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Category Archives: Jesus Christ
blasphemy and heaven’s king
Matthew 12. The scribes and Pharisees condemn Jesus for what he is doing. They do not realize it, but they are committing the unpardonable sin. They are attacking the work that God is doing through his chosen servant (15-21), empowered … Continue reading
Posted in church, discernment, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, kingdom of God, witness
Tagged Matthew 12
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disappointment and heaven’s king
Matthew 11. The tone of Jesus’ preaching ministry changes a bit in this chapter, as he adjusts to a time of disappointment. John the Baptist had been violently taken by force. Even John was beginning to question whether … Continue reading
Posted in confidence, conflict, Jesus Christ, kingdom of God, perseverance, sovereignty of God
Tagged Matthew 11
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the authority of heaven’s king
Matthew 8. At the conclusion of his sermon on the mount, the crowds were astonished at the authority with which Jesus had taught (7:28-29). Authority is the right to decide things. It is the ability to make commands in a … Continue reading
Posted in dependence upon God, discipleship, faith, Jesus Christ, kingdom of God, submission
Tagged Matthew 8
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the scriptures and heaven’s king
Matthew 5:17-48. Jesus taught his disciples to have a different attitude toward the Law and the Prophets (that is, the Old Testament scriptures) (17). He particularly warned them not to follow the path established by the scribes and Pharisees (20). … Continue reading
Posted in adoption, church, commitment, discipleship, faithfulness, Jesus Christ, kingdom of God
Tagged Matthew 5
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promises from heaven’s king
Matthew 5:1-16. Christ’s message and ministry brought light to a dark land. He now challenges his disciples to live up to that message by being salt and light so that others may see their good works. What is the payoff? … Continue reading
Posted in discipleship, future, grace, Jesus Christ, kingdom of God, relationship with God, suffering, witness
Tagged Matthew 5
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testing heaven’s king
Matthew 4:1-11. Jesus responded rightly to each of the devil’s temptations in this narrative. He used the word of God to combat the challenges the tempter brought to him. Yet it is equally clear that there are fundamental flaws in … Continue reading
Posted in dependence upon God, faith, genuineness, Jesus Christ, prayer, scriptures
Tagged Matthew 4
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preparing for heaven’s king
Matthew 3. The life of John the Baptist was consumed with one task: preparing Israel for heaven’s king. His call for repentance was directed not toward the pagan masses, but toward a nation whose heart had forgotten that their God … Continue reading
Posted in commitment, destruction in hell, discernment, ethnic Israel, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, preparation, second coming
Tagged Matthew 3
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the destiny of heaven’s king
Matthew 2:13-23. Who you are right now is the result of a thousand decisions – some large and some small – and those decisions shaped your destiny. The catalysts for those decisions are various. In Jesus’ early life, his parents … Continue reading
Posted in dependence upon God, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, scriptures, second coming
Tagged Matthew 2
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the virgin birth of heaven’s king
Jesus’ birth was completely natural; there was nothing supernatural about it. His conception was the miracle. The human DNA that would have come from Joseph in a natural conception came from the Holy Spirit instead. Matthew tells the story by … Continue reading
the earthly family of heaven’s king
Matthew 1:1-17. The Gospel of Matthew is a great adventure story by which readers are confronted with the reality that they have been visited by an extra-terrestrial: heaven’s king, Jesus Christ. Matthew first encountered the king when he was called … Continue reading
Posted in ethnic Israel, family, gospel, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, kingdom of God, plan of God
Tagged Matthew 1
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Devotions 