February 27 In two verses, Matthew captures the image of Jesus overturning the moneychangers’ tables, as well as evicting all buyers and sellers from the Temple. The Temple was supposed to be a “house of prayer,” He said, but they had turned it into a “den of thieves.” (Matthew 12:12–13) What a rebuke! So, what…
February 26 In Matthew 20, we see two instances where people expected preferential treatment in the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus told a parable in which people were hired to work in a man’s vineyard. He hired five groups of workers in the morning, at nine o’clock, noon, three, and five, promising a day’s wage to…
February 23 In Matthew 19, the religious leaders tried to set a trap for Jesus by asking Him about divorce. At the time, there were two basic ways of looking at the issue. One way, taught by Rabbi Shammai allowed divorce only in the case of adultery. The other, taught by Rabbi Hillel, allowed divorce…
February 22 Matthew 18 begins with Jesus teaching His disciples from the viewpoint of children. He says that we must all become like children to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, meaning we must come to Him on His terms, submitting to His kingship over us and His domain, and trusting Him like a child trusts…
February 21 Matthew 17 contains an interesting statement that has been mistranslated and thus misunderstood and misapplied. A man brought his epileptic son to Jesus’ disciples, expecting them to heal him, but they were unable. The disciples were frustrated and asked Jesus why. The boy’s epilepsy was not due to a brain disorder, but rather…
February 20 God inspired Peter to speak his confession, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16–17) Jesus praises Peter for his insight, and says He will build His unconquerable church on Peter’s confession. And yet, just seven verses later, Jesus looks at Peter and says, “Get behind me, Satan!” Why…
