Matthew 5 - Jason

Jesus' teaching is very dense in Chapter 5 of Matthew. I feel like every section speaks to me an important message. I tried to imagine today that I was one of the disciples sitting on the mountain with Jesus as he taught. I imagined that I was close to him, outside, listening to him speak. It is a beautiful day today and the temperature is really nice. It was wonderful to spend this time with the Lord and learn from his perfect wisdom. His ways are so different from the darkness in the world. I always struggle with this verse about "give to the one who begs from you and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you" (verse 42). I have said to God that I will give to people I meet who need help in Jesus' name, but I still struggle with whether or not I gave money or time or shelter in a foolish way. I make effort to pray and ask God before I give--I have had times in which God said I should say "no" to someone, but it is still hard to say no. I want to be nice, but at the same time, I don't want people to take advantage of me, and I don't want to lose the money or possessions that I am supposed to take care of. Especially now that I'm married I am thinking about this more. I'm being more careful with money because my wife and I are sharing the money, and I don't want to spend without discussing together with her. But still, if I pray and feel that God wants me to give help to someone, I want to do it even if I can't see how my finances will work out. I trust that God will take care of my family if I put Him first all follow all His directions.

Matthew Chapters 1-4

In Chapter 1 What stood out to me was that both Mary and Joseph believe the angel of God.  It must of been a really powerful dream that after Joseph woke up he obey what the angel had told him.  Chapter 2 Again Joseph had a dream where the angel of the Lord appears to him and Joseph gets up and obeys.  It shows me when God is speaking He gives us the power to believe and obey.  It also shows God speaking in dreams.  It shows me that both Mary and Joseph loved the Lord because they both gave their lives to Him to use and direct in a time where Mary would have been stoned to death for being pregnant and Joseph would have lost his reputation.  Chapter 3 John the Baptist a man who walked around in a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt and eating locusts and wild honey. I'm sure he stood out a little.  It shows me not to be too quick to judge someone if they are different from me, because they might be working for God. But to judge what a person has to say and find out if the message is from God or not.  The baptizing of Jesus, it makes me see that God has a way or order of doing things and that he is teaching us how He wants us to follow Jesus' example.  John the Baptist was calling for repentance and baptizing the people or washing them from their sins.  It's a fresh clean start.  Chapter 4 It shows me that even if I'm trying to pray and ask the Lord for help and direction or fix something for me that the devil is right there to stop and get in the way or try to pull us away in another direction then what God wants.

Matthew 5 - Nathanael

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Matthew 5:48 NIV

This chapter is loaded with amazing teaching. Jesus turns prior thoughts on their heads and gives a whole new perspective. He ups the bar on what it means to be holy and a follower of God. This last verse sums up the utter impossibility of us accomplishing these things on our own. 

Clearly we fall short of God's calling and requirements and our only hope is in God alone! 

Thank you Jesus that you came to save us and change us! 

http://bible.com/111/mat.5.48.NIV

Matthew 4 - Jason

Jesus went through a period of 40 days fasting and praying in the desert after he had been baptized, and this was preparation for him ministry work. I think that most people who are serving God in the church have not gone through a time a testing and temptation quite like this, but the Scripture says that we should be tested before we are allowed to serve as ministers to God's people. I am amazed by how fast everything seems to happen after Jesus' baptism--he became famous in the Galilee region for his preaching and amazing miracles. It must have been a great honor for the first disciples of Christ to follow him. It should be an honor for me and other disciples today to follow him as well. I think sometimes I don't always feel that way or recognize that. I should be able to leave my job and family members for the sake of knowing Jesus and serving him because of his exceeding greatness and the eternal kingdom of God. I want to continue listening to God leading and go where he tells me and do as he leads.

Read Matthew 4- Angela Eisenstein

After Jesus fasted the enemy demanded that He prove Himself with wonders and to worship him. After every request Jesus replied  "it is written...".  We also have the power of God's Word for us to flee from temptations, or to make the enemy flee from us.  The enemy offered this world as if it is his.  God's World after creation was perfect! The fallen world belongs to the enemy, but we are not of this world (even we live in it), if get rescued  and separated for God. 

A similar conversation to this one also happened with Jesus during crucifixion: ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭4:6‬ ‭"If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: " 'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone."  God is God and does not need to explain his Deity.   Mathew 27:42 "He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself! He's the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him".

Matthew 4:17 tells us about the first preaching from Jesus.  It was not the ten commandments given to Moses only " Repent,  for the Kingdom of heavens has come near".  It reminds me His holiness, if we want to get closer to Him we need to repent in a regular basis.

Matthew 4 - Nathanael

News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them.

Matthew 4:24 NIV

Even from early in Jesus's ministry he was impacting and saving and healing people from many nations!

Thank you God for you kindness and love! 

http://bible.com/111/mat.4.24.NIV

Matthew 3 - Wun-gwi

God pointed to me the following verse,

¹⁰ The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

I pray the holy spirit in me will guide me to produce good fruit as much as I can !.

Matthew 3 - Jason

I was touched by John's preaching when he said, "I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." I think that John had a very humble view of himself compared to the greatness of Christ, even though Jesus came in a very gentle and meek way. John understood that Jesus was God coming to earth as a man. I also like this description that the Lord will baptize us with the Holy Spirit and fire. I'm not sure I understand what that means, but spiritually it must be more significant than a water baptism. I know that I have experienced being filled with the Holy Spirit before, but have I been baptized "with the Holy Spirit and fire"? I will pray and ask God about this too.

Read Matthew 3- Angela Eisenstein

John the baptist recognizes the power of Jesus coming is higher than his own and humbly allowed himself to decrease to increase Jesus. It was like endorsing Jesus in front of the crowd.


John recognizes himself as no worthy. None of us is worthy of the sacrifice of God becoming flesh to bring salvation. In 3:11" He is mightier than I whose shoes I am not worthy to bear" I recognize my need to humble myself and allow the new generation of leader to increase while us, the older ones decrease.




John pointed out He did not need baptism. but when He did the heavens opened. In the old testament many names are given to the Messiah: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. In this passage when the heavens opened Jesus was called the Beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased". For me is a lesson of Jesus' obedience to the Father in display.

Matthew 3 - Nathanael

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

Matthew 3:7‭-‬8 NIV

It is interesting that both John the Baptist, and later Jesus, both had pretty strong and harsh words to say to the Pharisees and Sadducees. They were the religious people of the day- the church goers. Here he is rebuking them because they are making outward repentance but there isn't any change in action. They are just wanting the "get out of hell" card. 

Unfortunately we today often have such a response. We are wanting to escape punishment but we aren't wanting to change our lives. Rather than really seeking God and wanting the truth only, we are often just looking for whatever will relieve our pain or sooth our guilt. 

We want God but not if it means being thought of as weird or changing our habits. We want to fit in and love the entertainments and many pleasures of the world.

But God had called us to something different. He has called us to not love the world and to not be of the world. 

Help me Lord Jesus to love you with all of my heart and to forsake all others. Help me to bear fruit in keeping with repentance! 

http://bible.com/111/mat.3.7-8.NIV

Matthew 2 - Jason

I was touched by the wise men who came to Jerusalem looking for the Messiah. I'm not sure if these men were trained in following Yahweh, but they were interested in truth--and they spent much time, effort, and treasure to find the Messiah. "They rejoiced exceedingly with great joy when they saw the star" (verse 10). It seems that they knew something about the prophesies of Scripture and were interested to see what God was doing there. They had faith to believe the words of God, and they were willing to travel a great distance to see what he would do. I also want to believe the promises of God and work to see what he will do. Are there any prophesies that I expect will be fulfilled in my lifetime? Are there any words that God has spoken to me, or people I know, that I can watch and see them be fulfilled? I want to do my part to see and participate in the promises of God.

Read Matthew 2-Angela Eisenstein

Matthew 2:10 "When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy"

Good News of Jesus Messiah comes today and it is received in two different ways

The three wise men followed a star, wanted and did worship, rejoiced, brought highly priced gifts. 

Herod, learned the same Good news but instead troubled, even "inquired diligently" searched the truth among his scribes, did not accept  Jesus. He rather lied, killed rejecting salvation.

Nothing has changed in 2017.  Many hear the Good News, understand, even become members of a church but refuse to surrender to Christ. We thank God for "FAITH" that  brings us life, peace. Salvation is here.

Matthew 2 - Nathanael

It is interesting how many times God speaks to people in dreams in this chapter. He speaks to Joseph three times about where to go and where to live to protect their lives. He also spoke to the magi about returning by a different route and avoiding Herod.

I wonder how many times God has spoken to us but we didn't recognize it as God's voice?

The magi are also just interesting. Clearly God spoke to them or how would they know that the king of the Jews was born. These foreigners came and worshiped Jesus, the long awaited king and Messiah, but so few people from Israel did. 

This again testifies of God's love for the whole world. It also testifies of the greatness of who Jesus is, even though he came in a hidden kind of way.  Those who are seeking him will find him, no matter where they are from!

Thank you God for your love!

Matthew 1 - Jason

I was surprised again about how much we know in the Scripture about some of the early "family tree" of Jesus Christ such as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, Boaz, David, Solomon--most of the kings of Judah up until the exile to Babylon. And then most of the names after Josiah I don't really know until Joseph, the husband of Mary. It does not say that Joseph is the father of Jesus because technically Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit in a virgin birth. Did the men in this list do something to merit being a part of the "royal family" of Jesus, or was this God's destiny for them, or both?

I read Matthew- 1

I read Mathew 1 last night.

 

 Out of the many new Hebrew names Abraham, David, Ruth, Rahab, Isaac, Salomon, all in the lineage of Joseph- Jesus' stepfather.

None of them was perfect with the same need of a Savior than all of us.

Numbers in the Bible have meanings:  3-  God, Father Son and Holy Spirit

40-   Days of Jesus praying-fasting-tempted

12- tribes of Israel

7- days trusting God marching around the walls of Jericho.

Now 14-  But I don't know the meaning.

Angela Eisenstein

   

Matthew 1 - Nathanael

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

Matthew 1:20‭-‬21 NIV

I can imagine that Joseph may have had some doubts about the dream and if this was God speaking or not. But he believed enough so that he listened and obeyed. 

I think that this is a good pattern for us to recognize. The key is how we respond to God's voice. We may have some doubts but trusting in God and moving forward is the key! 

http://bible.com/111/mat.1.20-21.NIV

Exodus 33 - Nathanael

Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the "tent of meeting." Anyone inquiring of the Lord would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. 

Exodus 33:7

It is interesting that anyone inquiring of the Lord could go to this tent and not just Moses and the priests. I wonder how many others used it. 

The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.

Exodus 33:11 NIV

Here we see Joshua using the tent AMF he seems to linger in God's presence. No wonder that he later became the leader of the people. 

God, cause us to want more of you and to linger in your presence! 

http://bible.com/111/exo.33.7-11.NIV

Exodus 32 - Nathanael

When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, "Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don't know what has happened to him."

Exodus 32:1 NIV

It is somewhat shocking what the people did after forty days of Moses being up on the mountain. Out of sight, out of mind. There seems to be some time period that causes either recurring sins to re-emerge and/ or people to stray from God. 

This should be a warning to us as people thinking about ourselves and thinking about others. This is another reason for the command in Hebrews for us not to forsake meeting together. We need to remind and encourage one another. 

http://bible.com/111/exo.32.1.NIV

Exodus 31 - Nathanael

"Say to the Israelites, 'You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the Lord , who makes you holy.

Exodus 31:13 NIV

The people (and we) need rest. Good knew that they would not voluntarily rest from work so he made it a command. This practice would make them holy or set apart to the Lord. 

This is like psalm 23 where God, who is our shepherd, MAKES me lie down in green pastures. 

Thank you God that you love us and know what we need. I thank you that, like a loving parent, you make us do things that are good for us and that we need! 

http://bible.com/111/exo.31.13.NIV

Exodus 27 - Nathanael

In the tent of meeting, outside the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law, Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning before the Lord from evening till morning. This is to be a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for the generations to come.

Exodus 27:21 NIV

These lamps burning are an interesting symbol. At first i thought that they might symbolize people's prayer towards God since the priests kept them lit and it was only morning to evening. But then everything else in the temple represents God's actions towards us - his presence, his forgiveness, his provision etc. So this too must represent God's active watching over his people and is only lit morning to evening as a concession to the human priests who must sleep. 

God's word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Also Jesus said that he is the light of the world. Both of these give an indication of direction and guidance. 

Thank you God for guiding and directing us! 

http://bible.com/111/exo.27.21.NIV

Genesis 26 - Nathanael

"Make the tabernacle with ten curtains of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, with cherubim woven into them by a skilled worker.

Exodus 26:1 NIV

In the previous chapter we saw that Moses was to make the tabernacle in the same pattern as what he saw in heaven. Here we see that there are angels being woven into the curtains that surround the tabernacle. This obviously refers to the angels that are encircling God's presence in heaven. 

Though we have some wonderful experiences and pictures of God here on earth, this shows that we are still only seeing as through a glass darkly. I look forward to the day when I can see God in all his glory! 

http://bible.com/111/exo.26.1.NIV

Genesis 25 - Nathanael

There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the covenant law, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites.  

The ark of the covenant was the place where God would come and meet with Moses and others. His very presence was there. 

See that you make them according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.

Exodus 25:22‭, ‬40 NIV

The ark and sanctuary were laid out exactly as God had showed Moses - the pattern of what existed in heaven. 

What is terrific is that we can meet daily with God and that he puts his Holy Spirit in us and we are now the temple of God!  What a privilege! 

http://bible.com/111/exo.25.22-40.NIV

Genesis 23 - Nathanael

This chapter is loaded with many practical and interesting laws and waits of God. This one especially caught my eye: 

I will send the hornet ahead of you to drive the Hivites, Canaanites and Hittites out of your way. But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals too numerous for you. Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land.

Exodus 23:28‭-‬30 NIV

The principle here is quite interesting: God knows when we are ready to handle certain situations. Many times we want God to move fast and answer big prayers. Here I'm sure that the Israelites would want God to quickly and immediately drive out the nations from the promised land. But God knew that they were not immediately ready for that. If he did, the land would be overrun by wild animals. He knew that they needed time to grow in numbers and strength to fully occupy the land. So he did things a step at a time. 

Many times in our lives we want God to act immediately but the truth is that we aren't ready yet. 

Thank you God for your wisdom and love. Help us to have patience and trust in you! 

http://bible.com/111/exo.23.28-30.NIV

Genesis 22 - Nathanael

In all cases of illegal possession of an ox, a donkey, a sheep, a garment, or any other lost property about which somebody says, 'This is mine,' both parties are to bring their cases before the judges. The one whom the judges declare guilty must pay back double to the other.

Exodus 22:9 NIV

The laws that God gave to the Israelites were quite advanced, very comprehensive and very wise. They not only form the basis of many of our laws today but also ring with clarity and insight that is quite amazing even today. 

These laws above, for instance, give the moral framework for lost property. The normal human response is typically "finders keepers".  But here we see a higher moral standard that requires a double repayment. 

God's laws are quite wonderful and good! 

http://bible.com/111/exo.22.9.NIV

Genesis 20 - Nathanael

Then the Lord said to Moses, "Tell the Israelites this: 'You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven:

Exodus 20:22 NIV

That would be quite an amazing and probably frightening experience to have God speaking to all the people from the mountain and telling them the 10 commandments while the earth is shaking, there is thunder and lightening, there is a loud trumpet sound and the mountain is smoking. 

That is the good news that we haven't come to this great and terrifying place, but we have come to a place of mercy and grace, provided by Jesus Christ for us. Heb 12:18-24

http://bible.com/111/exo.20.22.NIV

Genesis 18 - Nathanael

Moses' father-in-law replied, "What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people's representative before God and bring their disputes to him. But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you.

Exodus 18:17‭-‬19‭, ‬21‭-‬22 NIV

This passage illustrates getting good advice from a wise counselor. This structure of judging is similar to and probably the basis for our court systems today.

Genesis 17 - Nathanael

Then the Lord said to Moses, "Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven."

Exodus 17:14 NIV

God wanted Moses to write this event down so Joshua would know about it and remember it. 

This is interesting in several ways. 

First it shows a way of God about passing on things from one generation to the next - whether among his people or in a family. 

Second it was a reminder to Joshua for later when he was leading the people into battle. The battle belongs to the Lord! If we honor and focus on God before the enemy or problem, then God will work and bring the victory. 

Both of these lessons are valuable for us today as leaders and as parents! 

Genesis 16 - Nathanael

In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, "If only we had died by the Lord 's hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death."

Exodus 16:2‭-‬3 NIV

This is about 1 month after God brought the Israelites out of Egypt. They had been singing songs to God of God great deliverance and they feared and trusted God. Now 30 days later they are complaining and saying 1) God should have just killed  them in Egypt 2) things in Egypt were great. 

They forgot how bad things used to be in slavery and painted a false rosy picture of the past. 

I've seen that, like it or not, we are very much like the Israelites. 

So we need to be on our guard against 1) complaining when things get hard 2) glorifying the past 3) forgetting what God has done for us. 

All it takes is about 30 days and we can get far off course. 

Exodus 15 - Nathanael

When Pharaoh's horses, chariots and horsemen went into the sea, the Lord brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground. Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron's sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her, with timbrels and dancing.

Exodus 15:19‭-‬20 NIV

All the plagues that God brought against Egypt were less personally impressive to the Israelites than the Red Sea and drowning of Pharaoh's horses and chariots. This last miracle had the Israelites directly in the middle of it and they had been afraid for their lives. 

After this great deliverance the people all sang songs of joy before God! 

http://bible.com/111/exo.15.19-20.NIV

Exodus 14 - Nathanael

But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. That day the Lord saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.

Exodus 14:29‭-‬31 NIV

Earlier that day the Israelites were afraid for their lives thinking that they would be killed by Pharaoh's great army.

In a natural view they had no hope or chance.

God could have brought them through the sea earlier. But he wanted them to learn that God is powerful to help in any and all situations no matter how impossible the situation seems. 

God does that with us as well. While we are waiting for God the situation may seem impossible. We may be fearing for our life. But hold firm and trust God. He is faithful and awesome! 

Then we, like the Israelites, will fear God and put our trust in him! 

http://bible.com/111/exo.14.29-31.NIV

Exodus 12 - Nathanael

Because the Lord kept vigil that night to bring them out of Egypt, on this night all the Israelites are to keep vigil to honor the Lord for the generations to come.

Exodus 12:42 NIV

God has the people keep certain traditions to remember what God has done for them and to remind them of his love for them. 

What kind of traditions do you have and are they reminding you of God's love and faithfulness?

Genesis 11 - Nathanael

Tell the people that men and women alike are to ask their neighbors for articles of silver and gold." (The Lord made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and Moses himself was highly regarded in Egypt by Pharaoh's officials and by the people.)

Exodus 11:2‭-‬3 NIV

Here is a real example of God making even your enemies be at peace with you. 

Exodus 10 - Nathanael

Then the Lord said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials so that I may perform these signs of mine among them that you may tell your children and grandchildren how I dealt harshly with the Egyptians and how I performed my signs among them, and that you may know that I am the Lord ."

Exodus 10:1‭-‬2 NIV

There are many interesting things that we learn both about God and about people during Moses' encounters with Pharoah. 

We see the interaction between man's choice and God's will. Pharoah first hardened his own heart and then God hardened it further. 

We see how God can intervene in the will of a person to accomplish his purpose.

We see how God desires and works to make his glory known especially top his people and their offspring. 

God, you are great and powerful and I thank you for your love towards us, even though we don't deserve it!