Matthew Chapter 13
April 26, 2024Seven parables recorded, all concerning the kingdom of God. Guilt, shame and fear gradually spread across and weigh on my chest as I make my way through this chapter. “Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.” (Matthew 13: 13) “Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.” (Matthew 13: 58) My perspective when reading these parables is from that which is in wonder of Jesus’ empathy for mankind. In His infinite wisdom, in contextually relatable terms, Jesus lovingly illustrates…
Matthew Chapter 12 – Sabbath Keeping
How has your Sabbath-keeping been? On the Sabbath, the Pharisees were upset with the disciples plucking heads of grain and eating it, having defined this simple action of plucking grain as work1. But unlike the Pharisees, Jesus…
Matthew Chapter 11 – Be Great by Being Small in a Light and Easy Way
“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:29…
Matthew Chapter 10 – Workers of God, Take Note!
In Matt 10, Jesus sends His 12 disciples out to do the work of preaching the gospel, but not before He gives them many important pieces of encouragement and advice. Let us reflect on some of the…
Matthew Chapter 9 – Portraits of Faith
In this chapter, we see many ‘portraits’ of faith – examples of different people who, because of their faith in Jesus’ power as the Messiah, had their petitions answered, illnesses cured, loved ones healed or even resurrected,…
Matthew Chapter 8
“I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel.” “O you of little faith.” Do we have faith that is pleasing to God? What is the faith that delights Him. Is this faith that Jesus…
Matthew Chapter 7
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. (Matthew 7:1-2). Lord Jesus teaches us that…
Matthew Chapter 6
Lord Jesus teaches us righteousness in our relationship with other people. He teaches us to check our motives in three areas: generosity (Matthew 6:4), prayer (Matthew 6:6) and fasting (Matthew 6:18). Those acts should be God-centered and…
Matthew Chapter 5
In Matthew 5, verses 13-16, Jesus presents two powerful metaphors to describe our influence and responsibility in the world: salt and light. Salt of the Earth The metaphor of salt is rich with cultural and historical significance.…
Matthew Chapter 4
Matthew chapter 4 verses 1-11 records Jesus being led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was tempted in 3 aspects by satan.…
马太福音第四章
马太福音第四章1-11节记载了耶稣被圣灵催到旷野，在那里耶稣禁食了四十昼夜后，受到撒旦对耶稣三方面的试探。再看希伯来书4：15告诉我们耶稣曾凡事受过试探。然而，别于所有的世人，他没有犯罪。有人说耶稣所受的这三个试探，分别与三种属世的弱点吻合，也就是在约翰一书2：16中提到的：肉体的情欲，眼目的情欲，和今生的骄傲。这三样包含了世界上能诱惑人的事物。 虽然耶稣与我们一样带着肉身，这段记载就是要我们效法耶稣的榜样。从耶稣如何胜过魔鬼的试探，我们要相信只要牢牢将神的话语记住，并实行在我们的生命里，神的话能产生超越我们肉体的软弱，超越个人意志的力量。此外，我们更是蒙福的，因为神已将祂宝贵的圣灵赐给我们，住在我们里面加添我们的力量，所以胜过各种试探并不是不可企及的。 接下来12节一下记载了耶稣往加利利传道，并呼召做渔夫的西门，安得烈，雅各与约翰做他的们徒。这段在马太福音的记载说他们立刻舍了网，别了父亲，跟从了耶稣（20，22节）。在对观福音路加福音5：1-11记载，其实西门之前听了耶稣教训众人的话，之后他又顺从了耶稣的吩咐，在徒劳整夜打鱼之后，把船开到水深之处，下网打鱼，之后就满载而归。从这里，我们看到这几位首先被招的门徒并不是盲从主耶稣。他们首先听了耶稣所传的生命之道，心里已生发信心。接下来又亲身体验到耶稣的大能，更加坚固了他们对耶稣的认识。这之后，当耶稣要他们来跟从他，要叫他们得人如得鱼时，他们已经心里火热，因此当下撇下一切跟从主。我们在信仰不该像耶稣时代一大堆随波逐流的从众，看别人跟随耶稣，就盲从的人。或者只是为了得到今生好处跟从耶稣说的人。让我们先将信心建立在主的道理上，然后体验神的恩典上。这种又根基得信心才会长久不动摇。
