Matthew 11:1

 Matthew 11:1 says, And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.  After Jesus gave His command about how they were to go about proclaiming the gospel, He Himself went to teach and preach in the cities around Him.  We, as followers of Christ, have His command to go into the world and proclaim the gospel, and it is not just the responsibility of the preachers to do so.  Verse two states, Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,  John the Baptist was in prison by this time, but he heard of the work of Jesus and sent two of his disciples to Jesus.  Verse three adds, And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?  John asked Jesus if the was the Messiah, or if they should look for another one to be the Messiah.  Ultimately, this is the question that everyone must ask, and the answer is that Jesus is the only Messiah, or Savior, that ever was, is or will be.  Verse four declares, Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:  Jesus told John's two disciples to return to John and tell him what that had seen Jesus do.  It was still up to John whether he believed that Jesus was the Messiah or not, just as it is up to each individual today.  Verse five adds, The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.  Jesus told them to tell John what He had been doing, including preaching the gospel.  What evidence would we offer today if we were asked to give proof that we are truly a Christian?  Verse six proclaims, And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.  If we are not ashamed of being a follower of Christ today, we will be spiritually blessed.  Verse seven says, And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?   When the two disciples of John left, Jesus asked the people why they had gone into the wilderness to see him.  Verse eight adds, But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.  Jesus asked if they went because they thought John would be somewhat weak and dressed in finery, and then He warned them against putting their faith in those such people.  Verse nine continues, But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.  Jesus said that they went to see a prophet, and someone who was much more.  When we go to hear someone preach today, it should be because they are proclaiming the gospel and not because of how they may be dressed.  Verse ten continues, For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.  Jesus said that John was the messenger sent to tell the people to prepare for the coming Messiah.  Verse eleven declares, Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.  Jesus said that there was no greater man than John the Baptist, except Jesus Himself of course, and yet the least in the kingdom of heaven was greater than John.  Verse twelve adds, And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.  Jesus said that since the coming of John, the kingdom of God had been under attack, so we shouldn't be surprised if it is today.  Verse thirteen continues, For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.  Verse fourteen continues, And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.  Jesus said that all the prophets before John had prophesied about the coming Messiah, and that John was the one who had proclaimed that He was here.   Verse fifteen concludes, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.  We today must hear and believe in Jesus as the Savior of the world if His coming is to have any effect in our lives.

Matthew 10:29

 Matthew 10:29 says, Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.  Jesus was still talking about God providing for the needs of the disciples while they were out sharing the gospel.  Jesus said that not even a sparrow could fall to the ground without God knowing it.  Verse thirty adds, But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Jesus then told the disciples that God even knew the number of hairs on their head.  Verse thirty-one then declares, Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.  Jesus then told the disciples to not be afraid to go as God directed them, because they were more valuable than many sparrows.  We today can be certain that when we are doing what God calls us to do as followers of Christ that He will meet our needs everyday.  Verse thirty-two proclaims, Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.  Jesus tells us that if we declare Him before men, which would happen after we accepted Him as our Savior and Lord, then He would confess for us before the heavenly Father.  Verse thirty-three adds, But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.  Jesus then states that if we do not accept Him and declare that to the world that He will deny us before the heavenly Father.  Verse thirty-four declares, Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.  Jesus said that He didn't come to bring peace in the world, but to bring a sword.  We are called on to live at peace with the world as much as possible, but we need to realize that proclaiming the truth of God is always going to put us at odds with the world.  Jesus is not the cause of the world being at war with Him, but it is their actions toward those who follow Him that cause the problem.  Verse thirty-five declares, For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.  If we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord, and our family members have not, then Jesus tells us that we will be at variance with them.  Our values will no longer be the same as theirs.  Verse thirty-six adds, And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.  Jesus said that if we follow Him and members of our household do not, then they will be our foes.  Verse thirty-seven continues, He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.  Jesus tells us that He must come first in our lives, above even the closest family relationships.  Verse thirty-sight declares, And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.  The cross brought the death of Jesus in this earthly body, and we are to likewise die to the flesh by placing our life on the line for Jesus daily.  We are to die to the earthly desires and to live by faith in Jesus.  Verse thirty-nine adds, He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.  If we place our life above a relationship with Christ, then we will ultimately lose our spiritual being, or our soul.  If we put our relationship with Christ first, then we will have everlasting life with Him.  Verse forty states, He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.  Jesus told the disciples that if someone received them as they were sharing the gospel that  they received Him as well.  I believe that this is because those who did not believe in Christ would not accept those who were witnessing for Him.  Verse forty-one adds, He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.  Again. I believe this means that if they accept the disciples, those made righteous because of their faith in Christ, then they too would have the reward of the righteous.  I believe this is more than just accepting the disciples into their homes, but also means accepting Jesus as their Savior and Lord and acting from faith in their belief.  Verse forty-two concludes, And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.  Jesus did not nor does not expect us to make those who proclaim His word, or even those who have simply put their faith in Him, to be made rich, but He does expect us to give what we can to help spread the gospel. 

Matthew 10:16

 Matthew 10:16 says, Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.  Jesus told His disciples that He was sending them forth as sheep among wolves, so if someone calls us a sheep today as followers of Christ, we should not see that as an insult.  I believe that Jesus meant that we are to be wise to the ways of the world, but that we are not to let that make us want to do harm to anyone.  Verse seventeen adds, But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;  Jesus did not tell the disciples to expect material wealth and happiness based on their worldly status, but to beware of the people of the world who would deliver them up councils, or worldly authorities, and synagogues, or religious authorities.  I often hear people say that Jesus wants me to be happy and have what I want in the world, but I do not find this in the Bible.  We are still His disciples and are no better than the first disciples.  Verse eighteen continues, And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.  Jesus said that they would be brought before governors and kings for His sake.  We may speak about how bad things are for Christians today, but in America, we still have not experienced real persecution like the first disciples and many Christians do in other parts of the world today.  Verse nineteen declares, But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.  Jesus did not say if they were delivered up, but when they were.  They were not to be concerned what to say, because what they said would be delivered to them.  The first disciples did not proclaim God's word by their own abilities, but by the leadership and power of the Holy Spirit, and we must rely on the Holy Spirit to give us the words to say today.  Verse twenty adds, For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.  When we speak in the world today as Christians, do we speak under the leadership and power of the Holy Spirit?  I believe that if we do that what we say will always point people to Christ and bring honor to God.  Verse twenty-one proclaims, And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.  Jesus said that families would be divided because of the relationship with Him or the lack thereof.  Faith in Christ should separate us from the rest of the world, and sometimes it effects our relationship even with our closest family members.  Verse twenty-two adds, And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.  Once more, Jesus did not tell the disciples that they might be hated by the people of the world, but that they would be.  Jesus also promised that those that endured to the end would be saved.  I believe that if we have truly accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord that we will endure whatever the world throws at us through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Verse twenty-three says, But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.  Jesus told the disciples that if they were persecuted in one city to flee to another and that they would not have gone over the cities of Israel before the Son of man had come.  At this point, the disciples still did not realize Who Jesus really was and the the Son of man, the Messiah, had already come.  Verse twenty-four declares, The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.  If we preach a prosperity gospel, we are saying that we are more important to God than Jesus is, and if we are Christians, then He is our Master.  Verse twenty-five adds, It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?  The disciple should never be above the Master, but we should not follow the leadership of the worldly master, but of the heavenly One, Who is Jesus Christ.  Verse twenty-six declares, Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.  Jesus told the disciples then and tells us today as His disciples that we are not to fear the powers of the world, and that nothing can ever be hidden from God.  It is not enough to just claim to be a Christian, but we must truly put our faith in Christ no matter what.  Verse twenty-seven adds, What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.  Jesus told the disciple that what He was teaching was in darkness, or not yet revealed to the whole world, but that they were to listen to Him and then proclaim the gospel from the rooftops.  What they were to preach was to be given to them by the Holy Spirit I believe.  Verse twenty-eight concludes, And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.  Jesus once again told the disciples not to fear those who could only destroy the body, but to fear those who could destroy the body and soul.  As Christians, we should never be afraid of the powers of the world as long as we are following the leadership of the Holy Spirit and are living under His power.  God does not call us to be fearful Christians.

Matthew 10:1

Matthew 10:1 says, And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.  When Jesus had called His twelve disciples, He gave them great power.  As followers of Christ today, we have also been given great power through the power of the Holy Spirit and for God's glory.  Whatever we do must be done by faith and must be in accordance with God's will.  Verse two states, Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;   Verse three adds, Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;  Verse four concludes, Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.  Matthew simply gives us the names of the disciples and tells us a little about some of them.  Judas, who spent as much time with Jesus as the other twelve betrayed Him, and some today who profess to be a Christian will betray Jesus if the price is right or the cost of following Him becomes too great.  Verse five declares, These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:  Jesus told His disciples to not go to the Gentiles and the Samaritans at first.  Verse six adds, But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  The disciples were commanded to first go to the lost people of Israel, who were called to be God's people but who had ceased to follow God.  Verse seven commands, And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.  Then verse eight adds, Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.  The message of the disciples was to be that the kingdom of heaven was at hand.  The Jewish people had been awaiting the Messiah, and He was there.  The kingdom of heaven has been at hand every since.  The disciples were to have great power by their faith in Christ.  It may be that we need first to go to those who profess to be God's people today and call them to repentance and obedience before we can effectively reach the lost people of the world.  If we lack power in the world today, it may be because we lack faith.  Verse nine says, Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,  Verse ten adds, Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.  The disciples were to go strictly by faith, relying on Jesus to provide for their needs.  We need that same kind of faith today, where we walk by faith and not by sight.  Verse eleven states, And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.  The disciples were to ask who was worthy of allowing them to stay with them and were to abide there when they went into a city.  Remember, the disciples were going to those who professed to be God's people, and putting up strangers should not have been viewed as an imposition but a requirement if not an honor.  Verse twelve says, And when ye come into an house, salute it.  The disciples were to be respectful to the ones who put them up.  We are not to act as though people owe us anything even if we doing God's will in our life, but we are to be grateful to those who help us along the way.  Verse thirteen declares, And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.  I believe this means that not everyone who claimed to welcome the disciples into their home would really want them there, and if they didn't the disciples were to leave.  Verse fourteen continues, And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.  If the people would not listen to the disciples, they were to simply leave.  These were God's chosen people that the disciples were being sent to, so they should have been familiar with God's word, and if they did not listen to the disciples, they were in effect rejecting Jesus as the Messiah.  Verse fifteen declares, Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.  Those who reject the gospel, especially those who profess to be God's people, will find their punishment to be worse than that of Sodom and Gomorrah. 

Matthew 9:26

 Matthew 9:26 says, And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.  Verse twenty-seven adds, And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.  As Jesus' fame was spreading, He was once again moving away from the fame.  As He was doing so, two blind men called out to Him, calling Him the Son of David, which would imply that they recognized Jesus as the long awaited Messiah.  The two men were first looking to have their physical sight restored, but they and we must come to Jesus first and foremost to have our spiritual sight restored.  Verse twenty-eight declares, And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.  When Jesus got to the house where He was staying, the two blind men came to Him, and Jesus asked them a question of whether or not they thought He could restore their sight, and they said they believed.  In order for Jesus to restore our spiritual sight by forgiving our sins and allowing us to enter into a right relationship with God, we must first believe that He can do so.  Verse twenty-nine adds, Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.  Jesus touched their eyes, but He said that their faith was what was going to restore their eyesight.  Without faith, even if Jesus touched their eyes they would have still been blind.  Jesus at some point touches everyone to bring forgiveness for their sins, but unless a person believes that Jesus can bring them forgiveness they will go away spiritually blind still.  Faith in Jesus was, is, and always will be the key to salvation.  Verse thirty continues, And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.  Their sight was restored, and Jesus told them to tell no one how it had happened.  Jesus was not there to bring physical healing, but to bring spiritual healing.  Of course, today when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord by faith then we have the commission to go and tell everyone.  Verse thirty-one concludes, But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.  When the two men left they spread the fame of Jesus into all the country where they went.  We should have the same desire to spread the fame of Jesus into the world today, and we even have the commission to do so.  Verse thirty-two says, As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.   Verse thirty-three adds, And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.  A man who couldn't speak and was possessed of a devil was brought to Jesus, and Jesus cast out the devil and the man spoke.  The people marveled at what Jesus had done and said that they had never seen anything like that in all of Israel.  When we come to Jesus for forgiveness of our sins today we must acknowledge that no one else can bring us spiritual healing.  Verse thirty-four declares, But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.  The Pharisees, some of the religious leaders of that day, accused Jesus of casting out the devils by the power of the prince of the devils, or Satan.  Some religious leaders today do not accept Jesus as the only way to salvation, but He is.  Verse thirty-five states, And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. Jesus went from city to city teaching in the synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom of God, while also healing every sickness and disease among the people.  We today need to be teaching the word of God to the people of the world that we encounter, and we must especially do so when we gather together as God's people.  Verse thirty-six declares, But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.  When Jesus saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion, because He saw the people scattered as sheep without a shepherd.  We today should be moved with the same compassion for the lost people of the world today.  Verse thirty-seven adds, Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;  Jesus saw the need for more workers to spread the gospel, and there is still that need today.  Verse thirty-eight concludes, Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.  Jesus told the disciples to pray to the lord of the harvest, which is God Himself, to send more laborers.  If we are to reach the world with gospel today we need to pray to God that He will send more laborers.

Matthew 9:18

 Matthew 9:18 says, While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.  While Jesus was still speaking, a certain ruler came to Him, worshipping Him and asking Him to bring his daughter to life again.  The ruler said that he knew if Jesus would just lay His hand on her that she would live again.  We today need to acknowledge that Jesus did not come just to heal us physically, but to heal us spiritually, and if we come to Him in faith, He will do so.  This is not to say that God cannot heal us physically, but the emphasis should always be on spiritual healing, and then no matter what happens to this old physical body, we still have everlasting life through Christ.  Verse nineteen declares, And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.  This time, Jesus and His disciples went with the man.  He could have raised the girl without following the man had He chosen to.  We must allow God to work in His own way in every situation.  We cannot say that since Jesus acted in a certain way in a past situation that He must act the same way in all situations, but must simply put our faith in Him to do what is best in all situations.  Verse twenty says, And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:  While Jesus was on the way to the rulers house, He was touched by a woman who suffered from an issue of blood for twelve years.  She had faith that she could be healed by simply touching the hem of Jesus' garment as the next verse states.  Verse twenty-one, For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.  Then verse twenty-two states, But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.  Jesus acknowledged the woman and said that her faith had made her whole, and not the physical act of touching His garment.  When we come to Jesus for healing, it is an act of faith and not a physical act.  Verse twenty-three says, And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,  Then verse twenty-four adds, He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.  Jesus, when He got to the house, told the people to stand aside because the girl was not dead but only sleeping.  The people laughed at Jesus with scorn.  There are a lot of people today who are spiritually dead, who instead of coming to Jesus for healing by putting their faith in Him  instead laugh at Him with scorn.  Verse twenty-five declares, But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.  When the people allowed Jesus to come in, He took the girl by her hand and she arose.  When we allow Jesus to come into our life today, He will take us by the hand and we will be spiritually resurrected. 

Matthew 9:10

 Matthew 9:10 says, And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.  While Jesus was in the home, publicans and sinners came and sat down with Him.  Of course, even if they did not acknowledge it, even the most religious of leaders were sinners as well, just as we all are sinners today.  Verse eleven declares, And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?  The Pharisees questioned Jesus' disciples as to why He ate with publicans and sinners, once more not acknowledging that they themselves were sinners.  Also, instead of questioning Jesus, they questioned His disciples.  For us to really even begin to understand why Jesus did what He did, we must first establish a personal relationship with Him.  Verse twelve states, But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.  Jesus said that people who are well do not need a physician, but sick people do.  I also believe that the sick people must acknowledge that they are sick and need a physician and put their faith in him, just as we must acknowledge that we are spiritually sick and acknowledge that Jesus is the Great Physician and put our faith in Him to spiritually heal us.  Verse thirteen adds, But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.  Jesus told the Pharisees to go and learn what He meant by that.  Jesus added that He came not to save the righteous but the unrighteous.  What the Pharisees, and everyone else then and since have to understand is that none is righteous of their own merit, but can only become so through putting their faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.  Verse fourteen says, Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?  The disciples of John came to Jesus next asking why they and the Pharisees fasted often, and Jesus' disciples did not fast.  They were putting the emphasis on physical displays of righteousness and not on the spiritual relationship with Jesus that John had called them too.  They were basically sayin that the Pharisees and they were more righteous than Jesus and His disciples.  No matter how many rituals we go through today, unless we put our faith in Jesus we will never be righteous, which means to have a right relationship with God.  Verse fifteen declares, And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.  Jesus compared His disciples not fasting to not fasting when the bridegroom was present.  Jesus is the Bridegroom in this analogy, and while He was with the disciples it was not the time to mourn or fast.  Verse sixteen states, No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.  Jesus was not to be a patch on the old garment of religious acts, but was to be the fulfillment of the old covenant between the people of Israel and God and the beginning of the new covenant.  Verse seventeen adds, Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.  Jesus was also the new wine and people had to come to Him understanding that He was not to be contained by old religious habits but was come to fulfill the prophesies of the Messiah.  Jesus was and is the only way to salvation.