Journaling in Matthew's Gospel

 

JOURNALING IN MATTHEW’S GOSPEL – DECEMBER 2024/JANUARY 2025

During the months of December 2024 and January 2025 I journaled extensively in Matthew's gospel using J C Ryle's Notes on Matthew's Gospel.  The following is a daily record of my social media postings during this time.

29 December 2024

I love to hear stories of people coming to faith in Christ. When we announce people giving their testimony in a church meeting the numbers attending swell. It has to be a sensational testimony otherwise people are disappointed.

The story of Matthew coming to faith and following Christ is confined to 1 verse of scripture within his own book. He was doing his every day job when Jesus passed him. Jesus saw him doing that job, collecting taxes from the locals. He was working for the government, the Roman authority, the enemy of the people. The nature of his job would have meant he was despised. He made poor people poorer. Jesus only spoke 2 words to him "Follow me." Matthew simply got up and followed Jesus. I am sure he was the talk of that area that day.

Nothing dramatic but yet Jesus met him where he was. He responded to Jesus' words and obeyed. Too often we look for the most amazing stories of faith and yet it is in the ordinary that Jesus comes to us. Maybe we are doing the same thing as we did yesterday but God sees us just the same. The key is obedience. If God calls us in the ordinary to follow him and do something different would we do it? The blessing Matthew brings to us is his eyewitness account of Jesus' ministry - he saw the miracles, he heard what Jesus had to say and he wrote it all down so we could learn from it today. Maybe that is what God wants from us today - simple obedience to follow Christ and do something that might look ordinary and yet could be used for God. What is your testimony of faith? What are you doing to obey Christ? Are you waiting for something dramatic to happen and yet it is in the ordinariness of life that God wants to speak to you?

 

30 December 2024

We all know Matthew starts off with a genealogy but have we studied some or all of these names? They bring the Old Testament into the New and show how each person belongs in God's family. What an amazing thought - we are actually part of that family if we have accepted Christ for ourselves.

J C Ryle points out that there may be true servants or family members in places where we might not expect to find them. Case in point - the wise men! When the curtain of this world is pulled back we will get a few surprises.

It's not always those who seem to be the most religious who give Christ the most honour. If the scribes and Pharisees knew about Jesus being born why did they not rush to worship him? What a challenge - those we think should be worshipping God are not - why not?

Again we might know scripture in our hearts like these religious men but unless we know grace in our hearts it is useless. Do I long to love the Lord as I long to know Christ. Now there's a challenge!

Think of the effort it took for the wise men to come searching. They believed even though they hadn't seen him. When they found him they worshipped him as a king. This was the crowning point of their faith. No miracles to convince them, no teaching to listen to that could persuade them. No sign of greatness and yet they believed. Am I ashamed to believe in someone I cannot see and yet have all these eyewitnesses accounts? What an example of faith these men were. Do I display the same faith?

Herod wanted to kill this baby. He was jealous and scared. He felt threatened. People still feel the same today. Jealous of a peace in someone's heart and scared of what it might mean to put their faith in God and the changes it would bring about. Remember death removed Herod from the scene and we too will face the same consequences. What then? The joy of the godless lasts but a moment but the truth always survives.

 

The last verse of Matthew 2 says so little and yet explains so much. For 30 years Jesus lived in Nazareth and was obedient to his parents. Just living among ordinary people and content with the simplicity of life. The verse teaches us about the humility of Jesus. One of the most beautiful graces.

Our knowledge may not be great, our faith may be weak; but if we are disciples of Jesus let us be humble.

 

Matthew 3 - unlike Luke we are not introduced to John the Baptist until he is beginning his ministry. What a great preacher he was - people from Jerusalem, Judea and all around the region of the Jordan came to hear him. Who could we compare him too? Billy Graham possibly. Why was he so popular? It was his preaching alone that attracted people. Something that many of today's ministers of the gospel would love to replicate I am sure. But John spoke very plainly and what he had to say made people pay attention.

He spoke plainly about sin - you need to repent first. It's not a matter of relying on who you are or how often you attend church.

He spoke plainly about Jesus. John pointed away from himself to one greater than himself. Faith in Christ is about a personal relationship.

He spoke plainly about the Holy Spirit. John talked about the baptism of the Holy Spirit. There must not only be the work of Christ for us but the work of the Holy Spirit in us too.

He spoke plainly about the awful danger of those who would not repent and believe. It is possible to know the truth and be lost forever.

He spoke plainly about the safety of true believers. There is a heaven for everyone who belongs to Christ.

 

Matthew 4. It is funny how I sometimes read scripture and then hear something said that makes me realise I needed that reinforcement of a truth. Here in this chapter we read about the temptation of Jesus by Satan himself.

In our prayer time before church yesterday someone talked about the presence of Satan in our meeting. It brought home to me the reality of the presence of Satan every time I open God's word or hear his word read and preached.

Do you believe in Satan? He is real and the cruel enemy of mankind. Just think of the bible passages that refer to him coming to individuals.

Genesis 3 - he brought sin into the world through Adam and Eve
Job 1 and 2 - he brought terrible suffering to Job
2 Samuel 11 - he deceived David
Matthew 26 - he urged Peter to deny any knowledge of Jesus at his trial

The devil is described as a murderer, a liar and a roaring lion. He never rests attacking mankind. He desires to pull us down to hell. He can even deceive us into believing he is an angel of light.

From Matthew 4 we can see that temptation is to be expected. If he came to Jesus he will come to us too. It is yielding to temptation that we have to fear. What can we use? If Jesus used the word of God so should we. 3 times Jesus said "it is written". Jesus is able to understand when we are tempted because he was tempted too. God is ready to listen and will understand - what a comforting thought but it needs to be put into action too!

 

It is not until Matthew 4 that we begin to read of Jesus starting his ministry and by this stage he was 30 years of age.

He started among simple folk but soon attracted the attention of all Syria by his miracles. Multitudes were drawn to see and listen to him. A reminder that I need to start where I am if I want Christ to be made known. It can be a hard slog trying to convince people of the reality of Christ in my life but I need to learn perseverance, dedication, commitment and most of all have a desire in my heart.

How did Jesus start? "From that time Jesus began to preach." Preaching is the primary means God uses to convert and instruct souls. As I thought of this I realised that many of the great testimonies I have heard from individuals all say the same - they came to faith in Christ through the simple preaching of God's word. So many are giving up on the seemingly monotony of preaching weekly and are looking for something more to attract people into churches but the reality is, it is only through the preaching of God's word that people repent and come to faith in Christ.

What was the message he brought? "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." The doctrine of repentance was first. It is one of the great foundation stones of Christianity. True repentance is a big change, a change that is displayed in great sorrow for our sin in a sincere confession of our sins, a complete breaking away from our sinful habits and a lasting hatred of all sin. I love this definition by J C Ryle.

Notice the people Jesus chose to accompany him in his ministry. Not the intellectuals or religious people but rather the poor and humble. These were people who could get alongside the vast majority of people who lived in those days. If I look around my church on a Sunday I realise it is the same people that Jesus is reaching today with a few exceptions. Jesus does not need arguments to win people to himself but rather examples of people who are like them and who have believed in Christ for themselves. Jesus himself didn't live in riches but came to those who he seen as his own - we need to do the same.

 

Matthew 4 also shows some features of the miracles Jesus used to confirm his ministry.

Jesus could heal with a touch or cast out devils with a word.

Jesus is able to save all who come to him.

He is a spiritual doctor. He is able to cure every sickness of our soul. There is no broken heart that he cannot heal, no wound of conscience that he cannot cure.

Even though sin causes us to be crushed, bruised and struck down by plague Jesus by his blood and his Holy Spirit can make us whole.

Most of all these miracles shown us the Lord's heart - he is a most compassionate Saviour. He rejects no one that comes to him. He refuses no one, however bad they have been. Jesus knows all about us and is always ready to help. Jesus is kind and his Compassion is great.

 

Matthew chapters 5 to 7. These chapters are known as The Sermon on the Mount.

There are 8 people who Jesus called blessed:

Poor in spirit - those who are humble, those certain of their own sinfulness in God's sight, those who don't think themselves as clever but rather as wretched, poor and miserable in their spiritual blindness

Mourn - those who have a deep sorrow for their own sin.

Meek - those who are slow to take offence, who do not complain as soon as anything goes wrong.

Hunger and thirst after righteousness - those who long for the knowledge of God, who long to understand exactly what God wants them to do.

Merciful - those who care for all who suffer, who have tender feelings towards all who hurt in mind or body and do what they can to help them.

Pure in heart - those who are working hard at their inward holiness, those making a real effort to keep them from being sinful and doing their best to serve God.

Peacemakers - those who make every effort to create lovely relationships with relatives and neighbours.

Persecuted for righteousness sake - those who are sneered at, treated with contempt and harshly treated because they are trying to live as Christians.

These values are the exact opposite of those in the world.

As I look at this list I cannot help but think - how do I measure up?

 

Following on from listing those who are "blessed", Matthew 5 teach us what kind of life a Christian should display to other people in the world.

"You are the salt of the earth" it is important to have a fresh and distinctive life.

"You are the light of the world" - light is the most useful of created things, bringing nourishment to nature, guidance and comfort. Remember light was the first thing God called into being.

My life and my actions must prove that I am worthy to be called a Christian. I must show that difference in my daily life. Christianity is more then attending church or getting baptised. It is living a life that has been surrendered completely to God.

The verses also teach us how the message of Jesus relates to the Old Testament. "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them." Both the Old and New Testaments belong together as a single complete book for all time.

Jesus came to fulfil all that was predicted by the prophets about the promised Saviour. Jesus came to fulfil the ceremonial law by becoming the blood sacrifice.
Jesus came to fulfil the moral law by his perfect obedience.
Jesus came to pay the penalty for the sin of mankind with his atoning blood.

In all Jesus' words and actions he honoured the laws of God, making their importance clearer than it had ever been.

 

31 Decemeber 2024

In Matthew 10 we read the names of the disciples of Jesus. J C Ryle points out that amongst his disciples he appointed a traitor. I am sure you have seen the recent publicity surrounding a new television programme The Traitors. Isn't it amazing that even among his disciples there was one who would listen and watch everything for those 3 years and yet at the end would be a traitor. Remember Ryle wrote in the 1800's and yet he has something important to say that is so relevant today:

"We learn in the first place that not all ministers are good men. We read that, along with 11 other men, our Lord chose Judas Iscariot as one of his apostles. Jesus who knows the heart of every one, includes a traitor! We must not think that an appointed pastor is infallible. Ministers have passions just like our own, with the same weaknesses and the same temptations. We are to compare their teachings with those of the bible, and we are to follow them as far as they follow Christ and no further. They are very much in need of our prayers."

Matthew 11 verses 1 to 24

At this stage John the Baptist has been arrested and put in prison because he spoke out against the king's sins. His disciples were sent to Jesus to see and hear what was happening. John knew his own ministry was at an end but he wanted his disciples to look away from him and on to Jesus. Such a reminder - we should always point to Christ not a man or woman. It is all too easy to "hero worship" today and yet the greatest hero we could ever look to is Jesus.

Notice the testimony Jesus gives of John's character. He was more than a prophet but a bold witness to the truth. A reminder that Jesus sees all that is done in his name. When we meet him in heaven one day he will bear witness of that work - Matthew 25 verse 34.

Jesus then turns to the Jews around hin. They were not sympathetic to his preaching and miracles. They all found fault with the teachers that came in God's name, even of John and Jesus. Nothing has actually changed even today.

Jesus refers to work done in nearby cities, even naming his own which should have brought people to repentance and faith but it didn't. He mentions Sodom which we know is recorded in Genesis - his point is that from the beginning of time people have and will continue to reject the gospel message.

 

1 January 2025

Matthew 11 verse 25 is one of those verses that really challenges and convicts you - both of which has happened to me as I read it again today.

"At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou has hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto babies."

I am quoting J C Ryle's comment:

How good it is to have minds that are childlike and teachable.  Our Lord praises his Father "because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned and revealed them to your little children" (verse 25)  It is not for us to understand why some receive and believe the gospel while others do not.  Those from whom the gospel message is hidden are usually those who are certain that they know best.  Those who accept its message are mostly humble and willing to learn.  The words of our Lord's mother are very true!  "He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty." (Luke 1 verse 53)

Let us fight against all sorts of pride; pride in knowledge, pride in wealth, pride in thinking how good we are.  Nothing is more likely to keep us out of heaven than pride.  Let us pray for humility.  The start of the way to heaven is the feeling that we are on the way to hell!  We must become willing to pray in humble submission like Saul "What shall I do Lord" (Acts 22 verse 10).  Our Lord repeats again and again, "He who humbles himself will be exalted" (Luke 18 verse 14).

Even as I read these words I realised that my own heart was full of pride - so very full! I watch and listen to people doing things and think "I could do so much better" but could I? Honestly? As I start a new year I believe is showing me that this is one aspect of my character I need to really work on. Yes I do question why certain people are not coming to faith - there are people I have prayed for so long and I often do wonder why God doesn't answer my prayer but all I can do is persevere and have that commitment to keep on going on!

 

Matthew 11 verse 27 "All things are delivered unto me of my Father and no man knoweth the Son but the Father, neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him."

In these words we see something of the perfect union that exists between the Father (God) and the Son (Jesus). We see how superior Jesus is to all humanity.

Jesus holds all the concerns of humanity in his power. He holds the keys to heaven and we need to go to him for admission.

He is the door through whom we must enter.
He is our good shepherd and like sheep we must listen to his voice.
He is the doctor and we must go to him to be healed of our sinfulness.
He is the bread of life and if we wish our souls to be nourished it is to him we must go to for this bread.
He is the light and we must walk close to him to avoid being lost in the dark.
He is the fountain of life and we must wash in his blood if we wish to be cleansed.

Christ has everything we need.

 

Matthew 11 verses 28 to 30 are wonderful words which I am sure you probably know by heart - "Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest unto your soul. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

The wonder of the great invitation of Christ's gospel.  

- notice who it is that Jesus invites.  He speaks to all who are weary and burdened.  This is very wide reaching.  Whatever their past life has been, all who feel a load on their heart, a load of sin, sorrow, anxiety or remorse, all are invited to come to Christ.

- notice the kind offer Jesus makes "I will give you rest."  Unrest is characteristic of this modern world.  Hurry, failure and disappointment create tension.  But with faith in our Lord's words there is hope.  There is rest in Christ; rest of conscience, rest given by the pardon of sin; rest flowing from peace with God.

- notice the simple request Jesus makes.  He says to those who are loaded down, "Come ... take ... learn ..."  There are no difficult conditions in what he says.  He only asks us to come to him just as we are with all our sins, and to submit ourselves like little children to his teaching.

- notice how encouragingly Jesus speaks about himself.  He says, "I am gentle and humble in heart."  

- notice how Jesus speaks about serving him.  He says "My yoke is easy and my burden is light".  No doubt there is a cross to be carried if we follow Christ.  No doubt there are trials to be endured and battles to be fought.  But the comforts of the gospel are better than the weight of the cross.  they are pleasant ways and paths of peace (Proverbs 3 verse 17).

 

Matthew 12

The importance of the Sabbath is not ruled out by Jesus. He wanted his disciples and us to keep the Sabbath but the problem is what was added to it and is still being added today. The Jews realised the importance of following the Ten Commandments but the Pharisees had added a lot of additional rules to it. We can do the same today and get ourselves tangled in knots very easily as we become so legalistic in our observance. It is sad to see in just one generation how the rules of Sunday trading have overtaken our land and the priority of attending a church is now not seen as a priority.

Jesus we have to remember always turned to scripture. Remember in his temptation he did that too. Here he quoted from the law written in Deuteronomy that allowed his own disciples to pluck the ears of corn on the Sabbath Day. Then when he was faced with defending himself in the healing of the man with a withered hand, Jesus quoted from the Old Testament that proved works of necessity and mercy on the Sabbath were lawful. He also reminded his listeners of how David and his men, when they were starving, had eaten consecrated bread from the tabernacle and how the priests in the temples were obliged to work on the Sabbath by slaying animals and making sacrifices. He referred to how a farmer would help a sheep from a pit rather than leaving it to suffer and die

The question comes back - do we do things out of necessity and mercy or do we do things for our own selfish satisfaction. What a challenge!

 

2 January 2025

Matthew 13 contains the story of the parable of the sower and the seed. As I read J C Ryle's notes this thought struck me. So often we see this as a parable about how people (those who do not believe in God as their personal Saviour) receive God's word particularly as it is preached from our pulpits. But what if it is for me as a Christian? What if I don't apply and respond to God's word? What if I am like one of the 4 groups of soil? Not willing to hear what God is saying to me and obeying? What if I allow my own thoughts to crowd into my understanding of God's word? Bearing fruit is the only thing that proves we have listened to God's word correctly. Yes that includes repentance even for me as a believer in Christ, deepening my faith in God, prayerfulness, humility, love and spiritual mindedness. Now these are fruits to think about! And they are proofs that the seed of God's word is doing a good work in my soul.

James 1 verse 22 is very applicable and should be read alongside this parable. I have been very challenged today!

3 January 2025

I have to admit that Matthew 13 has been hard to understand and it is a long chapter to digest! But there is a theme running through all the parables Jesus told his disciples, from the sower and his seed, to the net being drawn from a boat and the person finding a pearl of great price - I would recommend taking the time to read the chapter in its entirety as you will slowly but surely get it!

At the end of his teaching Jesus turned to his disciples and asked them this question "Have you understood all that I have been saying?"

As I thought of the imagery around this chapter I was reminded again and again that it is so easy for us to attend church every week even as Christians and hear God's word but yet not apply it to our hearts. This is a theme that has been repeating in my mind over the past few days and I believe God is speaking directly to me about how I handle God's word each week. J C Ryle is so good in his comments here and he talks about people who make all the right noises, attend church each week and yet they do not respond to what God is saying.

Shortly after these words Jesus' own mother and brothers appeared and people were in disbelief at how Jesus coming from where he did could speak the way he did. J C Ryle makes the point clearly - the same happens today in our churches. Something happens, a word is spoken and suddenly people question things. Sad to say though they don't question and then believe in Christ for themselves. I think of many today who sit for years under good sound teaching of the bible and unfortunately never actually apply it to themselves. So very sad! How challenging this chapter has been to my soul!

 

Matthew 14 verses 1 to 12 recount the details of John the Baptist. Herod had taken his brother Philip's wife for himself and John spoke out against his actions. Herod had John arrested and put in prison as a way of shutting him up. Then when it was Herod's birthday the daughter of Herodius (his brother's wife) danced in front of Herod. She pleased him so much that he asked her if there was something he could give her in return. Her mother told her to ask for John the Baptist's head on a platter and so John was murdered.

J C Ryle's comment on this section is so good.

First there is the power of conscience - no matter what we do in life, we have a conscience and that can make us miserable at some point. God's witnesses may be silenced but their testimony lives and works long after they are dead. Our sin will find us out! Even the message spoken from our pulpits will speak on maybe even years after they have been spoken. So many reject the message of salvation but it will come back to them one day. You might know the truth and reject it today but one day ...

Secondly think about how short a life John the Baptist had. He was faithful in his preaching and yet murdered for speaking out. Just to please an adulterous woman and at the command of a tyrant king he was killed. One day God will reward everyone according to his or her works. What are we keeping silent about today that requires us to speak up?

Lastly the best things are in the future. Today we are being tested and during that we learn patience, gentleness and meekness. But one day ... 2 Corinthians 4 verses 17 and 18.

 

7 January 2025

Yesterday I started to look at Matthew 15 and was challenged by the topic of tradition verses scripture.

The scribes and Pharisees came from Jerusalem to tackle Jesus about a very important matter in their opinion. I can only imagine that this was so serious that they sent a delegation. And the reason? Washing before eating. They criticised Jesus for the way he allowed his followers to not go through certain rituals before they ate. Jesus threw it back at them. He knew that the scribes and Pharisees had actually invented these traditions in addition to what was contained in the law or Torah. It was not about good hygiene but rather following their rules and regulations. Jesus reminded them of one aspect of their law - honouring parents. Some Jewish people of Jesus' day had a way of getting around the command to honour parents. If they declared that all their possessions or savings were a gift from God that were especially dedicated to him then they could say that their resources were unavailable to help their parents. Through doing this they completely disobeyed the command to honour their parents and do it whilst being "ultra" religious.

Then Jesus quoted from Isaiah 29 verse 13. We can appear to draw near to God but our hearts are in fact far from him. The real problem was these religious leaders elevated man's tradition to an equal level with God's revealed word. Jesus was not saying that all traditions are bad nor are they good but compared to the traditions to the word of God and put them at a much lower priority than what God has said.

 

J C Ryle's comment on Matthew 15 verses 1 to 9 shows that the religious worship God desires is the worship that comes from our hearts. The condition of the heart is the most important thing in the relationship between husband and wife, between friends, between parents and children. And the heart must be our greatest concern when we think about the relationship between God and ourselves.

To be true Christian we need a new heart.
The sacrifice God asks us to bring to him is a broken and contrite heart.
Genuine obedience is to obey from the heart.
Christ ought to dwell in our hearts by faith.

Formal worship of God is empty and pointless if our hearts are not right with God. We may bend our knees, bow our heads, say a loud amen, read a chapter from the bible every day and attend communion regularly but they are all useless and unprofitable if our hearts are secretly given to sin, pleasure, money or the world.

Christ asks us today "do you truly love me?"

 

Matthew 15 verses 10 to 20 shows that it is our duty to oppose false teaching. Jesus used the image of a plant being pulled out that is unwanted. The Pharisees doctrine contradicted the word of God. Jesus declared that the human heart is the source of all sin and defilement. The Pharisees taught that holiness depended on what people ate and drank, on washing and purification. If you keep the rules then you are pure in God's sight. If not you are impure and unclean. Jesus however taught his disciples that defilement came from within, the heart.

J C Ryle says "don't be content on simply going to church. You need a heart that is right before God. One that is sprinkled with the blood of Christ, renewed by the Holy Spirit and purified by faith. Our own hearts can do more damage to us than the world and the devil if we do not watch and pray."

How challenging these words are. How is my heart today? How do people view my Christianity? By what they think I should do or say? Is it because I go to church every Sunday? Or even by my posting on social media about what I read from the Bible every day? Can you see why I have taken my time over these verses.

 

What can I learn from the story of the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15?

Firstly, faith might be found where it is least expected. The grace of God can turn anyone of any religion into a true believer. We shouldn't despair of anyone coming to faith simply because they live in unpromising circumstances.

Secondly, affliction may come as a blessing to a person's soul. We forget that everything is a message from God and intended to do us good. I have found this to be true particular in relation to my own health. During that time I experienced such peace and realised God was using me to speak to others about how I responded to such a trial and illness.

Thirdly, we are sometimes less compassionate than Jesus himself. The disciples asked Jesus to send this woman away. Don't we do this too? We cannot be bothered with certain people and are suspicious and discourage those who ask about God. We should be kind, gentle and encouraging instead.

Fourthly, there is an encouragement to keep in persevering in praying for ourselves and others. This woman did not give up even when Jesus initially told her he had not come to save her. She merely asked for crumbs of mercy and she received her reward. Maybe there are times when we think our prayers are not answered but they are and we shouldn't give up! Just today I posted the story of Lop the Cambodian who waited 18 years for someone to come to his village and help him in his faith and teach others about Christ ... and God answered his prayer. He didn't give up in those years but kept on believing. How quick I would have been to give up!

 

9 January 2025

Sometimes it is easy to look at something so obvious and not see the simple meaning behind an event. Take a murder mystery. Usually it is a simple case of revenge. People are killed because of some act in the past that turned an ordinary person into a killer. The obvious person is usually the killer and that is not revealed until the end of the story. Then we see the reason and methods all coming together and when we reflect on it we realise that we overlooked the obvious.

The story of Jesus' Transfiguration in Matthew 17 has always been to me a simple story but I never really understood why it happened and why only 3 of Jesus' disciples were blessed with being present as the events unfolded.

To understand you need to read the previous chapter. Jesus had told his disciples that one day he would be killed and raised the third day (verse 21). Imagine how they must have felt. They would be very down in the dumps. Quite unbelievable. Now Jesus takes them aside into a mountain. This transfiguration gave them so much hope and happiness. They seen and heard things which seemed impossible to believe. Men who had been dead for over a thousand years appeared and spoke with Jesus like he was a long lost friend. But much more than that - Jesus was transformed before them. His appearance changed right before their eyes. He shone!

What they were seeing was a glimpse of the future. One day Jesus will come back to this earth and we shall see him in all his beauty, glory and majesty. They were witnesses of this event. It must have really made a difference to them because they talked about it and passed on the story. Matthew records it for us. He must have been so impressed by it that he included it here for us to read about. And Peter later referred to it in his own writings - 2 Peter 1 verse 16.

It is so easy to keep our eyes on this life with all its sin, unbelief and doubt but just imagine what it will be like in that day when Jesus comes again to this earth. The reality is - do we believe it? We should because we have an eyewitness account in black and white to read about all these years later.

Surely that knowledge should lift our heads and hearts today.

 

Immediately Jesus and his 3 disciples came down from the Mount of Transfiguration a man came appealing to Jesus to heal his son who was possessed of a devil. He had earlier asked the rest of the disciples to cure him but they were unable. After Jesus drove out the devil the disciples asked why they were unable to do it. Jesus' reply - no faith.

This story reminds us of Satan's influence on young people - maybe not in a physical devil but think of all the temptations available today. Things we probably never imagined they would be involved in. Satan is still powerful over people's souls but God's power is greater.

Lack of faith will always lead to defeat. This is so true - think of how often we have prayed for people to come to faith and given up.

Remember Satan's power will not be defeated unless Christians repel him with much determined action. We cannot handle God's word carelessly. We need the whole armour of God and use it effectively. Those who are the most victorious over the world, the flesh and the devil are those who pray most and are disciplined - 1 Corinthians 9 verse 27.

 

12 January 2025

I am still working my way through reading and journaling in Matthew's Gospel too. This was yesterday in Matthew 18. It was broken into 3 sections- verses 1 to 14 which speaks of the necessity of conversion, the sin of hindering people from following Christ, the reality of future punishment after death and the value that God puts on the lowest of all believers.

Verses 15 to 20 looked at quarrelling and verses 21 to 35 forgiveness.

Such deep subjects and much thought needed!

How often should I forgive someone? 7 times? No seventy times seven. Forgiveness is clearly taught in scripture but not so clearly exercised in our world particularly among Christians. How sad that we cannot forgive our brothers and sisters in Christ.

 

14 January 2025

Last night I was reading Matthew 19 and there were 2 subjects to look at. The grounds for divorce - Jesus advocated only adultery. J C Ryle does a very good job of showing that the society of Jesus' day had sunk so low that for all the Jews there were many reasons for divorce, immorality was so rife. The disciples response was to say it was better not to marry at all. Jesus was making the point of taking marriage vows seriously.

The second subject in the opening verses of this chapter looks at our attitude to children coming to faith in Christ. The Jews had so many beliefs and rituals, that a child could not really have true faith until they were much older. There is great encouragement here for parents to continue teaching and praying with young children - we never know when they might respond or even come back to it in later life!

 

17 January 2025

I believe in the Holy Spirit leading and guiding in what we read in God's word. That has been proven yet again to me today. Last night I read Matthew 20 the parable of the labourers in the vineyard. This is the story of a man agreeing to pay a price for people to work but he couldn't gey enough labourers. He had to go out early in the morning, then repeatedly went out every 3 hours in the day to secure workers. At the end of the day those who had worked for the least amount of hours received the same as those who started first thing in the morning.

J C Ryle in commenting on this parable says God shows free, sovereign and unconditional grace in calling different nations to follow him. We don't know when people will be called into his family but it is in his timing and his way.

As I was reading the book Losing Faith earlier this fact was brought home again and again through many of the stories of those who walked away from the faith. Some returned through amazing ways and using different methods. This is God at work and we cannot sometimes pinpoint why it happens the way it does.

Some people may be called to faith in Christ early in their lives as children, others in their teenage years while others later in their twenties and thirties. There may even be those who are much older and later in their life before they come to faith in Christ. But our reward will all be the same one day!

Now that is an answer to prayer in understanding what God's word is saying to me today!

 

19 January 2025

Yesterday I was reading about Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem on what we now refer to as Palm Sunday. J C Ryle points out that a difference has occurred. Before Jesus didn't want all that pomp and ceremony but now it seems he loves the recognition of who he is. His time is coming to go to the cross and he knows it yet no-one else is willing to accept it.

Some times in our lives we long for that adulation, recognition of who we are and what we are doing for Christ. But what happens immediately afterwards? We hit a slump, depression. We slink away into the shadows. But God doesn't give up on us. Even when our motives are wrong and we need to be refocused God is there. That is when we need to turn to God's word. As Psalm 1 says our roots go deep and we need to constantly return to God's word.

Is it not significant that the same people who cried Hosanna 4 days later shouted for Jesus to be crucified?

We all can go through ups and downs in life but clinging to God's word will keep us grounded. God reveals himself in his word. Jesus loved the word. Jesus taught the word Jesus fulfilled the word. And Jesus is revealed in the word. The bible has no category for loving Jesus but not loving his word.

Jesus was prepared for the darkest suffering and he was prepared for the greatest joy because he knew and delighted in God's word. Are you prepared for what lies ahead? Meditate on God's word today. Strengthen and secure your roots. Then you will be able to stand even in adversity. You will know what it is to be blessed even in difficulty.

 

24 January 2025

Matthew 21 verses 23 to 46.

The theme of these verses is authority - 4 times this word is repeated in verses 23, 24 and 27. It was not Jesus' behaviour or his teaching but on whose authority he spoke. The chief priests and elders of the people questioned Jesus and instead of a direct answer Jesus said he would answer with a question to them. He wanted to know whether they thought John's baptism was from heaven or from men (theirs). They knew that the answer determined who Jesus himself was in their eyes. So they sat on the fence and said they didn't know. So Jesus responded that he would not tell them whose authority He did what he did.

These verses are so important for the parables Jesus went on to tell them. Both stories were earthly stories but they had a heavenly meaning. Jesus told the story first of a man who owned a vineyard and had 2 sons. He asked the first to go and work in the vineyard but he said no. Then he decided to change his mind and worked in the vineyard. The second son said he would go into the vineyard but didnt. So who represented who in this story? The first are sinners who initially reject God and his Son Jesus. The second son are the Pharisees who say they will follow Jesus but actually don't. Remember God is willing to accept all who repent but there must be a true repentance before God will accept someone.

The second story is of another vineyard owner. He planted it and then let certain people take it to manage it on his behalf as he went off on a journey to a far country. Harvest came and the owner sent his servants to receive the fruit. The servants were killed and so the owner sent more servants. But again they killed the servants. The owner decided to finally send his Son because he assumed they would not kill him but they did. Jesus turned to the crowd and asked what the owner would do when he returned to the vineyard. The answer: he would kill the ones he let the vineyard to and he would give it to others.

 

Matthew 21 part 2. In Isaiah 5 We are told the vineyard represents the house of Israel. God chose Israel to be his favoured nation. He separated them and gave them many blessings. He gave them much knowledge about himself. He gave them the Law. He treated them as he would a piece of land, fenced off and cultivated while the rest of the countryside was left untouched. Israel failed to listen to God, they mingled with their neighbours and hardened themselves in sin and unbelief.

We too have many privileges - we can read and study our bibles in freedom but are we thankful of it? What are we doing with the privileges God has given us?

Notice the fruit from the vineyard was very small. Is our fruit plentiful? What are we doing with what we have, a gospel for everyone to hear?

In this passage at the end the chief priests and Pharisees realised Jesus was speaking of them. They had all the privileges of God's law yet had not come in true repentance to God. Many know the truth of God's word yet reject the idea of repentance and acceptance. These men had a conscience when they recognised Jesus was talking of them - just because they didn't trust Christ didn't mean they hadnt! So do all of us.

 

29 January 2025

Matthew 26

 

As I read these verses again it struck me - the willingness of Jesus. Before this chapter Jesus had told a parable of a vineyard that a man asked his sons to work in. One said no and then went, the other said yes and didn't go (Matthew 21). Throughout the chapters that follow there is a little word that reoccurs quite often - "watch". Here in chapter 26 Jesus asks his disciples to watch with him and he discovers they couldn't do it. We see the contrast between Jesus' disciples and Jesus himself - Jesus asked his father to take the cup way from him and then he said "not as I will but as thou wilt." We are asked to watch and pray today but are we willing to do it? Are we ready to allow God to do what we wants in our lives today? Or are we too tired to see God's hand working in our lives? What a challenge. Too often we hurry through life and even as we pray, yet God is asking us to watch with him. Maybe it is time to see his hand in what is about to happen...

 

esterday I read, meditated and journaled on Matthew 27. There are 66 verses in this chapter and breaking it down into 5 sections made me realise so many amazing things. In this chapter we see a man who followed Jesus for 3 years, listened to his teaching and seen his miracles finally betray Jesus and then regretted it. Judas did repent but it was too late. The money he received brought no comfort. What a shock to realise that the privileges we have should not be taken advantage of. Next I see a person with no moral principles. He realised quite quickly Jesus was innocent and he needed to be rid of him. He passed the buck to others to make the decision. We see a crowd so fickle and moved by every notion of the day, cry out for Jesus to be crucified. His blood was.on their shoulders.

Then in the middle section I saw Jesus' real sufferings. It is awful to think what he endured and they were all for me! It brings me to my knees weeping that this innocent man was so willing to die for my sins. He was so obedient even to death.

Then I saw the miracle at Jesus' death - darkness, an earthquake and graves opened. The curtain was torn, 60 feet by 30 feet. Suddenly the barrier had been broken and I am welcomed into God's presence without a need for any sacrifice or man to stand on my behalf.

Finally I see one friend of Jesus, unknown to that day but he had made the decision to care for him in his death. He offered all that he had and served God with his tomb. Even in death God used his enemies for his own good - the Pharisees or religious leaders were frightened that the evidence of Jesus' resurrection would actually happen. God used these very people to show there is no deception here.

What an amazing chapter to read over and over again!