Category Archives: Folders
July 7: “The Parable of the Weeds” (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43)
If God’s kingdom is here on earth, why is evil not eliminated? The Parable of the Weeds deals with the question of evil. The children of God and the children of the evil one will be distinguished and separated on the judgment day. So we are to wait for God’s judgment with patience. In the […]
Continue readingJune 30: “The Parable of the Sower” (Matthew 13:18-23)
The parable of the sower reveals the hidden power of the seed, which is the gospel of the kingdom. Since the gospel is the power of God for salvation, our responsibility is to “under-stand” or believe the gospel. Our mission is to sow the Word patiently, expecting a final victory of the Word.
Continue readingJune 23: “Why Did Jesus Speak in Parables?” (Matthew 13:10-17)
Jesus’ parables tell us about God’s kingdom or God’s reign. The parables are about what God is doing and will do through Jesus the Messiah. Jesus spoke in parables to bring both judgment and mercy. They harden some hearts but soften other hearts to create faith. In the end, the parables serve to illustrate God’s […]
Continue readingJune 9: “Are You the Coming One?” (Matthew 11:1-6)
We have heard of the Doubting Thomas, but not Doubting John (the Baptist). But John was doubting whether Jesus was the Messiah or not. Jesus does not shame John, but Jesus points John to the Scriptures and encourages him to believe. We are all prone to doubt. When we are doubting, we need to look […]
Continue readingJune 2: “Jesus Calls Sinners to Follow” (Matthew 9:9-13)
The good news is that Jesus came to save sinners. The greatest miracle for Matthew is that Jesus called him and changed him to be a disciple of Jesus. And Matthew was the despised tax collector. If God can change and use someone like Matthew, God can change you and use you for his kingdom.
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