We have read about the king’s heritage, the king’s herald, the coming kingdom, and the king’s baptism and temptations, but it isn’t until Matthew 5 that we encounter the king teaching the kingdom. It may seem as though there is a preposition missing in that last sentence but there isn’t; […] Read more
Matthew 4:12-25 – Some Kingdom Basics
One of my favorite elements of the earth’s landscapes is the mountain. If I could, I’d have a house far enough away from mountains so I could see them clearly, but close enough so I could climb them daily. While I enjoy looking at mountain peaks, I don’t often study […] Read more
Matthew 4:1-11 – The King of the Kingdom
Matthew 4:1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Matthew 4:1 These first words of Matthew 4 might suggest this section more appropriately fits with the petition “lead us not into temptation” than the petition “Your kingdom come.” Yet, while […] Read more
Matthew 3 – Introducing the Kingdom
The name of the Lord shines brightly through each verse of Matthew’s first two chapters; that name we hold hallowed as we pray and offer praise. Certainly, the whole of scripture is a revelation of God, but Matthew’s first two chapters seem to be especially focused on his work, providing […] Read more
The Lost Children
Another Passover in Jerusalem. Another year mindlessly offering gifts. Another year with a heavy heart. I know G-d wants us to sacrifice, but it seems to be a one-way street; what has he ever had to sacrifice? I used to like Passover. Passover celebrates that time when G-d spared Israel’s […] Read more
Matthew 2:13-23 – God’s (VERY) Mysterious Ways
At first glance, this passage seems to merely reiterate a number of things we’ve already discovered about God. God communicates to his people through dreams and through his prophets. God’s plan is unalterable regardless of how much man or Satan try to interfere. And God protected Jesus so that he […] Read more
Matthew 2:1-12 – God’s (NOT-SO) Mysterious Ways
Over the years I’ve read this passage (Matthew 2:1-12) a number of times and always focused on the wise men and their gifts, Herod and his insecurities, and baby Jesus and his mother, but I don’t think I’ve ever considered the chief priests and the scribes. God, through the prophet […] Read more
Matthew 1:18-25 – God’s Timely Gift
Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name. There is a video on Youtube you may have seen titled “Basketball Awareness Test” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KB_lTKZm1Ts). Two teams of four players — one dressed in white, one in black — pass a basketball between themselves. You are asked to track the number of […] Read more
Matthew 1:1–17 – God’s Eternal Plan
As a bit of an introduction, I wrote quite a bit about the Lord’s Prayer and the Sermon on the Mount a year or so ago (you can access those posts here: The Lord’s Prayer – Lord, Teach us to Pray…). Since that time, I’ve written about the book of […] Read more
“A Puzzle or Person?” Revisited
I was reading my notes and past entries trying to decide if I should write anything more when I read the following paragraph in my first post on the book of James: In my folder of notes on the letter of James is one heavily marked-up outline at the top […] Read more