RETIREDFAN1 Posted July 28, 2019 Share Posted July 28, 2019 Matthew 1 By: Jim Crews Matthew was also known as Levi. He was a son of Alpheus. He was a Jew by birth. He had worked as a tax collector for the Romans before being called by Jesus. Like all of the apostles, Matthew was a Galilean. The book of Matthew was written between 61 and 65, in the reign of Nero. This book was written for Hebrew readers, to show them that Jesus is the prophesied Messiah, the King of Israel Who came to set up the Kingdom of God. He records many Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah that Jesus fulfilled. Matthew 1:1 The genealogy of Jesus is given here to show that He is a descendant of David and Abraham. Matthew 1:2-6a Matthew shows the direct line from Abraham to David. Matthew 1:6b-11 Here we see the direct line from David to the last king of Judah before the Babylonian Captivity. Matthew 1:12-16 Here we see the direct line from David continues with the line from those taken to Babylon up to Joseph. Matthew 1:17 From Abraham to David were 14 generations. From David to the Babylonian Captivity were 14 generations. From Babylon to Joseph were 14 generations. Matthew 1:18-25 The birth of Jesus is recorded for us here. Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they came together she was found to be pregnant. The child was from the Holy Spirit. Joseph didn’t want to embarrass her, so he was going to divorce her quietly. As he was considering this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, telling him to marry Mary because the child was from God. He was to name the child Jesus, because He would save His people from their sins. The prophecies that this would fulfill are quoted for us. Isaiah 7:14 Isaiah 8:8,10 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel told him. He married her, but did not have marital relations until after the child was born. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RETIREDFAN1 Posted July 29, 2019 Author Share Posted July 29, 2019 Matthew 2 By: Jim Crews Matthew 2: 1 - 12 After Jesus was born, wise men came from the east to Jerusalem to see the King of the Jews. They were wise because they had evidently studied the Prophets, and when they saw His star they knew that the time had arrived and the Messiah had come into the world. They were seeking to worship Him. Herod heard this and was troubled. He assembled the chief priests and scribes and asked them where the Messiah was to be born. They told Herod the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem, then quoted the prophecy. Micah 5: 2 Herod summoned the wise men and asked them when the star had appeared. He then sent them to Bethlehem and told them to seek out the child and when they found him, to bring word back to Herod so that he too, might worship Him. They left, following the star. It came to rest over the place where Jesus was now living. They went into the house and saw Jesus with Mary. They fell down and worshipped Him. They had brought Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, so when they left they went home another way. We should note a few things from this. First, nowhere does the Scripture mention how many wise men. Nowhere does the Scripture mention they visited Jesus on the night of His birth. In fact, they didn’t visit Him in a manger, but in a house. Matthew 2: 13 - 15 After the wise men left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and warned him to go with Jesus and Mary and flee to Egypt. They were to remain in Egypt until the angel told them it was safe to return to their home. Herod was about to search for the child, seeking to destroy Him. They got up that night and fled to Egypt, staying there until the death of Herod. This fulfilled the prophecy of Hosea. Hosea 11: 1 Matthew 2: 16 - 18 Herod became furious when he saw that he’d been tricked by the wise men. He sent his troops to Bethlehem and they killed all male children under the age of 2, because that’s when the wise men had begun to see the star. This fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah. Jeremiah 31: 15 Matthew 2: 19 - 23 When Herod died, an angel of the Lord told Joseph that it was safe to return home. He returned to Israel. When Joseph heard that Archelaus was ruling in place of Herod, he was scared. He was warned in another dream to go to Galilee. He went and lived in Nazareth. This fulfilled the prophecy that said the Messiah would be a Nazarene. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RETIREDFAN1 Posted July 31, 2019 Author Share Posted July 31, 2019 Matthew 3 By: Jim Crews Matthew 3: 1 - 6 In those days, John the Baptist was preaching in the wilderness. He was preaching for the people to repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven was approaching. John is the one prophesied by Isaiah, who would come before the Messiah to prepare the way for Him. Isaiah 40: 3 John was the first true prophet of God that had been seen in over 400 years. He wore a garment made of camels hair and a leather belt. He ate locusts and wild honey. People from all over the region were coming to him to confess their sins and be baptized by him. Matthew 3: 7 - 10 When he saw many of the Sadducees and Pharisees coming to be baptized, he confronted them about their hypocrisy. He called them vipers and asked who warned them to flee from the coming wrath of God. He told them not to just assume that since they were children of Abraham that they would be safe. God could make children of Abraham from the rocks on the ground surrounding them. The axe was now at the root of the tree. This means God was preparing to avenge His prophets and loyal servants who had been killed by the Jews in the past, and then to take the kingdom from them. Matthew 3: 11 - 12 John baptized with water, but the Messiah would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. John was not even worthy to carry the sandals of the Messiah. The Messiah was coming to bring an end to the current age and usher in a New Covenant and a new age. Matthew 3: 13 - 17 Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. John didn’t want to baptize Jesus, saying that he himself needed Jesus to baptize him. Jesus told him to go ahead and baptize him. John consented, and when Jesus rose up out of the water, the Spirit of God descended on Him and a voice was heard proclaiming Jesus to be the beloved Son of God. This was in fulfillment of several prophecies. Isaiah 42: 1 Psalm 2: 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RETIREDFAN1 Posted August 1, 2019 Author Share Posted August 1, 2019 Matthew 4 By: Jim Crews Matthew 4: 1 - 4 Jesus was tempted like all the rest of us, yet He chose not to sin. Hebrews 2: 18 Hebrews 4: 15 Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan. He fasted for 40 days and nights, and was hungry. Satan came to Him and told Him if He was the Son of God, He should turn the stones into bread and ease His hunger. Jesus responded to this temptation of the lust of the flesh by quoting Scripture. Deuteronomy 8: 3 Man shall not live by bread alone, but by the Word of God. Matthew 4: 5 - 7 Satan then took Jesus to Jerusalem and set Him on the pinnacle of the Temple. Satan used pride as the temptation this time. He told Jesus that if He really is the Son of God, He should cast Himself down from the temple because nothing would happen to Him. Satan backed this up like false teachers today, by taking a passage of Scripture out of context and perverting its meaning. Psalm 91: 11 - 12 Jesus countered this perversion of Scripture with rightly divided Scripture, using contextually Deuteronomy 6: 16 and Isaiah 7:12 to show that God was not to be put to the test. Matthew 4: 8 - 11 Satan then tried the lust of the eyes. He took Jesus to a high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world. He said all of that could belong to Jesus if He would just bow down and worship Satan. Jesus told the devil to go away, quoting a passage of Scripture that said we are to worship only God. Deuteronomy 6: 13 I Samuel 7: 3 Satan then left, and angels ministered to Jesus. When resisted, Satan runs away. James 4: 7 Matthew 4: 12 - 17 When Jesus heard that John the Baptist had been arrested, He withdrew into Galilee. He left Nazareth and moved to Capernaum. This fulfilled several prophecies of the Messiah, including a couple by Isaiah. Isaiah 9: 1 - 2 Isaiah 42: 7 Job 3: 5 Psalm 23:4 Amos 5: 8 From that time on, Jesus began to preach repentance for the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand. Matthew 4: 18 - 22 While He was walking by the Sea of Galilee, Jesus saw two brothers, Peter and Andrew, casting nets into the sea because they were fishermen by trade. Jesus told the brothers to follow Him, and He would make them fishers of men. They immediately left their nets and followed. Leaving there, He passed two more brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in the boat with Zebedee mending nets. Jesus called them and they immediately left the boat and their father to follow Jesus. Matthew 4: 23 - 25 He travelled through Galilee preaching in the Jewish synagogues and healing the sick. His fame spread throughout the region, and people brought their sick to Him to be healed. Great crowds followed Him throughout the region. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RETIREDFAN1 Posted August 3, 2019 Author Share Posted August 3, 2019 Matthew 5 By: Jim Crews Matthew 5: 1- 2 Here we begin what the world has named the Sermon on the Mount. Seeing the crowds following, Jesus went up to a mountain and sat down. His disciples followed. He began teaching all who were there. Matthew 5: 3-11 The first thing that Jesus taught is the attitudes that those who seek and find the Kingdom of Heaven should have. We should be poor in spirit and meek. The poor in spirit will find spiritual fulfillment in the Kingdom of Heaven. The meek will inherit the earth. They will find some level of contentment here on earth. We should hunger and thirst after righteousness. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled. This filling will come because they will find that righteousness through the Word of God. We should be merciful. We are taught later on that if we are to be granted mercy, we must grant mercy. The merciful will receive mercy. We should be pure in heart. We shouldn’t go around seeking out things that are sinful. The pure in heart will see God. We should be peacemakers. We shouldn’t go around looking for trouble, it will find us easily enough without us seeking it out. Peacemakers will be called the sons of God. Those who are persecuted for righteousness sake will inherit the kingdom of Heaven. These will not compromise the Truth taught in the Word of God, no matter what obstacles they may face. Revelation 2: 10 We are extremely blessed when our conviction and faith in God leads us to be reviled, persecuted, talked about in a bad way, and lied about. We must hold fast to our faith, no matter what the world thinks about us. Matthew 5: 13 We are the salt of the earth. Salt gives bland food some flavor. We give this bland earth some flavor and help it remain palatable to God. If we lose our faith, we become as useless as flavorless salt. Matthew 5: 14 - 16 We are the light of the world. We are to be like a city, set on a hill. We should not hide our faith. In fact, we can’t hide our faith and remain faithful, because we are told we must make our faith public. Matthew 10: 32 - 33 Matthew 5: 17 - 20 The Messiah came to fulfill the Law. He came to show that it was indeed possible for the Law to be followed perfectly. He followed the Law perfectly and without sin. Not one tenet of the Mosaic Law would pass away until the end of the age, when He had been executed and raised from the dead. They must continue to follow the Mosaic Law faithfully until that time. To enter the Kingdom of Heaven, their righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees and scribes. Matthew 5: 21 - 25 The Law taught that we should not commit murder, and that those who did commit murder were to be punished. Jesus teaches that anger with our brother is just as evil. The anger, if unchecked, will lead us down a path of destruction which is just as bad as having committed the actual murder. If we are offering a gift or worship, and remember that we have something against our brother, we are to drop what we are doing and reconcile ourselves to them first. When someone accuses us of something, we should come to an agreement with them immediately, and don’t let the courts end up deciding the outcome. Matthew 5: 27 - 30 The Law commanded them not to commit adultery. Jesus says that having lust in our hearts for another person is just as bad, because that is what leads us to commit the actual adultery in the first place. He teaches that we should remove anything and anyone that causes us to sin from our lives, because that’s a better option than ending up in hell. Matthew 5: 31 - 32 The Mosaic Law allowed for divorce. Jesus teaches us that this is not how it was meant to be. If anyone divorces their partner for any reason at all with the exception of marital infidelity, they have made their partner commit adultery. Whoever marries the divorced person also commits adultery. Matthew 5: 33 - 37 The Mosaic Law taught that they should not swear falsely. Jesus teaches us not to take oaths at all. Our conversation should be simple and to the point. Matthew 5: 38 - 42 The Mosaic Law taught an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Jesus teaches us that we are not to repay evil for evil. Instead, we are to turn the other cheek. We are not to retaliate. In fact, if anyone sues us for our coat, we should give him our shirt, too. If anyone forces us to go a mile with them, we should willingly go two miles. We must be willing to go that extra mile. Matthew 5: 43 - 48 The Mosaic Law taught that they should love their neighbors and hate their enemies. Jesus teaches that we should love our enemies, too. We should pray for those who persecute us, so we can be like our Father in Heaven, who makes the sun rise on the good and the evil, and brings rain on the just and the unjust. What reward is it to us spiritually if we only love those who love us, or if we only greet those who greet us? The alien sinners do this. We must strive for perfection, even though we will never attain it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RETIREDFAN1 Posted August 4, 2019 Author Share Posted August 4, 2019 Matthew 6 By: Jim Crews Matthew 6: 1 Don’t do your good works in order to be seen by men. Do them because that’s what’s expected of you. James 2:14-26 Matthew 6: 2 - 4 When you give to the needy, do it anonymously. Don’t go around boasting about it. Those who do boast about it have already received their reward, which is the compliments from those around them. Those who give in secret, receive no accolades from the world, because only God knows what they have done. Matthew 6: 5 - 6 When you pray, don’t make a public spectacle of it. Don’t pray to be seen and applauded by men. Pray in secret, where the only one who can hear it is God. Matthew 6: 7 - 13 When you do pray in a public setting, don’t prattle on with empty phrases and repeated clauses like the hypocrites, who think that their long winded prayers bring them favor from God. God knows what you need before you even ask for it. Keep your prayers in public simple. Recognize that it is the Father in Heaven to whom you are praying. Pray for the Kingdom to grow and His will to be done on Earth and in Heaven. Ask Him to provide for you. Ask Him to forgive you. Ask Him to protect you from the evils, temptations, and enticements to sin that surround you daily. Matthew 6: 14 - 15 In order to be forgiven, you must forgive. Matthew 6: 16 - 18 If you fast, don’t go around making a huge spectacle of it. Don’t let anyone even know you are fasting. This ensures that only God knows, and He will reward you. Matthew 6: 19 - 21 Lay your treasures up in Heaven. Don’t seek to acquire earthly wealth, fame, and fortune. If your treasure is laid up on earth, your focus will be on that, because it can be lost. Instead, obey God and do the good works He expects you to do. Then you will have laid up treasure in Heaven. If your treasure is laid up in Heaven, your focus will be on Heaven. Matthew 6: 22 - 23 They eye is the lamp of the body. Lust of the eyes is one of Satan’s weapons against us. If we look upon evil things to lust after them, we will bring darkness upon our entire body. If we look upon good things and obey God, we will bring light to our entire body. Matthew 6: 24 We can’t serve two masters. We will love one and hate the other. We can’t serve both God and money. We have to choose. Matthew 6: 25 - 33 Don’t go around worrying about things, especially things over which you have absolutely no control at all. Don’t worry about where your next meal will come from, or where you will be sheltered, or what you will wear. Life is more than food and the body is more than clothing. God provides food for the birds, and we are of more value than them. Your worry won’t add a single hour to your life. God provides clothing for the plants, and we are of more value than them. God will provide for His children, so don’t worry about these things. Have faith. Instead of worrying about food, shelter, or clothing, focus on the Kingdom, focus on obeying God, and He will take care of you. Don’t worry about tomorrow, focus on the present. Romans 8: 28 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RETIREDFAN1 Posted August 6, 2019 Author Share Posted August 6, 2019 Matthew 7 By: Jim Crews Matthew 7: 1 - 5 This teaches us not to make hypocritical or unrighteous judgments. We will be judged by the same set of rules we use to judge others. If we have a major sin clouding our lives, we should not sit in judgment of someone with a minor sin. We must take care of the sin in our own lives, then we can better help the other person. This does not teach us to not make any judgments at all, because other Scriptures tells us we must make judgments. Luke 12: 57 John 7: 24 This simply teaches us to make righteous, unhypocritical judgments. Matthew 7: 6 We must make a judgment in this case. We don’t have to share the Word with those who will attack us, or who attack the message. Matthew 7: 7 - 11 If we want to know the Will of God, and all that He has revealed, all we have to do is seek it out by searching the Scriptures. Acts 17: 11 When we search the Scriptures with an open mind, not carrying any man made errors or biases in our study, we will find the revealed Will of God. It’s all up to us to make the effort. Romans 10: 17 Matthew 7: 12 We should treat others the way we ourselves wish to be treated. This doesn’t tell us to treat them the WAY they treat us, instead, it tells us to treat THEM the way we want them to treat us. Matthew 7: 13 - 14 Not many people will find the path to God. Not many will be saved. Most reject His simple commands. We see this today, with the absolute refusal of the vast majority of people to accept what God revealed about immersion in water to wash our sins away. Matthew 7: 15 - 20 There are many false teachers out there. Those who teach that baptism isn’t necessary for salvation are false teachers. Those who teach anything that contradicts what can be read in the Bible are false teachers. They come dressed like sheep, but are wolves, leading those who fall to their false doctrine down that wide path to destruction. Only by obeying ALL of the commandments to be saved, can we be saved. The faith only lies they teach won’t save anyone. Matthew 7: 21 - 23 The people who have fallen for the lies of the false teachers will be surprised come Judgment Day. They will be expecting great rewards, they will be expecting salvation, a lot of them will be expecting some nonexistent rapture and a 1000 year reign. They will all be surprised when the Messiah tells them that He doesn’t even know them because they walked in lawlessness. Don’t be one of these who are surprised on that day. How? Jesus tells us. Matthew 7: 24 - 27 Be like the wise man, who built his house upon the rock of the Word of God. He will withstand every storm. How do we do this? We do this by hearing what Jesus said and then by DOING what Jesus commanded. The foolish man builds his house on the false doctrine of his favorite preacher, without checking to see if it goes along with what God actually said. This man has no hope. Matthew 7: 28-29 When Jesus finished, the crowds were astonished because He taught as one who had authority, not like one of the scribes who only read and interpreted the writings. He Is the author of all things, so He definitely has the authority to speak as such on all matters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RETIREDFAN1 Posted August 11, 2019 Author Share Posted August 11, 2019 Matthew 8 By: Jim Crews Matthew 8:1-4 Huge crowds were following Jesus when He came down from the mountain. A man who had leprosy came up and asked that if Jesus willed, would He heal his leprosy? Jesus said He did will it, and healed the man, telling him to go show himself to the priest as the Mosaic Law required. He also told the man not to speak of it. Matthew 8:5-13 When Jesus entered Capernaum, a Roman centurion approached Him, asking if He would heal his servant, who was paralyzed. Jesus told the centurion He would go to his place and heal the servant. The centurion told Him that he was not worthy to have Jesus come to his home, instead, he told how he understood the authority of Jesus over all things, just as he had authority over his troops. Jesus was pleased with the great faith of the centurion, and healed his servant right then. He then took the time to teach the Jews that many people from many places would enter the Kingdom of Heaven, while the Jews would bar themselves from it because of their lack of faith. Matthew 8:14-17 Jesus entered Peter’s house and saw that his mother-in-Law was sick, so He took her hand and healed her. She got up and began serving them. Jesus healed many sick people, and cast out demons, as prophesied by Isaiah. Isaiah 53:4 Matthew 8:18-22 When Jesus saw the crowd, He gave orders to travel to the other side of the sea. A scribe came up to Him and told Jesus he would follow Him anywhere. Jesus told the scribe that even the animals had homes, but Jesus had none. Another of His disciples said first he needed to go bury a dead relative, then he would follow. Jesus told him to drop everything and follow Him. Matthew 8:23-27 They got into the boat and began sailing. A great storm arose and threatened to swamp the boat while Jesus was sleeping. They woke Him and begged Him to save them. Jesus asked them why they were afraid and where was their faith? He spoke, and the storm ceased. His disciples marveled at this, wondering how He could control even the weather. Matthew 8:28-34 When they got to the other side, two demon possessed men, so fierce that no one could approach, came out of the cemetery and met Him. They knew Jesus. They asked why the Son of God had come there, and was it to torment them before the time. Revelation 12:12 There was a herd of pigs nearby, and the demons begged Jesus to be allowed to go into them. Even the demons had to obey the Messiah. He allowed this, and the demons drove the herd into the sea. The herdsmen were frightened, and went to tell the people what had happened. Like many today, the townspeople asked Jesus to leave. They wouldn’t accept Him or His teaching. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RETIREDFAN1 Posted August 12, 2019 Author Share Posted August 12, 2019 Matthew 9 By: Jim Crews Matthew 9:1-8 They crossed back over and came to Jesus hometown. Some men brought a paralyzed man to be healed. Seeing their faith, Jesus forgave the man of his sins. The scribes thought this was blasphemous, because only God can forgive sins. Jesus knew their thoughts and asked why they had such evil in their minds. Showing that He Is God, and has power to forgive sins, Jesus healed the man. The people were afraid, and glorified God. Matthew 9:9-13 Jesus saw Matthew, a tax collector, and told him to follow. They went to Matthews house and reclined to eat with many tax collectors and sinners. The self righteous Pharisees saw this and asked His disciples why Jesus associated with sinners. When Jesus heard it, He told them the sick are the ones in need of a physician, not those who are well. He then told them to ponder the Scripture that said God desires mercy, not sacrifice. Hosea 6:6 He told them He came to call the sinners to repentance, not the righteous. Matthew 9:14-17 The disciples of John and the Pharisees asked why they fasted, but the disciples of Jesus did not fast. He told them that the wedding guests don’t mourn when the bridegroom is with them. The days would come when His disciples would fast as well. He then illustrated how the Old Covenant was about to be replaced. You don’t patch up the old with new material, you replace the old with the new. Matthew 9:18-26 While Jesus was saying these things, a ruler came and asked Him to heal his daughter, who had died. Jesus followed him, and in the way a woman who had a discharge of blood for many years, decided that all she had to do was touch His garment and she would be healed. She did so, and Jesus healed her because of her faith. When He came to the rulers house, the funeral service was going on. He asked why they were in mourning, because the girl was only asleep. They laughed at this. The crowd was out outside, and Jesus took the girls hand and raised her from the dead. This was reported throughout the district. Matthew 9:27-31 As Jesus passed on through, two blind men begged Him to heal them. He went to their home and asked if they believed He could do this thing. They did believe, and He healed them. Jesus gave them a stern warning not to tell about this, but they went out and spread His fame throughout the district. Matthew 9:32-34 As they were heading out, a demon possessed man who was mute was brought to be healed. Jesus cast the demon out, and the man spoke. The crowds marveled, saying nothing like his had ever been seen. The Pharisees claimed He was casting out demons with the power of Satan. Matthew 9:35-38 Jesus went through the cities, preaching in their synagogues. He proclaimed the coming Kingdom, and healed every disease and every affliction. He had compassion for the crowds, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. He told His disciples the harvest was plentiful but the laborers were few. There are many who are in need of hearing the Word, but not many who teach it to them. He asked them to pray for God to send out laborers into the fields. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RETIREDFAN1 Posted August 13, 2019 Author Share Posted August 13, 2019 Matthew 10 By: Jim Crews Matthew 10: 1 - 4 Jesus chose twelve of His disciples and gave them authority over demons, to cast them out. He also gave them the power to heal every disease and every affliction. They were Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot. Matthew 10: 5 - 15 Jesus sent the twelve out with instructions not to go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans. They were to go to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. They were to proclaim that the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand. They were to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, and cast out demons. They were to do this free of charge. They were to take only what they were wearing. They deserved their food for their labors, and wouldn’t be taking any with them. They were to seek out one who was worthy in each town they came to. If that house turned out to actually be worthy and take them in, they were to bless it. If it were not, they were not to bless it. If any city did not receive them and listen to them, they were to shake the dust of that place off their feet and move on. It will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah on Judgment Day than for that city. Matthew 10: 16 - 23 Jesus told them He was sending them out as sheep among wolves, so they needed to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. They would suffer much persecution for His sake. They would be dragged before courts, flogged in the Jews synagogues, and dragged in front of kings and governors to bear witness before them and the Gentiles of the Gospel. They were not to worry about what they would say in these situations, the Holy Spirit would give them the words to speak. Brother will deliver brother over to be executed, parents will deliver children and children parents to the executioner because of the message the apostles would be teaching. The one who endures all of this without losing faith will be saved. When one town persecuted them, they were to flee to another. They will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes in destructive vengeance against Jerusalem. We see all of this played out in Acts, as well as the destruction of Jerusalem in 70. Matthew 10: 24 - 25 A disciple is not above his teacher, nor is a servant above his master. It is good enough that the disciple is like his teacher and the servant is like his master. He tells them that if the Pharisees have called Him the devil, they will do much worse His disciples. Matthew 10: 26 - 33 Knowing all this, they were not to be afraid. All would be exposed in the end. The things they are being told in secret now, should be shouted from the housetops when the Kingdom comes. Don’t fear people who can only kill your body. Instead, fear the One who can cast both body and soul into Hell. God watches His creatures, and He knows the suffering of His children. Everyone who acknowledges Jesus before men, Jesus will acknowledge before God. Everyone who denies Jesus, will be denied by Jesus. Matthew 10: 34 - 39 Jesus didn’t come to bring peace to the Earth. He brought a sword. That sword is the Word. Hebrews 4: 12 The Word would turn sons against fathers and daughters against mothers. It would make enemies of a person’s own family. Remember, though, that whoever loves their family more than they love Jesus is unworthy of being a disciple. Whoever does not take up his cross and follow Jesus is not worthy of being a disciple. Whoever chooses the easy way and finds his life, will lose it. Whoever follows Jesus and loses his life, will find eternal life. Matthew 10: 40 - 42 Those who receive the apostles, also receive Jesus. They will be rewarded, because they will have heard the Word and been blessed when they obeyed that Word. Those who aid the apostles in spreading the Word will be blessed as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RETIREDFAN1 Posted August 14, 2019 Author Share Posted August 14, 2019 Matthew 11 By: Jim Crews Matthew 11: 1 When Jesus had finished giving the twelve their instructions, He sent them to their assigned areas to preach. Matthew 11: 2 - 6 John the Baptist heard about the deeds of Jesus from his prison cell. He sent his disciples to Jesus, inquiring whether Jesus was the Messiah, or were they to wait on someone else. Jesus told them to tell John the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news preached to them. The one who is not offended by Jesus is blessed. Matthew 11: 7 - 15 When John’s disciples left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John the Baptist. He asked if they went out into the wilderness to see some weak person, dressed in soft clothing like a king? He answered His own question. No, they went into the wilderness to see a prophet. John was not just a prophet, he was the one prophesied about who would precede the Messiah. Malachi 3: 1 No one alive was greater than John the Baptist, but John was lower than the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. From the days of John the Baptist until that present moment, the Kingdom had suffered violence from violent men. The Jews were not following God’s Law. The Law and the Prophets were until John. This tells us that those who claim that Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John should be in the Old Testament are wrong. Jesus Himself said that those records are in the New Testament. For those willing to hear, Jesus tells that John the Baptist is the prophesied return of Elijah, who was to return before the Kingdom was established. Malachi 4: 5 Those who have ears should hear what is being taught. Matthew 11: 16 - 19 The generation then, however, was like little children sitting in the marketplace and calling out senseless dirges to the other children. They had no understanding at all of what was taking place right before their eyes, even though they had the Prophets, who had foretold everything that was happening. John the Baptist came neither eating nor drinking, and they claimed he was demon possessed. Jesus came eating and drinking and they call Him a drunkard and a glutton, who is a friend of tax collectors and sinners. Wisdom is justified by it’s deeds, not words. Matthew 11: 20 - 24 Jesus then began to denounce the cities where His greatest works were done, because they did not repent. Chorazin and Bethsaida were condemned, because if the mighty works done in them had been done in Tyre and Sidon, those cities would have repented in sackcloth and ashes. It will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on Judgment Day than it will for Chorazin and Bethsaida. Capernaum will not be exalted, but will be brought down to hell. If the things done in Capernaum had been done in Sodom, Sodom would remain standing to that day. It will be more tolerable on Judgment Day for Sodom than it will be for Capernaum. Matthew 11: 25 - 30 Jesus then prayed to God. He thanked God for hiding these things from the wise men of that generation, and for revealing it to the little children. This was the will of God. All things had been given to Jesus by God, and no one knows the Son except the Father. No one knows the Father except the Son, and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal the Father to. All that labor and are heavy laden are urged to come to Christ to receive the rest He offers us. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RETIREDFAN1 Posted August 15, 2019 Author Share Posted August 15, 2019 Matthew 12 By: Jim Crews Matthew 12: 1 - 8 Jesus and His disciples went through the grain fields and His disciples plucked some grain to eat because they were hungry. The self righteous and hypocritical Pharisees confronted them on this, claiming that they were doing what was not lawful on the Sabbath. Jesus recounted the incident where David and his men ate the bread of the Presence because they were hungry. Eating of this bread was lawful only for the priests. I Samuel 21: 1 - 6 The Mosaic Law even allowed the priests to work on the Sabbath. He is showing them how hypocritical they are, by condemning His disciples for doing something far less egregious than David did, and yet they excused David. Jesus is greater than the Temple, and is Lord of the Sabbath. He knew better than the hypocritical Pharisees what the Sabbath Law allowed and did not allow. Hosea 6: 6 Micah 6: 6 - 8 God desires mercy, not sacrifice. Had they known what this meant, they would not have condemned the guiltless. Matthew 12: 9 - 14 He went from there to one of the Jewish synagogues. A man was there with a withered hand. He was asked whether it was lawful to heal someone on the Sabbath. This was done so that they might have something with which to accuse Jesus. He showed their hypocrisy once again, by asking which one of them would not violate Sabbath Law to save one of their own sheep who had fallen into a pit. He then told them that men are of greater value than sheep. Jesus healed the man. The Pharisees then went out to seek how they might destroy Jesus. Matthew 12: 15 - 21 Jesus knew what the Pharisees were doing, so He left that place. Many followed Him, and He healed them all, telling them not to make Him known. This fulfilled the prophecies in Isaiah quoted by Matthew. Isaiah 42: 1 - 4 Isaiah 61: 1 Matthew 12: 22 - 32 A demon possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus. He cast out the demon, healing the man, who began speaking and could now see. The people were amazed, asking whether Jesus could be the prophesied Messiah. The hypocritical and power hungry Pharisees saw this, and made the claim that Jesus was casting out demons in the name of Beelzebul, prince of demons. Jesus knew their thoughts, and corrected them by asking what house that was fighting among itself could stand? If Jesus were casting out demons by the power of Satan, how could Satan’s forces stand if they were fighting against one another. He then asked if He were casting out demons by Beelzebul, in whose name were their sons casting them out? He corrected this by telling them that since it was by the Power of God that He was casting out demons, that was a sign that the Kingdom of God had come upon them. He was here to bind Satan so that He could bring the Kingdom to the world. There are clear sides in this. We are either on the side of Jesus, or on the side of Satan. There is no middle ground for the moderates. Every sin will be forgiven except the sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit. To blaspheme the Holy Spirit is to give credit to Satan for something done by the Spirit. Matthew 12: 33 - 37 A tree is either good or bad. We know this by the fruit produced by that tree. This is true of the Pharisees. Jesus asks how they think they can speak good, when they are evil. He didn’t pull any punches, either, calling them snakes right to their faces. Good people produce good things, and evil people bring more evil. On Judgment Day, we will all give account for every careless word we have spoken. Matthew 12: 38 - 42 The scribes and Pharisees then asked for a sign that Jesus was the prophesied Messiah. Pulling no punches by calling them evil and adulterous right to their faces, Jesus said the only sign they would get was the sign of Noah. Just like Noah was in the belly of the fish for 3 days, so Jesus would be in the grave for 3 days. The men of Nineveh would judge the current generation, because when they heard the Word being preached by Jonah, they repented of their sins. The Messiah is greater than Jonah. The current generation will be judged by the Queen of the South, who came and sought out the wisdom of Solomon. The Messiah is greater than Solomon. Matthew 12: 43 - 45 This shows us how horrible falling away is. An unclean spirit left a man and wandered aimlessly. The man it left evidently didn’t take the time to grow in the Word, because the spirit returned and brought seven other spirits more evil than it was. The final state of that man is worse than the first. That’s how this generation will be. The final state of the current generation would be worse than the first. Matthew 12: 46 - 50 While He was speaking, Mary and His brothers were asking to come speak to Him. He asked the man who told Him this who were His mother and brothers? Jesus pointed to His disciples and said they were His family. Whoever obeys God is His family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RETIREDFAN1 Posted August 17, 2019 Author Share Posted August 17, 2019 Matthew 13 By: Jim Crews Matthew 13: 1 - 9 On that same day, Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. The crowds were so large, that He got into a boat and sat down, while the crowds stood on the beach. He told them many parables. One of them was about a sower who went out to plant seed. Some fell on the path, and birds came and ate them. Some fell on rocky ground, where they didn’t have much room to root. These sprang up quickly, but didn’t have any roots, so they were scorched by the sun. Some fell on thorny ground. The thorns grew up and choked them out. Some fell on good ground, and produced grain. Those who have ears should hear this parable. Matthew 13: 10 - 17 His disciples asked Jesus why He spoke in parables. He told them that they were the ones to be given the secret to the Kingdom of Heaven, while the rest of the Jews were not to know much at that time. This was a great responsibility for the disciples, because to the one who much is given, much is expected. He speaks in parables in fulfillment of prophecy. Deuteronomy 29: 4 Jeremiah 5: 21 Ezekiel 12: 2 Isaiah 42: 19 - 20 The people are even fulfillment of one of Isaiah’s prophecies. They are stubborn and refuse to hear. If they would hear and believe, God would forgive them. Isaiah 6: 9 - 10 The eyes and ears of the disciples are blessed, because they do see and hear what is going on right in front of them. Many of the prophets longed to see the days that these disciples were privileged to live through. Matthew 13: 18 - 23 Jesus then explained the parable of the sower to His disciples. The seed is the Word of God. When someone hears the Word but does not understand it, Satan comes and snatches away what was sown in their hearts. This is the seed along the pathway. The seed on rocky ground was received by the hearer with joy, but that person didn’t take the time to learn more and to grow in the wisdom and knowledge provided to us by God’s Word. Therefore, when trials and tribulations come along, this person wilts away and hides, leaving the faith for the comforts of fitting in with the rest of the world. The seed sown among the thorns shows those who hear the Word, but would rather remain in the sinful world than to be separated and cleansed by the Blood of Christ. The seed sown on good soil is those who hear, believe, and obey the Word by repenting, confessing, and being immersed in water to have their sins washed away. This group then continues to study and grow in strength through the Word. Matthew 13: 24 - 30 He told them another parable. The Kingdom of Heaven could be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his fields. However, while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the good seed. When the plants came up, so did the weeds. The servants were baffled, because they knew they had sown good seed, but the master told them the weeds must have been sown by their enemy. The servants wanted to gather up the weeds, but the wise farmer told them they would gather in wheat with the weeds. They should just let them grow together, then separate them at the harvest. The weed would be gathered and burned, and the wheat would be gathered and put into the farmer’s barn. Matthew 13: 31 - 33 The Kingdom of Heaven is compared to a mustard seed and to leaven in the Lord’s next two parables. Mustard seeds are small, but spring into a great tree. It only takes a very small bit of leaven to make the whole loaf of bread rise. The meaning of these two is clear. The Kingdom on earth would start small and grow to great numbers. Matthew 13: 34 - 35 Jesus didn’t teach the crowds without parables. This was in fulfillment of prophecy. Psalm 78: 2 Matthew 13: 36 - 43 Jesus left the crowds and went into the house. The disciples asked for an explanation to the parable of the weeds. Jesus told them the one sowing the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed are the sons of the Kingdom. The weeds are the sons of Satan, and they were sown by him. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Like the weeds, those who are sinners will be gathered at the end of the age and cast into the fiery furnace. The righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom. This could have been a prophecy of the end of the Mosaic Age, when Jerusalem was destroyed. The Jews who refused to come to Christ and continued to persecute His children were destroyed by Rome, and the Church grew. It could also show the end of this age, when the universe will be destroyed. Saints and sinners will be separated on Judgment Day and punishment and rewards will be dealt out by the Divine Judge. Matthew 13: 44-46 The Kingdom of Heaven is so valuable, it’s like a man who found a treasure in a field and sold all he had to buy that field. The Kingdom of Heaven is so valuable, it’s like a man who found a pearl of great price and sold all he had to buy it. Matthew 13: 47 - 50 The Kingdom of Heaven is like a net, cast into the sea. It brought up all kinds of fish when it was pulled in. When it was full, the fishermen culled the bad fish out and kept the good. At the end of the age, the angels would come and separate the good from the evil, and throw the evil into the fire. This one also could be about either the coming destruction of Jerusalem or final Judgment Day which is yet to come. Matthew 13: 51 - 52 He asked His disciples if they had understood all these things. They said that they had. He told them that they should be well trained scribes, like the master of a house who brings out of his treasure what is new and old. The Old Testament is there as our example, and should not be ignored by the disciple who truly seeks to grow in the wisdom and knowledge of God. Matthew 13: 53 - 58 When Jesus finished His parables, he left that place and went to Nazareth. He taught them in their synagogue. They were astonished because they knew Him as the son of a carpenter, not a trained teacher. They took offense at His teaching, but Jesus told the people that a prophet is never respected by those who grew up with him. He didn’t do any mighty works or miracles there, because their unbelief made them unworthy of seeing them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RETIREDFAN1 Posted August 18, 2019 Author Share Posted August 18, 2019 Matthew 14 By: Jim Crews Matthew 14: 1 - 12 It was around this time that Herod the Tetrarch heard about Jesus. He thought it was John the Baptist, come back from the dead. Herod knew John had died, because he’d had him executed. John had confronted Herod about the sexual immorality and adultery he was committing with Herodias, the wife of his brother. He had John thrown in prison at first, because he was afraid to kill him. The mob thought of John as a great prophet. He made a rash vow on his birthday, though. He promised anything up to half his kingdom if Herodias daughter would dance at the party. Herodias prompted her to ask for the head of John the Baptist on a platter. In order to save face, Herod had to have John executed. He had the head of John delivered to the women on a platter. John’s disciples buried his body. Matthew 14: 13 - 21 When Jesus heard this news, He withdrew on a boat to be alone. The crowds heard this and followed along on foot. When He came ashore, He found a great crowd gathered together. He had compassion on them and healed the sick among them. When evening came, the disciples asked Jesus to send the crowd away into the villages to eat. Jesus said they didn’t have to go away. He told the disciples to give them something to eat. They could only find five loaves of bread and two fish. Jesus had them bring that to Him. He had the crowds seated in groups and blessed the bread and fish. The entire crowd ate and were satisfied. The disciples gathered 12 basketfuls of leftovers. There were 5000 men in the crowd, not including women and children. This is a display of the power of creation. Jesus had the power to create something from nothing. Matthew 14: 22 - 27 He immediately made the disciples get into a boat and precede Him to the other side of the water. He stayed to dismiss the crowds, then He went up into the mountain by Himself to pray. He was there alone when evening came. The boat was a long way from shore, being beaten by waves, because they were facing a stiff headwind. He walked on the water out to them during the fourth watch of the night. When the disciples saw this, they were terrified, thinking it was a ghost. Jesus told them not to fear, that it was Him. This displays His Divine power over the forces of nature. He is not subject to the laws of physics such as gravity. Matthew 14: 28 - 33 Peter answered that if indeed it was Jesus, to command him to walk on the water. Jesus told Peter to come on. Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water to Jesus. When he saw the wind, though, he panicked. He began to sink and cried out for Jesus to save him. Jesus took his hand and scolded him for his doubts and lack of faith. When they got to the boat, the wind stopped. Those in the boat worshipped Him, saying He truly is the Son of God. This shows that Jesus is God, because worship can only be directed to God. By accepting their worship, He shows clearly that He is God. Matthew 14: 34 - 36 They reached shore at Gennesaret. When they were recognized, the men of that area sent for their sick, and asked Jesus to heal them by allowing them only to touch the fringe of his garment. They did, and all who touched it were healed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RETIREDFAN1 Posted August 20, 2019 Author Share Posted August 20, 2019 Matthew 15 By: Jim Crews Matthew 15: 1 - 9 The Pharisees and scribes came from Jerusalem and asked Jesus why His disciples didn’t wash their hands when they ate, which broke a tradition of the elders. Jesus asked them why they broke the commandment of God to keep their traditions. God commanded that they honor their father and mother. They were to take care of their parents in their old age. However, these hypocritical Pharisees had perverted that to mean that they could give money to let the governing authorities take care of their parents and they were off the hook. Their tradition stood in stark contrast to God’s command, and they were called hypocrites and shown themselves in prophecy. Isaiah 29: 13 Ezekiel 33: 31 Matthew 15: 10 - 20 Jesus then explained that what we take into our mouths does not defile us. The things that come out of our mouths defile us. The disciples asked Jesus if He knew that this had offended the Pharisees. Jesus shows that He doesn’t particularly care that they were offended, because they were going to be rooted up and cast out by God because they were blind guides leading blind people. They refused to see that the Prophets their ancestors had killed were having their prophecies fulfilled right in front of them. Peter asked Jesus to explain the parable. Jesus told them that whatever goes into the mouth passes through the digestive system and is expelled eventually. However, what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart. From the heart comes evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, and slander. These are what defile a person, not eating with unwashed hands. Matthew 15: 21 - 28 Jesus left there and went to a district in Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from that region came out and cried for Jesus to have mercy on her, because her daughter was demon possessed. Jesus did not answer her. His disciples begged Him to send her away. Jesus answered them that He was sent only for the lost sheep of the house of Israel. She came and knelt before Him begging Him to help her daughter. Jesus answered that what was sent only for Israel at that current time shouldn’t be given to the rest of the world. She replied that even dogs eat the crumbs from their master’s table. Jesus was impressed by her great faith, and healed her daughter. Matthew 15: 29 - 31 Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee from there and went up a mountain. Great crowds brought their sick to Him to be healed. The crowds glorified God when they say all the people being healed. Matthew 15: 32 - 39 The crowd had been there for three days, and Jesus told His disciples to feed them. The disciples, evidently having forgotten the other time this was done, asked Jesus where they were going to find that much food in such a desolate place. Jesus asked what food they had. They told Him they had seven loaves and one small fish. Jesus directed the crowd to sit. He took the loaves and fish, prayed over them, and they dispensed it to the crowd. They all ate and were satisfied. There were seven baskets full of leftovers when they had finished. There were 4000 men fed, not including women and children. Jesus then sent the crowd on its way and got into the boat to go to the region of Magadan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RETIREDFAN1 Posted August 21, 2019 Author Share Posted August 21, 2019 Matthew 16 By: Jim Crews Matthew 16: 1 - 4 The Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus, asking Him to give them a sign that He is the Messiah. He answered by telling them they could see the weather signs and know what was coming, but refused to see the fulfillment of the teachings of the Prophets going on right in front of them. The only sign they would get was going to be the sign of Jonah. He exposed them for the evil, adulterous generation that they were, and left. Matthew 16: 5 - 12 When they reached the other side, the disciples realized that they had forgotten to bring any bread. Jesus used this to teach them to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees. The disciples began discussing this among themselves, saying that they hadn’t even brought any bread. Jesus knew their thoughts and their discussion, and scolded them for their lack of faith. They had forgotten when He fed the 5000 and the 4000, and how many leftovers they had gathered up. He asked how they could fail to understand what He was talking about. They then understood that Jesus was talking about the false teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees, and not bread. False teaching can come in slowly and be only one small compromise, but it grows immensely. This is why we never compromise on the Word. Matthew 16: 13 - 20 When they arrived in the district of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked the disciples who men said that He was. They told Him some thought He was one of the Prophets come back from the dead, others thought He was John the Baptist risen from the dead. He then asked them who do they think He is? Peter said that He is the Messiah, the Son of God. Jesus told Peter that flesh and blood had not revealed that to him, but God had. He also told Peter that on the solid rock of that confession, that Christ is the Messiah, He would build His church. The gates of hell would not prevail against it. The keys to the Kingdom were given to Peter, who used them later on at the Day of Pentecost recorded in Acts 2, to open the gates to the Kingdom and bring the Gospel to humanity. They would teach the things of God. He also told them not to reveal this to anyone at that present time. Matthew 16: 21 - 23 From that time, Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, be persecuted and tormented by the Jewish leaders, be executed by the Romans, and rise from the grave on the third day. Peter took Him aside and said these things would not happen. Jesus scolded Peter for allowing Satan to have control of him by not focusing on the things of God, but instead focusing on the things of man. Matthew 16: 24 - 28 Jesus then told the disciples that if anyone would come after Him, they must deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow Him. This means we must deny ourselves the sinful worldly pleasures that surround us, daily asking forgiveness when we fall, and continue growing in the Word. Those who do this will lose out on many things in this life, maybe even be killed. However, what profit is it if we gain the whole world, but lose our souls. The most valuable thing we possess is our soul. Jesus is returning with His angels to repay each person according to their deeds. This is a prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem. He then said there were some standing right there who would not die until they saw the Kingdom coming with power. This happened on Pentecost in Acts 2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RETIREDFAN1 Posted August 21, 2019 Author Share Posted August 21, 2019 Matthew 17 By: Jim Crews Matthew 17: 1 - 8 Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John up on a high mountain. He was transfigured into His glorious appearance. Moses and Elijah appeared there talking with Him. Peter knew that it was a good thing for them to be there. He was going to make a tent for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. He was still talking when a cloud came over them and God stated that Jesus was His beloved Son, and they should pay attention to Him. Peter, James, and John fell on their faces terrified when they heard this. Jesus came and touched them, calming their fears, telling them they had nothing to be afraid of. When they lifted their eyes, Jesus was the only one there. Matthew 17: 9 - 13 As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone about what had occurred until after His resurrection. They asked Jesus why the prophets said Elijah must come before the Kingdom is established. Malachi 4: 5 Jesus told them that the prophecy had already been fulfilled. Elijah had already come, and the people of that time had not recognized him, but had killed him. They would do the same to the Messiah. The disciples then understood that John the Baptist was the fulfillment of the prophecy of the return of Elijah. Matthew 17: 14 - 21 When they got back down, a man came and begged Jesus to heal his son, who was possessed by a demon that caused violent seizures. He told Jesus that His disciples could not heal the boy. Jesus scolded them for their lack of faith, and had them bring the boy to Him. Jesus rebuked the demon and it came out of the boy instantly. The disciples came privately to Jesus, asking Him why they weren’t able to cast this demon out of the boy. He told them their lack of faith caused them not to be able to cast out the demon. If they only had faith as small as a mustard seed, they could move mountains. Matthew 17: 22 - 23 Jesus told them again that He would be executed and rise again the third day. The disciples were greatly distressed. Matthew 17: 24 - 27 When they got to Capernaum, those who collected the Temple tax asked whether Jesus was going to pay the 2 drachmas. Peter told them that He did pay the tax. When they got into the house, Jesus asked Peter who governments take taxes from? Do they take taxes from their own relatives, or from the relatives of others? Peter told him a universal truth, governments take taxes from others, not from themselves. Jesus then showed that we are to pay our taxes by having Peter go fishing. He caught a fish and got a shekel out of its mouth. Jesus told Peter to use that to pay the tax for both of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RETIREDFAN1 Posted August 26, 2019 Author Share Posted August 26, 2019 Matthew 18 By: Jim Crews Matthew 18: 1 - 6 The disciples came to Jesus and asked Him who was the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus took a child and told them that unless they turned and became like little children, they would never enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Those who are humble like little children are the greatest in the Kingdom. Whoever receives one like a little child, receives Him, but whoever causes one of these to fall would be better off drowned with a millstone around their neck. We should not be the cause of the fall of anyone due to our actions or to the things we teach. Matthew 18: 7 - 9 The temptation to sin is a woeful thing for the world. Temptations are necessary and will happen, but woe to the one who causes them. He illustrates that we must remove the things that tempt us to sin from our lives by saying that if our body parts cause us to sin, we should remove them. It is better to go through this life crippled or blind than to be cast whole into hell. Matthew 18: 10 - 14 Don’t despise the little ones. Jesus is talking about the lost ones they are preaching to. They are watched over by angels who always see the face of the Father. He illustrates the importance of seeking the lost souls by asking which one of them, if they had 100 sheep, wouldn’t drop everything to find one lost sheep from the flock? If he finds that lost sheep, he rejoices over it more than he does over the 99 who never went astray. It is not the will of the Father that any lost soul should perish. This goes along with what the Holy Spirit teaches us through the writings of Peter. II Peter 3: 9 Matthew 18: 15 - 20 If your brother sins against you, go tell him about it. He may not realize that he’s done anything. If he listens, you have salvaged that relationship. If he does not, then take a couple of witnesses along with you and tell him about his transgression against you in their presence. If he refuses to listen even then, bring it before the gathered saints that you have joined with to work and worship. If he refuses to listen even to the gathering, get him out of your life and have nothing further to do with him. The things that the apostles will teach are the things that had already been determined in Heaven. Whenever two or more of His children are gathered, He is with them. Matthew 18: 21 - 22 Peter came and asked how often does he have to forgive his brother if that brother sins against him. He thought seven was fine, but Jesus illustrated to him that he must forgive every single time that forgiveness is asked for. Matthew 18: 23 - 35 Jesus then illustrated this answer in a parable. A king was settling his accounts, and found someone who owed him 10,000 talents. This man could not pay, so the king ordered that he and his family and all his possessions be sold to pay the debt. This man begged the king for mercy and was granted mercy. That same servant went out and found another who owed him a small debt of only 100 denari. He seized him and told him to pay what was owed. This man begged for mercy from the servant, but he had him put into prison. His fellow servants reported this to the king, who had forgiven this man a huge debt. The king called him to the table on this, saying he had forgiven this man a huge debt, but this man refused to forgive his fellow servant a small debt. He asks shouldn’t this servant had shown mercy just as the king had shown mercy. He had this man thrown into prison. God has forgiven us a huge debt, the debt of sin. The wages of sin is spiritual death, which was erased by God when we obeyed. We, then, should be forgiving to our fellow men because anything they owe us is a pittance when compared to the mercy shown to us by God. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RETIREDFAN1 Posted August 27, 2019 Author Share Posted August 27, 2019 Matthew 19 By: Jim Crews Matthew 19: 1 - 2 Jesus left Galilee and went into Judea, in the region beyond Jordan. Great crowds followed Him, and He healed them there. Matthew 19: 3 - 9 The Pharisees came up to Him and asked Him if it were lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason. Jesus answered with scripture, asking whether they even knew that the Father had created both male and female, and established marriage between male and female. They were to leave their parents and cleave to one another. What God has joined together, man cannot separate. This shows that divorce is unacceptable to God, except for the reason to be named later in the discourse. They then asked why Moses had allowed for divorce. Jesus answered that it was because of the stubbornness of their ancestors that this was allowed. In the beginning, however, it was not so. Whoever divorces their partner for any reason at all EXCEPT for sexual immorality, and then marries another, has committed adultery. Matthew 19: 10 - 12 The disciples said that if that was the case, it’s better not to even marry. Jesus told them that what He taught next was going to be difficult for most to understand. If people choose not to marry, they must remain celibate. Matthew 19: 13 - 15 Children were brought to Him, and the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Jesus said let the children be brought, because it was people like little children who would make up the Kingdom of Heaven. He laid hands on them and they went away. Matthew 19: 16 - 22 A man came up to Jesus and asked what deed he must do in order to receive eternal life. Jesus asked why the man asked Him about what is good. There is only one being in existence who is good, and that is the Father. This man was told that if he wanted eternal life, he must keep the commandments. Jesus then reauthorizes those commandments we are to keep in our age. Don’t murder, commit adultery, steal, bear false witness. Honor your parents and love your neighbor as yourself. The self righteous man told Jesus he had done all of these things, and asked what he still lacked. Jesus told him to sell all that he had and give it to the poor, then follow Jesus. This will guarantee him treasure in Heaven. The young man went away sad, because he had many possessions. This young man followed the Law by rote, but never lived the Law. God plainly said He desires mercy rather than sacrifice. Matthew 9: 13 Matthew 19: 23 - 30 Jesus told His disciples that it would be very difficult for a rich man to come to the Kingdom of Heaven. In fact, it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The disciples heard this and were astonished, asking who could be saved. Jesus told them with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. Peter then boasted that they had left everything to follow Jesus. He asked what their reward would be. Jesus told Peter that they would sit on twelve thrones with Him and judge the twelve tribes of Israel. Revelation 4: 4 Revelation 11: 16 Revelation 20: 4 Those who lose everything here on earth for His name, will reap a hundred times that in the afterlife. They will inherit eternal life. Many who are first will be last, and the last will be first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RETIREDFAN1 Posted August 28, 2019 Author Share Posted August 28, 2019 Matthew 20 By: Jim Crews Matthew 20: 1 - 16 Jesus told the parable about a man who hired laborers to work in his vineyard. He hired several laborers at different times of the day. When evening came and the work was done, he told his foreman to pay them. The laborers hired last received the same wages as the laborers who had worked all day. Those hired first grumbled, because they thought they should be paid more than those who only worked for a short while. The master told them he’d paid them what they had agreed to, and he could pay the rest what he chose. Jesus told them the Kingdom of Heaven is like this. There will be people converted at a young age and work for Christ their entire lives. There will be people converted in old age who will only have a short while to work. The reward for faithfulness is the same for both, eternal life. Matthew 20: 17 - 19 For the third time, Jesus tells His disciples exactly what is going to happen to Him in Jerusalem. This is the reason He is going there. Matthew 20: 20 - 28 The mother of James and John came to Jesus asking Him to let her sons sit on His right and left in His Kingdom. She didn’t understand that the Kingdom would not be a physical one, but Spiritual. Jesus told her she had no idea what she was asking, and asked if they could drink the cup He was about to partake of, meaning His coming crucifixion. They boasted that they were. Jesus told them they would indeed partake of the cup of persecution, but He could not grant them the seats at His side. That could be granted only to those who the Father had prepared it for. The other ten were angry with James and John when they heard this. Jesus chose this time to teach them that in His Kingdom, the servant would be the greatest. Just as He came to serve and not be served, so will they. He came to ransom us from the wages of sin that we have earned. Matthew 20: 29 - 34 A great crowd followed them out of Jericho. Two blind men sitting by the road cried out to Him for mercy. The crowd told the two men to shut up, but the men cried out all the more. Jesus stopped and asked what they would have Him do. They asked for their sight back. Jesus healed them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RETIREDFAN1 Posted September 1, 2019 Author Share Posted September 1, 2019 Matthew 21 By: Jim Crews Matthew 21: 1 - 11 When they got close to Jerusalem, Jesus sent two of the disciples to the village in front of them. He told them they would find a donkey and a colt tied up. They were to bring them to Him. If anyone asked what they were doing, they were to tell them the Lord needed the animals, and they would be sent at once. This fulfilled the prophecy about this happening in the life of the Messiah. Isaiah 62: 11 Zechariah 9: 9 They brought them, and as Jesus was riding into Jerusalem the crowd spread their cloaks on the road while others spread tree branches. The crowd praised Him as the Son of David. They were expecting the conquering hero of a Messiah that the Pharisees had perverted the Prophets message to be saying. The entire city of Jerusalem was stirred up, asking what was going on. They were told that the prophet Jesus of Nazareth had arrived. Matthew 21: 12 - 13 Jesus entered the Temple and drove out all the bankers, money changers, and those who sold things. He overturned the tables of the financiers and released the pigeons being sold. He told them they had made a house of prayer into a den of thieves. Isaiah 56: 7 Jeremiah 7:11 Matthew 21: 14 - 17 Jesus healed the blind and the lame who came to Him in the Temple. All of the miracles He was doing and the reaction of the crowds to Him caused much anger with the “religious” authorities of the day. They confronted Jesus with the things the crowd was saying about Him, claiming He was the Messiah. Jesus quoted to them some Scripture. Psalm 8: 2 He left and went to Bethany to lodge. Matthew 21: 18 - 19 In the morning as they were returning to Jerusalem, Jesus was hungry and saw a fig tree. It had no fruit, and He told it may it never bear fruit again. The tree withered and died. Matthew 21: 20 - 22 The disciples marvelled at this event. Jesus told them that with faith as small as a mustard seed, they could move mountains. Matthew 21: 23 - 27 When He entered the Temple, the chief priests and elders challenged His authority to be teaching the things He taught. They asked Him by what authority He was doing His teaching. Like the master teacher He is, Jesus answered their question with a question. He asked them was the baptism of John from Heaven or from man. They were not going to answer this question, because they could not give the right answer either way. If they said it came from Heaven, they would be guilty of not having obeyed God. If they said it came from man, the crowd was liable to stone them right there, because the people believed John to have been a prophet. They punted, and said they did not know. Since they refused to answer Jesus, He was not obligated to answer them. Matthew 21: 28 - 32 A man had two sons. He asked the first to go work in the vineyard. This son refused at first, but then went. He asked the second to go work. The second said he would go, but never went. Jesus asked the crowd which of these did the will of his father? They rightly answered the first one. Jesus told them the tax collectors and prostitutes go into the Kingdom of Heaven before them because John came in righteousness teaching Truth and they didn’t follow his. The tax collectors and prostitutes did follow John. Matthew 21: 33 - 41 Jesus then told a parable about a master of a house who planted a vineyard and protected it with a fence. It was well taken care of and loved by the master. He leased it to some tenants. When the season came for fruit, he sent some servants to the tenants to get his cut. They beat some of the servants, killed some, and stoned some. The master sent even more the next time and they were treated the same way. Then he sent his son. The tenants conspired to kill his son and take the vineyard for themselves. Jesus then asked the crowd what would happen to these tenants when the master comes himself? They rightly answered that he would put those tenants to a miserable death and rent the vineyard out to more deserving tenants. This is how the Jews treated the prophets. They were going to kill the Son. Then God was going to destroy them, which He did in AD 70 by the hand of the Romans. Matthew 21: 42 - 44 Jesus explained that this was all in fulfillment of prophecy. Psalm 118: 22 - 23 He then told them that the Kingdom of God was to be taken from the Jews and given to people who would produce fruit. The Jews who did not turn to God would be crushed in the transition. Matthew 21: 45 - 46 When the chief priests and Pharisees heard the parable, they knew Jesus was talking about them. They wanted to arrest Him but couldn’t because the crowd was on His side, believing Him to be a prophet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RETIREDFAN1 Posted September 3, 2019 Author Share Posted September 3, 2019 Matthew 22 By: Jim Crews Matthew 22: 1 - 10 Jesus continued speaking to them in parables. He told how the Kingdom of Heaven was comparable to a wedding feast that a king gave to his son. He sent servants calling for all who had been invited to come, but none would. They all had irrelevant excuses for missing the feast. Those who didn’t make excuses, seized the king’s servants, treating the shamefully and killing some of them. The king sent his troops to destroy those people and burn their city. He then told his servants that the wedding feast was ready, but those invited were not worthy. He sent them into the countryside to invite as many people as they could find. They gathered people, both bad and good, and the wedding hall was filled. This shows how the Jews were called and called to repentance and obedience by the Prophets, who they persecuted and killed. They would be destroyed for this, and the Kingdom given to others, more worthy of receiving it. Matthew 22: 11 - 14 Jesus continues with the parable after the Kingdom had been given to all, not just to Jews. The king came in and saw a guest who had no wedding garment. He had this man cast out into outer darkness. When we become a part of the Kingdom, we must remain faithful, or we will lose our portion in that Kingdom. Yes, we can fall from grace and be lost once we have become a Christian. This part of the parable illustrates that perfectly. Matthew 22: 15 - 22 The Pharisees were plotting about how to entangle Jesus with His words. They sent some of their disciples along with some Herodians to quiz Jesus. They asked Him whether or not it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar. Jesus knew what was in their hearts, and asked for a coin. He asked whose image was on the coin. They told Him it was the image of Caesar. Jesus then told them to give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. When they heard it, they marvelled and left. This means that we are to give to the governing authorities the things that belong to them, such as taxes and respect, as long as they don’t try to cross over into God’s territory by trying to define what marriage is or is not. Government has it’s side of the stick, and it is not to cross over to God’s side of the stick. When it does, we obey God and disregard government. Matthew 22: 23 - 33 The Sadducees took their turn at trying to entangle Jesus in His words. They told the strawman tale about a woman who had lawfully married seven brothers. The Sadducees didn’t believe in the resurrection of the dead, so they asked Jesus who would be her husband in the resurrection. They were trying to ridicule those who do believe in the resurrection by making them look absurd. Jesus, instead, exposed their ignorance and made them look absurd in their thoughts. He told them straight out they had no idea of what is taught in the Scriptures nor did they have any real knowledge of the power of God. In the resurrection, there is no marriage. This alone proves the AD 70 heretics are liars. In the resurrection, we will be as angels. He then clarified Scripture for them, by showing how God called Himself the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, speaking of them long after their physical death as though they were still alive. God is the God of the living, not the dead. The crowd heard this teaching and they were astonished. Matthew 22: 34 - 40 When they Pharisees heard that Jesus had completely silenced their rivals the Sadducees, they gathered to ask Him some more questions. One of them, a lawyer, asked Jesus which was the greatest commandment. Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6: 5 to them. We are to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind. He then quoted Leviticus 19: 18. We are to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. The Law and the Prophets are entirely dependent upon these two commandments. Men today use this part of Jesus teaching to say that the only commandments we have to follow are these. They claim that we don’t have to obey any of Jesus’ other commandments as long as we do this. They will be surprised on Judgment Day. Matthew 7: 21 - 23 Matthew 22: 41 - 46 Jesus then turned the tables and asked the Pharisees a question. He asked them whose son the Messiah was. They told Him the Messiah would be the son of David. Jesus then asked why David wrote what he did in Psalm 110: 1, which Jesus quoted. This passage has David calling the Messiah his Lord. Jesus asks the same thing that Peter would ask on Pentecost, if the Messiah is David’s son, why does David call Him Lord? Not a single one of those educated men could answer. In fact, they didn’t ask Him anything else because their ignorance had been clearly exposed for all to see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RETIREDFAN1 Posted September 8, 2019 Author Share Posted September 8, 2019 Matthew 23 By: Jim Crews Matthew 23: 1 - 12 Jesus told the crowds that the scribes and Pharisees should be listened to, and that they should do what they say, but not what they actually do. They preach properly, but do not practice what they are preaching. They lay heavy burdens on the people, but are unwilling to follow the teachings themselves. Everything they do is done in order to be seen by others and try to get praise from men. They love the place of honor at feasts and love to be called “rabbi” by the people. We are to call no man “father” on the earth, because we have One Who is our Father, that is God. We should not allow ourselves to be called “instructors” either, because we have One Instructor, Who is Christ the Son. The one who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted. Some people today would call Jesus a bad preacher for confronting the Pharisees as He is about to do and calling them out to their faces. Some people would say He should tone it down or He’s going to run people off. This is how people should be confronted with their sins, though. We need preaching like THIS instead of the feel-good, let’s not rock the boat preaching that most people want. Matthew 23: 13 - 15 Woe to the scribes and Pharisees because they are hypocrites. They shut people out of the Kingdom of Heaven. They won’t go in, nor will they allow anyone else to enter. Woe to the scribes and Pharisees because they are hypocrites. They will travel to the ends of the earth to make a proselyte, then when that person becomes a proselyte, they make him an even worse hypocrite than they are. Matthew 23: 16 - 22 Woe to these blind guides, who say if someone swears by the Temple the oath is meaningless. However if they swear by the gold in the Temple, the oath is binding. They place greater emphasis on the earthly treasures of gold than the heavenly gift God had blessed them with in the Temple. The same thing is illustrated with the altar and the things on the altar. Anytime you make an oath, you are bound to it. Matthew 23: 23 - 24 Woe to the scribes and Pharisees because they are hypocrites. They follow the Mosaic Law to the letter, but neglect the spirit of that Law. They tithe and sacrifice, but have no mercy, justice, or faithfulness. They are not condemned for being legalistic, they are condemned here for being hypocrites. They are told they should have followed the Law to the letter, but then condemned for neglecting to follow the spirit of the Law. Matthew 23: 25 - 26 Woe to the scribes and Pharisees because they are hypocrites. They put on a good outward appearance, but inside they are rotten to the core. They need to clean up their inside, then their outside will shine even brighter. Matthew 23: 27 - 28 Woe to the scribes and Pharisees because they are hypocrites. They put on a good show on the outside, but inside they are rotten to the core. Matthew 23: 29 - 36 Woe to the scribes and Pharisees because they are hypocrites. They build tombs for the Prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, claiming that if they had been alive in those days they would have listened to the message of these great men of God. This is witness against themselves that they are the sons of the ones who murdered the prophets. Jesus calls them snakes to their faces, and tells them they will not escape the vengeance of God for His Prophets. More prophets and wise men will be sent to proclaim the Gospel, and that current generation would kill and persecute them the same way their ancestors did the prophets of old. This will be the reason Jerusalem is allowed to be destroyed by the Romans. The blood of the prophets will be upon all of them, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Berechiah, who they killed between the sanctuary and the altar. Matthew 23: 37 - 39 Jesus speaks a lament over Jerusalem. Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it. God would have gladly gathered this city like a hen gathers her chicks, but they were not willing to obey. Jerusalem was about to be destroyed completely for their sins against God. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RETIREDFAN1 Posted September 9, 2019 Author Share Posted September 9, 2019 Matthew 24 By: Jim Crews Matthew 24: 1 - 2 Jesus had just spoken about Jerusalem and what was in store for it. They were leaving the Temple when His disciples pointed out how great that it was. Remember, the Jews had long ago begun to worship the Temple instead of God. We can do that today, if we place more emphasis on the church than we do on worshipping God in His revealed way. Jesus told them that the Temple would be utterly and completely destroyed. Matthew 24: 3 - 8 As they sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came and asked Jesus three questions. Question 1: When will these things be? This is them asking when the Temple would be destroyed. Question 2: What will be the sign of your coming? When will You return? Question 3: What are the signs of the end of the age? When will the Mosaic Age come to an end? Jesus began by answering question 3. He began with a warning of many false Messiahs and false teachers that would arise. They would hear of wars and there would be rumors of wars before the Temple and Jerusalem were destroyed and the Mosaic Age was brought to a complete end. Matthew 24: 9 - 14 The end of the age would bring the disciples great persecution, and many would fall away. They would be hated by all because of their faith in the Messiah. False prophets and false teachers would lead many more astray. Lawlessness would increase as many would forsake the simple teachings of Christ and turn to these false teachers. Many would grow cold in their zeal for the Gospel. Those who overcame and persevered would be saved. The Gospel of the Kingdom would be proclaimed throughout the entire world. Colossians 1: 5 - 7 These things would show that the Mosaic Age had ended. That age ended on Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2. These things prophesied happened to them at the beginning of the new age, the one we live in now. Matthew 24: 15 - 28 Jesus then answers question 1: What signs will foreshadow the Temple and Jerusalem being destroyed? Jesus told them when they see the abomination of desolation standing in the Temple that they should run for the hills. When the Romans set up in Jerusalem, the end is near. They are not to waste any time at all getting out of there, because the destruction will be great and total. Many false messiahs would show up performing fake signs and wonders leading up to the destruction by Rome. The Son will come in judgment against Jerusalem for all the sins and crimes it has committed against God’s prophets in the past. The blood of every prophet will be avenged at this time. Matthew 24: 29 - 31 Continuing to describe His vengeance against Jerusalem for their murder of His prophets, Jesus shows in Old Testament style prophetic language that this destruction comes from Him and is a final judgment on the Jews, as the Kingdom will be taken from them and given to all of humanity as God promised Abraham so long ago. Matthew 24: 32 - 35 Just as they recognize when a fig tree will bear fruit, so they should pay attention to all of these signs and know to get out of Jerusalem when they see them beginning. The generation He was speaking to would not pass away until the Mosaic Age came to and end and Jerusalem along with the Temple were completely destroyed. Matthew 24: 36 - 44 Now He answers question 2, when will He return in final judgment upon the world? He tells us that only the Father knows the time for that. This day will strike as suddenly and unexpectedly as the Flood. We should always be prepared, because we do not know when Judgment Day will come. We do know that it has not yet come, because people still marry and are still given in marriage, and we still partake of the Lord’s Supper. The AD 70 liars have no answer for these contradictions of their false doctrine. Matthew 24: 45 - 51 Who is the faithful servant? The one who the master finds doing his job when he returns. The wicked servant doesn’t do his job as he has been instructed. Jesus will return without warning, and we should always live our lives prepared for this. We should not be caught up in sin, not expecting His return, lest we be caught at the wrong time and doomed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RETIREDFAN1 Posted September 11, 2019 Author Share Posted September 11, 2019 Matthew 25 By: Jim Crews Matthew 25: 1 - 13 Jesus then tells them a parable comparing the Kingdom of Heaven to ten virgins who took their candles to meet the bridegroom. Five were wise, and five were foolish. The wise ones went prepared. The foolish ones were unprepared. When the bridegroom came, the wise ones were taken into his home, while the foolish ones were left out in the cold. This teaches disciples of Christ to always be prepared, because we don’t know when Judgment Day will occur. Matthew 25: 14 - 30 The Kingdom will be like a man who went on a journey. He gave one of his servants 5 talents, one 2 talents, and one 1 talent. A talent was a sum of money in those days. The ones who had received the 5 and 2 talents doubled their amount. The one with 1 talent did nothing with it. The master returned and rewarded the two servants who had increased their amount. He told them they had done a great job, and since they could be trusted with little, he could now trust them with a lot. He cast the lazy one into outer darkness who had done nothing with his, and gave his one talent to the man who had 10. This teaches us to use our time here on the Earth to spread the Gospel and help increase the Kingdom. Everyone who has the Gospel will receive much more when they obey and grow. Judgment Day will be a great day for these. Those who do not have the Gospel and do not obey it will lose everything. Judgment Day will be only the beginning of these folks eternal suffering. Matthew 25: 31 - 40 When Judgment Day does come, the Messiah will return with His angels. He will be sitting on a glorious throne with all the nations gathered at His feet. He will separate the individuals who obeyed Him from those who did not. Those who obeyed Him are the ones who heard the Word, believed, the Word, and obeyed the Word by repenting of their sins, confessing their faith publicly, and being immersed in water to have their sins washed away. These then continued to live faithful lives doing the good deeds that demonstrate faith to God. James 2: 14 - 26 These will receive the gift of eternal life. Matthew 25: 41 - 46 Those on the left are those who did not obey Him, or obeyed Him and then fell away. They are also those who did not do the good works that demonstrate our faith to Christ. They did not help out their fellow man, and thus did not make the confession of their faith in Christ through their good works. These are cast into hell and outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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