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Quick Chapter Summary

Chapter 8 is a chapter recounting many of Jesus miracles.

1. Jesus heals a man with leprosy, tells him not to tell anyone about it. (verses 1-4)
2. Jesus heals a Roman centurion’s crippled servant. (verses 5-13)
   1. The centurion comes to Jesus for help.
   2. Jesus offers to go to mains house, but centurion feels unworthy and tells Jesus that He can help him from there.
   3. Jesus is amazed by the man’s faith and heals his servant without going to his house.
3. Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law Mary from a fever. (verses 14-15)
4. Later in the evening after healing Mary, Jesus exorcises many brought to him who are demon possessed.  (verses 16-17)
5. Jesus is approached by several individuals who want to follow him.  Jesus tells the first man that He himself has no home.  The second man says he needs to go and bury his father first and Jesus responds, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” (verses 18-22).
6. Jesus is awoken by His frightened disciples and calms a storm while out in a boat. (verses 23-27)
7. Jesus casts demons out of two men. (verses 28-34)
   1. Demons acknowledge Jesus and begged to be cast into a nearby herd of swine.
   2. Jesus casts them into the swine, which then proceed to run down the hillside into the lake and drown.
   3. Upon seeing and hearing this, the local people came to Jesus and pleaded with Him to leave their region.

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Full Text Matthew Chapter8

Quick Chapter Summary

Continuation of the ‘Sermon on the Mount’ (these are Jesus’ teachings)

1. Jesus discusses judgment:
   1. Do not judge anyone, for similar judgment can also be placed on you.
   2. Always reflect on yourself before pointing out other’s flaws. How can you hypocritically point out a small flaw in another when you are guilty of a much larger one?
   3. Teaching others should be done within their spiritual understanding.
2. Jesus continues with seeking the things of God
   1. Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened.
   2. Jesus compares how parents take care of there children’s needs to how God will fulfill our needs in a greater capacity.
   3. The Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have the do to you.
3. Wide and broad is the road to destruction and hell. Narrow is the road that leads to eternal life.
4. Jesus warns against false prophets. He points out that you can recognize them by the ‘fruit’ they produce, by there works and actions.
5. Building upon God’s Word is like building on rock. Your faith will stand the storm. Anyone who hears the Word and rejects it is building on sand and is doomed to destruction.
6. The people listening to Jesus are amazed because He teaches differently; as one who has actual authority.

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Full Text Matthew Chapter 7

Mathew 21:28-32The Parable of the Two Sons

²⁸“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ ²⁹” ‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.

³⁰“Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.

³¹“Which of the two did what his father wanted?”
“The first,” they answered.

Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. ³²For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

The context of these verses involves Jesus speaking with some of the Jewish leaders. He proceeds with a few parables that very much fly in the face of these leaders. Being told that you would enter the kingdom of God behind prostitutes and tax collectors didn’t sit very well with these leaders either.

The main point I pull out of these verses is that ‘change matters‘. The one son immediately said he wouldn’t go. That, to often, reminds me of myself. My initial reaction to a lot of things, probably isn’t the best/right one. I’ve gotten better about ‘digesting’ something before I ‘weigh-in’ on a topic. Still, there are times with things I’m most passionate about that I just say ‘No…I’m not doing that’, or ‘Sure I can’ only to end up regretting it. The beauty of these pages though, is that Jesus is telling us that we can make mistakes…and although we can’t ‘take them back’…we can change.

I’ve been posting a lot about change here lately. My life is in a bit of a ‘changing’ stage. Getting married…starting a life with someone…feeling excited and nervous at the same time. I think change always feels like that. Embracing something new and different. The tag line for this blog…”Today is a New Day… Today I Pray for Change… Today I Begin My Change…” is something I hope to live by each and every day.

Prayer

Father,

I know ‘change’ will come in my life. I know that your will for me involves that. Thank you for the struggles that strengthen me. Guide me so that ‘change’ is not something I fear…but something I embrace and become closer to You through.

In Jesus Name,

Amen.

Quick Chapter Summary

Context: Continuation of the Sermon on the Mount

1. Jesus tells the disciples to be humble in discrete in several areas of their lives versus being boastful. These things are about giving glory to God and not yourself. Also, doing these in secret will result in rewards from the Father in secret.
   1. Give to the needy so that your ‘left hand does not know what your right is doing.’
   2. Pray in your home with the door closed and don’t babble on about what you need…God already knows your needs. Jesus introduces the Lord’s Prayer here.
   3. When fasting, don’t make it obvious to everyone. Go on normally.
2. Jesus goes on to talk about the failing, fading, temporary things of the earth:
   1. Earthly treasures will pass away. Store up treasures in heaven by keeping your heart on things of God.
   2. What you look at with your eyes affects the entire body.
   3. No one can serve two masters…specifically God and Money.
   4. Don’t worry about food or clothing. God feeds the birds and clothes the flowers which are fairly insignificant things and pass away quickly. God provides for these, so He’ll also provide for us.

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Full Text Matthew Chapter 6

Quick Chapter Summary

Chapter 5 of Matthew consists entirely of Jesus teaching his disciples. It is often referred to as the ‘Sermon on the Mount’.

1. Jesus heads up a mountain to ministry to His disciples.
2. He begins with the Beattitudes…”Blessed are _______ for they will _____.”:
   1. The Poor in Spirit receive the Kingdom of Heaven.
   2. Those who morn receive comfort.
   3. The meek will inherit the earth.
   4. Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness will be filled.
   5. The merciful will be shown mercy.
   6. Those pure in heart will see God.
   7. Peacemakers will be called sons of God.
   8. Those who are persecuted and falsely accused for Jesus’ sake will receive a great reward in Heaven.
3. Jesus compares the disciples to salt. Salt adds flavor and preservation.
4. He calls them a light of the world and compares them to a city on a hill, telling them to shine as a light before men to lead them to God.
5. Jesus explains that He is here to fulfill the law, not to eliminate it. It is still to be practiced and taught in it’s entirety.
6. Jesus uses a ‘nip it in the bud’ approach to sin in verses 21-37:
   1. If you find yourself angry at someone, settle the matter before things escalate. This will prevent things from coming to murder and prison. It also separates you from being able to worship God with your whole being.
   2. He likens lusting is the same as committing adultery in your heart.
   3. If part of you causes you to sin, remove it.
   4. If anyone divorces (except for reasons of unfaithfulness), they are committing adultery.
   5. Making oaths is a dangerous thing. Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No’.
7. Jesus challenges the disciples to go beyond the old testament law of an ‘Eye for an eye’, ‘Tooth for a tooth.’ He says to turn the other cheek to an enemy that strikes you and walk two miles with someone that asks you to walk one.
8. Jesus last point is to Love your enemies. He’s challenging the disciples to strive for the perfection of the Father in love and forgiveness.

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Full Text Matthew Chapter 5