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Chapter 9
Jesus came for the brokenhearted. The ones who know and acknowledge that they cannot do this thing called life without him. The ones who know they need sanctification and need to be purified. That's who Jesus came for.
'When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” ' – Matthew 9:11-13
Your faith is what heals. Time and time the Lord Jesus would say and repeat to the individuals that were healed by him or to the individuals that were healed through the faith of someone else, “go, your faith has healed you/ them.”
'Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” ' – Matthew 9:2,6 → The faith of the paralyzed man's friends saved him from his sin and his physical problems.
'She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment. ' – Matthew 9:21-22
'While he was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.” he said, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him. ' – Matthew 9:18,24
'As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they replied. Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; ' – Matthew 9:27-29
As for us believers, we have to recognize that we cannot convince people to believe, and we cannot please everyone. For Jesus was accused of being one with the demons and being a false teacher for casting out demons. So who are we to try and please people who don't believe even with the Lord right before them?
'While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.” ' – Matthew 9:32-34
Chapter 10
Jesus told us that there would be a level of judgment and condemnation from the world we live in that would come at us simply for being followers of him and his teachings. Even more so when we are also ones to be doing the teaching. The world hated him, and he expressed that it would hate us too.
'You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. ' – Matthew 10:22
We aren’t to get caught up in the thoughts, words, and reasons of non-believers. And sometimes in today's “Christianity,” it's the false judgment of those who call themselves your brothers and sisters in Christ. Church hurt is a real thing and can destroy some people. Which is why it becomes crucial to recognize that no one's opinions matter besides the Lord’s. Do our actions align with the word? Does my lifestyle reflect the bible? Because even if you're struggling in that realm, fear no man.
'Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. ' – Matthew 10:28
' “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven. ' – Matthew 10:32-33
Jesus came to divide. Not to unite. He’ll return to collect and gather HIS PEOPLE, but he never came to SAVE ALL. He has offered all the gifts of salvation, and all are welcomed in the kingdom of heaven, as long as they accept Jesus as Lord before their last breath with everything in their hearts. Matthew 34 - End of the chapter expresses the importance of truly staying rooted in the word and recognizing that it sets you apart from what others say, think, do, and even believe… even amongst another Christian!
' “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. ' – Matthew 10:34
Chapter 11
AGAIN, you cannot please everyone. Let us learn to live for an audience of one. An audience of only the Father.
' For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.” ' – Matthew 11:18-19
Alongside pleasing people, those of us who go with sin unrepentant are at jeopardy of being denounced by the Lord. You cannot be for Christ if you do not repent. To not repent is to also deny him. And he will deny you before his father in heaven if you deny him on earth.
'Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. ' – Matthew 11:20
' “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. ' – Matthew 11:27 → To those who do not repent as Christ commanded, how do you expect to get around him to the Father if only he is the access to the Father?
Christ is also recognized as the Prince of Peace. Because he is where we go to rest. He calls us to him in the midst of all our struggles.
' “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”' – Matthew 11:28-30
Chapter 12
Jesus is above the Sabbath. In all honesty, this topic is a tad controversial in the Christian community. The Sabbath is technically the 7th day, and on the Gregorian calendar, that would land on Saturday. So there are people who meet on that day because the law has stated to hold the sabbath Holy. The complication is that we are imperfect and need Christ to hold true to the law in totality.
When Jesus walked the earth, he “broke" this law and did miracles on the sabbath. The sabbath is meant to be kept holy and for us to rest.
'At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.” He answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. Or haven’t you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent? I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” ' – Matthew 12:1-8
'Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to bring charges against Jesus, they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” He said to them, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. ' – Matthew 12:9-13
Jesus was heavily disliked by the Pharisees because of all he was doing during the sabbath.
'But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.” ' – Matthew 12:24
Knowing that his time was coming near, and that they had already begun to plot against his life. He pointed them to the sign of Jonah. Saying…
'For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. ' – Matthew 12:40
Jesus teaches us too in the midst of responding to the Pharisees, the way unclean and impure spirits operate and how they return in a multiplying factor every time we eliminate them from our lives, but invite them or give them that doorway to enter again. I personally find it very interesting because I believe it shines a bright light on the truth of the walk with Christ in the midst of the battle between the flesh and the spirit. The closer we get to the Lord, the more and more we get rid of these impure spirits, but the harder the walk becomes in moments of weakness when we are dealing with sin. Because sometimes, I believe we are no longer fighting the same demons we once had, but more. [But that's not to excuse the laziness we possess as humans, where we stumble at times purely because we don't want to surrender our ways.]
' “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.” ' – Matthew 12:43-45
Chapter 13
Jesus speaks on the Parable of the Sower We are the seeds and it is important to understand what the environment we are in can do to us and our walk. But not that alone, but to also become aware of what we are rooting ourselves into.
' “Listen then to what the parable of the Sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” ' – Matthew 13:18-23
Then Jesus spoke on the Parable of the weeds. Which he then defined as such…
'He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear. ' – Matthew 13:37-43
Here is how I broke down and understood the parable before reading Jesus’ explanation..
The way that I initially understood this passage was that God created men, and all was good. Before sin entered. The enemy, being the devil, came in and deceived men. And with that come generational curses, which will lead to the end of times when judgment falls on us. Falls on humanity. But some are to be saved and others are to be lost to the weeds.
My parents do farming, and one thing I’ve recognized is the importance of weeding your soil so your seeds may grow with no friction and trouble. But there is always work to do around the crop so that it may grow!
In the passage, it is stated that it would be too early to weed the weeds out. My guess is that it would make the Lord look evil if he were just to uproot what’s premature because weeds feed off of the righteous plants. They cling to one another and are invasive.
We as a society have become accustomed to the invasion, which is why change is so hard.
But as time goes on, those who are able to withstand and remain rooted in the soil shall be the wheat harvested and stored. But those who become victims of their environment are troubled and destined to be burned with the evil ones, the plants which produced bad or no “fruits”, and the weeds.
Lining up with Matthew 7:22, “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’”
Chapter 14
Jesus feeding the 5,000 Men (which this number does not include the wives and the children of said men, meaning 5,000+ individuals. Some studies suspect that about 20,000 mouths were fed by Jesus), using 5 loaves and 2 fishes… this was a miracle to point us to the Lord and what all he can do for us if we give to him all that we have.
With that notion, we give and not expect anything in return here on earth. We give to please the Lord! Because our blessings truly count only in heaven.
As stated in Chapter 13 – ' “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then, in his joy, went and sold all he had and bought that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.' – Matthew 13:44-46
Jesus also showed us that sometimes we have very little faith because of our environment. When Peter was walking on water, all it took was for the wind to ruin his perception and relocate his faith. Meaning he no longer was focused on the Lord and or trusting that Jesus would save him without him crying out… AFTER he was already walking on water.
Chapter 15
It’s not entirely about what we consume but what we do outside because of that consumption.
'What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.” ' – Matthew 15:11
But let us note that out of the mouth flows from the heart.
'What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.” But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.” ' – Matthew 15:11,18-20
With that being said comes a great example of a woman with GREAT faith in her heart that Jesus granted her request even though she was not one of those Jesus was sent to “serve” during his ministry. And out of her mouth, her responses emulated what she believed. That is the example of what life and death in the tongue mean. Because you speak what you believe. Even if it is subconscious.
'A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.” Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment. ' – Matthew 15:22-28
Chapter 16
Jesus will never give you a sign for the sake of proving himself or you wrong. For it benefits him none, nor those around you. Demanding proof from the Lord stems from a selfish desire. An ego. It’s very different from you desiring to see the lord and have him reveal himself to you. But we often as humanity demand the Lord to SHOW and PROVE himself to us, so that we may then believe. But how many signs has he shown you throughout your life? You breathe? You walk? Birds fly? You and I like the Pharisees, will never believe if proof is what we were looking for. There is always a way to be skeptical of what we see. And that is why the heart is deceitful.
'A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away. ' – Matthew 16:4
As we learn and grow our faith in the Lord, let us not forget that we are merely humans and know not better than God. As Peter was blessed by the Spirit to know who the Messiah was before everyone else… Jesus called him Satan a few sentences later because he spoke out in the flesh and from the desires of his heart. Although they weren’t bad desires, wanting Jesus to not suffer as he was claiming, he was not God and could not know what the plan of the Lord was. Thus, being called a stumbling stone to Christ Jesus our Lord in that moment. Let us not believe and deceive ourselves anymore, and think we know more than the Lord!
' “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. From that time on, Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” ' – Matthew 16:15-17,21-23
So, let's not let our EGO take control and allow God to lead our lives. Give all control in totality to the Lord. Surrender yourselves and take up your cross. Die to your flesh daily so that your spirit may live on.
'Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done. “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”' – Matthew 16:24-28
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