Real Voices

Jesus taught forgiveness and reconciliation in the Lord’s Prayer And forgive us our debts,as we also have forgiven our debtors. (Matthew 6.12) He emphasized the importance of forgiveness with further words following this great prayer. He said, “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do […]

The Bible passage for today’s blog article continues Jesus’ message about the “little ones,” which is his favorite description of people who follow him. “Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven” (Matthew 18.10). […]

Just because we have an close walk with Jesus we are not immune from the desire to have positions of power. The disciples were no exception to this very human desire. At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” (Matthew 18.1). The devil took […]

Matthew records three instances when Jesus predicted what he was about to face in Jerusalem. This is the second of those three predictions. As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and on the third day […]

The men and women who followed Jesus from Galilee to Jerusalem must have had characters of great resilience and strength. They witnessed amazing events, such as the healing of the blind, the lame, and lepers being cleansed, but they also faced tremendous opposition from the religious authorities. Consider this conversation between Jesus and his disciples […]

The account of the transfiguration is sandwiched between several passages that highlight the intense difficulty Jesus would face in Jerusalem. His followers were certainly disturbed by the news of Jesus’ imminent death. They were probably puzzled by the idea that they would see him in his heavenly glory, as he told them that some would […]

The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous states that the first requirement of their program is to be convinced that any life run on self-will can hardly be a success. It teaches that we’re always in collision with something or somebody, even though our motives are good. The analogy they use is a person who acts […]

Isaiah 53 begins with these words, “Who has believed what we have heard?” The prophet proceeded to outline the characteristics of the Suffering Servant in the remainder of the chapter. No one believed that the Messiah would be a Suffering Servant characterized by Isaiah’s words. When Jesus identified himself with the Suffering Servant, his disciples […]

The passage in Matthew 16.13-20 forms a turning point in Matthew’s narrative. The disciples have gradually come to a deeper understanding of Jesus’ true nature. In this passage, Peter makes it crystal clear what they think about the One with whom they have been walking. Jesus often asked questions to draw out people’s faith and […]

One of the things I most appreciate about the Bible is how it treats the primary characters. We see Jesus’ followers, who would become the pillars of the church, flawed and at times doubtful. The way the Bible treats the heroes of the faith is dramatically different from other ancient pieces of literature. In those […]

We are at a turning point in Matthew’s account of Jesus’s ministry. At this time, the ministry to Galilee is ending, and Jesus will now turn his attention to traveling to Jerusalem, where the climactic events of his work will take place. Conflict and opposition have been part of the theme up to this point. […]

When healing missions come to impoverished nations lacking health care, the pictures show lines of people waiting to be seen by medical personnel. When Jesus went to an area populated by Gentiles, the word went out that a healer was present. Matthew’s good news account records a similar experience as that of today’s medical missions. […]

In Matthew’s Gospel, he continues to narrate Jesus’s ministry in Galilee. In this portion of his narration, Jesus travels to an area populated by the Canaanites where he meets with a woman. Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came […]

In his discussion with the Scribes and Pharisees about purity (Matthew 15.1-9), Jesus didn’t address the topic directly. Now, he does address it and emphasizes that he wants the crowd to understand very clearly what he has to say. Then he called the crowd to him and said to them, “Listen and understand: it is […]

To best understand the dispute between Jesus and religious leaders who had come to Galilee from Jerusalem, we need to consider the role of ritual purity among Jews in the first century. It is hard to overstate the importance of purity for the Pharisees. They firmly believed that to participate in the life and worship […]

One of the impressive ways we learned how authentic the Bible is, is how it treats its heroes. Heroes in ancient literature are often painted larger than life. In this short passage, we find Peter, who was the founder of the church and the most prominent figure, as impulsive, fearful, and doubtful. Peter answered him, […]

After feeding a crowd of 5000+, Jesus sent his disciples to the other side of the lake and went to a nearby mountain for a time of prayer (Matthew 14.22-23). Most of us recognize that if something’s good enough for Jesus, it ought to be good enough for us. The problem we have with spending […]

When Herod heard about Jesus, he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he has been raised from the dead, and for this reason these powers are at work in him” (Matthew 14.2). Matthew provides a flashback of events that led to John’s death at the hands of Herod. For Herod had arrested […]

Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness with all the power and glory the world has to offer. He said, “All these 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, ‘Worship the Lord your God,and serve only him.’ ” […]

During the 1970s, I served one of the poorest churches in a very small community in southwest Louisiana. No one would be so arrogant as to believe that, out of that congregation, a world-changing ministry would emerge. Even though I was impacted and blessed by my time there, no world-changing ministry arose from that congregation. […]

To best comprehend Jesus’ teachings on parables, it’s helpful to examine his dialogue preceding and following the discussion of these parables. In Chapter 11, Jesus addresses cities that have witnessed his miracles yet failed to repent. He delivers a word of judgment upon them (Matthew 11.20-24). Then, he expresses gratitude to the Heavenly Father for […]

As we study the Gospel of Matthew, it’s helpful to remember that Matthew wrote this gospel for a church that was suffering persecution and internal struggles. On one level, Jesus told the parable of the sower to remind the church that the kinds of soils mentioned in the parable represent different responses to the gospel […]

A would-be follower of Jesus wanted to be a disciple but to delay his commitment to care for his father. Jesus responded to this man and said, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead” (Matthew 8.22). On another occasion, Jesus said: “Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, […]

The best way to understand the discussion between Jesus and the Pharisees is to realize that it is connected with what has previously transpired. Jesus and the religious authorities have been arguing. Jesus healed and delivered people from demons, but the authorities were adamantly opposed to him. For some strange reason, they now ask for […]

A close friend of mine in Louisiana struggled with serious mental illness. Despite his challenges, we met often for coffee. He patiently – very patiently, in fact – taught me what carpentry skills I know. In return, I hoped to offer him some support with his mental health. One question that haunted him was whether […]

The healing of a demonized man brought two radically different responses. One came from the crowd, another from the religious authorities. Then they brought to him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and he cured him, so that the one who had been mute could speak and see. All the crowds were amazed […]

In yesterday’s blog article, I asked you to imagine that you were following Jesus through the lanes and villages of Galilee. If you were following along, you were present during Jesus’s encounter with the Pharisees on the Sabbath. In a wheat field, they argued, and Jesus angered them to the point wanting him dead by […]

Imagine that you’re part of the crowd in the northern part of Israel, Galilee, watching Jesus interact with the religious leaders. You’ve just seen Jesus say some striking things to them in a grain field. He says that he’s greater than the temple, the Son of Man, and the Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12.1-8). […]

When we last heard Jesus, He was inviting people to come to Him to find rest. Now, the scene is the day of rest, the Sabbath, and what takes place between Jesus and the religious leaders. At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath; his disciples were hungry, and they began […]

Try an experiment with me. Imagine you are burdened by life and seated alone on a park bench. Someone who you recognize to be Jesus walks up to you and says this. “Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. “Take my yoke upon […]

Matthew 11.25-30 is a capsule summary of the message of the entire Gospel. Jesus’ words came after the unbelief of the Galilean villages and their rejection of Jesus and his message (11.20-24). At that time Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise […]

In this section, the focus on Israel’s unbelief becomes sharper. The cities of Galilee are reproached for their failure to receive the message of Jesus. With the unbelief of Israel, a turning point in the story has been reached. For the first time, we encounter the fact of the failure of Jesus’ mission to Israel. […]

“This generation” is a key phrase in Matthew’s Gospel. It refers to the unbelief and rejection by the people of John and Jesus. “But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;we […]

John the Baptist played a key role in the transition from the old era, which was the Law and the Prophets, to the new era of the Kingdom of God. Three times, Jesus asked the question, “What did you go out to see?” Each question has a suggested answer posed in the form of a […]

John believed that the coming Messianic age would usher in a time of salvation for the righteous and judgment for the wicked. Some of his emphasis fell strongly on judgment. “Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down […]

The religious authorities complained that Jesus ate with tax collectors and sinners. “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” (Matthew 9.11). They were taken aback by Jesus’ behavior because eating with such people implied acceptance and friendship. The Pharisees believed that separating from sinners was the path to righteousness. On the other […]

Jesus makes it very clear that witnessing is not optional. It is a requirement for His followers. He shows the great importance of witnessing with the strongest of statements. “Everyone, therefore, who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven, but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny […]

Jesus warned His disciples that they would face opposition in their lives because they adhered to Jesus and his kingdom. As He told them about conflict, there is a crucial aspect of discipleship that he revealed. “A disciple is not above the teacher nor a slave above the master; it is enough for the disciple […]

Followers of Jesus have the best possible news the world can hear. Some people gladly receive our message, but others fiercely oppose it. Jesus warns his followers that opposition will come and he gives us ways to respond to it. “I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves, so be wise […]

One thing that fascinates me about Jesus’ followers is the vast number who remain unnamed. For instance, Matthew writes his gospel for a specific church community, yet we never encounter the names of any individual members. Jesus had a multitude of followers, but many of Jesus’ closest followers are mentioned only one time. . In […]

In Matthew 4:23-25, Matthew concludes an account of Jesus’s work by providing a summary statement of his activity in Galilee. After that summary statement, there is a time of teaching, the Sermon on the Mount, found in Matthew 5-7. Matthew 8-9 picks up more of Jesus’s activity with 10 healing and miracle accounts. This section […]

The Gospel of Matthew 8-9 recounts ten miracles where Jesus demonstrates his power to heal. Interestingly, these episodes are interspersed with accounts of spiritual blindness, not just among the religious authorities, but even among Jesus’ close followers. The following miracle, the healing of two blind men, can be interpreted on two levels. It signifies not […]

When I first started following Jesus, I believed that I had to work up my faith to some acceptable level. The two passages we’re going to see today reveal that faith is nothing more than coming to Jesus and trusting Him with our needs. A leader of the synagogue was desperate, and he had enough […]

The Gospel of Matthew demonstrates that Jesus has a different concept of righteousness than the Pharisees. He associates with tax collectors and sinners, even holding a banquet with them. Now, he comes into conflict with the disciples of John. Their question is: what is his position concerning the accepted standards of righteousness, specifically regarding fasting? […]

Much of Jesus’ ministry took place away from Jerusalem, in the Galilee region. His home base of operations was Capernaum, and this is where the calling of Matthew took place. As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax-collection station, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he […]

Several of my blog articles have noted that the issue of authority is prominent in the Gospel of Matthew. This one is no exception. This time, we find that the one who has the power to heal also has the power to attack the very root of all sickness and suffering – sin. And some […]

The person of Jesus is at the core of the next episode of his healing miracles. The demons immediately understand the true identity of Jesus and address him as the Son of God. When he came to the other side, to the region of the Gadarenes, two men possessed by demons came out of the […]

Matthew 8-9 contains 10 miracle stories. The one we’re considering today involves both a testing of Jesus’s disciples and a further demonstration of Jesus’s authority in deeds of power. The focus of this passage falls on the disciples and discipleship. And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. A windstorm suddenly arose […]

The last words of Matthew’s Gospel contain Jesus’ command to his church. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28.19-20). To effectively make disciples, we […]

An old gospel song by Wayne Watson tells the story of a battered violin at auction. Well it was battered and scared,And the auctioneer felt it was hardly worth his while,To waste much time on the old violin but he held it up with a smile,Well it sure ain’t much but it’s all we got […]