Category Archives: a. Matthew

Twelve apostles and their mission (Matthew 10: 1-15)

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Bible Summary:

Jesus calls the twelve apostles: Simon (called Peter), Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew (the tax collector), James, Thaddaeus, Simon the Patriot, and Judas Iscariot, who later betrays him. He gives them the mission to drive out evil spirits, heal the sick and lepers, and bring the dead back to life. Jesus tells them to preach the Good News in Israel, instead of the lands of the Gentiles and Samarians. He tells his disciples to leave with nothing but their clothes and not to accept money nor beg. They are to seek shelter in each new town and greet their host with peace. If they are not welcome, they are to “shake the dust off their feet” and move on to the next town. Jesus assures them that an unwelcoming town will receive no mercy on Judgment Day.

My Thoughts:

Characters of the story: Matthew summarizes the characters in his story very succinctly. He mentions the disciples’ relationships as brothers and sons, that Simon is renamed Peter (we learn why later), that Matthew is a tax collector and that Judas betrays Jesus. Mathew then tells us the apostles’ mission: to preach the Good News and heal people.

Reason to believe: Jesus asks a lot of his disciples – to leave with nothing, to expect others to feed and shelter them, and to just keep moving on from town to town, whether the people want to hear the Good News or not. It is interesting that many people use Jesus’ miraculous birth, healing powers, and many miracles to prove his divinity. Frankly, the fact that these twelve people were willing to give up their lives, initially in preaching the Good News and later in fact, with no earthly reward, speaks volumes for Jesus’ closeness to God.

No Gentiles: It was surprising to read that Jesus had the apostles focus on the Jews. I always thought they mainly spoke to the Gentiles. Maybe I’m getting ahead of the story.

Sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9: 35-38)

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Bible Summary:

Jesus visits all the towns, teaches in synagogues, preaches the Good News, and heals people of all diseases. He feels pity for so many helpless people, like sheep without a shepherd. He tells his disciples, “The harvest is large with so few workers. Pray to the owner to send out more workers.”

My Thoughts:

Misguided: people are so misguided in their lives, searching for more money, more cars, bigger houses, extra-marital affairs, … Always searching never satisfied. Jesus has pity on these lost sheep because a life without purpose, a real purpose is no life at all.

More Shepherds: The harvest Jesus speaks of is the crowd of people. He prays to God to send more shepherds, disciples to help guide so many lost sheep.

Jesus helps a man talk (Matthew 9: 32-34)

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Bible Summary:

Next, some people bring Jesus a man who cannot talk. Jesus drives out the demon and the man talks to everyone’s amazement. The Pharisees say the chief of demons gives him that power.

My Thoughts:

Jealousy: The Pharisees were jealous of Jesus’ ability to mesmerize the people of Israel so they try to discredit him. Everything Jesus ever did was to help others – people the Pharisees would not even associate with.

Jesus teaches about belief (Matthew 9: 27-31)

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Bible Summary:

Two blind men show up, follow Jesus and ask him for mercy. He asks them if they believe he can heal them. They say yes. Jesus touches their eyes saying, “Let it happen as you believe!” and they can now see. He tells them not to tell anyone, but they spread the news.

My Thoughts:

Belief: Everything you want in life requires belief and action. These two things can give you everything you have ever dreamed. Believe and act today.

Celebrity: Like all celebrities, Jesus would like just a little break from the onslaught so he asks the blind men not to say anything and of course human nature takes over and they tell everyone.

Jesus heals those with faith (Matthew 9:18-26)

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Bible Summary:

A Jewish official kneels before Jesus and pleads for him to place his hands on his daughter who just died. Jesus and his disciples follow the official. Along the way, a woman who suffered from bleeding for 12 years touches Jesus’ cloak. Jesus tells her to have courage and her faith makes her immediately well. At the official’s house, he tells the funeral group to leave since the little girl is not dead but only sleeping. They make fun of him as they leave. Jesus goes to the girl, holds her hand, and then she gets up. The news of this spreads everywhere.

My Thoughts:

Faith: Jesus rewards people who have the faith that they can be healed. Faith is believing in something when there is no proof it can happen. It can carry you through taunts of others who do not understand. Faith is believing so much that you push a bit harder and with a little help from above everything comes to be.

New Wine in New Wineskins (Matthew 9:14-17)

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Bible Summary:

Followers of John the Baptist ask Jesus why they and the Pharisees fast often but the disciples do not. Jesus tells them wedding guests need to be happy until the bridegroom is taken away, and then they will fast. He also says no one patches an old coat with new cloth since it would shrink and make a bigger hole, nor pours new wine in old wineskins that would burst. New wine in new wineskins keeps both in good condition.

My Thoughts:

Celebrate: Jesus says the disciples should celebrate while he is with them.

New Message: Jesus’ new message was not taken well by the establishment, so he focused on telling his new message (i.e. new wine) to new people (i.e. new wineskins), including Gentiles.

Matthew follows Jesus (Matthew 9: 9-13)

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Bible Summary:

Jesus meets and asks Matthew the tax collector to follow him. Matthew does right then. Later, Jesus and his disciples eat with outcasts at Matthew’s house. Some Pharisees ask the disciples how their teacher can eat with such people. Jesus overhears and says, “Only those who are sick need a doctor,” and quotes scripture, “It is kindness I want, not animal sacrifices.”

My Thoughts:

Letter of the Law: Jesus knows human nature, that the self-righteous will follow the letter of the law, so he focuses on the outcasts who need him. He jabs the Pharisees about showing a little kindness.

Follow your belief: Matthew drops everything to follow Jesus. How far would you go to follow your belief? Would you quit your job and follow a man you barely know with no guarantee to even have enough food to eat? I believe this gospel story teaches people to follow their convictions, which can give you freedom and strength.

Jesus heals paralyzed man (Matthew 9: 1-8)

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Bible Summary:

Jesus returns to his home town across the lake by boat where some people bring him a paralyzed man. They have such faith, so he forgives the man’s sins. Teachers of the Law whisper about this blasphemy. Jesus asks them why they are thinking such evil, and then proves his authority as the “Son of Man” by telling the man to “get up and walk” and he does.

My Thoughts:

Faith: it is amazing how faith can change anyone’s life. If you believe things will get better, they will.

Jesus casts out demons (Matthew 8: 28-34)

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Bible Summary:

Jesus goes to Gadara and meets two men with demons. They scream, “What do you want from us, Son of God?” Jesus cast the demons out and into a herd of pigs, which rush into the lake and drown. The pig farmers tell everyone in town what happened. They meet Jesus and beg him to leave.

My Thoughts:

Anger: Jesus clears the men’s anger issues in one conversation. The town people are not grateful, likely because Jesus was going against the Laws of Moses, plus they feared his ability to control demons. It would be great if psychiatrist could heal patients pain in one conversation, but it could take years.

Jesus calms the storm (Matthew 8: 23-27)

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Bible Summary:

Jesus and the disciples enter a boat. A storm hits and the disciples wake him to save them. Jesus says they have little faith and then calms the storm to their amazement.

My Thoughts:

Miracles: We cannot scientifically verify Jesus’ miracles and none have been repeated in 2000 years since his death. He has not returned. Is this all just a hoax by the church?

Faith: You may have these questions, but the real message of this passage is faith, even when the storms of your life are swirling around you. Believe in God and he will help calm your storms. Hang in there!