Matthew 14:22-33 And immediately He made the disciples get into the boat, and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. And after He had sent the multitudes away, He went up to the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone. But … Continue reading Stepping out into the Storming Sea →

Matthew 14:13-21 Now when Jesus heard it, He withdrew from there in a boat, to a lonely place by Himself; and when the multitudes heard of this, they followed Him on foot from the cities. And when He went ashore, He saw a great multitude, and felt compassion for them, and healed their sick. And … Continue reading Feeding Five Thousand →

And a Good Time was had by All Matthew 14:1-12 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the news about Jesus, and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead; and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” For when Herod had John arrested, he … Continue reading Beheading Of The Baptist →

Not Many Miracles From A Miracle Minded Man Finally Finishing Matthew 13 And it came about that when Jesus had finished these parables, He departed from there. And coming to His home town He began teaching them in their synagogue, so that they became astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom, and … Continue reading Astonishedly Offended →

Potential Prophecy and Proof Provided in Parables? Matthew 13:36-52 (considering a copious collection of context) Then He left the multitudes, and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.” And He answered and said, “The one who sows the good seed … Continue reading Plentiful Parables →

Matthew 13:31-35 "He presented another parable to them, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field; and this is smaller than all other seeds; but when it is full grown, it is larger than the garden plants, and becomes a tree, so that THE … Continue reading Small Seeds and a Little Leaven →

Another Tale of Two Cities, The Witnesses and the Wicked Matthew 13:24-30 "Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went away. But when the … Continue reading Wheat and Weeds →

It's a Parable, not a Promise Matthew 13:18-23 "Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road. The one on whom seed … Continue reading Scattered Seeds and Soil →

Pondering Parables Matthew 13:3-17 "And He spoke many things to them in parables, saying, 'Behold, the sower went out to sow; and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up. And others fell upon the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately … Continue reading A Deepening Divide →

4 Mini Missives Matthew 12:43-13:3 "Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places, seeking rest, and does not find it. “Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came’; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. “Then it … Continue reading Generation Vexed, A Family Tradition →

Miracles? No, We Want a Sign Matthew 12:38-42 "Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, 'Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.' But he answered them, 'An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just … Continue reading How About a Billboard? →

Matthew 12@32 "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. The good man brings … Continue reading A Continuing Conclusion and Russell’s Collusion →

Divide and Consider Matthew 12:22-32 "Then there was brought to Him a demon-possessed man who was blind and dumb, and He healed him, so that the dumb man spoke and saw. And all the multitudes were amazed, and began to say, “This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?” But when the Pharisees … Continue reading Civil Warning →

"For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” Matthew 12:9-21 "Departing from there, He went into their synagogue. And a man was there whose hand was withered. And they questioned Jesus, asking, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse Him. And He said to them, “What man is there among you who … Continue reading Lawfully Good →

Matthew 12:1-8 "At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples became hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat. But when the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples do what is not lawful to do on a Sabbath.” But He said to them, “Have you not read what … Continue reading Saints and Sinners on the Sabbath →

Revealing the Father, through the Son, To Babes The end of Matthew 11 "At that time Jesus declared, 'I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed … Continue reading The Supremacy of the Simple-minded →

A Generational Divide; Miracles Still in Matthew 11 (also mentioned in Luke 10, but in a slightly different manner and context): "Then He began to reproach the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred … Continue reading Just Judgement of Jesus →

Keepin' it Real Continuing in Matthew 11, where Jesus is speaking to the people who remain after the disciples of John were sent back to John to give an accurate account of all Jesus was doing. "And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come. “He who has ears to hear, … Continue reading Dancing, Dining, Drinking, Dirges, Demons, Drunkards and the Double Standard →

And Why Did You Go Out? Matthew 11:2ish-15 "Now when John in prison heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples, and said to Him, “Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?” And Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you … Continue reading What Did You Go Out To See? →

The Baptist Bemused? Matthew 11: 1-9ish "When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities." "Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, 'Are you the one who is to come, … Continue reading Should We Search for Someone Else? →

Finishing off Matthew 10, Jesus is still talking to the twelve: “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. “For I came to SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW; … Continue reading Fearless Followers →

Lord Up, Disciples Jesus speaking; as recorded by Matthew: "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his … Continue reading Power to Proclaim →

Who you is depends not on your definition of you Matthew 10:16-23 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; therefore be shrewd as serpents, and innocent as doves. But beware of men; for they will deliver you up to the courts, and scourge you in their synagogues; and you shall … Continue reading BREAKING THE BIBLE; I Send You →