Introduction In the passage we studied last week the Lord exposed how the Pharisees and teachers of the law were hypocrites who did not practise what they preached; and they were lacking in sympathy and compassion; and they loved to be praised. They were hypocrites because, though they told everyone to keep the law, they … Continue reading Matthew 23(13–39) →

Introduction Right at the end of chapter 22 the Lord silenced his enemies who had been trying to trap him in his words. Remember? The Pharisees sent their disciples to ask him about paying taxes. Then the Sadducees came and asked him about the resurrection. And then one of the Pharisees, who was an expert … Continue reading Matthew 23(01–12) →

Introduction Today's passage concludes a brief section of Matthew's gospel which has been all about the Pharisees and the Sadducees and their efforts to trap the Lord in his words. The Pharisees first sent their disciples to ask the Lord a question about paying taxes to Caesar. Then the Sadducees came to ask him a … Continue reading Matthew 22(41–46) →

Introduction Today's passage is in two parts. In the first part, the Sadducees came to the Lord with a question about the resurrection. And in the second part, a Pharisee, who was an expert in the law, came to the Lord with a question. And both parts are related to what we read last week … Continue reading Matthew 22(23–40) →

Introduction After the Lord Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a young donkey, he went into the temple and drove out all who were buying and selling there. In other words, he cleansed the temple from those who had turned God's house of prayer into a den of thieves. And the blind and lame came to … Continue reading Matthew 22(15–22) →

Introduction As I said last week, at the beginning of Matthew 21 we have the story of how the Lord Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the back of a young donkey and the crowds welcomed him as the Son of David and their king. But he was a king who had come, not to lead … Continue reading Matthew 22(01–14) →

Introduction We've been working our way through Matthew's gospel since the beginning of 2022. And at the beginning of this month we reached the beginning of chapter 21 and the story of how the Lord Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the back of a young donkey and the crowds welcomed him as the Son of … Continue reading Matthew 21(28–46) →

Introduction Two weeks ago we read that the Lord entered Jerusalem on a young donkey and the crowds welcomed him as their king. Last week we read that the Lord entered the temple and drove out the buyers and sellers and money-changers who had turned God's house of prayer into a den of robbers. So, … Continue reading Matthew 21(18–27) →

Introduction The two parts of today's passage are linked by the title 'Son of David'. When the blind men heard that the Lord was coming, they shouted, 'Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!' And when the Lord approached Jerusalem, the crowds who met him shouted, 'Hosanna to the Son of David!' The title … Continue reading Matthew 20(29)–21(11) →

Introduction Today's passage is a kind of sandwich because in the middle of the passage you've got the story about James and John and their mother and how the brothers want to sit at the Lord's right hand in his kingdom. And then there's the indignant reaction of the other disciples when they hear about … Continue reading Matthew 20(17–28) →