Matthew 20:29

 Matthew 20:29 says, And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.  Wherever Jesus went, great multitudes followed Him, but they were following for the wrong reasons.  Some followed simply to see what Jesus would do, some followed as many religious leaders did to attempt to discredit Him, and a some followed because they had faith in His power to heal.  Very few followed Jesus because they truly understood Who He is.  Many people still attempt follow Jesus today for the wrong reasons.  Verse thirty states, And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.  Two blind men, who could not come to Jesus on their own, called out to Him and asked that He, whom they called the Son of David, or Messiah, have mercy on them.  We all need to call out to Jesus at some point and ask Him to come into our heart and have mercy on  us.  Verse thirty-one says, And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.  The multitude rebuked the two blind men and told them to keep quiet, but they cried out even more.  It is a sad situation when those who are supposedly following Jesus attempt to keep anyone else from following Him and showing His mercy to them.  We as followers of Christ should be helping, not hindering, those who call out to Him.  We should never feel that anyone calling out to Jesus is somehow unworthy of His mercy, especially when they acknowledge who He really is.  Verse thirty-two declares, And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?  Jesus stood and called  out to the two men and asked what they would have Him do.  We must answer this question today.  When we come to Jesus, what would we have Him to do?  Some come for material reasons, but the only real reason to come to Jesus is for salvation from our sins.  All else will be taken care of if we put our faith in Him.  Verse thirty-three answers, They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.  The immediate concern of these two men was to have their physical sight restored, but they seemed to have faith in Jesus being able to do this because of Who He was.  Verse thirty-four states, So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.  We are told that Jesus had compassion on them and they immediately received their sight and followed Him.  When we call out to Jesus in faith that He is the only One Who can bring us forgiveness for our sins and if we accept Him as our Savior and Lord, we will immediately have our spiritual sight restored.  Then, we should follow His will for our life in all that we do.

Matthew 20:17

 Matthew 20:17 says, And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,  Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem and He took the disciples aside and talked to them.  Any where we are on our way to, we need some time aside with Jesus, and we need to listen to what He has to say..  Verse eighteen adds, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,  Jesus told the disciples that the time had come for Him to be betrayed to the chief priests and scribes, those who were supposed to be the leaders of God's chosen people, and for Him to be put to death. We as followers of Christ, God's chosen people today, need to make sure that we never betray Jesus in anything that we do.  Verse nineteen continues, And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.  The chief priests and scribes did not have the authority to put Jesus to death, so they would deliver Him to the Gentiles to do so.  The good news was that on the third day He would rise again.  Verse twenty states, Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.  The mother of the sons of Zebedee, James and John, came to Jesus desiring a certain thing of Him.  There is really only one thing that we should desire for our children from Jesus, and that is salvation.  Verse twenty-one declares, And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.  Jesus listened to the mother, just as He will listen to us today.  She requested that her sons be given given positions of power and prestige in His kingdom.  Verse twenty-two declares, But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.  Jesus asked them if they were able to do the things that He was able to do, and they said yes they were.  We should never begin to think that we, or anyone else can do what Jesus did,  He is the only way to salvation.  Verse twenty-three adds, And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.  Jesus said that they would indeed drink of His cup and be baptized with His baptism, but it wasn't His right to say who would sit on His right and left.  This was the right of the heavenly Father.  We may die for our faith in Christ, but it is His sacrifice on the ross that brings us salvation.  Verse twenty-four says, And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.  When the other disciples heard what had happened, they were moved with indignation against James and John.  I believe this was more because they wanted that position for them self than because of any real commitment to doing what Jesus called them to do.  We cannot be angry with other Christians out of selfishness.  Verse twenty-five states, But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.  Jesus referred to the Gentiles and how the princes had dominion over the others.  Verse twenty-six declares, But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;  Jesus called on His disciples to not be the same as the Gentiles.  He said whoever would be great should be a minister to the others.  If we begin to feel that we are superior to other Christians, then we should examine our relationship to Christ.  We are called to witness for Him and not for our self.  Verse twenty-seven adds, And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:  Jesus said if we want to be big in the kingdom of God that we should serve others.  This should be done under the leadership of the Holy Spirit and for God's glory and not our own.  Verse twenty-eight continues, Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.  Jesus said that even He did not come to be ministered to but to minister and give His life as a ransom for many.  We should be willingly to lay down our life for the gospel, but only Jesus can be the ransom from sin.  His salvation is available to all who put their faith in Him.

Matthew 20:1

 Matthew 20:1 says, For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.  Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to a homeowner who sent for workers early in the morning.  Verse two adds, And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.  The man and the workers agreed to the price of a penny a day for the work.  They were not forced to work for this amount, but agreed to do so.  Verse three states,  And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,  Then verse four adds, And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.  Three hours later, the home owner saw some men standing idle in the market place and told them to go to work in the vineyard and he would pay them whatever he felt was right, and they went to work.  Verse five says, Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.  They man went out twice more at three hour intervals and sent more workers into the vineyard with the same understanding that they would be paid what he felt was right.  Verse six states, And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?  At near the end of the day, the man once again went out and found some men standing idle and asked them why the were doing so.  Verse seven says, They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.  They told the home owner that no one had hired them, and he told them to go into the vineyard and work, and once again said that he would pay them what he felt was fair.  Though the first workers were promised a specific amount of pay, all went to work willingly.  Verse eight declares, So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.  The man told his steward to call the workers at the end of the day and to give them their pay, starting with those hired last.  He was doing nothing in secret, but everyone would know what he others were paid.  Verse nine adds, And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.  Those who had worked for an hour were given a penny in pay.  Verse ten states, But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.  Evidently, all those who had come to work received a penny in pay, and when the first to go to work came, they expected to receive more, but they were also paid a penny.  Verse eleven declares, And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,  When the first hired received their pay, they murmured against the home owner even though they had received what they had agreed on for pay.  Verse twelve adds, Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.  They complained that those who had only worked an hour received the same pay as they did.  We would likely feel the same way and do the same thing that they did.  Verse thirteen declares, But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?  The home owner addressed them as friend and said that he had done no wrong and asked if he had not paid them what they agreed on.  Verse fourteen adds, Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.  Thee homeowner told the men to take what was theirs and go on the way, and that he would pay the last just the same as the first. The man could have payed them in the order that they came to work and the first would not have known how much the last had been paid, but he was honest and above board in his actions.  Verse fifteen asks, Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?  The man asked the ones complaining if he was not free to do what he chose with his money, and asked if their eye would be evil because he was good.  Verse sixteen concludes, So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.  The man said that the first would be last and the last first, and that many were called but few were chosen.  We are called to salvation at different ages, but we all have the same reward, everlasting life.  This is God's gift of grace to all who accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and it is the only reward promised.  We should never feel cheated if someone comes to know Jesus as Savior and Lord late in life, but should be thankful that God has provided a way to salvation that is equal to all and that He fulfills His promise to us.  To do otherwise would imply that we believe that we are working to earn our salvation.

Matthew 19:23

 Matthew 19:23 says, Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.  After His encounter with the rich young ruler, Jesus said a rich man should hardly enter the kingdom of heaven.  This was because like the rich young ruler, rich people often value riches more than they value their relationship with God.  Verse twenty-four declares, And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.  Jesus further emphasized His statement about a rich man entering the kingdom of heaven.  Jesus said it would be nearly impossible, but we must remember that with God, nothing is impossible and that with the smallest of faith, we can do things that seem impossible.  Verse twenty-five states, When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?  When the disciples heard this, they were exceedingly amazed, asking Jesus who could be saved.  Jesus will always be the One to determine who can be saved, and that is anyone who puts their faith in Him as Savior and Lord.  Verse twenty-six says, But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.  As already stated, Jesus said with God all things are possible.  We should never forget this promise.  Verse twenty-seven states, Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?  Peter said that the disciples had given up everything to follow Jesus and asked what they would have.  When we come to Jesus and accept Him as our Savior and Lord, we give up everything that we have in this world, and we know the answer to the question.  We will have everlasting life with God.  Verse twenty-eight declares, And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.  Jesus said that the disciples would sit on twelve thrones in heaven judging the twelve tribes of Israel, after He had was sitting on His throne in glory.  He did not promise them anything in this world, and I do not profess to know exactly what their role in heaven will be, nor mine for that matter, but I have faith that we will all be there for the purpose that God assigns us.  Verse twenty-nine adds, And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.  Jesus told Peter, and tells us, that whatever we sacrifice for Him in this world, we will receive one hundred times over when we are in heaven with Him.  Verse thirty concludes, But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.  If, after we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we desire to be first in His Kingdom, Jesus tells us that we will be last.  There is no room for egotism among Christians.

Matthew 19:10

 Matthew 19:10 says, His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.  The disciples said to Jesus that if marriage required all that Jesus said, then it would be better not to marry.  Marriage was a total commitment of a man and a woman under God then and it still is today.  Verse eleven declares, But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.  Jesus said if a man could not truly give this commitment, the he should not make it, thereby saving the woman to whom it was given.  A woman could not ask for a divorce then, but only the man could.  Verse twelve adds, For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.  Jesus said that some men were eunuchs from birth, some were made eunuchs by others, and some made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven, and that anyone who was able to receive this hearing should do so.  What we need to realize is that God's plan is for people to marry, and when they do it should be under God's leadership and according to His design for marriage.  Verse thirteen states, Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.  Once more we are told of little children being brought to Jesus for Him to pray over them and the disciples rebuking them. We need to bring our little children to Jesus today and ask in prayer that He would watch over them, and we should never attempt to keep them from coming into the presence of God.  Verse fourteen declares, But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.  Jesus told the disciples to allow the little children to come to Him, because the kingdom of heaven was made up of such.  No matter how old we are, we must come to Jesus with a child like faith and be born again into the kingdom of heaven.  Verse fifteen says, And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.  Jesus laid His hands on the little children and then left.  Verse sixteen states, And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?  A man then came to Jesus. calling Him Good Master, and asked what he must do to inherit the kingdom of heaven. The first thing we must do when we come to Jesus for salvation, the only way to enter the kingdom of heaven, we must first know Who He really is.  When we do, we will already know what we can do to get ot heaven, and it does not depend on any action of our own, other than putting our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse seventeen declares, And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.  Jesus asked the man why he called Him good, stating that there was none good except God.  I believe that this question was asking the man if he recognized the divinity of Jesus.  Then, Jesus told the man to keep the commandments.  Jesus knew that the man could not completely keep the commandments, since He alone was able to do so.  Verse eighteen says, He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,  Verse nineteen continues, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  Jesus listed the commandments dealing with relationships between people and also said that the man should love his neighbor as himself.  The man could not just choose what commandments to keep, but must keep them all, based not just on actions but on the attitude of his heart.  Verse twenty states, The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?  The young man was full of self pride and said that he had done these things from his youth and asked what he lacked.  We can never come to Jesus feeling that we have done all that is necessary for salvation, but must come to Him humbly admitting that we are but a sinner needing salvation by the grace of God.  Verse twenty-one declares, Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.  Jesus told the young man basically that it was time to put his professed faith into action.  The young man was to sell all that he had, give it to the  poor, and come and follow Jesus.  We must give all that we have to Jesus and come and follow Him if we are to be saved.  Verse twenty-two says, But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.  The young man went away sorrowful, because he had great possessions.  We must never let anything that we have in this world come between God and us.  If we do, then if not in this life then in the one to come, we will go way sorrowful.

Matthew 19:1

 Matthew 19:1 says, And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan; Once again, Jesus moved on after teaching the disciples awhile and came to Judaea, beyond Jordan.  Verse two states, And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there.  Once again, great multitudes followed Jesus and He healed them.  No matter how many people come to Jesus today by faith and accept Him as their Savior and Lord, He will heal them all.  Verse three says, The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?  Once more the Pharisees came to Jesus with a question, this time about divorce.  They really weren't concerned about divorce, but were once again attempting to get Jesus to say something that they could use against Him.  Verse four declares, And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,  Jesus asked the Pharisees if they had not read the scripture which said that in the beginning God had made people male or female, and He still does today.  It really isn't a choice that a person makes later in life.  Verse five adds, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?  Jesus then said that the man would leave his father and mother when he was grown and marry a woman.  Under God, only a man and a woman may be married, no matter what the world may say.  Verse six continues,  Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.  In marriage, the two become on flesh.  This also is still true today if a man and a woman are married under God's guidance and with a commitment not only to each other, but to committed to each other under God's guidance.  Verse seven asks, They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?  The Pharisees asked Jesus why Moses commanded that a man give a woman a writing of divorcement and put her away.  This was not a command that people should divorce, but a  command to protect the woman, who had very few rights, from just being cast out with nothing any time a man decided that he no longer wanted to be married to the woman.  Verse eight declares, He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.  Jesus said that it was because of the hardiness of their hearts that Moses told them to give a writing of divorcement, and that from the beginning, when God instituted marriage, this was not so.  Marriage between a man and a woman for a lifetime is God's plan and anything other than that is man's plan.  Verse nine adds, And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.  Jesus said that the only reason for divorce in God's plan was fornication, or adultery.  Otherwise, anyone marrying someone who was divorced was guilt of committing adultery.  This has not changed.

Matthew 18:21

Matthew 18:21 says, Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?  Peter came to Jesus looking for a legalistic answer about forgiving his brother, saying seven times.  At what point would Peter have forgiven him enough.  We don't need to look for ways to no longer forgive others, but must be willing to forgive as long as necessary.  Verse twenty-two declares, Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.  Jesus answered seventy times seven, which basically means more than we can count.  Verse twenty-three says, Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.  Jesus told the disciples another parable, this one about a certain king who called his servants in to give and accounting.  Verse twenty-four adds, And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.  One of his servants who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him.  Verse twenty-five continues, But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.  The king ordered the man, his wife, his children and all that he had to be sold when the man couldn't pay him.  The king had the power and even the right to do so legally.  Verse twenty-six declares, The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.  The servant fell down and worshipped the king and asked for mercy, saying that he would repay him in time.  Verse twenty-seven says, Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.  The king was moved with compassion and forgave the servant.  The servant had to be rejoicing.  Verse twenty-eight states, But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.  The man who had been forgiven found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred pence and took him by the throat and demanded payment right then.  We would think that he would have had patience with his fellow servant, but he did not.  Peter was like the servant who had everything forgiven by God, and so are we, and we will never have to repay what we owe, because we cannot.  Verse twenty-nine adds, And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.  His fellow servant reacted the same way that the man had with the king, falling down and asking for patience.  Verse thirty declares, And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.  Instead of being patient, the man had his fellow servant thrown into prison.  He did not treat his fellow servant as his master had treated him.  Verse thirty-one adds, So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.  When the other servants saw what the man had done, they were very sorry and went and told the master.  Verse thirty-two declares, Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:  The servant was called before the master and reminded of what the master had done for him because he begged him to.  The master called the man a wicked servant.  When it comes to forgiving others as Christians, we must remember what God has done for us, and we really did not have to beg Him.  God freely forgives those who will put their faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse thirty-three asks, Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?  The man was held accountable for his lack of forgiveness, and I believe we will be also if we fail to forgive others, especially our fellow servants in Christ.  Verse thirty-four continues, And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.  The master was angry with the servant and had him delivered to the tormentors until he could repay his debt.  Verse thirty-five declares, So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.  Jesus told Peter that the heavenly father was the same way with all people.  God forgives us of all our trespasses if we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, and He expects us to be just as forgiving to others.  God does not limit His forgiveness to us, and we should not limit our forgiveness to others.