“For the kingdom of heaven is like …” begins the parable of Matthew 20:1-16. Verse 16 is key to understanding the parable: “the last will be first, and the first last.” God is debtor to no man—some who start later do more More →
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God told the priest Samuel, “Man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7) The account of the rich young man in Matthew 19:16-30 demonstrates how the Lord deals with More →
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Jesus first spoke on divorce in Matthew 5:31-32. Here in Matthew 19:1-15, is another attempt to trick Jesus regarding marriage and divorce, with three appeals. First, an appeal to traditions More →
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Elton Trueblood said, “Our faith becomes practical when it is expressed in two books: the date book and the checkbook.” Matthew 18:1-11 deals with the kind of faith that Jesus wants His followers to More →
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Matthew 17:24-27 records the temple tax event with Peter and Jesus. The focus of this narrative is verse 27: “Go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find More →
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No matter how wonderful mountaintop experiences are, the work of ministry occurs in the valley. Matthew 17:14-23 illustrates this truth. Who was Jesus referring to when He said, “O faithless and perverse More →
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In our walk with the Lord, we tend to get into ruts, to take things for granted, to lose the excitement of Jesus and the hope of eternal life. In the mountaintop event with Jesus recorded More →
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Our natural response to a situation is often diametrically opposed to what God calls for. Our human nature is bent toward sin and rebellion. Matthew 16:21-28 presents this reality in several ways. First, natural inclinations More →
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Jesus’ disciples must know the truth regarding who He is and His plan for saving mankind. They must understand the nature of His church and serve Him obediently. Matthew 16:13-20 presents three revelations More →
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Spiritual wisdom doesn’t just happen, it is gained. Matthew 16:1-12 reveals three truths as we observe the Lord’s encounter with some religious leaders and His own disciples. First, More →
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