Matthew 15:1-20

WHAT REALLY DEFILES A PERSON?

Keywords 15:11

What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean.' "

 

1. Hearts far from God (1-11)

Some religious leaders traveled from Jerusalem to Gennesaret to confront Jesus. His disciples ate with unwashed hands and broke a long-standing Jewish tradition. Jesus rebuked the religious leaders for their hypocrisy. They disobeyed God’s commands about honoring parents to keep non-Biblical rules about offerings. Although the Pharisees and teachers of the law appeared very religious, their hearts were, in fact, far from God. They cared more about human regulations than God’s clear word. Then Jesus directly addressed the eating concern. It is not what goes in, but what comes out of the mouth, that defiles a person.

 

2. What is in your heart? (12-20)

Jesus explained that food eaten with unwashed hands does not affect one’s relationship with God. Rather, what comes out of our mouths is what defiles us because that comes from our heart. The heart is the source of all kinds of evil thoughts. Instead of becoming smug with our outward behavior, we need Jesus to cleanse our hearts daily and the Holy Spirit to transform us.

 

Prayer Father, please cleanse the evil from my heart so that I may wholeheartedly obey you.

One Word Is your heart right with God?

 

Matthew 14:22-36

TRULY YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD

Keywords 14:33

Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

 

1. “Take courage! It is I” (22-27)

Have you ever struggled in a difficult circumstance and were unable to see God working in your midst? The disciples did. In obedience to Jesus, the disciples had gotten into a boat and set out across the lake by themselves. The disciples were soon violently tossed about by the waves. In the dark of night, Jesus walked out to them on the lake. Already stressed out and afraid, the disciples were terrified at this unexpected sight. But Jesus told them to take courage. Jesus was with them.

 

2. Jesus is the Son of God (28-36)

Peter also wanted to walk on water. Jesus obliged. But Peter was distracted by the strong winds and began to sink. When Peter took his focus off Jesus, he panicked and sank. Jesus grabbed his hand and pulled him up. He gently rebuked Peter’s doubt. Then they all climbed into the boat, and Jesus calmed the winds and the waves. Jesus allowed them to struggle on the sea, walked on water, and then calmed the winds to teach his disciples that he is the Son of God. May we overcome doubt and struggles by focusing on Jesus, the Son of God.

 

Prayer Lord Jesus, through all the struggles and miracles that you allow and bring, let me know you more and more as the Son of God.

One Word Will you see Jesus in life’s storms?

Matthew 14:1-21

JESUS’ COMPASSION SHINES THROUGH TRAGEDY

Keywords 14:14

When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

 

1. Herod executes John the Baptist (1-12)

Jesus’ powerful ministry reminded Herod of John the Baptist. John had publicly rebuked Herod for scandalously taking his brother’s wife to be his own. John’s actions angered Herod, but he was too afraid of public sentiment to kill John initially. Instead, Herod put John in prison. Later, during a dinner party, Herod made a foolish boast and—to save face—had John beheaded.

 

2. Jesus’ compassion for others (13-21)

Upon hearing of John’s martyrdom, Jesus withdrew to a solitary place. He needed time for himself to mourn and pray. However, people learned of this and flocked to his location. Jesus was not annoyed and had compassion on them. Though Jesus’ heart was deeply pained by John’s unjust death, the pain of these people affected him even more. Jesus healed their sick. When his disciples’ strength was gone, he insisted the crowd be fed. Jesus miraculously fed them on five loaves and two fish.

 

Prayer Lord Jesus, thank you for thinking of us ahead of yourself, even shedding your blood for us on the cross. In your strength and love, help me to love others as you have loved me.

One Word Accept and practice Jesus’ compassion

 

Matthew 13:44-58

THE TREASURE OF THE KINGDOM

Keywords 13:44

"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

 

1. The value of the kingdom (44-52)

Next, Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a treasure so valuable that someone will sell all they have to obtain it. What if a jewel collector was willing to reduce his collection to just one pearl, because he found one that was so precious? That’s how the value of the kingdom of heaven outweighs everything else. Like the merchant, we have great joy when we can set our heart on treasure in heaven. Jesus also hoped for his disciples to be teachers like him, who could give the treasures of God’s kingdom to others.

 

2. A prophet without honor (53-58)

Sadly, not everyone valued the treasure Jesus wanted to give. When Jesus returned to his hometown to teach, the people had no ears to hear. They were offended when someone from their own town possessed so much wisdom. Jesus knew that people often fail to honor a prophet from their hometown. But we shouldn’t let anything stop us from seeing the value of the kingdom of heaven.

 

Prayer Heavenly Father, thank you for showing me true treasure in the kingdom of heaven. Help me to value it above everything.

One Word A pearl of great value

Matthew 13:31-35

WHAT IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN LIKE?

Keywords 13:33

He told them still another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough."

 

1. It is like a mustard seed (31-32)

Jesus gave parables to help people understand the kingdom of heaven, which cannot be seen or touched. It is a miracle of nature how a small seed such as a mustard seed can become a large plant with spreading branches. In the same way, the work of God can grow from very humble beginnings to become a blessing to the world. Each of us can be like a mustard seed of the kingdom when we have the life of Jesus in us.

 

2. It is like yeast in dough (33-35)

When a small amount of yeast is mixed through a lump of dough, it is invisible. But it causes the dough to rise and expand greatly. In the same way, God’s people may not look remarkable among the people of the world, but by their influence they can raise society up toward the kingdom of God. Jesus revealed deep secrets of the kingdom of heaven with stories about ordinary things.

 

Prayer Heavenly Father, thank you for revealing the principles of the kingdom of heaven. Make me a mustard-seed-like influence in this world.

One Word The kingdom of heaven starts small and grows

 

Matthew 13:24-30,36-43

THE PARABLE OF THE WEEDS

Keywords 13:30

Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.' "

 

1. Wheat and weeds (24-30)

Jesus told another parable about the growth of the kingdom of God. A landowner sowed good seed in his field, but an enemy came and sowed weeds while he was sleeping. The servants were shocked to see weeds coming up with the wheat. But the landowner taught his servants to be patient, not trying to pull up the weeds before the harvest time. The weeds and wheat may even be difficult to tell apart until the wheat begins to bear heads of grain.

 

2. The parable explained (36-43)

Jesus explained to his disciples that the good seed is the people of the kingdom, and the weeds are the people of the evil one. In this world, they are mixed together and we cannot always tell who is who. God is patient with many people who look like weeds but may turn out to be good wheat after much prayer. At the end of the age, the angels harvest the crop for eternal life. Then the righteous will shine like the sun.

 

Prayer Lord Jesus, help me to be patient and wait for God’s judgment in this world where weeds and wheat grow together.

One Word The weeds and the wheat must grow together

 

 

Matthew 13:18-23

THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER EXPLAINED

Keywords 13:23

But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

 

1. The three bad kinds of ground (18-22)

Jesus said that the parable of the sower is about whose heart can receive the word of God. The first type of ground, the path, is like someone with a hard heart; as soon as they hear the word, the devil takes it away. The rocky ground is like someone who responds with joy to the word, but they don’t put down deep roots, and so they fall away when persecution comes. The weedy soil represents a person for whom the concerns of earthly life choke the growth of God’s word. Considering these spiritual dangers, we can examine the condition of our own hearts before God.

 

2. Good heart soil (23)

If our heart is a soil where the word of God can take root, we have great prospects. We will grow spiritually mature and our life will be a blessing to many people. We can ask the Holy Spirit to soften our hard hearts, and we can prioritize meditating on God’s word until it transforms our inner self.

 

Prayer Lord Jesus, thank you for your insight about how the word of God grows in our hearts. Please make me good soil to bear fruit for your kingdom.

One Word Good heart soil bears an abundant crop