Jesus continues to serve the world before His crucifixion, by trying to teach them the truth in how God loves them and healing many people. Jesus doesn’t hide who He is from others or ever deny who is. His greatest commandment is to love God with our whole body, mind and soul, with a close second to love our neighbor as ourselves. I can only hope that I can live my life out by loving God with everything that I am and loving my neighbors as much or more than I love myself! Out of all of the second half, the sentence that stood out the most was when Jesus is talking about what defiles us: our words. The words that are dirty, ugly, and no good come from inside ourselves, from our heart. I know I need to work on my heart, so that the words that come out only reflect Christ’s love.
Passage:
Matthew 15-28
Discovered:
- Pharisees tried to trap Jesus in breaking tradition, but they were hypocrites .
- What comes out of our mouths defiles us because it comes from within our hearts.
- Jesus healed a girl with demons and others. Jesus also fed 4,000 plus with 7 loaves and a few fish.
- Simon Peter and disciples knew Jesus was Messiah, told not to tell. Peter then denied that Christ’s suffering and death would happen.
- Peter, James and John witnessed the transfiguration and Jesus talking with Moses and Elijah on mountain.
- Jesus foretold His death and resurrection again 3 days later.
- Temptation to sin is necessary, but if a part of you is causing you to sin, remove it.
- Be willing to forgive – even up to 77 times and forgive from your heart.
- Those who leave behind the world and follow Jesus will have eternal life.
- Jesus foretold His death and resurrection a third time.
- Those who serve others will be first, even Jesus came to serve.
- Jesus arrived in Jerusalem riding on a donkey (Zechariah prophecy fulfilled). People laid coats and branches in the path.
- Jesus cleared the temple of people selling inside and healed people. Priests and scribes were angry.
- Priests challenged Jesus’ authority, but they could not answer His questions.
- Those who do what the Lord asks and believe will enter the kingdom of Heaven first.
- Jesus taught a parable on tenants who killed servants and son when they came to collect the harvest – parallel to rejecting the cornerstone foretold = Jesus rejected.
- Wedding feast parable: no one invited came, so they went to streets to invite everyone, but one who was not wearing wedding garments was cast out out -> many are called, but few are chosen.
- Greatest commandment: love God with all your heart, mind and soul. Second commandment: Love neighbor as yourself.
- Jesus taught on woes to scribes and Pharisees: they are hypocrites, teach but do not do what they teach.
- Jesus foretold of the destruction of the temple.
- Disciples asked how they would know His return was near -> tribulations but only God knows when.
- Parables of 10 virgins (those prepared let in) and 3 men & talents – those faithful with little will be given much.
- Jesus describes final judgement: those who know Him (love least of these) get eternal life.
- Priests and elders plotted to arrest Jesus and kill Him. Judas went to chief priest to betray Jesus.
- Jesus celebrates Passover with disciples: teaches Lord’s table: wine is my blood poured out and the bread is my body broken for you.
- Jesus foretells Peter denying Jesus 3 times before rooster crows -> Peter denied Him 3 times.
- Jesus goes to pray in garden of Gethsemane. He is arrested and taken before high priest and found guilty of blasphemy and delivered Him to Pilate to be put to death.
- Judas hung himself and bought potter’s feels to be buried as foretold by Jeremiah.
- Jesus would not defend Himself before Pilate -> tried to release Jesus but crowd demanded.
- Jesus was mocked, beaten and crucified (between 2 robbers). Soldiers cast lots for clothes.
- Jesus cried out to God: Why have you forsaken me? and died. At His death, the temple curtain tore, bodies of saints rose from the dead and the earth shook.
- Joseph took Jesus’ body and buried Him in a tomb. At the priests request, Pilate put guards at the tomb.
- First day of the week, angel rolled away the stone and the Lord descended from Heaven, Jesus told the Marys – do not be afraid, go and tell them to meet Him in Galilee. Guards fainted.
- Guards told the priests what happened and were paid to lie – body was stolen.
- Jesus commanded His disciples to make disciples of all nations!
Help me to remember:
that You fulfilled prophecy, You came to serve us, to die for us because You love us.
Lord, I ask that . . .
I constantly live out Your commandments: 1. to love you with everything and to love my neighbor as myself.
Lord, I am thankful for . . .
the parables/lessons You taught, teaching us truth through them.
