With the exception of Jesus’ prediction of his death and resurrection, the structure of this chapter is built around wishes. Twice the landowner in the parable did what he wished (vv. 14-15). When the mother of James and John came with a special request, Jesus asked her what was her wish (v. 21). Jesus explained to the disciples that the person who wished to become great had to make himself a servant (v. 26), and when Jesus stopped to answer the cry of a blind beggar, the Lord asked him, “What do you wish Me to do for you?” Continue reading →

The young man was asking for it! He could have taken Jesus first answer to his question and cheerfully gone his way. When he asked, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?” Jesus told him to “keep the commandments” (vv. 16-17). But he was not satisfied with that answer and kept probing.

He came to Jesus wanting to know what good thing he could do to qualify for eternal life. The Lord responded with the surprising answer, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good . . .” Did he want to do good for humankind? Something that was pure good? Some ultimate good? If he wanted to see pure and ultimate good, he would have to look to God. If he wanted to enter life, he did not have to be God-like, he only had to keep the commandments.

So why did he keep pushing? Why did he feel the need to do something more worthy, noble, excellent, something beyond keeping the commandments? Perhaps in his heart he feared (or knew) that something was missing, that God was still distant and eternal life was out of reach. Continue reading →

This story perfectly fits the context of the previous chapter and could have been included in it. But what is so sad about it coming here is that the disciples did not absorb the lessons they had just heard and, instead, acted in total contradiction to them. This is the danger of merely learning information, whether Bible verses, beliefs, or doctrines. We can do a lot of thinking about principles and propositions, yet fail to see the opportunity to act on them even when it is right in front of our eyes. Continue reading →

The Pharisees came to test Jesus (the same word is used when Satan tempted him; Mt. 4:1). The Law of Moses contained a divorce clause and they wanted to determine whether the Lord stood by the Law or took a more idealistic view of marriage (perhaps because of his teaching in Mt. 5:27-32).

Jesus was not opposed to the Law, but he did challenge its letter, which sometimes reflected the “hardness” of the human heart rather than the heart of God. Jesus’ disciple is someone who does not simply go along with “It has been said,” but learns to discern the will of God in the Scriptures through the Spirit (Mt. 5:21, 27, etc.; 2 Co. 3:6).

Reaching back to a time prior to the Law, Jesus referred to God’s original design from “the beginning.” This is where we discover God’s paradigm for marriage.

What surprises us is the disciples’ reaction to Jesus’ statement. Apparently they were not too idealistic when it came to marriage. Of course, the problem with idealism is that it requires ideal men and ideal women in an ideal world for it to work. Jesus’ answer to them was that the sexless life of a eunuch was always an option. As for those who cannot “accept this statement,” they must accept the commitment that marriage demands–even at the risk of failure.

Lord God, who from the beginning said that the two shall become one flesh, strengthen us for the life to which You have called us. If marriage, give us grace to make our marriages strong in Your love. If not marriage, let our relationship to Jesus be enough. May we all become better, kinder, and more loving people.

Jesus told this story to promote compassion. It is relatively easy to show compassion to orphans and refugees in distant places by providing food, shelter, and medical attention. But Jesus takes the issue to a situation that is much more difficult to show compassion–people who are indebted to us and who have sinned against us (vv. 21-22). Continue reading →

The bulk of Jesus’ teaching in Matthew is centered on the kingdom of heaven. His intention was to get his followers to see and enter the kingdom (v. 4). In this passage, Jesus anticipates a problem arising among “brothers” in the community of believers. Therefore, entering the kingdom is not the end of the journey. We have to continue on together until we reach our destination. Along the way, we will likely run into problems with our traveling companions. Continue reading →

Jesus challenged the disciples to think, to probe beneath the surface of their culture’s attitude toward children. With a little imagination and logic, they would be able to understand “the will of your Father” regarding “one of these little ones” (v. 14). Continue reading →

Jesus did not pour cold water on the disciples’ ambition, rather he redirected it (see also Mt. 20:20-28). He turned the focus of their zeal toward humility, compassion, and the care and recovery of others. But he also made it clear that before they started thinking about who would be greatest in the kingdom, they needed to make certain that they would enter the kingdom. Continue reading →

Taxes! What a burden to place on people. Taxed for being alive. Taxed for your initiative, innovation and hard work. Taxes taken from your earnings and invested in institutions, programs and laws that you oppose. Taxed on every purchase. And a jumble of tax laws that few people can decipher. Taxes burden the mind and wear on the soul.

Peter was hit with a tax question. When he came to Jesus with it, before he had the opportunity to bring it up, the Lord already knew what he was going to ask. And Jesus already knew what he was going to do about the tax. But before he resolved the problem, he gave it to Peter by asking him a challenging question. Continue reading →

I find this passage so intriguing that I am going to spend two days with it.

There is no hint in their conversation that Jesus had recently called Peter “Satan,” and no indication that Peter carried any residual shame from that rebuke or that he had any discomfort being with Jesus. Peter had not lost the revelation he received regarding Jesus–in spite of his lapse into the mind-set of human self-interest. He did not lose the spiritual growth he had experienced traveling with Jesus. Rather, he learned a valuable lesson that he would not have learned apart from his error. Continue reading →