followed Him—from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.” Matthew 4:23-25
Jesus guest spoke at many synagogues. Synagogues served as religious gathering places as churches do for us Christians nowadays. He preached the Gospel which means good news. He preached the Good News of God’s Kingdom. Not just the bad news of humankind’s kingdom! God’s kingdom was near to them because Jesus was near to them. Jesus is the door to heaven. Those who believe in Jesus enter God’s kingdom.
Jesus performed signs of physical and spiritual healing. Diseases disappeared! Demons departed! Road signs help us to know where we are and where we need to go. Jesus let His audiences know with many confirmations that He was the Son of God and the Savior of the world. They only needed to believe in Him to be saved.
Many people came to hear Jesus speak. They came from great distances to hear His messages.
The Lord leads me daily to pray over enlarged maps of all the countries of the earth that the people of all nations would have faith in Jesus the Son of God. That we would all have ears to hear and eyes to see that Jesus is who He said that He is.
I pray that unbelief will be shattered as when an iron rod strikes a vessel of clay. And that criminal networks of corruption will collapse as the temple of Dagon collapsed when Samson by the Spirit of the Lord pushed over the pillars on which it rested. I pray that God will raise up righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, for that, wrote Paul, is the Kingdom of God. The Spirit also leads me to pray for laborers for the harvest. Jesus asked us to pray for laborers because the harvest is great but the workers are few. [3]
Please pray for the souls who have yet to hear the Gospel. Please pray that they will hear, know and receive Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and their Savior.
[1] Enduring Word Commentary
[2] Ibid
[3] Psalm 2:9; Revelation 2:27; Judges 16:28-30; Romans 14:17; Matthew 9:37-38
In Matthew 8:28-29, Jesus met two demon-possessed men. They cried-out, saying, “What do we have to do with You, Son of God? Did You come here to torment us before the time?”
The devil knew who he was dealing with Jesus the Son of God.
“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted 40 days and 40 nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, ‘If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.’ But He answered and said, ‘It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:1-3
Jesus Messiah is the Son of God! He passed the test the human race failed.
Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden with ample food when tested by the devil. The devil quickly broke down their resistance. Jesus was in a wilderness. He had not ate in 40 days. He was extremely hungry. The devil tempted Jesus to turn stones into bread. This would have alleviated His hunger pains. Bread would have tasted good. Didn’t God make bread for the Israelites in the wilderness?
Jesus did not act on the devil’s words. In John 5:30 Jesus said, “The Son can do nothing of His own accord, but only what He sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.” In John 5:30, Jesus said, “I can do nothing on My own. As I hear, I judge, and My judgment is just, because I seek not My own will but the will of Him who sent Me.” In John 12:50, Jesus said, “So whatever I say is just what the Father has told Me to say.”
In Deuteronomy 5:32 God told Israel, “Be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you. Do not turn aside to the right or to the left.”
Jesus did not turn to the right or to the left of God’s commands. His mission was to live a sinless life and to give His life as a ransom for us.
“It isn’t that Jesus refused supernatural help in feeding Himself. He was more than happy to eat what the angels brought to Him when the time of testing was over. It wasn’t a matter of refusing supernatural help. It was a matter of submitting to His Father’s timing and will in all things.” [1]
Jesus did not need to prove His worth. Neither do we! Our worth is found in the Word of God. The Bible says that God created us in His image. He so loved us that He sent His only begotten Son into the world that if we believed in Him we would not perish but have everlasting life.
“Jesus endured temptation both so that He could identify with us, and to demonstrate His own holy, sinless character.” [2]
By way of example, Jesus taught us to: Know the Word of God well, and to be led by God’s Holy Spirit.
“Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, ‘If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: He shall give His angels charge over you, and In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ Jesus said to him, ‘It is written again, You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’” Matthew 4:5-7
Jesus is the Son of God. To act on the devil’s temptation would be to act on a doubt, and not on reality. The devil tempted Jesus to take a risk. To gamble! To act independently of God and believe that everything would be okay... if You are the Son of God.
The correct response was to not to act on a doubt. The correct response was not to gamble. Jesus did not presume on God’s protection if He willfully acted independently of God.
In Jeremiah 7:8-11, God condemned the lie that people could willfully sin against Him and He would always deliver them. “Behold, you trust in lying words that cannot profit. Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods whom you do not know, and then come and stand before Me in this house which is called by My Name, and say, ‘We are delivered to do all these abominations?’ Has this house, which is called by My Name, become a den of thieves in your eyes? Behold, I, even I, have seen it, says the Lord.”
“Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, ‘All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! For it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.” Matthew 4:8-11
The devil tempted Jesus to commit idolatry. From the time of King Solomon until the time of the Babylonian captivity, Israel experienced many humiliating losses due to the sin of idolatry. They built altars to idols in high places (mountains) and bowed down to them and worshipped them. They even sacrificed their children to their idols during extended years of time in their history.
In Matthew 22:37-38, Jesus taught, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment.” Jesus was not about to take the honor and love that belonged to God alone and give it to the devil.
Worship God and worship Him only!
God is eternal. The devil is temporary.
In John 8:44, Jesus said the devil “was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”
The majority of addicts and alcoholics that I have listened to have cited a lack of meaningful relationships, or a loss of a meaningful relationship as the starting point from which their substance abuse began.
It is impossible to enjoy healthy relationships with God and people when the devil has you captive to serving his will. He tells people to be proud, perverse, vulgar, idolatrous, bitter, a liar, a deceiver, a thief, a hater, and to be in solidarity with those who stay far from God.
1 John 4:8 says, “God is love.” 1 John 4:18-19 says, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear... We love Him because He first loved us.” Expressions of love originate with God. Having God’s love flow in and through you yields great joy and peace!
In Mark 8:36, Jesus asked, “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” To have the whole world but lack love for God and love for people is poverty.
The devil attacks our ego to lure us away from the life of God.
Jesus said, “Worship the Lord our God, and serve Him only.”
After Jesus told Satan to go away, the devil left Him, and angels came and ministered to Him. Yes, God did “give His angels” in due season to support Jesus.
“Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee. And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: ‘The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles: the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.’ From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” Matthew 4:12-17
Jesus did not withdraw from ministry when the government arrested a fellow servant of God. He went to Capernaum.
The people in Capernaum loved darkness. They did not hide themselves under the shadow of God’s loving wing. No, they sat under the shadow of death. A horrible place to rest. They had a highly inflated opinion of themselves. In Matthew 11:23-24, Jesus said of them, “Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.”
Jesus gave the people of Capernaum the opportunity to see the light. In Capernaum, Jesus casted out demons. He healed Peter's mother-in-law, a paralytic, a centurion’s servant, a woman with an incurable health crisis and in Capernaum Jesus resurrected the daughter of Jairus from the dead. In Capernaum, Jesus taught people that He was the “Bread of Life.” In Capernaum, Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James, John, and Matthew to be His disciples.
“And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ They immediately left their nets and followed Him. Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed Him.” Matthew 4:18-22
We should not assume that cities which are infamous for being evil are not worth the Lord’s time and attention. Remember what happened when Jonah preached God’s Word in Ninevah! They fasted, repented and God forgave them. Jesus found five of His twelve outstanding disciples in Capernaum. Later, in Galatians 2:9, Paul wrote of James, Peter, and John as being pillars of the Church. Pillars are able to hold up under very heavy loads. Jesus found them in Capernaum. Not everyone in the darkness wants to stay there.
In Acts 14:19, when Paul was preaching in Lystra, Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there. They persuaded a mob to stone Paul and drag him out of the city, supposing he was dead. Paul survived, and later, in Acts 16:1, he returned to Lystra. Would you return to a town that previously stoned you and nearly killed you? Paul did, and this time, he met Timothy. Timothy became like a son to Paul and later Timothy became the pastor of the Church in Ephesus.
“And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the Gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. Great multitudes followed Him—from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.” Matthew 4:23-25
Jesus guest spoke at many synagogues. Synagogues served as religious gathering places as churches do for us Christians nowadays. He preached the Gospel which means good news. He preached the Good News of God’s Kingdom. Not just the bad news of humankind’s kingdom! God’s kingdom was near to them because Jesus was near to them. Jesus is the door to heaven. Those who believe in Jesus enter God’s kingdom.
Jesus performed signs of physical and spiritual healing. Diseases disappeared! Demons departed! Road signs help us to know where we are and where we need to go. Jesus let His audiences know with many confirmations that He was the Son of God and the Savior of the world. They only needed to believe in Him to be saved.
Many people came to hear Jesus speak. They came from great distances to hear His messages.
The Lord leads me daily to pray over enlarged maps of all the countries of the earth that the people of all nations would have faith in Jesus the Son of God. That we would all have ears to hear and eyes to see that Jesus is who He said that He is.
I pray that unbelief will be shattered as when an iron rod strikes a vessel of clay. And that criminal networks of corruption will collapse as the temple of Dagon collapsed when Samson by the Spirit of the Lord pushed over the pillars on which it rested. I pray that God will raise up righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, for that, wrote Paul, is the Kingdom of God. The Spirit also leads me to pray for laborers for the harvest. Jesus asked us to pray for laborers because the harvest is great but the workers are few. [3]
Please pray for the souls who have yet to hear the Gospel. Please pray that they will hear, know and receive Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and their Savior.
[1] Enduring Word Commentary
[2] Ibid
[3] Psalm 2:9; Revelation 2:27; Judges 16:28-30; Romans 14:17; Matthew 9:37-38
The Heavenly Father has granted to me a wonderful relationship with Him through faith in His Son and by filling me with His Holy Spirit. I want everyone to experience God's love and salvation.
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