Pursuing the Prize Matthew 13:44–46 On finding one pearl of great value, [he] went and sold all that he had and bought it. Matthew 13:46 What did the two men in the parables in these verses do when they came upon treasure? First, they recognized the value of what they had found. Second, they determined…

The Open Heart Matthew 13:1–23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. Matthew 13:23 The open heart receives the gospel like good soil receives seed. This soil produces a good crop. Three minor points might be made. 1. Only a portion (in the…

God’s Servant Matthew 12:15–21 Behold, my servant whom I have chosen. Matthew 12:18 Matthew sums up who Jesus was and indicates the nature of his ministry by quoting a well-known messianic passage from Isaiah (42:1–4; Matt. 12:18–21). This is the longest quotation from the Old Testament in Matthew but it is not a word-for-word quotation….

A Gospel Invitation Matthew 11:25–30 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden. Matthew 11:28 It is difficult to think of an invitation more important or more gracious than this. There are several reasons why this invitation is so gracious. 1. The invitation is for everyone. Jesus’s words are for people of all…

Deciding for Christ Matthew 10:17–42 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Matthew 10:39 The last verses of Jesus’s discourse (vv. 17–42) focus on a person’s relationship with Jesus in two ways. First, they focus on the disciple himself and whether he remains true…

Teaching, Preaching, and Healing Matthew 9:35–38 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching . . . preaching . . . and healing. Matthew 9:35 (NIV) What was Jesus doing at this time? Verse 35 tells us that Jesus was doing exactly what he had been doing all along. 1. Jesus taught in their synagogues. This is the…

Spiritual Sickness Matthew 8:1–17 He took our illnesses and bore our diseases. Matthew 8:17 We need to look at the miracle stories not as simple stories about Jesus’s ability to make sick people well, but for what they teach us about sin and its cure. When we do this, we find four unmistakable lessons. 1….

True or Empty Claims Matthew 7:1–23 Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 7:21 Jesus contrasts those who profess to follow Jesus—they call him “Lord, Lord”—yet do not do what God requires, and those (the contrast is implied) who do the will of God and thereby prove…

Mourning That Leads to Action Matthew 5:1–12 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4 The second beatitude can refer to sorrow aroused by the suffering of others. Christianity is partly caring for other people. And it should produce a sound social conscience. In fact, if it does not, we have…

Following Jesus Matthew 4:12–25 Follow me. Matthew 4:19 The words “follow me” occur twenty times in the Gospels. But in addition, there are scores of references in which one person or another is said to have followed Christ. Why are these two words so important? They are important because they teach important truths about what…