Tag Archive | Reading the Gospels in 2026

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

.

.

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.

.

.

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.

.

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.”

.

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!

.

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.'”

.

.

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.

.

(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.)

.

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.”

.

.

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.

.

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.

.

“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.

.

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.

.

.

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

.

.

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.

.

.

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?”

.

.

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.”

.

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.

.

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

.

.

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)

.

.

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.”

.

(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.)

.

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.

.

(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.)

.

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

.

.

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.

.

.

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.)

.

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

.

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!)

.

.

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.'”

..

(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.”

.

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.

Reading the Gospels in 2026 (9/10): Matthew 2:13-18.

Sep10

Read and Believe in Jesus.

“And he (Joseph) rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt…” Matthew 2:14

.

.

REVIEW – A delegation of wise men came from the East to Jerusalem seeking the One who had been born “King of the Jews.” This put Herod “the Great” in a panic, for he thought HE was the king of the Jews. Herod asked the religious leaders where the Messiah was to be born, and they quoted Scripture, identifying Bethlehem.

Herod told the wise men about the little town to the southeast, and then that sly wolf asked them sweetly, ‘WHEN’ they had first seen their “guiding star.” After they’d mounted camels and were leaving, Herod called to them, “When you find Him, bring me word so I can come and worship Him too.”

The wealthy Eastern Magi easily found the house where the King of the Jews was living, for the “shining light” stood right over the roof (much like it had over the Tabernacle in the wilderness). They worshipped the Boy King, gave gifts to His parents, and then quietly departed, taking a way home that avoided Jerusalem, for God had warned them not to return to Herod.

.

.

Matthew 2:13-15.

Joseph and Mary, with the young Jesus on her hip, waved to the camel train as it faded into the sunset. They came back inside, still in a state of wonder, hardly believing until they saw again the gifts the Magi had brought. Then, it seems that as soon as they retired, the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream.

“Rise, take the child and His mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child to destroy Him.”

Joseph must have sat up immediately and awakened Mary, who gently woke Jesus. Hurriedly, they packed their few belongings, some food, and Joseph’s tools into sacks, along with the Magi’s gifts, and loaded a small donkey cart. Within hours of the wise men leaving, Joseph had his family on the road to Egypt.

.

(What a righteous man. No wonder God chose Joseph to care for His Son during the boy’s growing-up years. Immediate obedience, without question: how many of us could or would obey so quickly?)

The Magi’s gold paid for the trip and a place to stay in Egypt. The myrrh and frankincense from the East (very rare and valuable in Egypt) helped to keep the family until Joseph could get established again.

.

(What perfect timing! We can always trust our omniscient God with fearful surprises and “unknown” futures. He is THERE before we are. And He has already taken care of our expenses.)

Matthew quotes Hosea 11:1, “Out of Egypt I have called my Son,” which speaks of God bringing the nation of Israel out of captivity. Here, Matthew uses it more as a “picture” or “allegory” than a prophecy.

.

.

Matthew 2:16-18.

Herod soon realized the Magi had tricked him.

How long would it take to travel the 6-8 miles to Bethlehem, look and ask around, and find that kid? Even if they stayed a few days, they should have returned to Jerusalem by now. He was furious.

He called his most devious and loyal henchmen and sent them to Bethlehem. Their orders? To kill all the male children in the town and the region who were two years old or younger.

The above line is easy to type, but oh, the horror of such a plan to consider and imagine. Mothers and babies screaming as the henchmen wield their huge swords, leaving the little ones dead and in pieces. Parents trying to hide the little ones, but having them wrenched from their arms and slaughtered before their eyes. Oh, the weeping and wailing! The heartbreak. The ghastly horror!

.

Again, Matthew quotes O.T. scripture to describe (more than predict) the horrific massacre.

Jeremiah 31:15 says, “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children: she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”

Jeremiah’s prophecy was of the Babylonian captivity, when weeping and wailing accompanied the deaths and deportation of the Jews from their homeland. Their lamentation prefigured the pain that occurred that day in Bethlehem.

But, horrendous as it was – the death of all those sweet boys, the hopes of their fathers and mothers – the more atrocious idea was that Herod knowingly attempted to kill Israel’s promised Messiah. It was the first of many attempts, and it would finally happen, but only in God’s way and in God’s time.

..

..

Reading the Gospels in 2026 (9/8): Matthew 1:18-25.

Sep8

Read and Believe in Jesus.

“She shall bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

.

.

REVIEW – Matthew was the first of the four Gospels written; its author was an ex-tax collector named Levi, until the Lord saved him. In his own writing, he uses his other name – Matthew – which means “gift of the Lord.”

Matthew writes mainly to a Jewish audience (look for many O.T. references, no explanations of Jewish words or customs, and a respect for God’s name). He does not write chronologically; instead, he groups his information into five themes.

His genealogy of Jesus, beginning with Israel’s patriarch Abraham and their great king, David, shows his purpose in writing this gospel: to present Jesus as 1) the promised Jewish Messiah and 2) the King of Israel.

.

Matthew 1:18.

Joseph and Mary were “betrothed” to be married. (Betrothal in Bible times was “marriage but without consummation,” and needed a divorce to be broken.)

In Luke’s Gospel, the angel Gabriel came to Mary and told her of the miraculous conception of a baby in her womb by the Holy Spirit. Soon afterward, she went to Bethlehem to stay with her cousin Elizabeth, who was also pregnant. Elizabeth’s son would be John the Baptist. Mary stayed there for 3 months until John was about to be born, then returned to Nazareth. It was probably then that she told Joseph of her own pregnancy.

Joseph was a just and gentle man. But he didn’t know what to think. The woman he was betrothed to was pregnant, and he knew HE was not the father. What did that mean? Should he believe her quite unbelievable story, or accept the more plain possibility of infidelity?

In turmoil and grieving in his heart, he decided to divorce her privately. (That meant he would obtain a writ of divorce from an official and hand it to her privately, apart from any witnesses.) And it would be over.

.

.

Matthew 1:19-21.

Dreams remembered upon waking were thought to be a special blessing in Bible times. It was believed to be a sad thing if one went more than 10 days without one. (Those were normal, eating-too-many-lentils type dreams, and not like the one Joseph received from an angel of the Lord.)

,

“Joseph, son of David,” began the angel in his dream. Wait. David? From Matthew’s list of Jesus’ genealogy yesterday, we saw that Joseph’s father was named Jacob. The angel (probably Gabriel) addressed Joseph as a member of King David’s royal line. Yes, he was, but Joseph probably didn’t think about being in the ancient king’s line very often.

“Do not fear to take Mary as your wife,” continued Gabriel. Oh! Just the answer he was seeking! Joseph thought with relief. But…

“…for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit,” the angel answered Joseph’s unasked question, leaving him even more stunned.

“She will bear a son, and YOU shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Then the angel was gone, the dream ended, but everything remained vivid in Joseph’s mind.

Mary was pregnant by … the Holy Spirit. (Oh, my!) Her baby was a boy, and when He was born, Joseph was to name Him Jesus (or Savior). It was the father’s duty to name the children, so this was no surprise. But “Jesus”? What did it mean that the boy would “save His people (the Jews) from their sins”?

Perhaps, as he thought about all this, Joseph recalled Isaiah 7:14: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call Him Immanuel,” which Joseph knew meant, God with us. This boy, this Jesus, this Savior who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, was GOD. With. Us!

.

When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel commanded and took Mary as his wife. No questions. No reservation. “Mary, be my wife!” “Yes!” Done.

But Joseph did not “know her” (have sex with her) until after she had given birth to the Son, and Joseph had named Him JESUS.

(NOTE: the naming was at 8 days old, when baby boys were circumcised.)

.

.

Next time, two years later….

Reading the Gospels in 2026 (9/7): Matthew 1:1-17.

Sep7

Read and Believe in Jesus.

.

INTRO – (It’s long, I know. Sorry!)

Matthew’s gospel was the first of the four gospels to be written … at about 27 years after Jesus’ death and resurrection. It is only one of two gospels to be written by an apostle, although many believe that Mark is simply Peter’s gospel as he dictated it to the young man.

Matthew’s account is the longest of the four.

Matthew’s gospel is not written chronologically, so don’t be confused to see some events placed out of order. Instead, he writes the life of Jesus in a series of FIVE themes, each begun with a major speech (or discourse) and followed by narration of Jesus actions or other teachings.

There is also a short prologue and epiloge.

Matthew’s other name is Levi, a name that the other gospel writers use for him “before” Jesus called him. We don’t read of Jesus changing his name, like with Simon/Peter, so perhaps he changed it himself, or he used a second name. Matthew means “gift of the Lord.”

Matthew/Levi was a Publican, or tax collector. He was very wealthy and powerful. People feared and hated him as he sat in his booth at the crossroads and demanded the money owed to Rome. He was considered a traitor to the Jews, working for the enemy.

Perhaps it was a thirst for wealth and defference that made Levi volunteer to serve Rome. After he collected the listed tax for the Empire, he could add however much else he wanted for himself. And he did. His own people got poorer as he got richer.

But Matthew must have had an ache or vacant spot in his heart that the money did not completely satisfy, because when Jesus passed by and called him, Luke 5:27-28, reports that Levi ” left everything, rose, and followed Him.”

Perhaps Levi/Matthew had been hearing reports of Jesus, but it seens that it was the event where a paralytic’s friends let him down through a roof into a crowed house so he could see Jesus that softened Matthew’s heart. For the report was that Jesus not only healed the paralysis, but “forgave the man’s sins.” Mabe that was the deep, deep longing that Levi had too.

Right after this incident, Jesus passed by Levi’s tax booth and said, “Follow me.”

..

Matthew presents Jesus as Messiah, and the King of the Jews. He writes his gospel mostly for a Jewish audience. He quotes O.T. scriptures 60 times, does not explain Jewish customs or holidays (because the Jews would know them), he refers to Jesus as “the son of David,” and he guards against Jewish sensibilities regarding the Name of God, rererring to the “kingdom of heaven” instead of the “kingdom of God” as in the other gospels.

His purpose in writing the gospel: to show that Jesus is the Jewish nation’s long-awaited MESSIAH.

Matthew’s opening geneology of Jesus documents Jesus’ credentials as Israel’s KING.

.

.

Matthew 1:1-17

Matthew first refers to Jesus Christ as the son of David.

To David the Lord God had promised a descendant who would reign as king forever. (See 2 Samuel 8:16-17, the familiar Isaiah 9:6-7, and Psalm 89:35-36)

Matthew’s genealogy is divided into three 14-name sections, each either beginning or ending with David. They are not complete lists, but rather show three times/eras. Abraham to King David; King David to the deportation to Babylon; and after the deportation to the birth of Christ.

(If you’ve studied the history of the kings, you will know that because of their horrible evil, the last kings of Israel were removed from David’s line of promise. However, if you check Haggai 2:23, you will see that God basically put the promise (His signat ring) back onto Zerubbabel, the grandson of the exiled to Babylon king to whom God showed favor. Jesus’s Kingly line to David’s throne is then passed along through Zerubbabel’s descendents to Joseph, the “legal” father of Jesus.)

Matthew also begins with Abraham, the founder of the Jewish people.

God also promised Abraham a descendant “in whom all families/nations of the earth would be blessed.” Genesis 12:3. The Messiah.

So Matthew lays out his two purposes, to show JESUS as the promised Jewish MESSIAH, and the promised KING who will sit on David’s eternal throne.

.

One other thing to notice: the inclusion of FOUR women in this genealogy before he even gets to Mary. (This is very unusual in genealogies of the time.)

  • Verse 3 – Tamar. She was Judah’s daughter-in-law whom he got pregnant, believing she was a prostitute. (Genesis 38:13-30)
  • Verse 5 – Rahab. She was a prostitute living in Jericho who saved the two Israeli spies, who then brought her into the “family.” ((Joshua 2:1-22)
  • Verse 5 – Ruth, a Moabite woman, daughter-in-law of Naomi who returned to Israel with her and married the rich landowner, who became her “redeemer.” (Book of Ruth)
  • Verse 6 – The wife of Uriah, whom David (yes, our David) raped, took into his house when he found she was pregnant, then had her husband killed to “cover up” his dirty deed. Matthew honors her innocent husband by naming Uriah. She was, of course, Bathsheba. (2 Samuel 11:1-27).

,

.

And now, whew, we are ready for “the Birth Jesus Christ.” 1:18 (tomorrow)

.

.

.

Reading the Gospels in 2026 (9/3): John 21:1-14.

Sep3

Read and Believe in Jesus.

“Simon Peter said to them, ‘I’m going fishing.'” John 21:3

.

REVIEW – Chapter 20 ended with John’s reason for writing his Gospel, after three others had been written and after so many years had passed. His specific reason was that his readers would “believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.”

John included seven miracles that, to the Jewish mind, should have proved Jesus was the Messiah.

(Remember when John the Baptist sent his disciples with questions about Him? Jesus performed a series of healing miracles and attached a connecting scripture in Isaiah that pointed to Him as the Messiah.)

John also listed seven claims that Jesus made that He was the Son of God in His “I AM” statements.

Oh, the Jews knew exactly what He was saying, and finally killed Him for saying He was the Son of God. But still…they did not believe. (KNOWING and BELIEVING are two different things!)

John told readers at the beginning of his Gospel that Jesus’ own people wouldn’t receive Him, and then opened the door for ANYONE who would believe to come to Jesus.

.

.

John 21:1-3.

Chapter 30 was originally the end of John’s Gospel until a rumor began circulating that “the beloved disciple” would not die until Jesus returned. (Not true.) So, John picked up his quill and wrote chapter 31.

It also gave him the opportunity to 1) tell of another appearance of Jesus, 2) show their impotence without the Lord, and 3) how Peter was reinstated into leadership after his three denials of Jesus. And finally, 4) to correct that rumor.

FIRST. Mark 16:7 tells us that while Mary Magdalene was running to tell Peter and John that the tomb was empty and Jesus’ body was stolen, two angels told the other women who had remained there that “Jesus had risen!”

They were also told, “Go. tell His disciples and Peter that He is going before you to Galilee. There you will see Him, just as He told you.”

So after Jesus appeared twice to the group in Jerusalem, they obeyed and went back to Galilee, where Jesus had first called them. Only seven disciples were here at this appearance.

SECOND. After waiting and waiting, they began to feel a bit “antsy.” Finally, Peter said, “I’m going fishing.” And promptly the others agreed.

They climbed into the boat, so familiar from their old life, and pushed out into the sea. They threw the nets overboard and waited. They hauled them in and heaved them out again. NOT a sardine to be seen.

Finally, the sun began peeking over the horizon. Discouraged, tired, and hungry, they began hauling the heavy, wet nets into the boat. Done for the day. Nothing to show for all their work.

.

.

John 31:4-8

And then a stranger called from the shore, “Children, do you have any fish?”

“No,” they called back.

“Cast your net on the other side of the boat, and you’ll find some,” said the stranger. So… they cast the net again to the other side. Now the net was so full they couldn’t haul it into the boat!

Recognizing the miracle that Jesus had done for them before, John said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!”

When Peter heard that, he grabbed his shirt and ‘threw himself’ into the Sea. This time Peter swam (instead of walking ON the water) and came to shore, just as the others arrived, dragging the full net behind.

.

.

John 31:9-14

On the beach, they saw a charcoal fire in place with fish laid out on it and bread. He asked them to bring some of the fish “that THEY had caught” to add to His on the grill.

As the fish cooked, the disciples counted the large fish they’d caught – 153 – a HUGE catch! And yet the net had not torn. So much to think and be amazed about.

Finally Jesus told them to come and have breakfast. They came, staring at Him, knowing who it was, not daring to ask if it was true. As He took the bread and the fish and divided it among them, they saw the nail prints on his hands. Yes, it was Jesus!

.

Can you imagine all their thoughts and memories as they ate? Jesus’ first call to be “fishers of men,” and to “follow” Him; Jesus telling them to “cast the nets on the other side of the boat;” Jesus breaking bread and passing it out with the fish, to both 5,000+ and 4,000+ people on the hillside. So much had happened since then!

At some point, Peter may have stopped chewing as he stared at the fire, remembering that other charcoal fire he had sat by that horrible night… and the awful words he had spoken there… and the rooster crowing to announce the dawn… and his denials of His Lord. And then Jesus bound and bruised, looking at him….

Yes, Jesus had spoken to Him privately (1 Cor. 15:4), and he’d confessed and been forgiven. But still the words rang in his ears. And… John had heard them! Had he told the others?

.

Tomorrow, we’ll see Jesus gently walking Peter away from that awful scene in his mind.

.

..

Reading the Gospels in 2026 (9/2): John 20:30-31.

Sep2

Read and Believe in Jesus.

“…these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing, you may have life in His name.” John 20:31.

REVIEW – After appearing to Mary Magdalene, Jesus, on that same day, appears to the disciples. They are locked away in a house, fearful that the Jews might come after them as well. Thomas is not with them.

Suddenly Jesus appears in their midst. They are terrified, and Jesus immediately speaks “peace” over them. He shows them His wounds, proving that it is indeed HE, Jesus, who was crucified. Then He commissions them to go out with the “good news,” just as God the Father had sent Him to the world.

Thomas disbelieves their account of the risen Jesus and refuses to change until he can see AND TOUCH Jesus himself. Compassionate Jesus does appear again when Thomas is present and encourages him to touch Him and BELIEVE! Jesus says those who believe without seeing are indeed blessed.

.

.

John 20:30.

“Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;…”

Just by reading the other three Gospel accounts, we are aware of this. Matthew alone is the longest Gospel and includes many teachings and miracles that John does not. Luke also includes details that John omits.

But John had something else in mind, writing this long after the other three gospels were finished and circulating. He wanted to methodically proclaim and prove that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God. He does this through selected “signs” (miracles) and “I AM” statements that Jesus made. Seven in all, of both. You may want to go back and read the story around these, if you have time.

The seven miracles Jesus did are;

  • Water made into wine
  • Healing the official’s son
  • Healing the lame man by the pool
  • Feeding 5,000 people with one boy’s lunch
  • Walking on water
  • Healing the man born blind
    Raising Lazarus from the dead

Jesus’ seven “I AM” statements are:

  • I AM the Bread of Life
  • I AM the Light of the world
  • I AM the Door of the sheepfold
  • I AM the Good Shepherd
  • I AM the Resurrection and the Life
  • I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life
  • I AM the Vine

Truly, John reveals the supernatural abilities of the Messiah and the glorious and comforting attributes of the Son of God in his Gospel!

But he doesn’t simply do this as a form of literary prowess. See what he says next.

.

.

John 20:21.

He’s written the above things (and all the actions and teaching connecting them) … so that YOU (and I) will BELIEVE that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, AND … that by believing, we may have (eternal) life in His name.

WOW! Aren’t you glad that you’ve read through John’s gospel? I am.

.

(Oh, LORD, may all that I write or speak, and the way I live my life, be for the exact same reason… … that those I touch in any way, may BELIEVE in Your Son and be saved for eternity!)

.

.

This was the intentional ENDING to John’s gospel, and what a great ending it is!

But John adds chapter 21 as an epilogue, mostly because a rumor began to circulate that he, John, would live until Jesus returned. John had to clear that up. (Yes, he lived longer than any of the others, way into his 90’s, but he did die.)

And also – remember the great friendly competition he had with Peter? He HAD to show the big fisherman’s reinstatement into leadership … through quite a humiliating interview. (That John!!) (But Peter has one last comeback, the one that started the rumor.)

Stay tuned tomorrow to read the “denouement” to the Gospel of John.

Reading the Gospels in 2026 (9/1): John 20:19-29.

Sep1

Read and Believe in Jesus

“Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29

.

REVIEW – Jesus has risen from the dead. God is satisfied that Jesus has opened the WAY for sinful mankind to be saved. His beloved Son has obeyed to the last detail. Now there is only the regathering of His scattered disciples, their assurance, and their commissioning for their future work, and then His ascension.

The women were the first to hear the good news. Then Peter and John witnessed the empty tomb and believed. Mary Magdalene saw the Master with her eyes and heard Him speak to her. Now Jesus will appear to and encourage more of His disciples in Jerusalem before going to Galilee.

.

.

John 20:19-23.

On the evening of that first day (Sunday), when the disciples were still hiding behind locked doors for fear of the Jews (Would they arrest THEM as well?), Jesus came to them, right through the walls.

He stood before them and necessarily said, “Peace be with you,” because they were obviously terrified.

(Yes, back in Galilee, they thought He was a ghost when He came walking to them on the water, but this was different.) He looked like the Jesus they knew, but He also didn’t. And how did He get inside their house? No one had opened the door.

(From the account of the two men on the way to Emmaus when Jesus joined in their walk, we know that Jesus could keep His identity hidden and reveal it whenever He chose. He could also vanish at will. See Luke 24:15-16 and 30-32.)

To calm and assure His anxious disciples, Jesus showed them His hands and His side, as proof that He really HAD BEEN crucified. The bloodless wounds were still very visible. They were shocking, but they also reassured the disciples, and the men could finally relax and be GLAD to see their Lord.

Again Jesus spoke peace to them, and then He commissioned them to the work that He himself had begun – to spread the Good News, first to His people, and eventually to the entire world. “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”

.

(Luke’s account reads, “Then He opened their eyes to understand the scriptures, and said to them, ‘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 in Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”)

(Matthew’s familiar account reads, “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…'”)

.

John 20:24-25. Sadly, Thomas was not with the other disciples when Jesus appeared to them. We know from earlier scriptures that he loved Jesus as much as the others, but he feared losing Him. So when Jesus spoke of His death, he didn’t want to “hear” it. Possibly, he was off by himself, tucked into a ball of intense grief. And so when he heard the account of the others seeing and talking with Jesus, he just couldn’t believe it.

And then, that famous proclamation: “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into His side … I will never believe.”

(I wonder how often, later, he cringed when he thought of those words.)

But Jesus knew just how to deal with this hurting disciple (no more rebellious than Peter!!). Eight days later – oh, what a long time for Thomas to wait! – Jesus came and stood among them again – the doors still being locked.

“Peace be with you,” he said to all of them, and then to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand and place it in my side. (Thomas’ exact words) “Do not disbelieve, but believe.”

And Thomas’s overpowering, debilitating grief collapsed. “My Lord and my God!”

Jesus said, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

.

.