Matthew 28

Mary and Mary went to the tomb where Jesus had been buried and found the stone rolled away and an angel who told them that Jesus had risen. They went off to tell the disciples, but met Jesus on the way. The two women fell down at His feet and worshiped Him. He told them to go and tell the disciples that He would meet them in Galilee.

What a wonderful surprise. They had expected to find Jesus' body in the tomb, but found Him risen instead. Jesus proved His power over death and showed beyond a shadow of a doubt that He was the Son of God.


The guards that had been posted at the tomb went to tell the chief priests what had happened. The priests paid the guards to tell anyone who asked that Jesus' disciples had taken His body while they were asleep.

These are signs of desperate men. They must have paid an enormous amount of money to convince these guards to say they were sleeping on the job - they could have been put to death for that. They gave the guards a rather flimsy story that the disciples, who were scared for their lives after Jesus' death, came to the tomb in the hopes that maybe the guards would be sleeping and then took the body away without disturbing their sleep. It's amazing the lengths some people will go to to avoid the truth.


When the disciples met up with Jesus in Galilee, He gave them what is known as the great commission. He told them to go to all the nations, teaching about Him and showing people how to live their lives according to His will. That commission still applies today. Each of us should look toward God to discover what our part in His great plan is. Someone told you about Jesus, so now it's your turn to go tell someone else.

Matthew 27:32-66

Jesus was taken to Golgotha (Calvary) to be crucified. He was offered wine mixed with myrrh to dull the pain, but He wouldn't drink it. Jesus knew His suffering would be great, but He turned down the drink that would have taken the pain away. He wanted to have full control over His senses.

After nailing Him to the cross, the Roman soldiers cast lots for His clothing. A sign above His head read, "This is Jesus, King of the Jews". The indignities and the mocking didn't stop. Jesus was at about the lowest point anyone in that society could be at this point. He was put on a cross between two thieves with passersby hurling insults at Him and saying if He were truly the King of the Jews He should be able to save Himself from the cross. Even the two thieves joined in insulting Him.


Jesus cried out, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" Some continued to mock Him, saying He was calling for Elijah, but one man lifted a sponge soaked with wine up for Him to drink. At this point in time, Jesus let out a loud cry and died. The veil of the temple was torn in two, the earth shook, rocks were split, and tombs were opened. The Roman guards who were there and saw all of this were afraid and said that this must have been the Son of God.

The actual point of Jesus' death was a very powerful event. The very fact that all these things happened right when He died was yet more proof that Jesus was the Son of God. Still, people missed it. The Bible says the guards said that Jesus must be the Son of God, but what did they do with that revelation? Did it change their lives? It doesn't matter what amazing things we see, or what proclamations we make. A changed life is the true mark of a believer.


Jesus was buried and a stone was rolled in front of the grave. The chief priests and Pharisees were worried that someone might steal Jesus' body and claim Him to have risen that they had a guard posted at His tomb. They were still scared that even in death, Jesus was a threat to them. They wanted to end His influence once and for all. They thought they had it all figured out. They thought they had won, but this was not the end.

Matthew 27:1-31

When Judas saw that Jesus was condemned, he regretted what he had done and tried to return the money he had taken. The chief priests and elders didn't want to take it back, so Judas threw it down on the temple floor. He then went and hanged himself. The priests didn't want to put the money in the temple treasury since it was blood money, so instead bought a piece of land that they then used to bury strangers.

Judas realized after the fact that what he had done was wrong. Instead of going before God and asking forgiveness, he tried to assuage his guilt himself by giving back the money. Still consumed by guilt, he took his own life. We can't handle our sins ourselves. Nothing we can do will take away the guilt. God's forgiveness is the only way to be made whole again.


Jesus, having been bound and taken to Pilate, now stood before the governor, who questioned Him. Pilate asked Jesus if He was the King of the Jews. Jesus affirmed that He was. Then Pilate wanted to know why Jesus did not answer the accusations of the chief priests and elders, but at this, Jesus remained silent. Pilate was amazed at this.

Having found no fault in Him, Pilate tried to think of a way to let Jesus go. He took an opportunity to allow the crowd to effect His release by way of a tradition where the governor would let one prisoner go at the Passover feast. He found the worst prisoner he could - Barabbas - and gave the crowd a choice to release him or Jesus. The crowd, having been influenced by the chief priests and elders called for the release of Barabbas and the crucifixion of Jesus. When Pilate saw that his plan wasn't working, he gave in to the crowd, but made it clear that he did not want to be held accountable for Jesus' death.

Pilate did what was prudent in his mind, not what was right. He condemned an innocent man to death because it was easier than dealing with people who might have rioted if they hadn't gotten their way. He symbolically washed his hands to remove the guilt from himself in the eyes of the people, but he was still guilty in the eyes of God. Much like Judas, he tried to take care of his own sin, but came up short.


Pilate had Jesus whipped and then handed Him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified. They stripped Him of His clothes and put a scarlet robe on Him. Then they put a crown of thorns on His head and a reed in His hand and began mocking Him by bowing down and saying, "Hail to the King of the Jews!" They spat on Him and then took the reed from Him and beat Him with it. Then they put His own clothes back on Him and led Him away to the place of crucifixion.

This is the beginning of the pain and humiliation suffered by our Savior for you and for me. He loved us so much that He was willing to take our punishment of death on Himself so that we could be reconciled to God. When we reject His sacrifice, we essentially say that His suffering was meaningless. If there was another way, Jesus would not have gone through what He did. If as some say, "all roads lead to God," Jesus suffered through all these things needlessly.

Matthew 26:57-75

Jesus was taken to the high priest. Peter followed at a distance and went in to see what would happen. Many false witnesses were brought to testify against Him, but they couldn't find any two with the same story, as was necessary under Jewish law. Finally, two men came forward to tell how they heard Jesus say He would destroy the temple and rebuild it. The high priest wanted Jesus to answer the accusation, but He didn't say anything. Then the high priest asked Him directly if He was the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus affirmed that He was, and at that the high priest accused Him of blasphemy and asked those present what further proof was needed. They cried for His death and spat on Him and beat Him, mocking Him asking Him to tell them which one had hit Him.

This was the beginning of a night of sham trials that Jesus would have to endure. He was accused of blasphemy, claiming to be God. If He were not God, the charges would have been founded, but He was and is God. The religious leaders of the time were just too wrapped up in their own agendas to recognize Him for who He was. If they accepted Jesus for who He was, they would have had to admit they were no longer relevant.


Outside, Peter was asked by three different people if he was one of Jesus’ followers. Three times he denied it, becoming more emphatic in his denial each time. After the third time, the rooster crowed and Peter immediately remembered what Jesus had said.

We are to be proud of our relationship with Christ. We need to boldly stand up and be counted as His followers. Too often, afraid of confrontation, we try to fit in by hiding our faith. We cannot answer the call to be salt and light to the world if we don’t dare to speak His name. We are to proclaim our faith by what we say and do. People should see a difference in us and wonder why we’re different. We should then use those opportunities to share the good news of Christ with those who are willing to listen. In this instance, Peter messed up. We know he went on to do great things, so even if you may have been hesitant to share your faith, there’s no reason you can’t start now.

Matthew 26:26-56

Jesus took the familiar pieces of the Passover meal - the bread and the wine and gave them new meaning and significance. He said that the bread represented His body that would be broken and the wine represented His blood that would be poured out for the forgiveness of sin. With this, He instituted what has come to be known as the Lord's Supper that we might have a way to remember the sacrifice He made for us on the cross. Even today, Christians pass the bread and cup to remember what Jesus has done for us.

After they were done, they went to the Mount of Olives where Jesus foretold that His disciples would all leave Him that night. Peter said he would never leave Him, but Jesus told him that he would deny Him three times before the rooster crowed. Peter once again denied that he would do this and all of the other disciples said they would not either.

They continued on to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus took Peter, James, and John aside and confided in them that He was weighed down in grief. He asked them to keep watch while He went a little further to pray. He asked His Father that if there was some way to fulfill His purpose other than death, to let it be. Ultimately, He said that He would follow the will of the Father rather than His own. He came back to find His disciples sleeping and asked them again to keep watch and pray. He went and prayed the same prayer twice more, and came back each time to find His disciples sleeping. The third time, He woke them and told them it was time for His betrayal.

It can be easy to think that since Jesus was God that His death on the cross was easy for Him. Here we see that that was not the case. He agonized over what He knew had to be done. He wasn't looking forward to it. He knew the pain and agony that awaited Him on the cross and went quietly, without complaining. He asked His Father for another way, but ultimately submitted Himself to the will of the Father. God will not always take us out of difficult situations, but He will give us the strength to come through them. There's nothing wrong with wanting the tough times to pass, but in the end, seeking God's will and going where He wants to lead us is more important than our comfort.

The disciples wanted to keep watch with Jesus, but didn't have the strength to do so. Jesus said, "the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." So often, we find that we want to do the right things, but our human weaknesses get in the way. It's in these times that we need to lean on Jesus for strength. With His power working through us, we can accomplish things for Him that we cannot do on our own.


As Jesus was speaking of His betrayal, Judas came up with a mob of people. He came over to Jesus and signaled the mob who to grab by walking over and giving Him a kiss. After Jesus was grabbed, Peter began to fight, but Jesus stopped him, saying that if that's how He wanted to handle it, He could have had His Father send down His angels to stop the mob. To the crowd He asked if they had come to arrest Him like a thief now when they had had ample opportunity to take Him when He was in the temple teaching. He answered His own question in that it was done in this way to fulfill prophecy. At this time, all of His disciples left Him, just as He said they would.

Jesus was in control the entire time. As He said, He could have stopped it all by having God's angels come and rescue Him. Even when we think we are in control, we must stop and remember that God is the one who is in control of all things. When we try to do our own thing, it's like trying to swim upstream. When we stop struggling and let the will of God direct our lives, we find that we have peace that only comes from being right with God.

Matthew 26:1-25

The time of Passover was approaching and Jesus once again foretold how He would be handed over to be crucified. This was at the very time that the chief priests and elders were planning how to do this. They didn't want to do it during the feast because they feared the people might riot.


Jesus was at a house having dinner when a woman came up behind Him and poured some expensive perfume on His head. The disciples thought she was wasting the perfume and that it could have been better used by selling it and using the money to feed the poor. Jesus defended the woman's actions because she was anointing Him in preparation for His burial.

The disciples had good intentions. It is good to give to the poor, however, in this particular situation, Jesus accepted this gift that honored Him because it was appropriate at the time. The disciples didn't understand the significance, so Jesus had to tell them. We are responsible for how we use the things God has given us, but we shouldn't be too quick to judge how others use what they have been given when we don't know what has been impressed on their hearts.


Judas went off to the chief priests to make a bargain with them for betraying Jesus. They agreed on thirty pieces of silver (the price of a common slave) as payment for this deed. The Bible doesn't assign a clear motive for why Judas did this, but money seems to be at the heart of it. Judas was the one responsible for the group's money. The "wasting" of the perfume may have been the last straw. Regardless of why he did it, the fact is that he had spent a great deal of time with Jesus and for some reason felt enough contempt for Him that he was willing to hand Him over to His death. Spending time with Jesus isn't enough if we're not truly listening to Him and applying His words to our life.


At the Passover meal, Jesus told the disciples that one of them would betray Him. He said that it would be better for this one to have never been born. Each of the disciples questioned whether it could be him. When Judas asked if it was him, Jesus answered that it was as he said. Judas, knowing what he was about to do, tried to play innocent. Jesus knew his heart though, and let him know as much.

Some people think they can hide their wrongdoings from God. Even in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve hid from God after they had eaten the fruit. God knows our innermost thoughts; He knows our hearts. There is no way to hide from Him. We all sin. We all fall short of the glory of God, but when we do, the proper action is to go to Him and ask for forgiveness. We don't accomplish anything by pretending the problem isn't there.

Matthew 25:31-46

Jesus said that when He returns, the sheep (believers) will be separated from the goats (non-believers). The believers will inherit the kingdom (enter into heaven). They will be commended for meeting the needs of the poor and oppressed - feeding them, clothing them, providing shelter, and looking after the sick and imprisoned. According to Jesus, when we do these things, we are doing them for Him. These are the things He wants us to do - the things He has commanded us to do. The ones who He condemns are the ones who have not done these things.

Belief in Jesus and following Him is not just a mental exercise. True followers of His will be motivated to real action. When you love someone, you want to do things for them and this is what Jesus has asked us to do if we love Him. One day, each of us will give an accounting of their life. You can be a sheep or you can be a goat - it's up to you.

Matthew 25:1-30

Jesus told another parable about being ready for His return. Ten virgins (maids of honor) went out to meet the groom to welcome him in to the wedding party and light his way, but fell asleep waiting for him. Five of them had brought extra oil for their lamps and five had not. When the groom finally showed up, the girls went out to meet him, but the ones who did not bring extra oil asked to use some from the ones who did. The ones who remembered told the others to go buy more since they didn't have enough to spare, which they did. Upon coming back, they were denied entry to the wedding party because the doors had already been shut and locked.

We need to be prepared for Christ's return at any moment. We are to be His lights and if we don't have fuel for our light - His word and Spirit inside us - we will find it too late when He returns. By the time He comes back, it will be too late and we will have missed our chance.


He also told about three servants given different amounts of money to manage while their master was away. The first two doubled their money and pleased their master when he returned. The third was afraid of what would happen if he invested the money poorly and lost it, so he decided to bury it until his master's return. The first two were rewarded with more responsibility; the third was reprimanded for being lazy and not at least trying. The least he could have done was to put the money where it could earn some interest. This servant was thrown out and his money given to the first.

God gives each one of us abilities and spiritual gifts to use to honor Him by doing the work He has called us to - helping the disadvantaged, showing love to others, and spreading His word. We can't be afraid to use those gifts. If we make a mistake in the course of earnestly trying to do His will, He offers forgiveness - not condemnation.

Matthew 24:32-51

Jesus continued to tell the disciples about His return by reminding them that what He had given them were signs of the end days. He likened it to the fig tree, which signals the coming of summer when its leaves start to sprout. It's not summer yet, but it's close. Likewise, when these signs happen, it's not time for Jesus' return yet, but it's close. No one can know the exact date. So until then, we are to continue to do God's will until the appointed time. Jesus made an analogy to a servant who is always doing what he is supposed to even when the master is away as opposed to a servant who takes advantage of his master's absence by breaking the rules and getting away with abusing his fellow servants and consuming his masters food and drink.

We need to live each day like Jesus is coming back tomorrow. When He comes back, how do you want to be found? living for Him and doing His work or living for yourself?

Matthew 24:1-31

After Jesus made His pronouncement on the temple, Jesus left it. His disciples came to Him pointing out the temple, perhaps simply admiring the beauty of it or possibly wondering why Jesus would say it would be left desolate. Jesus told them that the temple would be torn down to the point that there would not be one stone left on top of another. The disciples had given a little too much importance to the temple building. The church is not a building - it is the people who worship God. The place where we worship is not as important as how we worship.


The disciples asked about the destruction of the temple, Jesus' return, and the end times. He warns them first to not be deceived by people who claim to be the Christ. There are those that for whatever reason would pretend to be Christ. The disciples knew the real deal and were to be on the lookout for any fakes. There would be wars, famine, and earthquakes, but that was just the beginning. The disciples were going to be hated, persecuted and even killed because they proclaimed the name of Jesus. People would turn against one another, false prophets would begin leading people astray, but the disciples were not to lose their faith during all of this. They were to continue preaching the gospel to all the nations. After all of this happened, then the destruction of the temple would take place.

We often want to know the particulars of a situation. We want to know when something will happen and how it will happen. Here, Jesus gave general instructions about what the disciples should be doing and looking for. If He gave them a specific date, would they have kept doing what they were called to do or just sit around and wait? We need to be ready at any time for God's will to be worked out so that we will constantly be ready.

In the days when all this was to take place, Jesus said that people should escape to the mountains, not turning back for any personal belongings. Many lives would be lost, but for the sake of saving believers, God would not allow events to progress to the point that everyone would be killed. Again, He warns not to be deceived by rumors of the Messiah being here or there, because no one can predict where He will return.

Jesus finished off with the signs of His coming at the end times, using Old Testament prophecies about the sun and moon being darkened and the stars falling from the sky. He also spoke of coming on a cloud and gathering together the elect.


Much of what Jesus said in these verses can be interpreted to apply to the destruction of the Temple or the His second coming at the end times. It is most likely that both events are described here. God often repeats the same theme again and again in different generations. There are lessons to be learned from those who have gone before us and the Bible has many examples of what God wants us to do and what happens when we don't.

Matthew 23:23-39

Continuing with illustrating where the scribes and Pharisees had gotten off track, Jesus pointed out that they were very meticulous about keeping some of the finer points of the law like tithing, but at the same time neglected justice, mercy, and faithfulness. We can't pick and choose what parts of God's law we follow. Picking the easy stuff or the stuff we like is not pleasing to God. We can't be perfect in everything, but we shouldn't ignore the parts that are inconvenient or uncomfortable for us.

The Pharisees and scribes were very concerned with outward appearances and how they looked to others, but did not take any time to improve themselves on the inside. Jesus knew their hearts and minds were impure despite how much they attempted to look good for everyone else. He compared them to cups which are washed only on the outside and not the inside and to whitewashed tombs that no matter how clean they looked still had the remains of the dead inside. Living a good life on the outside does not fool God. He sees inside each of us and judges our motives more than our actions.

They built and/or repaired tombs for the prophets that had been slain before their time, and making statements that they would not have been guilty of shedding their blood if they had lived during that time. Jesus knew that at this time they were plotting to kill Him. Moreover, Jesus prophesied that more prophets would be sent and that these Pharisees would do the same to them. They did not see that they were exactly like the ancestors they condemned. They were quick to see the speck in their ancestors' eye while ignoring the log in their own.


Jesus condemns Jerusalem after all of this saying that He wanted to save them, but they were unwilling, even to the point of killing the messengers sent to them. They had had their chances, and now the temple would no longer be a place of worship and eventually would be destroyed. Jesus wants every one of us to be saved, but those who do not willingly accept Him will not be given His grace and protection. If we say we want no part of Him, should we be surprised when He withdraws His hand?

Matthew 23:1-22

Jesus spoke to His followers about the Pharisees and scribes. He said their teachings on the law of Moses were basically correct and should be followed, but the things that they added to the law and the way they carried it out in practice were not to be copied. They gave out rules to be followed that they themselves didn't follow. Everything was turned into a big show with them. Everything they did was bigger and better than everyone else. They liked having the seat of honor at dinners and in the synagogues. They enjoyed the titles of respect they were called by others.

Jesus condemned all of that saying not to obsess over titles and positions. Christ is our teacher and leader; God is our Father. We should be pointing others to God, not seeking the attention for ourselves. We are to seek to serve others, not to seek others to serve us. This is the message Christ tried to get across so many times: To truly follow Christ, we must follow His example of servitude and show our love to others by actively meeting their needs rather than constantly looking for someone to meet our wants.


Jesus went on to give a point-by-point description of where the Pharisees and scribes had gotten off track. First, by teaching false doctrines about the Messiah, they had not only kept themselves from entering heaven, but effectively blocked the way for many who followed them. Anyone who presents themselves as a teacher of God's word is responsible for those they teach. It is a great responsibility and should not be taken lightly.

They stole the property of widows under the guise of holiness, using long prayers to convince people that this was the right thing to do. God had made laws to protect widows, who were vulnerable after losing a husband. Instead of protecting them, the Pharisees used their positions to take advantage of their situation. The most vulnerable in our society deserve our help and compassion.

They went to great lengths to gain converts, but since they were teaching wrongly, the new converts were no better off than they were before, though they may have thought they were on the right path. To compound the false teachings, they were also actively seeking converts to teach. It is bad enough to lead astray those who willingly come to you for guidance, but quite another to actively seek to lead others when you are not on the right path yourself.

They taught people to honor the wrong things - the gold of the temple more than the temple, the sacrifice on the altar more than the altar. It can become easier to focus on the little things than on the big things because they take less understanding, but when we do that, we miss the big picture. God wants to open our eyes to everything that He is so that we can experience all He has to offer.

Matthew 22:23-46

A group of Sadducees came with a complicated question dealing with marriage after the resurrection. Jesus answered them that there is no marriage in the resurrection. Now, the Sadducees didn't even believe in the resurrection. Their question had been posed as to be unanswerable and thus show the error in Jesus' teachings. Even though the truth of the resurrection was not their direct question, Jesus chose to address it anyway by pointing them to the words spoken to Moses from the burning bush. God told Moses that He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and since God is not the God of the dead, that means Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob must have been alive (via resurrection).

A very common tactic used by those who don't believe is to raise supposedly unanswerable questions which they believe will bring down an entire system of beliefs. It is important not to get bogged down in minutiae though, as the plain truth can be missed behind the cloud of confusion. Beware of people who come with lofty questions as they usually do not want the answer to be taught, but rather hope to silence you with the inability to answer. When a question seems to have no answer, it is often perfectly acceptable to say "I don't know" rather than trying to fake an answer to satisfy someone else.


The Pharisees heard about the run-in with the Sadducees and decided to challenge Jesus. They came to Him and asked what the greatest commandment is. Jesus said it is to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind. He added that the second greatest, which goes right along with it, is love your neighbor as yourself.

The reason we follow any of God's laws is that we love Him. Those who don't love Him don't keep His laws and don't care about them. Loving our neighbor is also important since so much of God's law deals with how we deal with others. God loves each one of us, and if we love Him as well, we will love His creations. All the rest of God's law is merely the details of how we show love to God and others.


Jesus asked the Pharisees whose Son is the Christ. The Pharisees said David. Jesus then asked if the Christ is David's son, why does David call Him Lord? They were expecting an earthly king to set up an earthly kingdom. Jesus showed them that the Messiah is the Son of God. Jesus had been identified as the Son of David or Messiah on more than one occasion and those claims had been met with accusations of heresy. This question made it clear that if He was accepted as Messiah, He had to be accepted as the Son of God also.

Matthew 22:1-22

Jesus told another parable similar to that of the parable of the vineyard in chapter 21. In this parable, a wedding feast was coming up and the king sent out his servants to call the invited to come, but no one came. Again, he sent out his servants to tell the people to come, but this time some of the people just ignored them while others actually killed the messengers. The king's response was to have them killed and their cities burned. He then had more servants go out and find whoever they could to come to the wedding. When the seats had been filled, the king looked at his guests and saw that there was one who was not wearing the proper wedding clothes. He had this man bound up and thrown out.

Once again, the ones who were originally invited represented the Jewish people. God gave them a chance to share in the party, but they didn't seem to want any part and even violently opposed coming in some cases. The party was then opened up to any who would come - that's the Gentiles. The one who did not have the right clothes represents those who represent themselves as Christians, but have not clothed themselves with Christ's righteousness.

It's strange to think that anyone would be so against going to a wedding feast, but that is precisely how some people react to the gospel message. For whatever reason, the good news of Christ doesn't appeal to them and some can get downright combative when approached about it. Others hear and come, but do not fully devote themselves to following Christ.


A group of the Pharisee's followers were sent to Jesus with some people who were devoted to Herod to ask Him if it was right to pay taxes to Caesar. They thought they had laid out a clever trap where He would not be able to answer without angering one group or the other, but Jesus was not so easily tricked. After pointing out whose image was on the coin used to pay the tax (Caesar's), He said to give to Caesar that which is Caesar's and to God that which is God's.

It is our duty as Christians to obey the laws of whatever government we find ourselves living under insofar as those laws do not contradict the laws of God. We cannot use our duty to God to shirk responsibilities like paying taxes.

Matthew 21:23-46

Jesus was approached by the religious leaders in the temple who wanted to know under whose authority He was working. Jesus offered them a deal - they answer His question and He'd answer theirs: Was John the Baptist given authority by heaven or men? The leaders knew that they were trapped no matter how they answered, so chose to say they didn't know. Jesus, in turn, did not answer their question.

Jesus did answer their question, although indirectly. The answer to their question was the same as the answer to His. By acknowledging that John was acting under God's authority, they would also have to acknowledge that Jesus was working under God's authority. It should have been clear to them. Time and time again, Jesus told those looking for a direct answer to whether He was the Messiah to look at the miracles He had performed. If these leaders would have been open to the truth, they would have seen it and not needed to ask. Likewise, we need to be open to what Jesus is doing in our lives. When we leave behind the doubts and misconceptions, it becomes evident that Jesus is our Savior.


Jesus gave them a story to think about wherein a man asks each of his sons to do work in his vineyard. The first initially says no, but feels bad later and goes anyway. The second says he will go but never does. Jesus asked which one did his father's will, to which the leaders replied, the first. Jesus then unfolds the deeper meaning by telling them that the tax collectors and prostitutes that heard John the Baptist and repented were in a better position than them to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Like the second son, the religious leaders were all talk and no action. They weren't doing the things God truly wanted them to do. They made a good show, but ultimately missed the mark. Empty religion is not pleasing to God. To honor Him with the things we say, but not the things we do is to not honor Him at all.


Jesus told them another story about a man who left his vineyard to be tended by some farmers. When he sent his servants to collect his share, they were beaten and/or killed. He finally decided to send his son, thinking that they would at least show respect for him, but they killed the son as well. Jesus asked what they thought the landowner would do to the farmers. They responded that the landowner would kill the farmers and bring in new farmers to tend the vines.

God had sent many prophets to the Jewish people who were rejected and/or killed. Now here is His Son who has been sent and is about to be killed as well. Not understanding the full meaning of Jesus' story, the religious leaders give the correct answer nevertheless. God had tried to give His chosen people every opportunity to share in the harvest, but they had rejected His messengers time and time again. It was now time to bring in new workers for the harvest to come.

Matthew 21:1-22

Jesus made His entrance into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. The people were laying down their coats and palm branches on the road before Him, praising Him and shouting "Hosanna!" Within a week's time, the shouts would change from "Hosanna!" to "Crucify Him!" Perhaps Jesus didn't fulfill the expectations of the people. Perhaps everyone was just going with the flow. When we make a decision to follow Jesus, we need to make sure it's for the right reasons.


When Jesus came to the temple, He ran off the people who were using the temple to make money selling doves and exchanging money for people to bring their offerings. Jesus said they had made His house into a den of thieves. Even in today's church, we run the risk of seeing the church as just another way to make money. We need to be careful not to let the occasional bake sale, car wash or other fund raisers take the focus away from the teaching and ministering that we are supposed to be doing.


Jesus began healing people in the temple. The children were shouting "Hosanna!" This bothered the religious leaders there who decided to make an issue of it with Jesus. Jesus referred them to scripture which talks about praise coming from children (infants and babes). When our children are praising God we should encourage them instead of silencing them. It is good for our children to learn from an early age to give glory to God and lay a good foundation for a lifetime of the same.


Jesus came up to a fig tree looking for figs. Because the tree was barren, Jesus cursed it to never grow fruit again and the tree withered. The disciples were amazed and asked how He did it. Using this as a teaching moment, He told them that if they had faith, they could do even greater things than this. Also, whatever we ask for in our prayers with true faith and belief will be given to us. God wants to do great things for us and through us, but we need to have faith in Him and believe He will give us what we need.

Matthew 20:17-34

On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus taught again about His death and resurrection stating that He would be handed over to the Romans by the chief priests and scribes to be humiliated, beaten and ultimately crucified, and that He would be raised up on the third day. Jesus was trying to prepare them for what was going to happen. They may not have understood completely at the time, but when Jesus appeared to them that first Easter, all the things Jesus said must have come back to them and finally made sense.


James and John asked Jesus for places of honor in His kingdom - on His right and left sides. Jesus' answer shows that those who have high positions in His kingdom will have sufferings to go along with them. Also, these positions weren't just for the first to ask, but to those who God had chosen. When the other ten disciples heard what James and John were doing, they got angry with them, but Jesus made it clear to all of them that they shouldn't be jockeying for positions.

Jesus said the world is concerned with position and those who have high ranks use their positions to make themselves feel better at the expense of making others feel smaller. That's not a "love your neighbor" mentality! Jesus said that He came to serve and not to be served. The disciples needed to become servants to others in order to get ahead in the kingdom. When we get overly concerned with where we stand in relation to others - with God or in the church - we lose the very thing we are worrying so much about.


Two blind men were calling out to Jesus. They persevered despite others telling them to be quiet. Jesus heard them and asked what they wanted. They replied that they wanted their eyes to be opened. Jesus healed them of their blindness and they followed Him. The words to the song "Amazing Grace" come to mind: "I once was lost, but now am found; was blind, but now I see." We were all blind once and needed our eyes to be opened to the truth. Jesus is the one who opens our eyes. He is the way, the truth, and the life.

Matthew 20:1-16

Jesus related a parable about a landowner who hired people to work in his fields. People were hired at different times throughout the day and all got the same pay at the end. Some of the people who were hired first complained that the people who worked less should not get the same amount as the ones who worked all day. The landowner reminded them that they had agreed on a wage when they started and got what they were promised. They shouldn't be jealous because the others got the same.

It doesn't matter how long we walk with the Lord, doing His work. God's reward of eternal life is the same whether we come to Him as a small child or when we are old. Man's way reasons that the one who serves longest should get the greatest reward - God rewards all who come to the harvest with the same gift of eternal life, regardless of when they come. It is God's gift to do with as He pleases and we have no right to grumble and complain if He goes about His business in a way that we don't understand.

Matthew 19:16-30

A rich man came asking Jesus what he needed to do in order to have eternal life. Jesus told him there is only one who is good - God - and that to have eternal life, he would have to keep His commandments. The man wanted to know which ones. Jesus told him: do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not lie, honor your mother and father, and love your neighbor as yourself. To this the man said that he had kept all these commands and asked what else he needed to do. Jesus told him he to sell all his possessions and follow Him, but when he heard this, the man walked away disappointed.

This man knew enough that there was something he was missing. By his own reckoning, he had kept the commandments, but still knew something was lacking. In his mind, eternal life was somehow earned through something he could do - he just wasn't quite sure what it was. Perhaps he hoped Jesus had a quick fix answer. Jesus' first answer was to keep God's commands, If anyone can perfectly keep all the commandments of God, then they are holy and have earned eternal life - but no one can keep all of God's commandments perfectly except Jesus. Still, the man said he had kept the commandments. Surely, Jesus knew that he couldn't possibly have perfectly kept all the commandments, but instead of calling him out, He decided to challenge the man and let him see for himself how he missed the mark. In his unwillingness to sell everything he had, the man showed his heart was actually for material things rather than seeking God.

There is nothing we can do or say that makes us good enough on our own to gain entrance to heaven. Only by being covered in grace can we be seen as holy and worthy of heaven. Grace is free to us for the asking because the price has been paid by Christ. There is nothing we can do to add to what He has already done.


Jesus stated that it is difficult for the rich to come to salvation. Money can be a hindrance to focusing on God and His will for our lives. By no means is it impossible to have money and follow God, but to do so means that we need to allow God to be in control of our finances along with the other aspects of our lives - no matter how much (or little) money we have.


The disciples wanted to know what their reward would be for leaving everything behind and following Jesus. Jesus tells them there will indeed be treasure for them as well as for everyone who gives up something to follow Him. Is there something you're holding on to that is keeping you from following Christ?

Matthew 19:1-15

Some Pharisees came asking Jesus about divorce. They were trying to catch Him in a trap and asked if it was lawful to divorce for any reason at all. Jesus began by taking them back to the definition of marriage as God designed it. God made man and woman and instituted marriage that they would become "one flesh". Since God has joined them together, no man has business tearing them apart. Not satisfied, the Pharisees pushed back asking why the law of Moses commanded to give a wife a certificate of divorce. Jesus answered back that due to the hardness of their hearts, God allows divorce, but that He never intended for it to happen. God hates divorce (Mal 2:16).

Jesus had already spoken on this matter during the sermon on the mount (Matthew 5:31-32). It may be that these Pharisees already knew Jesus' position and were hoping to catch Him contradicting Himself or were just hoping to stir up a controversial subject. One of the basic staples of Jesus' teachings was getting back to the original design or the base intent of God's laws. Here He showed us that the original intent for marriage has always been a lifetime commitment. However we try to change or rationalize anything less does not change God's plan.

The disciples expressed the opinion that if marriage was so binding, why not just stay single? Jesus explained that though some remain single through circumstances or choice, this wasn't meant for everyone. Limited options for divorce shouldn't be a consideration for whether or not to marry. When we choose to get married, the decision should be for a lifelong commitment. When we go into a marriage with an attitude against divorce, we are more likely to be more careful entering into the marriage and more likely to seek to resolve issues with our spouse than to petition for divorce over "irreconcilable differences."


Children were brought to Jesus to be blessed, but the disciples turned them away. Jesus told them to let the children be brought to Him and He blessed them. Children are not to be pushed aside as annoyances. Jesus did not think it beneath Him to stop and take time to bless these children. He mentioned again that the kingdom of heaven belongs to those who make themselves like children. We need to bring our children up knowing Jesus, bringing them to Him the way these children were brought to Him so that they know Him and receive His blessings.