Jesus has finally silenced the relentless attack of the religious leaders. They don’t know how to answer Jesus’ question. Furthermore, they are so intimidated by His wisdom that ‘no one dared from that day to ask Him another question.’ One might expect Jesus to kind of, ‘live and let live.’ If the Scribes and Pharisees […]
Matthew 21_28-32 Delayed vs Pretended Obedience
After the chief priests and the elders refused to answer Jesus concerning the source of John the Baptist’s ministry, Jesus presented them with a question centered around a parable. In this parable one son rebels and then repents while another son pretends to be an obedient son but doesn’t actually obey. Jesus then asks which […]
Matthew 21:17-19 The Cursing of the Fig Tree (Part 1 of 2)
Have you ever read the story where Jesus cursed a fig tree for not having any figs on it? Doesn’t that story seem a bit weird? Did Jesus let His hunger and disappointment in not getting any figs cause Him to act rashly and out of character? Absolutely not! Everything Jesus did was under control […]
Matthew 15:7-9 The Damnable Religion of the Pharisees and Scribes
People today think taking a firm stand on issues of right and wrong is Pharisaical. Nothing could be farther from the truth! Jesus actually rebuked the Pharisees for ignoring God’s Law not for upholding it. Jesus corrected the Pharisees for teaching their almost universally held tradition as if it was God’s Law, when they ignored […]
Matthew 15:1-6 According to What Standard?
The Pharisees were committed to destroying Jesus. Why? Because He rejected the flawed ‘tradition of the elders’ and called them out for their hypocrisy. Some high ranking Pharisees and Scribes heard that Jesus disregarded their tradition, and came from Jerusalem to investigate the matter. Jesus was not intimidated. Listen as Pastor Matt shows how Jesus […]
Matthew 13:24-30 The Wheat & the Tares Part 1 The Parable
The Kingdom of heaven is an already but not yet reality. Jesus is reigning, but He is reigning ‘in the midst of His enemies.’ In the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares we see the enemy sow tares amongst the wheat. Tares look almost exactly like wheat until the plants bear fruit. What is […]
Matthew 10:1-7 The King and Judas the Son of Perdition
Matthew 9:14-17 Why Didn’t Jesus’ Disciples Fast?
We must be careful only to bind the conscience where Scripture itself binds it. Our opinions of right and wrong are far more cultural than we would like to admit. For John the Baptist’s disciples one necessary element of true holiness was fasting…. but Jesus’ disciples never fasted. So John’s disciples ask Jesus why His […]
Matthew 7:1-6 A Basic Guide to Judging Others Part 1 of 2
What is the Christian to say when he says something is right or wrong and then he hears the typical ‘Judge not’ response, or ‘We aren’t supposed to judge?’ I mean, they are quoting Scripture.. right? Does this verse mean that that there must be no judging whatsoever? That we must be easy, tolerant, and […]
Matthew 6:16-18 The Theatre of the Damned- Part 3 of 3: Mr. Pious
If you are like most people you have probably thought very little about fasting? What is fasting? How is fasting related to piety? Should Christians fast today? Can fasting actually be sinful? Listen as Pastor Matt examines Jesus’ words concerning fasting, fasting’s relationship to piety, and an important warning concerning all outward shows of piety.
