New Testament / Matthew

  • Adultery of the Heart

    Matthew 5:27–30

    Unfortunately, lust is rampant in the church today, and many are in bondage to pornography and other sexual sins. If this is a problem for you, cut off your access to outlets where you may find temptation. Whether or not ...Read More

  • A Faithful and Wise Servant

    Matthew 24:37–51

    Bishop Hilary of Poiters, an early church father, says, “Our ignorance of the day of Christ’s return should provoke us to be careful as we eagerly await his coming” (On Matthew, 26.6). Knowing that Jesus could come at ...Read More

  • A Gentile Meets Jesus

    Matthew 15:21–28

    Our prayers may sometimes seem like the encounter between Jesus and this woman. Often we will pray for a person’s salvation or healing, and, when no change is immediately forthcoming, we will assume God’s answer is no. Yet ...Read More

  • A Glorious Future

    Matthew 13:36–43

    Gloriously, at the time of God’s harvest we who have suffered the onslaught of the Devil and the scorn of the world will shine brightly, just like the Lord Himself (Matt. 13:43). John Calvin comments, “What a remarkable ...Read More

  • A Lesson From a Fig Tree

    Matthew 21:18–22

    Matthew Henry writes, “The fruit of fig trees may justly be expected from those who have the leaves. Christ looks for the power of religion from those who make profession of it.” The cursing of the fig tree is a ...Read More

  • A Man Who Loved Riches

    Matthew 19:16–22

    Even though not every Christian is called to sell all his possessions, one commentator has helpfully noted that those who find comfort that this call is not universal are precisely those to whom Jesus would issue it! As citizens of ...Read More

  • A Mission of Service

    Matthew 12:15–21

    The truth that Jesus will not snuff out a smoldering wick or break a bruised reed is one of the most encouraging truths of Christianity. When others would give up on us because of our failures, lack of money, talent ...Read More

  • A Mixed Body

    Matthew 13:47–50

    When people abandon Christ, they prove that they never had faith at all, since those with true faith are preserved by God, never to fall away permanently (1 John 2:19). Still, when we see people leave Jesus, it does ...Read More

  • An Angel Visits Joseph

    Matthew 1:18–21

    In mercy, Joseph did not call for the Law’s harshest penalties on the wife he thought unfaithful (Deut. 22:13–21). Depending on the offense and its circumstances, while the church is always called to discipline, it is not ...Read More

  • A Narrow Gate; a Hard Way

    Matthew 7:13–14

    Matthew Henry summarizes Jesus’ teaching in today’s passage: “We must endure hardship, must wrestle and be in agony, must watch in all things, and walk with care and circumspection. We must go through much tribulation.” Christ’s way is ...Read More

  • An Object of Derision

    Matthew 27:35–44

    Many of Jesus’ contemporaries refused to accept the Messiah’s shame and curse on the cross, and many in the history of the church have done the same, denying the substitutionary nature of the atonement and the fact that God ...Read More

  • An Obstinate Generation

    Matthew 11:16–19

    Matthew Henry asks, “If people will neither be awakened by the greatest things, nor allured by the sweetest things, nor startled by the most terrible things, nor be made aware by the plainest of things; if they will listen to ...Read More

  • Anointed for Burial

    Matthew 26:6–13

    Notably, Jesus says that Mary will be remembered on account of the great service she provided to the Lord. Matthew Henry writes, “The honor of Christ is principally intended in the gospel, yet the honor of his saints and servants ...Read More

  • Another Request for a Sign

    Matthew 16:1–4

    Matthew Henry comments, “It is an instance of the deceitfulness of the heart, to think that we should be influenced by the means and advantages which we do not have, while we slight those which we have.” The Sadducees and ...Read More

  • An Unknown Day and Hour

    Matthew 24:36

    Our Lord’s admission, in His humanity, that He did not know when the day of His second advent would be is a warning to anyone who might try to set a date for His return. We are wasting time ...Read More