Introduction The last time we were studying Matthew's gospel together we read Peter's confession about the Lord Jesus. The Lord asked: 'Who do you say that I am?' And Peter said: 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' So, you're God's Anointed King, sent to save God's people; and you're also the … Continue reading Matthew 16(21–28) →

Verses 13 to 17 Matthew tells us in verse 13 that the Lord and his disciples had come to the region of Caesarea Philippi, which was a city located about 25 miles north of the Sea of Galilee near Mount Hermon. And it was Gentile or pagan territory. And it was there that the Lord … Continue reading Matthew 16(13–20) →

Introduction Last week's passage was about the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who were careful to separate themselves from everything and everyone which might defile their ceremonial purity. And that meant the Pharisees and teachers of the law stayed away from Gentiles, who they considered to be unclean. However, in the first part … Continue reading Matthew 15(21–39) →

Introduction In last week's passage we read about the faith of a Gentile woman who asked the Lord to have mercy on her daughter. And then other Gentiles came to the Lord so that he could heal them of their disabilities. And then the Lord Jesus fed the crowd of 4,000 men plus women and … Continue reading Matthew 16(01–12) →

Introduction In last week's passage we read about the ordinary people who were wondering whether the Lord Jesus might possibly be the Son of David. That is, they were wondering whether he might be God's Special Servant sent to save them. After all, surely only someone sent from God could do the things he was … Continue reading Matthew 12(38–50) →

Verses 1 to 9 Today's passage begins with Matthew telling us that Pharisees and teachers of the law came from Jerusalem. The Pharisees were the 'separated ones'. They were Jews who tried to separate themselves from everything which was unclean and which might defile them. And that meant staying away from 'sinners' and performing ceremonial … Continue reading Matthew 15(01–20) →

Introduction We've been working our way through Matthew's gospel since January with a break over the summer. In the opening two chapters we had the story of the Saviour's birth and all the events surrounding it including the flight to Egypt to escape from Herod; and the return from Egypt after Herod's death. And then, … Continue reading Matthew 13(53)–14(36) →

Introduction This is now the third time we've spent studying Matthew 13. I've said before that it contains seven parables about God's heavenly kingdom which Christ came to establish on the earth. There's the parable of the sower and the seed which fell along the path and on the rocky ground and among the thorns … Continue reading Matthew 13(31–35, 44–52) →

Introduction I said last week that Matthew 13 contains seven parables about the kingdom of heaven. There's the parable of the sower, which we studied last week. And then there's the parable of the wheat and the weeds, which we'll study this evening. There's also the parables of the mustard seed; and of the yeast; … Continue reading Matthew 13(24–30, 36–43) →

Introduction Matthew 13 contains seven parables about the kingdom of heaven. There's the parable of the sower which we'll study this evening. Then there's the parable of the weeds, and of the mustard seed, and of the yeast, and of the hidden treasure, and of the pearl, and of the net. And so, here we … Continue reading Matthew 13(01–23) →