As one reads the gospel according to Matthew, a pattern can be identified in how the author, inspired by the Holy Spirit, presents his
The thirteenth chapter of Matthew’s gospel records an abrupt shift in Jesus’s teaching ministry. Responding to his formal rejection as messianic King by Israel’s
Up to this point in Matthew’s gospel there has been a consistent and clear proclamation of the nearness of the kingdom of heaven (see
It’s been said that failures are like a compost heap—they stink but are the most fertile part of the garden! We’ve all experienced failure
Matthew 12 reads like the transcript of the final scenes of a long courtroom drama—The People v. Jesus of Nazareth. It’s a trial that
We talk a lot about grace in the church, and, rightly so! As Christians, we are saved by grace, live by grace, mature in
Philip Melancthon, the great Reformation theologian, once said to his friend and mentor, Martin Luther, “Today you and I will discuss the governance of
Expectations can dictate experiences. If our expectations of a relationship or situation are inaccurate, unrealistic, or misguided then disappointment, disillusionment, and discouragement often result.
The Gospel according to Matthew is written in such a way that it oscillates between stories about Jesus and the teachings of Jesus. All in all, there are
Most are familiar with this cinematic scene: A bomb with a visible timer is counting down to detonation and, apparently, the only way to
While Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa is arguably one of the world’s most famous works of art, if you’ve ever seen it (whether in-person at
Current news headlines suggest that we have a lot to be afraid of. A spreading virus, a falling economy, government overreach, climate change, creeping