poolsandpastures
Thoughts on the Gospel, Life, and Ministry
Category: Matthew
The NT365 Experiment: Matthew 18
Jesus is the heaven-born king of the world. He came to establish his kingdom, which Matthew defines as the active reign of Christ in the hearts of men and women. This active reign of Christ creates a people — those who have submitted to… Continue Reading “The NT365 Experiment: Matthew 18”
The NT365 Experiment: Matthew 17
There is something different about chapter 17. You can feel it. You can taste it. The drama intensifies. A Dramatic Shift and Peter’s Objection In 16:21, Matthew tells us that Jesus became singularly focused on getting to Jerusalem, enduring his cross, and preparing his… Continue Reading “The NT365 Experiment: Matthew 17”
The NT365 Experiment: Matthew 16
When I started thinking about “The NT365 Experiment” my goal was to make one observation, one interpretation, and one point of application of each chapter in the New Testament. I have found that to be extremely difficult. Some chapters simply don’t lend themselves to… Continue Reading “The NT365 Experiment: Matthew 16”
The NT365 Experiment: Matthew 15
The climax of the conflict between Jesus and the religious leaders of his day will not take place until Jesus’ crucifixion. However, it becomes a prominent theme in chapter 15. The Religious Leaders and Their Commandments Matthew begins the chapter with a question from… Continue Reading “The NT365 Experiment: Matthew 15”
The NT365 Experiment: Matthew 14
Today we come to two of the most familiar stories in Matthew’s Gospel — the feeding of the 5,000 and Jesus walking on water. They were two of my grandmother’s favorites. I can vividly remember her teaching my friends and me in our “Training… Continue Reading “The NT365 Experiment: Matthew 14”
The NT365 Experiment: Matthew 13
Parables. I love them. They’re awesome because they use an understandable story to illustrate a spiritual truth. And, Jesus loved to tell them. Matthew introduces us to seven of Jesus’ parables in chapter 13. Six of them deal with the kingdom of heaven specifically,… Continue Reading “The NT365 Experiment: Matthew 13”
The NT365 Experiment: Matthew 12
Opposition was a reality for Jesus. People opposed him, and that was particularly the case with the leaders of Judaism, the scribes and Pharisees. Chapters 11 and 12 when taken together reveal the depth and significance of this opposition. It is overt hostility to… Continue Reading “The NT365 Experiment: Matthew 12”
The NT365 Experiment: Matthew 11
All of us have expectations. We have expectations of ourselves, our spouses, our kids, our churches, our friends, careers, our government, and many other things. And, for most of us these expectations are high. In general, that is a good thing. High expectations often… Continue Reading “The NT365 Experiment: Matthew 11”
The NT365 Experiment: Matthew 10
Conflict is a part of life. Its reality. And, this is certainly the case with the Christian life. For those who follow Jesus, conflict is inevitable. Think about it. To say “yes” to Jesus necessarily means to say “no” to something else. Those who… Continue Reading “The NT365 Experiment: Matthew 10”
The NT365 Experiment: Matthew 5
What does it mean to be a disciple? Jesus tells us in his most famous sermon. Matthew recorded this sermon beginning with the beatitudes and then moving into a systematic discussion of the right application of God’s law in Christ’s kingdom. Salt and Light… Continue Reading “The NT365 Experiment: Matthew 5”
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