Events of second coming Matthew 24 Key Verses: 2, 8, 12-13, 14, 19, 27, 37, 44 Have you ever had to deliver bad news, really bad news? I have, and it is no fun. Jesus tells his disciples that the center of their geopolitical world is going to be destroyed. As Jewish men, their livesContinue reading “Day 163”
Tag Archives: Mastering the New Testament
Day 162
Hypocrisy denounced by “woes” Matthew 23 Key Verses: 3, 5, 12, 17, 24, 28, 33, 37 It is easy to have a double standard in life, one standard we expect from other people, and one standard we apply to ourselves. We expect other drivers to use their turn signals and provide adequate braking space whenContinue reading “Day 162”
Day 161
Taxes paid to Caesar Matthew 22 Key Verses: 11, 15, 21, 29, 30, 39, 45 When you arrived at an ancient wedding you were given a garment to wear and you put it on right away. To not put it on was a sign of rejection of the hospitality provided, even a rejection of theContinue reading “Day 161”
Day 160
Fig tree is cursed Matthew 21 Key Verses: 8, 12, 15, 22, 25, 32, 39, 43, 46 I don’t know about you, but this seems like a strange way to welcome someone into town? Is this the ancient equivalent of the red carpet treatment? Is this how they welcomed celebrities? And they shout words proclaimingContinue reading “Day 160”
Day 159
Opportunities in the vineyard Matthew 20 Key Verses: 2, 10, 15, 18-19, 21, 25, 33 This story gets at the root of the religious leaders’ problem with Jesus offering forgiveness to everyone, especially the worst of humanity. They thought they had been doing what they were supposed to be doing to please God. They wereContinue reading “Day 159”
Day 158
Grounds for divorce clarified Matthew 19 Key Verses: 3, 8, 12, 14, 18, 21, 24, Some things are wrong. There can be forgiveness. Keep these in mind as you read today. Jesus pulls us back to the standard: one man and one woman for life. Even the culture of His day had accepted the easyContinue reading “Day 158”
Day 157
Need for true forgiveness Matthew 18 Key Verses: 1, 8, 14, 15, 22, 35 It can be very hard to accept a lower position than you expect. We face this when we go for a job interview and get less than we expect, either in position or in compensation. Jesus tells us to take theContinue reading “Day 157”
Day 156
Impact of Jesus’ transfiguration Matthew 17 Key Verses: 2, 4, 5, 10, 18, 20, Jesus told His disciples that some of them would see Him in His glory, and now it happens. How did the three know it was Moses and Elijah without facial recognition software? No DNA samples were taken and evaluated? We couldContinue reading “Day 156”
Day 155
Keys of the kingdom Matthew 16 Key Verses: 1, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24 Motive is so important! Watch out when someone is testing you. Chances are you can’t win. They will have stacked the deck against you, so that no matter what happens you will lose. Jesus confronts their test by telling them thatContinue reading “Day 155”
Day 154
Wisdom in answering Pharisees Matthew 15 Key Verses: 2, 6, 11, 18, 27 We are not talking about what our parents told us before we came to the dinner table. This washing of hands was simply a religious ritual done to show how holy you were. It was part of what the religious leaders ofContinue reading “Day 154”
The Arnold Journey 