Failing can sometimes be a good thing because it reminds us that we need help and we don’t have it all together, were not perfect and we need God. Peter thought he had it together and he thought he could do a great work for God by himself, in the flesh (his own physical power) as did all the other disciples.  Read More

Jesus used the bread and the cup at the Passover meal as symbols of his death in order to show that he was fulfilling a number of OT passages and events.   Read More

It is interesting that the decision point for entry to heaven is how we live, not the mere fact of us “knowing Jesus as Savior.”  Read More

Jesus has expectations of us to manage well everything we are entrusted with. He does not force us. We have free will. But one day we will answer for our stewardship.  Read More

This chapter begins with a discussion between Jesus and his disciples about the Temple in Jerusalem. Jesus prophesied that the temple would be destroyed. The disciples followed up with a question about the timing of Jesus’ return and the end of the age; the time of God’s final judgment.  Read More

It is possible to be orthodox in our beliefs about God and be diligently engaged in religious practices, spiritual disciplines, and moral behaviors without being a true Christian.  Read More

The Triumphal Entry has taken place. Jesus has been in the Temple in Jerusalem teaching and healing people. The Sadducees and the Pharisees are doing their best to test Jesus with their questions.   Read More

If you realize people are trying to force you into a tight predicament by asking a question that they are not interested in the real answer, we need to be slow to give an answer, sometimes praying and being mindful of how we say things can make a world of difference.  Read More

The reading for today consists mainly of two parables of Jesus. They are both directed at the Pharisees and Chief Priests. The first parable compares the actions of two sons. The first son expressed an unwillingness to obey his father initially but he changed his mind and obeyed the father’s instructions, but never followed through obedient actions.  Read More

MATTHEW 21:18-27SCRIPTURE HIGHLIGHTS: Vs 22 - And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” Vs 27 - So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things. OBSERVATIONS:Jesus was hungry and went over to a fig tree, found no fruit on it and then pronounced a curse on it and the tree died. This is a curious ...  Read More

The first 11 verses of Matthew 21 are called The Triumphal Entry. This event of the life of Christ is one of the few events that are found in all 4 Gospels. So we can conclude that this is a significant event not only to the people who were there but to us today as well.   Read More

Jesus showed us what “greatness” is all about and it is completely counter to our cultural understanding.  Read More

All those invited to God's kingdom receive equal blessings according to God's grace and will. Therefore, we should revere God's grace and will and lead our actions and attitudes with trust and obedience.   Read More

Who gets into the kingdom of heaven? This passage has a contrast between children who are welcomed and blessed by Jesus and a young man who goes away disappointed.  Read More

The Pharisees were trying to trap Jesus by having Him choose sides in a theological argument about divorce. The two schools of thought which represented two opposing views of divorce.   Read More

We are to be persistent when seeking reconciliation; if our first private attempt fails, we should include 2-3 fellow Christian to get the facts straight. If that fails, we should involve the church.  Read More

Paul challenges us to take on the humility of Christ in Philippians 2:3-11.  Read More

Matthew 17:1-13SCRIPTURE HIGHLIGHT4 And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.”5 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”12 But I tell you that Elijah has al...  Read More

What we believe about Jesus is important. We cannot claim to be Christians unless we are willing to accept that Jesus is who he revealed himself to be.  Read More

The Pharisees and Sadducees wanting to test Jesus reminds me of the temptation of Jesus in Matthew 4. “Prove yourself!” In that passage Jesus tells them, “Don’t test the Lord your God.” Here he says, “You’re clever enough to look at the sky and predict the weather, but you’re too thick to see what’s right in front of your eyes.”  Read More

A Canaanite woman comes to Jesus requesting him to heal/deliver her daughter who was under the control of a demon. The fact that she was a Canaanite is important because Canaanites were enemies of Israel historically.  Read More

We must be careful that our best intentions don’t undermine the commands of God. We need to know we can be unschooled and be called by God to be told his secrets and intentions.   Read More

There was a severe storm in the middle of the night. It was 3 am in the morning, and the disciples had toiled all night long. They were tired, and terrified. Then they saw a man walking on water toward them, and they panicked. . .   Read More

We see that Herod misused his authority to fulfill the wicked desires of evildoers. In contrast, Jesus used His authority with compassion and love, meeting the spiritual and physical needs of His people.  Read More