Pastor Steve

Comparing the first three Gospels raises questions sometimes, but sometimes the comparisons are helpful, as is the case here in Matthew. In Mark’s and Luke’s accounts, Jesus’ instructions to the Twelve end with the material Matthew reported in the first half of chapter 8. Instead of stopping at this point, however, as Mark and Luke…

Matthew 10 teaches what the first preachers of the Gospel were to expect as they copied Jesus, going out among all the towns and villages preaching the Good News and healing the people’s diseases. Our first reaction is to suppose that they should have been well received. Who is more welcome than bearers of good…

There are those who believe and teach that an earthly messianic kingdom was offered to the Jews first and that only after it was rejected was it offered to others. But that is not the way we should read Matthew. Matthew knows nothing of two Gospels. There is only one Gospel of God’s rule in…

There is something very significant about the ordination of a Christian to the ministry, at least if that person has been called to the work by God and takes the call seriously. In Matthew 10.5-42, we have a record of the first Christian ordination ever to take place. It is a particularly important and solemn…

At this point we might think we have reached the end of the lessons in the passage (Matthew 9.1 – 10.4), since a need has been perceived and described, and we have been told to pray for a solution: “Pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” What…

As Jesus moved throughout Galilee teaching and healing the people, He was moved by their pitiful condition. Verse 36 of Matthew 9 says that He had compassion for them, because they were like shepherdless sheep, uncared for and completely helpless. “They were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (v.36).