Real Voices

“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 […]