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 […]
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When Celebration Meets Sacrifice
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? […]
Beyond Good and Evil
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 […]
Beyond Healing: Jesus Goes to the Root Problem
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 […]
Demons on the Run
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 […]
Following Jesus Through the Storm
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 […]
What Does it Mean to be a Disciple?
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 […]
Jesus’ Healing Touch
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 […]
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