Thoughts On Matthew 9
Theme: Jesus’ Authority and Compassion, Particularly in Healing and Forgiveness and His Call to Discipleship.
This chapter primarily focuses on Jesus demonstrating His authority and compassion through forgiveness of sins and healing and calling disciples.
The chapter showcases Jesus healing a paralytic, calling Matthew the tax collector, interacting with those considered outcasts and raising a dead girl back to life.
It also includes Jesus’ teaching on fasting and the need for new ways to contain the new teachings of the gospel.
Lessons:
1. Before you pray for the sick to be healed, pray for the forgiveness of their sins first.
2. When going on evangelism to win souls for Christ, do not go to Bible believing church to convert their members to your church. Go to where sinners are and win them for the Kingdom.
NOTE :
JESUS’ MISSION:
– To seek and save the lost. Verse 13.
– To forgive sin and heal the sick. Verses 2-7.
– To make disciples of men from all nations irrespective of their status. E.g. Matthew the tax collector. Verse 9.
Prayer
Father, help us to do the work of the Kingdom as Jesus did when He was physically here on earth with His disciples in Jesus Christ’s Mighty Name we pray! Amen!
Thank You Father!
Reflections On Matthew 10
Today, we study the Book of Matthew chapter ten, where
Jesus sent out the twelve disciples.
Reflections:
“SHEEP IN THE MIDST OF WOLVES”
Key Scripture
“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the in the midst of wolves. Therefore, be wise as serpents and harmless as doves”(Matt 10:16)
Reality Check
Brethren, the Bible attested to the REALITY OF WICKEDNESS in the world system
(Psalms 74:20)
The Lord Jesus alerted the disciples to “BEWARE OF MEN”
Indeed, it was recorded of Jesus in the gospel of John chapter 2 verse 24 that “JESUS WOULD NOT ENTRUST HIMSELF TO THEM, FOR HE KNEW ALL PEOPLE” (John 2:24)
The Apostle Paul also testified of the STRESS from men like Alexander in Second Timothy, Chapter two, verses 14 to 15.
Lessons
How then should christians/believers who are in this world but NOT OF THIS WORLD conduct our affairs to the glory of His name? (John 17:16)
The scriptures offered workable and practical principles:
Heaven On Earth
Deuteronomy 11:21 describes the “Days of Heaven on earth.”
This is the expected REALITY of the believer.
Obedience to the commandments of Jehovah/The Word of God results in perpetual blessings.
The story of Isaac demonstrated that God’s people can prosper to the ENVY of others in the land of the living.
(Genesis 26:12-13
Strategic Thinking
Believers are to exhibit Divine Strategies superior to the CUNNING of Satan/The Serpent!
(Matthew 10:16)
Winning By Loving
Surely, as we spread the gospel of Jesus, opposition and antagonists will manifest.
What to do?
Manifesting the “FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT.”
The Scriptures affirms that:
“LOVE never gives up.
LOVE never loses faith.
LOVE is always hopeful and endures through every circumstance.”
(1 Corinthians 13:7)
Discretion
Brethren, to balance “Serpentine STRATEGIES” and the harmlessness of a dove requires DISCRETION.
Therefore, “Get Wisdom!
Get Understanding!
Wisdom is the principal thing!
(Proverbs 4:5-7)
Let Your Light Shine
We are the light of the world expected to give LIGHT to all who are in the “house”!
“Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven.”
Sing Along, Please
“This little light of mine
I will let it shine
Let it shine!
Let it shine!!
Let it shine!!!
Matthew 10 focuses on the commissioning, rewards and challenges of the twelve disciples by Jesus.
This chapter describes life’s events, as a believer, as a disciple of Jesus, the authority of Jesus, chaos in the world because of Jesus, rewards and challenges of your faith.
It includes warnings about the persecutions you will face and reassurances of God’s provision and support.
Jesus emphasizes the need for faith and endurance in the face of challenges, assuring you that your sacrifices will be rewarded.
In Jesus name, Amen. 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
This chapter serves as a foundational text for understanding the role of discipleship and the challenges faced as a follower of Jesus.
Prayer (John 17:17)
Father, we pray that You keep us from the evil one.
We also pray that You sanctify us with Truth of The Word in the Mighty name of Jesus.
Amen.
Thoughts on Matthew 11
Matthew 11:3 NKJV
“And said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”
Sometimes, the unexpected in life happens, and when it does, questions begin to form in our hearts.
A lot of times, we do not have the audacity to say out the words in our hearts without running the risk of being labelled as canal, faithless, or even backslidden.
But today’s chapter challenges our mindset as we consider the experience of John the Baptist while he sat in prison, wondering about the Messiah and His mission.
He becomes a reference for believers to know that it is not only legitimate for us to have questions but to have the courage to ask them with an expectation that we will get answers to them. In particular, when life throws a curve at us.
However, what we must not do in those situations is attempting to answer the questions without recourse to what God has revealed to us about His Nature and His Character from His Word.
Psalms 131:1 NKJV captures this aptly….”Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor my eyes lofty. Neither do I concern myself with great matters, nor with things too profound for me”
It is regretful that believers have ignored this and have largely allowed social media discussions turn them into analysts of what God has not revealed, or proffer answers on things that are profound, thereby emboldening many to take unwise counsels that is leading them to error.
In our reading today, we see how the Lord Jesus Christ answered the disciples of John. Not with chastisement, but in simplicity and truth, presented what is Mission was (the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are healed, the deaf hear…the Good news is preached to the poor)
We must rise up from using our individual experiences in life to interpret who God is. John had expectations of what the Messiah should look like, “A king who will take Charge.”
But wondered how this could be so if he John, that heralded Him is languishing in prison. Notice that Jesus, in clarifying the doubts of John, answered him based on the prophecies that John had known and that were already being fulfilled by Jesus. With such evidence,
His identity was obvious. And there was no record that John was not satisfied or even wondered again about if he should look for another Messiah. Scripture does not lie.
It therefore behoves us that when in doubt, for example, about your salvation, the forgiveness of your sins, or the progress of God’s work in your life because of your present circumstances, you must not turn away from Christ to lying vanities.
Look in Scripture at what Jesus did and be inspired by the truth that He never fails. Always remember this key verse from today’s chapter
And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force* (Matt 11:12 KJV)
Entering God’s kingdom takes courage, unwavering faith, determination, and endurance because of the opposition we face, but we have an assurance that whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world- our faith. Halleluyah!
This chapter encapsulate significant moments in Jesus’ ministry, addressing doubts, affirming the role of John the Baptist, and emphasizing the need for repentance and faith. It portrays Jesus as the Messiah who fulfills prophecy and offers rest if you seek Him, highlighting the transformative power of His Kingdom.
It also serves as a reminder of the importance of faith, even in challenging circumstances, and the call to respond to Jesus’ message with repentance and belief.
In Jesus name, Amen. 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
