August 9, 2026
Faith does not usually begin with clarity. Faith begins when the path ahead disappears, the fog rolls in, answers stop, and certainty fades. God never asked his people to see the future, only to follow him into it. Faith does not remove the fog, it moves through it, trusting the bridge and walking forward anyway.… Read More »
August 2, 2026
Matthew places the treasure in the field and the pearl of great price right next to the feeding of the 5,000 on purpose. Jesus is the one who paid the price, not with silver or gold, but with his holy precious blood and innocent suffering and death. First John gives the order: God loved first,… Read More »
July 26, 2026
The parables of the treasure in the field and the pearl of great price are often treated like they are mainly about people searching hard enough for God. Jesus certainly calls His people to seek Him, love Him with all the heart, soul, and mind, and go all in, lock, stock, and barrel. Christ does… Read More »
July 19, 2026
The weeds in the yard make the parable feel pretty close to home. A good yard can have good grass, but an enemy’s weeds still creep in from next door, and the battle gets frustrating fast. Matthew 13 gives that same picture for the kingdom. Jesus says the field has good seed, real wheat, and… Read More »
July 12, 2026
Matthew places the parable of the sower on “that same day,” right after Jesus’ own mother and brothers stand outside the house in Capernaum, thinking he has gone off the rails. Jesus names his real family as those who hear his words and believe, and that moment sets the soil for everything that follows. Jesus… Read More »
July 5, 2026
Matthew closes his Gospel with Jesus’ promise, behold, I am with you every day to the very end of the age. That daily presence frames Matthew’s whole story, answering the name given at the start, Emmanuel, God with us, and echoing Jesus’ word, where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I… Read More »
June 28, 2026
Jesus names the “bundle plan.” Grace stands at the center, but mission comes with it. The text in Matthew 10 sounds jarring beside Isaiah’s “Prince of Peace” and the angels’ “peace on earth.” Jesus resolves the tension by the grammar itself. The infinitives are not of purpose but of result. His mission is peace with… Read More »
June 21, 2026
Matthew shows Jesus sending his disciples into the harvest before they feel ready, answering the very prayer he just put on their lips. The harvest is plentiful, the workers are few, and Jesus does not wait until résumés look impressive. Matthew the tax collector is still Matthew the tax collector when he is sent. Jesus… Read More »
June 14, 2026
Matthew situates Jesus in a stretch of power and mercy: three miracles, a scandalous meal with tax collectors and sinners, more healings, and then a collision with leaders who say the power must be from the devil. Jesus answers, not with a press conference, but with compassion. The text says he looks at the crowds… Read More »
June 7, 2026
Matthew writes his own call in the third person, and the scene stays simple on purpose. Jesus walks up to a tax booth, says, Follow me, and Matthew gets up. The text lets that bare command and quick obedience do the heavy lifting. Matthew is not the guy anyone would have picked. He is a… Read More »