Category: Matthew

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 14:14-21 (day two) “…so send the crowds away, that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” Vs. 15b

This is actually a pretty practical request. The disciples were weary and not prepared to handle the crowds that were eager to see Jesus. Seeing that there was no markets or means to get food near, the disciples were convinced the best decision would be to send them back to their homes. It makes sense. The crowd would be fed, and able to sleep in their own homes. Jesus saw it differently.

Do you ever lose your sense of wonder in God to the idol of practicality? Do you make judgements about a problem solely on the basis of what will be easiest, or what is best? The disciples were right in their assessment, but they missed the God-sized opportunity to share the gospel. Don’t miss Jesus in your desire to make everything make sense.

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 12:9-13 (day seven)

“How much more valuable then is a man than a sheep!”

These Pharisees would have definitely provided help to a stranded sheep on the Sabbath. Sheep were property. It would have been a personal loss for them if they had not intervened. This was the problem. They saw their stranded sheep as more valuable investments than their own people that were stranded and hurting right in front of them. Truth is, they probably enjoyed having hurting people around, because it made them feel more holy. They believed God had blessed them with health and prosperity over these others.

Then Jesus (the Good Shepherd) sees this man (one of his sheep) in need and intervenes.  Jesus gave this man more than a hand; He gave him his life back. It would have been more than a personal loss if Jesus would have let this man slip by on a mere nuance. He was able to change this man’s life expectancy and trajectory. This was a much more valuable investment!

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 12:9-13 (day six)

Of course it is not unlawful to heal on the Sabbath. Many Pharisees were so self-absorbed, and self-righteous they could not see the truth standing right in front of them. Too concerned with adding to their list of Sabbath successes, they had little time to observe the first and second greatest commandments (love God, and love your neighbor).

There is no law against loving your neighbor, doing good, healing a man’s hand, no matter the day.

The irony is, the aim of the Sabbath was always to be still and know [He] is God; to behold him, and love your neighbor. All the Pharisees were interested in doing was being still and beholding themselves.

It’s a matter of interpretation really. If your view of the Kingdom of God prohibits you from doing good for one reason or another, your interpretation is just as blind and self-absorbed as the Pharisees’.

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 12:9-13 (day five)

“But the Pharisees went out and conspired against Him, as to how they might destroy Him.”

The Pharisees witnessed a miracle. They heard prophetic authoritative teaching. They sensed wisdom, holiness, and divinity. Their hearts and souls should have been lifted and encouraged.  They should have worshipped and praised God. They should have repented for their anger and their hypocrisy. But they didn’t. They were a personal witness to the work and ministry of Jesus Christ. Yet, somehow they missed it. Made me wonder about the effects of my own perceptions and priorities. My own sin and disbelief. What have I missed?  What have we witnessed, heard, and sensed that we ignored or discounted?  Forgive our busyness.  Forgive our selfishness.  Forgive our hardened hearts. Lord open our hearts, open our eyes, open our ears, open our souls that we might see and sense more of You at work in and around our lives, that we may praise and glorify You!!

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 12:9-13 (day four)

It was a trap…an ambush!  The Jewish religious leaders were trying to catch Jesus into saying something they could use against Him.  It reminds me of Wylie Coyote trying to catch the Roadrunner.  A new plan, a new trick, a new device to help him to outsmart and catch the elusive Roadrunner…but it never worked!  Each scribe, each Pharisee, each lawyer, or each Sadducee…they all had a plan to trip Jesus up…but it never worked!  Jesus always saw through their deception and His wisdom and ability to go directly to the heart or truth of the question never failed to silence His would-be accusers.

Have you ever wondered how someone could come up with such wise responses to today’s problems?  Wisdom comes from spending time in God’s Word.  In Acts 4:13 it says, “Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.”  So you haven’t been spending time with Jesus?  Do you believe it is too late to start now?  Start now…read Scripture daily…it’s never too late to start!

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 12:9-13 (day three)

“Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”

The answer to that question is…no, if God rules the universe arbitrarily. How in the world did the Pharisees get there? The religious establishment Jesus encountered often seemed to regard the law as a set of despotic measures disconnected from any actual good for humankind. If it were God’s aim in history to keep score on humanity, such measures would be just what you could expect. The question would not be whether you seek the good of others, but whether you execute the law’s required duties—not whether you’re righteous but whether you’re right. Eventually one will necessarily value principles over people, the system over souls. If today is the Sabbath, then figuring out what a person with a disability might need plays Sabbath-keeping too close to the edge. Maybe tomorrow you can lend aid.

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 12:9-13 (day two)

Departing from there, He went into their synagogue. vs. 9

As we examine the life and ministry of Jesus one thing we should take note of is how much time he spends with people. His ministry is marked by walking, talking, and eating with people-where they are. It is a reminder to us that much, nay most, of what we are called to do happens outside the walls of our church buildings. However, I love this gem of a verse that is tucked in this miracle story. Jesus worshipped. Jesus took the time to be a part of the regular rhythm of worship that God had instructed Moses so many generations before. Worship honors God. He commands us to worship. He deserves our worship. Worship also equips us to do the things we are called to do in the world. This new year let’s be like Jesus. Let’s worship together and see how God grows our calling.

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 9:20-22(day seven)

“At once the woman was made well.”

This last phrase “was made well” comes from the Greek word sozo meaning “to save.”

This passage could read, “Immediately the woman was saved.”

The miracle here was just as much spiritual as it was physical. Her faith made her medically healed but it also eternally set her apart. Yesterday, Danny pointed us to the phrase “Daughter.” When Jesus called her His daughter, it gave her belonging. She became a daughter of the King through her faith. She suffered in isolation for 12 years, but now she belongs for eternity. Saved by grace through faith.

Jesus calls us all out of our isolation and suffering and into His family. He calls us into healing. Sometimes it is physical, but always it is spiritual. He calls us to step out in faith and trust Him. He calls us sons and daughters. He saves us by grace through faith.