The Gospels

Read This Week: Matthew 9

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” – Matthew 9:35-38 NIV

Matthew chapter 9 is a tour de force in this gospel. This chapter is full of so many significant events and happenings including, Jesus calling Matthew himself to follow Him and be one of his disciples. The other sections are full of details of the public ministry of Jesus and the various people he touched and healed like a paralytic, a sick woman, a dead girl, and two blind men, one of whom was also a mute.

Yet, the calling of Matthew stands out among all of these events. It is significant to the author, but it is also critical to the challenge that Jesus issues to His followers at the end of the chapter. Jesus’ plea to Matthew is significant in its context for two reasons. 

First, it happened in public where others could observe it because of the societal scorn that tax collectors received from the people. Matthew’s employment made him a figure of contempt for many of his Galilean contemporaries, and Jesus undoubtedly wanted to make an open statement about who can be his disciple by calling a person everyone despised. Secondly, we can’t overlook the response of Matthew to the calling itself. The Bible tells us that it was simple, pointed, and obedient. Verse 9 says he got up and followed him.

In this passage and the other gospels, Matthew’s response to Jesus is immediate and without wavering. It shows us that he did not argue or protest. He didn’t ask a lot of questions or inquire as to how it would be done and what it would take. He didn’t engage Jesus in a religious discussion, and he didn’t have a lot of excuses about how busy he was or how it would impact his life and business. He didn’t even tell Jesus that it wasn’t a good idea in light of his social standing. He simply leaves everything to follow Christ.

And not only does he follow him, but Matthew also hosts a party at his house with his colleagues, friends, and others from the community. He could not wait to share what happened to him and introduce his circle to Jesus. This is a powerful example for us of what it means to surrender to and follow God. It also is an incredible segue into Jesus’ final teaching in the chapter after he sees the spiritual and physical condition of the people and has compassion on them. He turns to his disciples and says to them:

“The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”  

Jesus is essentially saying that the need is immense and the supply must answer it. There is so much to do for the kingdom and to bring glory to God. So many people are hurting, struggling, confused, and seeking. The spiritual needs in our cities, towns, communities, and neighborhoods are vast and require those who know Jesus to step out, go and supply His love in sharing the good news of salvation.

May we see this and be like Matthew when he was called. May we not waver for one minute, but in the power of Christ, get up and follow. May we go above and beyond and throw a party so we can tell everyone we know. May the need for the gospel never be greater than the supply.

Read This Week: Matthew 8

Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” – Matthew 8:23-27 NIV

There is a famous saying that goes: Keep Calm and Carry On! It originated in Britain as a motivational and inspirational motto of the people to persevere during the trials and horrors of World War II. It was a rallying cry of hope and faith that things would be okay in their darkest hours. The presence of Jesus in our lives does the same for us. It gives us the ability to stay calm in the middle of our struggles. It allows us to keep going with strength and resolve despite fatigue, exhaustion, and hopelessness. 

The part of this passage in Matthew 8, where the storm hits the boat that the disciples and Jesus are aboard, shows us that we can persevere while facing critical moments if we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us to put our faith and confidence in Christ. It also shows that we often want God to do something miraculous in our lives when He wants to do something miraculous in us that becomes the proof of our faith.

This outward expression of trust in the power of God is why Jesus questioned the disciples in verse 26. We allow unbelief and the inability to see what He wants to do in and through us to cause us to have little faith and be so afraid. Fear places distance between our hearts and the faith and trust we need in God alone. Instead of crying out to the Lord to save us during the most crucial and violent parts of the storm, we often decide to rescue ourselves.

We look at the effect of the wind on the waves and at the waves themselves when we should have been looking to Jesus, who has ultimate authority over both. He can simultaneously soothe the circumstances that have us distressed while keeping us spiritually, emotionally, and physically calm in the process. The end of verse 26 tells us that the wind and the waves were completely calm after Jesus spoke peace to them. He can do the same to anything on our journey. But until we fully trust Father God in and out of trouble, we do not know how much faith is within us. We have not fully realized how powerful God is until we allow Him full authority to keep us calm in the storm.

Life can take us to the brink where we feel like we have nothing left. It can take us to the end of ourselves to exhaustion and depletion. But, when we trust Jesus and let Him empower us and regenerate that strength inside us, we will stay completely calm and carry on. We will testify as they did in the boat and say to ourselves and the world: What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him! Then we will obey and follow Him and go further than we ever thought we could go. 

Read This Week: Matthew 7

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, yet it did not fall because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
– Matthew 7:24-27 NIV

A house, building, or structure of any kind is only as good as its foundation. Casual knowledge of construction may lead one to believe that the foundation is just another element of the overall process. But it is the most important part of building anything. Mistakes made in the foundation will only get worse as the rest of the project goes up. This progressive worsening is known as compounding defect, and it means that these flaws only grow and impact the entire structure. However, a solid, stable foundation results in compounding strength, and it ensures that the whole house will be formidable and stand the test of time no matter what comes. 

Compound strength is what Jesus was teaching about in Matthew 7. He addressed the judgment of others, the boldness of faith to seek God and ask Him for things, the narrow path to salvation, and discerning the difference between true and false teachers and disciples. Then, in a capitulation of addressing all this, Jesus reveals the key to it all – a solid foundation built on the Word of God. He says in verses 24-25:

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.

Building the proper foundation is of vital importance in life. Jesus taught extensively about that which underwrites our morals, values, and principles can ultimately determine our outcome. We see in His teachings that earthly distractions, flawed subjectivity, discontentment, sin, and poor judgment can lead to restlessness and dissatisfaction with the process of building the right foundation. Yet, every foundation has a result for better or worse, and we ultimately want one of compound strength, not one of defect.

Jesus encourages us to take an intentional approach to what we build our lives on. The best foundation may be taking too long for our desires. Instant gratification can lead us to a false conclusion that the shortest process is the one we should be taking. But the best isn’t always the quickest. Right does not equal fast. The longer foundational process may be the best one for us. Our lives will benefit from the development of patience, endurance, and character while our goals and dreams marinate and gain experience.

The best foundation might be a little too difficult for our liking. Insecurity and discomfort with our surroundings become our building blocks and affect the entire framework of our lives. But the best isn’t always the safest. Right does not equal easy. The risky process may be the best one for us. Our lives will benefit from the development of resolve, obedience, and courage while our faith and hope materialize in the face of uncertainty.

The Word of God holds the wisdom, credibility, and sovereign power to help us build the best foundation that will lead to compound strength in our lives. This holistic strength will help us withstand the struggles and challenges of the journey, stand up to the storms and shifting sands of life, and keep us grounded when we have success. We must be wise builders of our lives and base them on the eternal foundation of the Lord’s objective truth and perfect words. He is the rock-solid base that will not allow us to fall. 

Read This Week: Matthew 6

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.” – Matthew 6:19-25 NIV

The treasures on earth. They, like our lives, are fragile. They are not immune to disappearing; they are not resistant to change. They can vanish tomorrow. They can be stolen and taken away much faster than it took to acquire them. The elements of the earth like moths, rats, and rust can destroy and corrupt them.

The carefully curated things that required time, energy, passion, creativity, and resources beyond imagination can often amount to nothing more than the cement residue left in the impressions of a statue. Verses 19-20 paints a pretty clear picture of this: Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

Why do we pursue these treasures on earth when we know they can be gone in an instant? Why do we sacrifice our lives to construct and guard them? Why do we forsake what matters most to preserve them? The words of Jesus in His Sermon on the Mount were prescriptive. He said that we should pursue the things that rust, time, thieves, or disaster cannot touch. Things like righteousness, goodness, love, and mercy. 

In essence, we should run hard after the things God values. That is laying up treasures in heaven, treasures that last forever. Then joy, peace, and fulfillment will reign even while our possessions, trophies, and earthly rewards are carried away, eaten, melted down, or aged beyond recognition. If our heart is right and concerned only with the things of heaven, it will not be a big deal when we don’t have any treasures on earth. Verses 20-21 says:

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

We are to treasure Jesus most of all. When He is our treasure, we will commit our money, time, gifts, and talents to the gospel and the Lord’s work in the world. We see in this chapter that if we value the things of God above all and our passion lies in the running after what can never be taken away from us, we won’t worry. A life filled with heavenly treasures is one free from worry, and a life free from worry is treasured.

Read This Week: Matthew 5

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. He said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. – Mathew 5:1-10 NIV

During the ministry of Jesus, large crowds would follow him from place to place to listen to him speak, perform miracles, and be around him. These gatherings of followers provided incredible opportunities to speak the truth, embody the gospel, and preach about the coming kingdom. Matthew 5 capsules such an opportunity by recording The Sermon on the Mount, one of the most impactful and practical teachings of Jesus’ life.

The Beatitudes can be understood as a spiritual and ethical standard for all believers and the contrast between eternal and temporary values. These ten verses are pivotal because they introduce the difference between having a relationship with God and simply following religious rules. The Beatitudes are not about the subjective feelings of the blessed person, but it is the objective reality when God reigns in the heart of a person, and they live their life through Christ.

The Beatitudes show us that to be blessed and therefore happy is to be a beneficiary of God’s grace, recognize it, and obediently live within it. Happy is the person who:

• Sees and embraces their need for God and stops trying to compensate and cover it up. (v.3)
• Lives the eternal kind of life in the here and now. (v.3)
• Is broken over his condition apart from God. (v.4)
• Avoids the façade of spiritual health and lives in the reality of open transparency with Christ and others. (v.5)
• Finds humility not in being humble but in the fact that God gives it to them. (v.5)
• Understands they don’t need the world to live happily but only in their relationship with Christ. (v.5)
• Has a compelling desire to live a life of integrity. (v.6)
• Recognizes they have received mercy and shows it to others. (v.7)
• Has a heart that is decided and undivided. (v.8)
• Cultivates integrity in their public and private life. (v.8)
• Has a receptive heart that is open to change. (v.8)
• Is willing to fight for peace with the truth. (v.9)
• Lets peace consume their heart like a child of God. (v.9)
• Embraces the joy of a life with God no matter the circumstances. (v.10)
• Stays on the mission. (v.10)

Everyone wants to be happy. The problem with pursuing happiness is we are often misguided in our search for it. Happiness as a follower of Jesus is not merely serendipitous or dependent upon people, circumstances, and things. It is the holistic embrace of God’s truth and the following of His principles and prescription for a successful life.

A blessed and happy life is one built on the hope, confidence in, and application of the unchangeable foundations of the Word of God and not on societal norms, current cultural trends, and the whims and moods of others. That’s what happiness is.

Read This Week: Matthew 4

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting for forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

– Matthew 4:1-4 & 10-11 NIV

Life would be so much easier and much more manageable without sin, temptation, and the difficulty that comes along with them. These elements can bring a sudden and cruel nature to our daily walk. Satan and his attacks create intense engagements with our circumstances, surroundings, other people, and ourselves. From sickness to the affliction of other diseases to tragic loss to relational discord to unemployment and difficulty moving on from traumatic situations, it seems that life is a constant struggle.

As we genuinely attempt to follow Christ and be faithful to His commands, we can sometimes forget that in the middle of this pursuit is a warring agent that not only wants to knock us off-kilter but desires to take us out. As naive as it may seem, we can lose sight of the fact that we are engaged in a struggle of great magnitude with a formidable enemy. This confrontation even happened to Jesus Himself in Matthew 4. He gets baptized, the Holy Spirit of God descended upon Him to start His public ministry, and then he is immediately led into the wilderness to be tempted. This chapter also tells us that Jesus is physically weak from hunger. Verse 1 says:

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting for forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

So here is Jesus coming off of a spiritual victory and feeling filled with the Spirit of God but a little tired and hungry. It is the perfect time for temptation and the devil to try and take advantage. This scene is not unlike our own lives. We experience a spiritual victory, have some good things going, get a little tired, and our adversary sees this as the perfect moment to tempt, lie, and accuse us so that we may fall and be destroyed.

In this passage (and other places in the New Testament), we see that our enemy is not ourselves or other people or anything that originated in the earthly dimension. Our adversary is supernatural and more intelligent, cunning, and powerful than we imagine. His many attributes include wickedness, hate, and deception. So how do we handle and overcome this? The good news is that we have Jesus’ example and His power to help us in these moments throughout the entirety of our lives on earth. 

We see Jesus do three things to resist temptation and the enemy. He confronts him with the Word of God (v.4) and corresponds to the truth in the face of accusations. Jesus reminds Satan of his place and his lack of authority to test and tempt Him (v.7). Then He commands Satan to get away from Him in the name of God (v.10). This approach is our template for temptation and spiritual attacks. We stay in the Bible and correspond to it when we are being lied to; we remind ourselves and the enemy that he does not have authority over God or us in Christ; we get ourselves away from the temptation by worshipping the name God. 

The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus is the central key to our spiritual battles. Christ alone gives us the win over Satan and empowers us to live successfully amid our fallenness. With him on our side, we cannot lose despite some grueling moments that would suggest otherwise. Colossians 2:14-15 assures us that Jesus disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross. 

In Christ, we can resist and live victoriously above every temptation that comes our way. By following God’s voice and applying the example of Jesus, we can defeat the devil and enjoy the benefits of being in an intimate relationship with the Lord that bring healing, peace, and hope. Verse 11 shows us our reality with God’s help: Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. This is the winning walk.

Read This Week: Matthew 3

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” – Matthew 3:1-3 NIV

We live in an information age. At no time in human history has access to information that we can use in our lives, careers, relationships, and spiritual journeys been more readily available. We can tap a button on our phone or make a click on a computer, and we can engage with a plethora of data, information, and knowledge. This access also allows us to share the message of Jesus Christ to the world like never before.

Modern technology, the internet, and a vast amount of communication mediums were not available in ancient times. Information and messages about the world and God were not readily available. People got their messages through the decrees of their rulers, word of mouth, and by those proclaiming it to them. They had to hear about them (remember when that was a thing in our lives?). When something important was to be told or accomplished, the ancient custom was to send people ahead and prepare them for the message.

John the Baptist was that person called to go before Jesus and prepare the way for him and his message. He went out to where the people were and preached the coming of the kingdom of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ that everyone would soon witness. Verses 1-2 says:

In those days, John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 

John’s role was to prepare the way for the Lord. The word prepare means “to make ready” and in this context, also means “to prepare the minds of men to give the Messiah a fit reception and secure his blessings.” This indicates that the purpose of John’s message was to get the people ready to hear the good news of salvation so that they would be willing and able to receive it when Jesus came along. The preaching of John was clearing the path for people to walk to find Jesus.

The modern-day believer and follower of Jesus have the same mission as John the Baptist in ancient times (outside of baptizing Jesus). We are to go out where the people are and where we find ourselves living, working, and doing life, and prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. We are to express love, gratitude, kindness, and goodness to people as we share and help them be ready to receive the message when the Holy Spirit draws them in. With our words and actions, we should prepare the way for others to know Christ. We should show them the eternal blessing it is to be in a relationship with and do life with God.

Times and access to information have changed, but the mission remains the same. Christians are to set the table for the main course. We are to live as Jesus did, preach as John did, and clear the path for people to see the validity and power of the gospel message. Our lives should not be a hindrance to others experiencing the salvation, grace, and love of God through Christ. May we take our role as preparers of the way very seriously. In the manner in which we talk, treat others, and engage in activities. All of these things, if guided by the Holy Spirit, can make paths straight for others to have a life in God.

Read This Week: Matthew 2

After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel.” So he got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. And he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene. – Matthew 2:19-20 & 23 NIV

The great poet, T.S. Eliot, once wrote, “We shall not cease from exploring but at the end of our exploration, we will return to where we started and know the place for the first time.” Eliot was describing the beautiful contradiction that exists within the human soul. We are, by nature, explorers and curious beings with an appetite for the unknown and a craving to experience what is unfamiliar.

All the while, this unbridled spirit hides within itself a silent affection for the place it knows well and a feeling to be in its surroundings. The heart of the voyager is alive when it has the freedom to investigate, even though it betrays itself with the longing for home. Here is the intersection of our desire to both search and survive. Here, it can feel like one has been gone forever from the place they are supposed to be. Toiling in exile like one pining to return to a place they have never been.

This was the situation for Joseph, Mary, and Jesus in Matthew 2. They were in Bethlehem for the birth of Christ as the prophecy foretold and visited by the Magi, who King Herod was trying to use to locate Jesus so he could kill him. After this, an angel of the Lord told them to go to Egypt to escape the wrath of Herod. Then after some time, they were instructed to return to Israel, but they had to go to Galilee and Nazareth to avoid Archelaus (the son of Herod), who was now in power. Verses 21 and 23 tell us:

So he got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. And he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.

Joseph, Mary, and Jesus were people without a place to belong. They were sojourners trying to return to their home armed with nothing but faith and obedience in the word of the Lord. God was guiding them away from trouble, through uncertainty, and amid all the things that would threaten them as they fulfilled His purposes. God was helping them navigate their return home. Verses 19-20 says:

After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.”

Our lives and journeys are no different. Our paths are littered with paradox yet with a singular purpose to restore what is strange to its rightful place of intimacy. It is a never-ending story of discovery and longing for where we started. That’s why we need faith in the guidance and precise direction from The One, not limited by the human condition. The One who transcends anything that may influence or manipulate us. The One with the ability to help us navigate life. He knows best and we must trust Him to return home.

Read This Week: Matthew 1

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. – Matthew 1:18, 22-25 NIV

One of the greatest and most hopeful feelings we can have is to know that someone is with us. The presence of someone on our journey that is certain, consistent, and reliable evokes positive emotions. Someone being with us brings security and peace in all seasons of our lives, especially the challenging ones. 

The Gospel of Matthew encapsulates this theme as it begins the narrative of Jesus. From the genealogies to the story of Joseph learning that his wife would have a child conceived by the Holy Spirit to how Jesus was born, the idea of God being with us can be seen, felt, and known in this gospel. Perhaps even the author, Matthew, a tax collector before he met Jesus, wants to highlight this from his own experience. Tax collectors were despised within the Jewish community, and he undoubtedly had moments where he must have felt alone and without an advocate. He writes in verses 22-23:

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

Jesus is called Immanuel, or God with us. The birth and incarnation of Christ was God becoming flesh and being with us on earth. It paved the way for God to be with us through the person of the Holy Spirit as we live daily, read the Bible, and pray. God is with us through all the activities of our life. He comforts, enlightens, protects, and defends us as we hurt, seek to grow, and face temptation and trials. God was with Joseph and Mary and was present in all the events and circumstances leading up to the birth of Jesus. God was with all those who followed Christ while He was on the earth and with those who would come after including us. 

Jesus assuming human form to dwell among people shows how God reached down to bring glory to Himself and save man. It shows that we can come to Him because He came to us. It shows that we can approach Him with our worries, fears, problems, and anxieties because He relates and understands. It shows the love God has for the world that He would be with us, stand beside us, intercede on our behalf, and guide us.

So, if we ever wonder if God is for us or when we are tempted to believe that we’re all alone, we just need to remember God with us. He sent His Son to be Immanuel to close the gap between Him and us that could not be bridged by anything else. He loves us and is with us every step of the way.