Reading the Gospels in 2026 (9/24): Matthew 5:17-26.

Sep24

Read and Believe in Jesus.

“I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:20

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REVIEW – True disciples of Jesus are “salt” and “light” to the world. Our manner of life, our “attitudes,” and our testimonies should cause others to thirst for Jesus. And by not hiding our faith, either in the world or in our families, we can show others how to find Him.

It’s not that His followers SHOULD BE salt and light; we ARE salt and light. So let’s allow Him to shake us out of our comfort zones, remove our timidness and fears, and change us into bold witnesses for Him.

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Matthew 5:17-20.

The Law.

Does Jesus teach “the Law”?

Now that the Messiah has come, do we ignore the Law?

What was/is the purpose of the law then, and now?

Right off, Jesus makes one thing clear to His listeners. He has NOT come to abolish (get rid of, or nullify) the Law.

Jesus said, “I have not come to abolish, but to fulfill the Law. Truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one ‘jot or tittle’ will pass from the Law until ALL is accomplished.”

NOTE: Jots and tittles were the tiny marks that made up the Hebrew letters (like the dots over the i’s and j’s, and the crossing of the t’s in English).

Jesus fulfilled the “moral law” by keeping it perfectly.

Jesus fulfilled the “ceremonial law” by being everything the types and symbols pointed to.

And Jesus fulfilled the “judicial law” by exhibiting God’s perfect justice and ‘paying the wages’ of OUR sin on the cross.

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“Therefore, whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same, will be called ‘least’ in the kingdom…” and “…whoever does and teaches them will be called ‘great’…”

Don’t ignore God’s law: obey it humbly, and teach it rightly.

And then that shocker!

‘Unless YOUR righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will NEVER enter the kingdom of heaven.”

The people saw and heard the religious leaders brag about keeping the last speck of the law (no, going over and beyond it!), and how they paraded their good deeds before all the ‘lesser’ people, even thanking God that THEY were not like those nobodies. How could anyone keep the law better than they?

Jesus saw right through the Pharisees’ shiny facade to the filth and defilement (pride, greed, hate) in their hearts. He would later call them out, comparing them to ‘whitewashed tombs’. No, the people of HIS kingdom were to exhibit true righteousness, which comes from acknowledgment of sin and godly repentance.

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Matthew 5:21-26.

‘You have heard that it was said…”

And now Jesus begins a section of “explaining” the heart and truth of the Law – those parts of God’s word that the Pharisees didn’t “get.” He begins the next six sections in Matthew five with these or similar words, then gives the text from Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5.

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“…You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.” (Exodus 20:13)

Then, Jesus goes deeper into God’s law, revealing the heart attitudes that come BEFORE the act of murder.

“But I say to you that everyone who is ANGRY with his brother… whoever INSULTS his brother… whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to judgment, and… even the hell of fire.

WOW! Why?

Because those are “murder” in your heart and mouth. It just hasn’t come out in actions.

How often have I been angry with a loved one, insulted them, or called them offensive names!!! Jesus says these are worthy of judgment as much as murder. HIS kingdom is one of meekness, mercy, purity of heart, and a desire to reconcile with others. THIS is the heart of God behind the law.

So what is Jesus’ resolution to these angry attitudes towards others?

Don’t keep on going like nothing is wrong while you seethe inside (or perhaps plot violence!).

Jesus says to “reconcile with your brother and quickly come to terms with your accuser,” and only THEN can you come before Him with a “pure heart” and make your offerings. He will accept them now.

And you won’t end up in the hangman’s noose or in prison with a life sentence.

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(Oh, boy, has this smacked me in the face! I was recently very angry with my husband. I insulted him and called him a fool, in so many words. It has weighed heavily on my conscience. THIS is NOT how I must live in Jesus’ kingdom. Today, when he returns from work, I will apologize, ask for his forgiveness, and reconcile with him. And THEN I will go to my Heavenly Father and do the same.)

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Reading the Gospels in 2026 (9/23): Matthew 5:13-16.

Sep23

Read and Believe in Jesus.

“You are the salt of the earth.” Matthew 5:13.

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REVIEW – The “beatitudes” began Jesus’ well-known Sermon on the Mount. Here He was speaking to His disciples or followers. He’d taken a break from the “healing” side of His ministry and began teaching those seeking His kingdom. Jesus taught the attitudes found in His disciples’ lives. All the attitudes, of course, are mirrored in HIM.

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Matthew 5:13.

“You are the salt of the earth.” How are believers, followers of Christ, the “salt” of the earth? Consider what salt does.

We first think of the flavor that salt adds to our food. Veggies and meats seem “bland” without it. We even sprinkle salt crystals on desserts! People on salt-free or low-salt diets can testify to this aspect! Salt enhances our appetite. It can also make us thirsty and send us to the faucet (or water bottle).

How can our lives glorify God and make people hungry/thirsty for the gospel?

In Bible times (and today), people used salt to preserve food. Salted fish was a staple in people’s diets. Preserved in salt, fish could be kept for those times when the nets were empty. Today, non-Jews eat salt-preserved meats like ham and lunch meats. Some veggies are preserved in brine too.

Christians can sometimes preserve or delay judgment on a nation or a town. Think of how Abraham interceded with God over the wicked city of Sodom. If there were ten righteous people in it, God told Abraham He would not destroy it. Sadly, only one was righteous: Lot lived there, and you know how that ended.

How can our lives and bold testimonies help to preserve our nation or family?

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One other aspect of salt is that it can cauterize a wound and promote healing.

Our lives lived for the Lord Jesus alone can sometimes lead us to hurting, injured people. Our words – even spoken in love, but truthfully – can often cause more pain. But it’s temporary if the person repents and turns to Jesus.

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“But if the salt has lost its savor…” Now, in reality, salt cannot lose its saltiness.

But in the area around the Dead Sea where a lot of salt was mined, the heavy mineral content could leach into the condiment, making it bitter. If that happened, they threw the useless “salt” out into the roadways. It would at least kill weeds. In snowy parts of the world, it is used to melt snow and ice on roadways and help to prevent accidents.

(Father, keep me pleasing to the “taste” of those around me, and help my life and testimony to draw others to seek You.)

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Matthew 5:14-16.

“You are the light of the world.”

Just as Jesus is “the Light of the world,” so should His disciples be. He clearly taught people the way to the kingdom. His “light” revealed His sinless life as the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world. His light revealed the “way” to the Father – by believing in His death to pay for our sin, and His resurrection to give us hope.

Our words and lives should do the same … show others the Way.

Notice that in these verses there are two kinds and two places for the light.

The first: “A city set on a hill.” Now, a city in the woods may be hard to find, but not one at the top of a hill. Anyone can see it. And if that city is full of light, it is visible for miles, even (or especially) in the darkness.

This should be us and our testimony. Not hidden, but an open testimony of what Jesus has done for us, shining out to the world around us.

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The second: “A lamp in a house.” Jesus tells us that no one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket or bowl. What would be the point? No, we put a candle on a lampstand, a mantle, or in the center of the table, so it lights the whole room. Likewise, in our homes and families, and even in our occupations, no one should be unaware of our salvation.

If not by words of testimony, at least by the “attitudes” we live by and the good works we do for His sake. These too will glorify God.

As we do not hide a little clay lamp under a bowl, we should not hide the glorious truth that Jesus has saved us from our sin, the wrath of God, and has promised us an eternity with Him.

What light! Let it shine out! Surely our families will want to learn about it and come to Jesus too!

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Reading the Gospels in 2026 (9/22): Matthew 5:1-12.

Sep22

Read and Believe in Jesus.

“And He opened His mouth and taught them.” Matthew 5:2

NOTE: I’m sorry this is late to post. My Internet was down for most of the day.

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REVIEW – Last time, we saw an overview of Jesus’ beginning ministry. He was teaching, preaching, and healing all who came to Him – huge masses of hurting, needy people from all over the area. He taught in synagogues, in the streets, from boats, and on hillsides. He offered hope for healing and health. He also offered hope of heaven. How many saw that? How many received it?

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Matthew 5:1-2.

“Seeing the crowds, He went up on the mountain…”

Perhaps Jesus wanted to escape the masses who only sought relief from their pain and discomfort. Maybe He wanted to speak more closely to those who heard Him talk of heaven and a kingdom beyond the here and now, and wanted more.

“…and when He sat down, His disciples came to Him.”

“To see a rabbi “sit down” meant that He was about to teach. Our teachers usually stand in front of a class, but Jewish teachers sat. “Students” would then gather around Him to listen, and possibly ask questions. For Jesus, this was like a “Closed until 2:00pm” sign on the doctor’s office door. He would “see” patients later.

There were many “followers” (disciples, if you will) at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. Most were superficial, and we’ll see Jesus eliminate the insincere with probing questions (See Luke 14 and Mark 10) and later with His “hard teachings”. (See John 6)

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Matthew 5:3-10.

We know this section as the “Beatitudes.” (The be-attitudes; the attitudes for Christians to have and exhibit.) I had to memorize them as a child in Sunday School. I even learned how to sing them. But how well do I know them as Jesus meant? How many of them do others (or Jesus) see in my life?

“Blessed are…” The word means “happy, fortunate, blissful.” Jesus was describing the “well-being” that belongs only to the faithful. This is entirely different from the world’s happiness, which comes (fleetingly) from riches, fame, power, and leisure, etc.

Jesus shows us eight (or nine) of these things that cause blessedness for believers, but which totally boggle the minds of unbelievers.

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“…the poor in spirit,” Humility, spiritual bankruptcy. To be ‘poor in spirit’ means to be acutely aware that you are lost and hopeless apart from God’s grace. THIS is how we first come to Jesus, acknowledging our sin and helplessness to save ourselves, looking to Him as the only way to salvation and eternal life. “…for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Yep, that’s the way to get in!)

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“…those who mourn,” This is the “godly sorrow” a true seeker of God experiences. It’s a real sorrow that leads to repentance without regret. (2 Corinthians 7:10) When a fresh believer is on their knees (or face) before God, weeping over past sins, they will soon sense true forgiveness flooding their soul. “…for they shall be comforted.”

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“…the meek,” This is not weakness or timidity, but gentleness and Spirit-empowered self-control. Jesus claimed that HE was gentle (meek) and lowly in heart (See Matthew 11:29), and yet He made a whip and drove out merchants and moneychangers from the Temple.

(Take a few minutes here to read Psalm 37:1-11. It describes how to become a “meek” believer.) Yes, the Lord will give you the desires of your heart, because your heart is His. “…they shall inherit the earth.” And the Psalms passage adds, “…and delight themselves in the abundance of peace.”

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“…those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.” This means seeking God and HIS righteousness, and NOT trying to be good or do good things in our own strength (which is impossible anyway for more than a few minutes). Self-righteousness was the main problem of the Pharisees in Jesus’ time. They thought they needed nothing but their own knowledge and willpower to stand righteous before God.

Remember the parable Jesus told about the Pharisee and the Tax Collector? WHO was the one righteous in God’s sight? Not the one who bragged of all his good deeds, but the one in his poverty, confessed his sin and begged for mercy. Jesus said, HE went away “justified” or “righteous” in God’s sight. I know his heart was filled with joy as he rose from his knees and went home. “…for they shall be satisfied.”

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“…the merciful.” These are the people who consistantly give others “a second chance,” who “give others the benefit of the doubt,” and who, by remembering the rich mercy with which God loved and saved them… easily and generously give it to others. James 2:13 tells us that “judgment is without mercy for those who show no mercy.” So lets direct our hearts always to the tender mercies we received and can give out. “…for they shall receive mercy.”

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“…the pure in heart.” Wow, this certainly can’t be accomplished in our own strength. Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; who can understand it?” Jesus taught that all the wicked things that come out of our mouths originate in our hearts. PURE in heart? Who can do it? No one. Only Christ. He has promised that “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.” (1John1:9) Praise God.

“…for they shall see God. And truly, THESE are the only ones who will SEE God.

Revelation 22:3-4 says, “No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it (New Jerusalem), and His servants will worship Him. They will see His face... “

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“…the peacemakers.” We know who these rare people are. They are filled with the “wisdom from above, which is pure, peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. They sow peace and receive a harvest of righteousness.” (James 3:17-18). These are those who love their enemies and pray for them. And “…they shall be called sons of God.” Why? Because Jesus, God’s Son, made peace between His Father and us by His blood on the cross.

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“…those who are persecuted for righteousness sake.” Whoa, that doesn’t sound right. This is not persecution because we are fools or sinners or do stupid things. The persecution here is for Christ’s sake, because we are one of His, because His life and light show out from us to a dark world. Those in darkness do NOT like light and try to extinguish it. We may be martyred, but Jesus promises we will be with Him in glory. “for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

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And then, it’s as though Jesus turns from those sitting all around Him on that hillside, and looks straight out at US. You and me.

And He says, “Blessed are YOU when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely ON MY ACCOUNT. Rejoice and be glad, for YOUR reward is in heaven…”

He repeats the previous beatitude, making it personal to us. Then it seems He speaks to US as well as to the crowd of followers around Him.

“…for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Believers who love and follow Jesus, we are in good company! And one day we will stand with those prophets we read about in the Old Testament and receive the rewards Jesus spoke of. AND… a crown of life.

Persevere!

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Reading the Gospels in 2026 (9/21): Matthew 4:23-25.

Sep21

Read and Believe in Jesus.

“And He went throughout all Galilee, teaching… and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom…. and healing…” Matthew 4:24.

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REVIEW – Jesus called four men – Peter and Andrew, James and John – to leave their boats, nets, and fishing occupation to follow Him and become “fishers of men.” They did not hesitate.

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.Matthew 4:23.

Jesus’ ministry begins almost as a whirlwind throughout all Galilee. He taught in their synagogues, proclaimed the gospel of the kingdom on hillsides and at every opportunity, and He healed every disease and affliction among the people.

WOW.

Each sabbath in the synagogues, a certain passage from the Law, Prophets, or Psalms was read and taught. When Jesus attended, He taught them with authority rather than quoting the opinions of Rabbis or traditions. The people were amazed. (See Matthew 7:28-29)

Jesus would also proclaim the kingdom of heaven: that God was near, that people should repent and turn to Him, and live a life of humility, mercy, service, and sacrifice (see the ‘Sermon on the Mount’ to follow).

Jesus “healed EVERY disease and affliction among the people.” This was not only a show of mercy, but it confirmed His claim to be the Messiah. (See Isaiah verses below.)

Isaiah 35:5-6 says, “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.”

And Isaiah 29:18-19. “In that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see.“

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Matthew 4:24.

“So His fame spread throughout all Syria.”

Whoa, I had to look this up. On most maps, Syria is a huge country north and east of Israel. Nowhere in the gospels does it say Jesus went there. (Yes, He did visit a Syro-Phoenician woman near coastal Tyre & Sidon to heal her sick daughter.) So, how did the people of “Syria” hear and bring Jesus their sick?

On a map that shows the territories of the Herods during Jesus’ early years, we see that Herod Philip ruled north of Galilee, Herod Antipas ruled Galilee, and Archelaus, then the Roman governors, ruled Judea and Idumea (south). But right in the middle, at the bottom edge of the Sea of Galilee and below, across the Jordan River, there was a section granted by Caesar Augustus to “the Province of Syria.” And also a small section over near the Mediterranean Sea by Mount Carmel.

Huh! Well, God’s word is never wrong. History and archaeology just take time to catch up.

And notice there was no limit to Jesus’ compassion and power. “They brought Him ALL the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, epileptics, and paralytics, AND HE HEALED THEM ALL.”

(NOTE: Some say that by the time Jesus went to the cross, there was no sickness or disease at all in Israel. Quite a thought. If so, that would be quite a preview of the Millennial Kingdom!)

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Matthew 4:25.

Was it because of Jesus’ healings that the “great crowds” of people from all the areas around Galilee, down to Judea and Jerusalem, and even across the Jordan River flocked to Him?

Masses of people came, hobbling, being led, or bringing loved ones who needed to be carried (or corralled). They clogged the streets, pressing, pulling, and pressuring Jesus from all sides.

Did none come to hear his life-giving words?

Did none stay to sit at His feet, listen, and believe what He said?

Some.

A few.

Reading the Gospels in 2026 (9/18): Matthew 4:18-22.

Sep18

Read and Believe in Jesus.

“Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.” Matthew 4:20

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REVIEW – After hearing that John had been arrested by Herod, Jesus left Judea and returned to the area of Galilee, which fulfilled two prophecies in Isaiah. Jesus WAS that “great Light” that “had begun shining” and “had dawned in a region and shadow of death.” There, Jesus began His ministry, preaching “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

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Matthew 4:18-20.

Jesus was now living in Capernaum, at the Sea of Galilee. It was time to begin calling and choosing the men who would follow Him, learn from Him, and one day preach the Gospel of His life, death, and resurrection to the world.

It began on a normal, sunny workday down at the docks. As Jesus walked by the Sea, He saw two brothers casting their nets into the water, trying to catch fish – Simon Peter and Andrew. These were men chosen from before the foundation of the world to be among the first ambassadors for the Messiah.

Jesus raised an arm in greeting and called, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of MEN.”

Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. Wow.

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Matthew 4:21-22.

Going a bit farther, Jesus saw two more brothers, the sons of Zebedee, whom He would later name “the sons of thunder” for their hot tempers and demands for justice. James and John were mending some of their nets along with their father – a very boring but needful job. Again Jesus hailed them with the same invitation.

And immediately THEY left their boat and their father and followed Him. Jesus now had four fishermen whom He would train over the next three years to “catch” and bring men into His kingdom.

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Did you wonder with me how these men, busy with the tasks they had done for years to support their families, could just get up, walk away from it all, and follow Jesus?

What did Zebedee think? (Hey! Where are you going? What about these nets!) And Andrew and Peter’s hired hands, did they simply carry on without the two brothers? Did they all wonder WHO in the world was this guy, who, like a Pied Piper, had called and evoked such immediate responses?

Let’s take a step back to the reading of John’s gospel. These men had encountered Jesus before. Andrew, and perhaps Peter, were followers of John the Baptist. They left John to follow Jesus for a time, then returned to Capernaum. Now Jesus was calling them to long-term discipleship.

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(NOTE: This is certainly a clear lesson for me. Have I left all to follow Jesus? No, I’m not a missionary or an evangelist to leave my home and husband and travel the country or the world. But have I left the things in MY life that would keep me from wholehearted service and obedience to my Lord?

Busyness, crafts & hobbies, lunches and ‘coffee’ meetings, and adult learning or exercise classes at the YMCA; do these come first? Do I let gardening or reading that novel keep me from time in His Word and prayer, seeking His will for my life? Oh, that I would put Jesus on the throne of my life, and “immediately leave all to follow Him.”)

Reading the Gospels in 2026 (9/17): Matthew 4:12-17.

Sep17

Read and Believe in Jesus.

“Now when He heard that John had been arrested…” Matthew 4:12

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REVIEW – Immediately after Jesus was baptized, the Spirit led Him into the wilderness to be TESTED. Jesus fasted from food (and comfort) for 40 days, no doubt spending much of the time communing with His Father. At the end of the 40 days, when He was weak with hunger (but spiritually strong), the devil came to Him with three temptations.

These tested Jesus’ determination to deny Himself and to love and serve His Father only.

  1. Would Jesus INDULGE His flesh and use His power to assuage His hunger?
  2. Would a desire to IMPRESS His people make Him, by “flying off the temple roof,” gain glory without the cross?
  3. And would He be so eager in His humanity to ACQUIRE all the kingdoms of the world (before the right time) that He would bow and worship the devil?

The answer? A resounding NO. After Jesus resisted these temptations so common to mankind,quoting the powerful Word of God that eventually made the devil flee, angels came and ministered to Him.

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Matthew 4:12.

Some time after Jesus’s baptism and time in the wilderness of Judea, He heard that John had been arrested, so He withdrew north into Galilee.

Matthew 14:3-5 briefly tells us who arrested John and why.

“Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because John had been saying to him, ‘It is not lawful for you to have her.’ And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people because they held John to be a prophet.”

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This is Herod Antipas, son of that wicked Herod the Great and brother to the late Archelaus and to Philip, who reigned north of Galilee. Herod had lured away Philip’s wife (and daughter) and married his sister-in-law Herodias.

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Matthew 4:13-16.

Instead of settling in Nazareth, where there was very little faith and much ridicule of Him, Jesus went a little ways northeast to busy Capernaum, situated by the Sea, and established His ministry there. Matthew tells us this fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy in 9:1-2 and 42:6-7.

“The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles” – “the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.”

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(NOTE: See if your Bible map – maybe back in Joshua – shows these regions: Naphtali covering most of western Galilee and the sea coast, and Zebulun around the areas of Nazareth and Nain.)

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Matthew 4:17.

And Jesus began to preach.

It’s almost as if John handed off the baton to Jesus. Even Jesus’ message was the same: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Repentance is the main emphasis of Jesus’ public ministry from start to finish. After His death and resurrection and before He returned to heaven, Luke tells us what He said to His disciples in Luke 24:46-48:

“Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that REPENTANCE and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. YOU are witnesses of these things.”

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(NOTE: Let’s look for this as we read through Matthew, and see where and how Jesus urges people to repent. And let us also humble ourselves before him, repenting and confessing our own sins. He has promised – on the basis of His death and resurrection – to forgive them… and even FORGET them. Hallelujah!)

Reading the Gospels in 2026 (9/16): Matthew 4:1-11.

Sep16

Read and Believe in Jesus.

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” Matthew 4:1

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REVIEW – Last time, it seemed Jesus heard John’s announcement, ‘the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand,’ and knew it was the call for Him to begin the ministry for which He had been born. We saw Him leave Galilee and go down to the Jordan River, where John was baptizing.

Late in the day, when most of the crowd had returned home, Jesus came to John to be baptized. John at first declined, but at Jesus’ words, he consented. Down Jesus went under the water and then up out of it. Immediately the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit, like a dove, descended on him – the power for ministry – and God spoke. “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

It’s amazing how we saw the whole Trinity here at the beginning of Jesus’ great work of salvation. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, together in agreement.

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Matthew 4:1-3.

Up from the water and up from the Jordan, Jesus ascended. Still dripping wet, He began to walk, led (“driven,” Mark says) by the Spirit of God within him. Deep into the dry and barren wilderness, full of rocks and wild beasts, Jesus walked.

It was like Israel leaving Egypt, crossing the Red Sea and entering the barren desert. A time of testing for them. A time of testing for Jesus too.

Night came. Then day. Night, day, night, for forty days. Alone without shelter or food. And then a voice came. A whisper behind Him. Or in His mind. Malevolent and persistent. Questioning the very voice of His Father that came while He stood in the Jordan River.

“IF You ARE the Son of God … command these stones to become loaves of bread,” said the devil.

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Matthew 4:4

Jesus was the Son of God; there was no question. And perhaps that glorious voice from heaven echoed in His mind right then. “Beloved Son … well-pleased.”

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And when we are tempted to doubt our position as a child of God, we can “preach the Gospel to ourselves.” Keep those verses fresh in your mind!

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But Jesus was also hungry. He knew He had the power to do what the devil suggested. A year later, He would take five small rolls and divide them to feed 5000 men, plus women and children. Yes, Jesus was tempted to feed Himself, but He overcame by the word of God. He used that mighty two-edged sword that we also have access to, to defeat the enemy’s temptation. (See Ephesians 6:17 and Hebrews 4:12).

Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 8:3. “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'”

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Matthew 4:5-7.

Then in His spirit or mind, the devil “took” Jesus to Jerusalem, the holy city, and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple.

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(NOTE: It was a long way up!! From the top to the bottom of the Kidron Valley, if He was facing eastward, there was a 450-foot drop, like a 45-story building. If He faced into the temple courtyard, there was still a 164-foot drop, or 15 stories.)

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Again, the devil tested Jesus’ confidence in who He was.

“IF you ARE the Son of God … throw yourself down from here, for it is written, (and now the devil quotes scripture too, but he twists it.)

“He will command His angels concerning you,” and “On their hands they will bear You up, lest You strike your foot against a stone.” See, Jesus, You won’t get hurt. Trust me. This will show Your power, and everyone will believe in You. No cross! No suffering!

The devil quoted Psalm 91:11 and 12, about TRUSTING God. But he – as the devil often does with us – twisted it to justify TESTING God.

Jesus responded with the severe warning from Deuteronomy 6:16. “It is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.”

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Matthew 4:8-10.

As he did with Adam and Eve, and as he does with us, the devil brought out his third temptation, common to all mankind. This time, he took Jesus in spirit, or in His mind, to a very high mountain.

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Perhaps this was Mount Hermon at the very northern tip of Israel, which is 9,000+ feet tall. Or perhaps it was Mt. Everest in Tibet (29,000+ feet tall. Wherever it was, the wily devil showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world – both then and (I believe) in the future.

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“All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship ME.”

Yes, the devil was the Prince of the Power of the Air over Earth. Perhaps this WAS a legit offer. But it was also deadly.

The devil was desperate to prevent Jesus from going to the cross, for he knew that would be the death toll for him, as God said in Genesis 3:15-16.

Jesus would accomplish salvation for all who believed. Jesus would return and rule on earth OVER ALL THESE KINGDOMS for 1,000 years, and then for eternity.

But IF the devil could persuade Him to take “the shortcut” to glory – no suffering, no cross, no humiliating death – then He could never claim ANY, let alone ALL, the kingdoms of the earth.

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But Jesus had had enough. “It is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and HIM only shall you serve.” Deuteronomy 6:13-14.

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Matthew 4:11.

I can imagine the devil growling to himself and walking away from the Son of God with his fists clenched. He had failed … but there would be another time. He had three years. Surely Jesus would fall before He got to the … cross.

And then, perhaps the devil looked back and then raged at what he glimpsed. “Angels came and were ministering to Jesus!” Grrrrr.

Reading the Gospels in 2026 (9/15): Matthew 3:13-17.

Sep15

Read and Believe in Jesus.

“This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17

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REVIEW – John, the son of Zachariah and Elizabeth, was introduced. Matthew described John’s appearance, which was much like the prophet Elijah (2 Kings 1:8). He also quoted Isaiah 40:3-5 and related it to John’s “prepare the way for the Lord” message and purpose. People flocked to hear his fiery preaching, were convicted, and repented. John “the Baptist” then baptized them for the repentance of sins.

When religious leaders came from Jerusalem to check out all the “hoopla,” John lashed out at their hypocrisy. He then prophesied about the One coming with power and judgment.

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Matthew 3:13-14.

“Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.”

It’s evident that news of John’s preaching and baptizing had spread to Galilee, and to Nazareth specifically. Jesus heard and made His way towards “the Baptist.”

Did His Father tell Jesus it was “time” to begin the ministry for which he came? Or had his 30th birthday signaled the time to act? (It was at thirty that young men entered the priesthood.) Whatever it was, Jesus heard the call, left His home and family, and went to John at the Jordan River.

We don’t know if Jesus and John had ever met, but surely they knew of each other. So, when Jesus presented Himself to be baptized, John objected, saying, “I need to be baptized by YOU, and do you come to ME?”

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Matthew 3:15-17.

Jesus answered, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” And John consented.

What did Jesus mean? Several things are possible.

Jesus was “born under the law to redeem those under the law.” (Galatians 4:4) As with all Jews, baptism or ritual purification was a common action. Jesus was identifying Himself with “His people.”

Others have suggested that the act of ‘going under the water’ had symbolically rinsed off sin for so many repentant people – and that the coming up out of the water showed Jesus taking their sin on Himself. 1 Peter 2:24 says, “He himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. “

But really, all we know is that Jesus wanted to be baptized by John, and that His Father approved. Coming up out of the water, (Jesus saw, and perhaps John too) the heavens opened, and the Spirit of God descended like a dove to rest on Him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

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This encouraged Jesus, who knew where the path He walked would eventually take Him, and signaled to Him (and others) that His ministry had begun.

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Both O.T. Scriptures and the book of Acts show the Spirit of God choosing special men and sending them out. At Pentecost, 120 people received this divine gift at once as flames of fire descending on them. Then they went out to preach and start the Church, the bride of Christ.

Reading the Gospels in 2026 (9/14): Matthew 3:1-12.

Sep14

Read and Believe in Jesus.

“…and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.” Matthew 3:6

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REVIEW – Quite a while has passed since the last reading. Joseph brought his family back to Nazareth and settled there. Matthew says nothing about that time. Luke tells of one incident when Jesus went with his family to Jerusalem at age 12 and astonished the teachers by his questions and answers. (Luke 2:38-52) But that’s all we knew.

“And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.” (Luke 2:52)

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Matthew 3:1-6.

About 30 years after Jesus’ birth, a man who looked much like the prophet Elijah appeared on the scene. It was John, Jesus’ cousin and the son of the priest Zacheriah and Elizabeth. He became known as John the Baptist because that is what he did. He was also a mighty preacher.

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” was his sermon topic.

Matthew tells us that this John was one who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness; ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.'” (Isaiah 40:3-5) He was preparing the way for Jesus to begin His ministry.

And John indeed DID look like Elijah. He wore a “garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.”

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(NOTE: I have eaten fried grasshoppers while on a short mission trip to Africa. They are like crunchy little twigs and taste like … grass.” I suppose there is protein in them, and many Africans catch and eat these often. But… also I’ve read that the “locusts” mentioned “could” be the pods of the locust tree, which are very much like carob. “Food” for thought.)

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Matthew tells us that people from Jerusalem and all Judea went out to hear John preach and were baptized by him in the Jordan River… confessing their sins. True repentance, or a change of heart, DOES produce a willingness to confess sins.

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(NOTE: John’s baptism had its roots in Jewish purification rituals, but did require repentance. Jews of that day who were baptized by John were ‘saying’ that they had been as Gentiles and needed to become the people of God genuinely. (This was an amazing admission!) John’s baptism is different from Christian baptism, which symbolizes the believer’s identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. See Romans 6:3-5. Here, John was preparing hearts to meet the Messiah.)

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Matthew 3:7-10.

However… not all Jews who came to hear John preach were interested in a change of heart. John recognized the legalistic Pharisees and the liberal Sadducees who came to “check him out” as the hypocrites they were.

“You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.”

Seeing their superior looks and stances, John continued.

“And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children of Abraham. Even now … the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire!”

This shocked these religious leaders. They believed that the wrath of God was coming only upon the Gentiles.

Then John really gives it to them, and to anyone else who came only “to see the show.”

“I baptize you with WATER for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. HE will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will clear His threshing floor and gather His wheat into the barn. But the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire!”

Whew! John truly was a “fire and brimstone preacher.”

Note the three types of baptism John mentions: with water, with the Holy Spirit, and with fire. 1) John’s baptism with water symbolized cleansing. 2) All believers are Spirit-baptized. 3) Because fire symbolized judgment, this was probably the “baptism” upon the unrepentant.

The picture of the Messiah’s “winnowing fork” tells of the separation between believers and those who reject Him.

Reading the Gospels in 2026 (9/11): Matthew 2:19-23.

Sep11

Remembering the lives lost in the events of September 11, 2001

Read and Believe in Jesus.

“He shall be called a Nazarene.” Matthew 2:23

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REVIEW – After the visit from the Magi, who were seeking to WORSHIP the young King of the Jews, the evil-hearted Herod mercilessly slaughtered all the baby boys under two in Bethlehem, in an attempt to DESTROY the young King of the Jews. Certainly, he was filled with and controlled by the devil, who, since God’s promise of a Savior in Genesis, had been trying to stop God’s plan of redemption.

However, God warned Joseph in a dream shortly after the Magi departed to take Jesus and Mary to Egypt ASAP. Again, Joseph immediately obeyed. The gifts the Magi had brought were instrumental in their escape and their livelihood in Egypt.

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Mathew 2:19-21.

King Herod did not last long after the massacre of the children. He was already full of a despicable disease from which he’d tried every known cure without success. In his madness, he’d already killed his ‘beloved’ wife Mariamme, and many of his sons and relatives in an attempt to keep them from deposing him.

But God has the last word when a king is dethroned, and a man dies.

The great Herod succumbed to his disease … and Jerusalem rejoiced … for a minute. He still had a few sons by other wives who could take his throne. Who would it be?

The Roman emperor, Augustus, would decide. After some scrambling and many bribes, in which Herod Antipas tried for the spot, the wicked and brutal Archelaus, son of Herod’s Samaritan wife, became the new king of Judea, Samaria, and Idumea. (Antipas was sent to rule over Galilee and Perea. He was the “Herod” of Jesus’ ministry.)

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(NOTE: Archelaus was so ineffective that Rome eventually deposed him and appointed a series of governors. Pontius Pilate was the fifth governor of Judea.)

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Anyway, God sent an angel in a dream to Joseph saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.”

Joseph got up, took Jesus and Mary, and went to the land of Israel. (Such immediate obedience!)

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Matthew 2:22-23.

As Joseph and his family entered the southern border of Israel, he heard that Archelaus had been made king, and he was afraid. Perhaps he’d been planning to return to Bethlehem, where they had lived for two years after Jesus’ birth. But it was so close to Jerusalem and the king’s residence. Could another massacre happen?

God did not let his chosen caretaker of Jesus fear for even a moment. He again warned him in a dream NOT to settle in Judea, but to return all the way back to Nazareth, that tiny, “nowhere” town on the side of a hill in Galilee.

And Joseph obeyed. They probably traveled the unfamiliar coastal road to keep out of the attention of Archelaus.

Did the young couple remember that journey to Bethlehem years ago with Mary pregnant and about to deliver? Did they remember that first stable where Jesus was born, and the arrival of the shepherds with their wondrous story of an angel choir and message? And then the home where those amazing Magi visited? And that horrible night of flight.

And now back to sleepy Nazareth, where Mary had been scorned for her pre-nuptial pregnancy. Would those people remember? What would they think of Jesus? Would they call Him a…?

“And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled: ‘He shall be called a Nazarene.'”

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(NOTE: there isn’t a specific O.T. scripture that says the Messiah would be “called a Nazarene.” Matthew, as with his quotes before, likes to “picture” or allegorize his points.)

Consider this: the root of the word Nazareth is nezer, or “branch” or “shoot”, and remember one of Matthew’s purposes is to show Jesus as the true descendant of David, and the King of the Jews.

Now, consider these passages:

  • Isaiah 11:1 – “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse (David’s father), and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him…”
  • Jeremiah 23:5 – “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He shall reign as king… “
  • Jeremiah 33:15 – “In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and He shall execute justice and righteousness for the land.”
  • Zechariah 38b – “…behold, I will bring my servant, the Branch.”

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These O.T. prophecies pointed towards Jesus’ 1,000-year reign on earth, still future to us, but by presenting them and comparing them to the title Jesus will be known for on earth – Jesus of Nazareth, or Jesus, the Nazarene – Matthew is hoping his readers will make the connection and “see” the Branch of David, and the King EVERY TIME they hear and read about Jesus.

Let US do the same.