Matthew – the Gospel of Fulfillment – Chapter 11  An Invitation

Jesus extends an invitation like no other:

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and My load is light.”  (v28-30)

He’s waiting for you.

Matthew – the Gospel of Fulfillment – Chapter 10  Confession

It’s said that “confession is good for the soul,” but according to Jesus it is vital that we confess / profess our faith in Him:

“Everyone therefore who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before my Father in heaven.  But whoever shall deny Me before men, I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” (v32-33)

For Jesus, confession is more than just words.  A few verses later, “And he who does not take up his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.  He who has found his life, shall lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake shall find it.” (v38-39).  

Jesus made a total commitment to us by taking our punishment for sin upon Himself and for our own good, He expects us to be totally committed to Him.

Matthew – the Gospel of Fulfillment – Chapter 9  Your Sins are Forgiven

Jesus made a bold statement and proclamation in this chapter when he said to a paralyzed man, “Take courage, My son, your sins are forgiven.”  Now this caused quite a stir among the leaders of the Jewish faith, because only God can forgive sins.    But Jesus asked them, what’s easier to do, tell someone their sins are forgiven (because how can it be proved) or to tell a paralyzed person to get up and walk?  So to prove He has the authority to forgive sins, He then told the paralyzed man to get up, walk and take his mat home with him.   And that’s just what the man did – his life was forever radically changed.

And Jesus can just as radically change yours too, no matter what the so-called religious experts may say or think.

Matthew – the Gospel of Fulfillment – Chapter 8  An Unlikely Follower

If we were to ask a Jew during the time of Jesus who the most unlikely follower and believer in Jesus would be, an officer of the Roman army would probably be near the top of the list.  And yet, here at Capernaum, a Roman Centurion is concerned about a paralyzed servant of his and asks Jesus, as one demonstrating authority like him, to merely say the word to heal the servant.   The Centurion knew it wasn’t permitted for a Jew to go to the home of a Gentile, let alone a Roman.  He was satisfied to have Jesus merely choose to heal his servant from a distance with the faith  trusting that Jesus could do just that.

Jesus marveled at the faith of this one, saying, “I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel.”  If you feel you’re at the top of Jesus’ least likely to believe in Him list, you would be wrong,  In fact, the most unlikely are generally the ones who respond.  Because they find in Him what they have not been able to find anywhere else.

Matthew – the Gospel of Fulfillment – Chapter 7  Two Choices

The way to heaven – picture rush hour traffic on a multiple lane highway in Los Angeles.   The crowd is rushing as fast as they can in the direction of traffic, but you are trying to go against the traffic and travel in the opposite direction.   “Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter it.   For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life and fare are those who find it.”    This pretty much dispels the popular notion that all religions lead to the same God.

So how do you find the way?  Verse 24  “Therefore everyone who HEARS these words of Mine and ACTS upon them , may be compared to the wise man who built his house on the rock.”     How’s your foundation?

Matthew – the Gospel of Fulfillment – Chapter 6  When, not If

Notice how many times the word “when” is used in this chapter:  verses 2-3 when you give;  verses 5-7 when you pray;  verses 16-17 when you fast.   These are expectations of our Heavenly Father  so we will draw nearer to Him and place less confidence in our possessions and more trust in Him instead of being anxious.

As Jesus stated in verse 33:  “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you.”

Get on with “whenning!”

Matthew – the Gospel of Fulfillment – Chapter 5  Think You’re Good Enough?

This is a great chapter in Matthew’s Gospel – lots to discuss and react to.   But the 48 verses in this chapter can be summed up by 2 of the verses:

Verse 20   “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes of and Pharisees, you shall not enter the kingdom.”

Verse 48   “Therefore you are to be perfect and you heavenly Father is perfect.”

T

here’s no way I can please God or become holy and perfect by my own efforts.   But God loves us so much He provided a way to Him – Jesus.