Jesus embarked on the boat, and crossed to the other side, and came to
his own town. And, look you, they brought to him a paralysed man lying
on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralysed man,
"Courage, child, your sins are forgiven." And, look you, some of the
scribes said to thems... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GROWTH OF OPPOSITION (Matthew 9:1-34)
We have repeatedly seen that in Matthew's gospel there is nothing
haphazard. It is carefully planned and carefully designed.
In Matthew 9:1-38 we see another example of this careful planning, for
here we see the first shadows of the gathering storm. We see... [ Continue Reading ]
He was sitting at table in the house, and, look you, many
tax-gatherers and sinners came and sat at table with Jesus and his
disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples,
"Why does your teacher eat with tax-gatherers and sinners?" He heard
this. "Those who are well, he said, "d... [ Continue Reading ]
Then the disciples of John came to him. "Why, they said, "do we and
the Pharisees fast frequently, while your disciples do not fast?"
Jesus said to them, "Surely the bridegroom's closest friends cannot
mourn while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when
the bridegroom will be taken... [ Continue Reading ]
"No one puts a patch of unshrunken cloth on an old garment, for, if he
does, the patch which he uses to fill in the hole tears the garment
apart, and the rent is worse than ever. No one puts new wine into old
wine-skins. If he does, the wine-skins burst, and the wine is spilled,
and the skins perish... [ Continue Reading ]
And, look you, a woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years came
up behind him, and touched the tassel of his cloak. For she said to
herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be cured." Jesus turned
and saw her. "Courage, daughter!" He said. "Your faith has brought you
healing." And the woman... [ Continue Reading ]
While he was saying these things, look you, a ruler came and knelt
before him in worship; "My daughter, he said, "has just died. But come
and lay your hand upon her, and she will live:" Jesus rose and went
with him, and his disciples came too.... And Jesus came to the house
of the ruler, and he saw... [ Continue Reading ]
And, as he passed on from there, two blind men followed him, shouting.
"Have pity on us, they said, "you Son of David." When he came into the
house, the blind men came to him. Jesus said to them, " Do you believe
that I am able to do this?" "Yes, Lord, they said. Then he touched
their eyes. "Be it t... [ Continue Reading ]
As they were going away, look you, they brought to him a dumb man who
was demon-possessed; and, when the demon had been expelled from him,
he spoke. And the crowds were amazed. "Nothing like this, they said,
"was ever seen in Israel." But the Pharisees said, "He casts out the
demons by the power of... [ Continue Reading ]
Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is great, but the workers
are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out
workers for his harvest."
Here is one of the most characteristic things Jesus ever said. When he
and the orthodox religious leaders of his day looked on the crowd of... [ Continue Reading ]