S- “When Jesus heard about it, he withdrew from there by boat to a remote place to be alone. When the crowds heard this, they followed him on foot from the towns.” Matthew 14:13 CSB
O – Jesus got bad news and he went off to be alone. Even “bad things” happened to Jesus. If anyone could have made his life perfect, he could have done it.
A – Each of us have to learn how to deal with tough situations. Jesus processed alone with God. Whatever way works for you, find it and go to it.
R – Lord, I thank you we can approach you in our toughest times. We invite your Holy Spirit to work in us and through us today. Even in our lack of understanding, You are God.
S – ‘No,’ he said. ‘When you pull up the weeds, you might also uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At harvest time I’ll tell the reapers: Gather the weeds first and tie them in bundles to burn them, but collect the wheat in my barn.’
Matthew 13:29–30 CSB
O – Jesus gives an overall view – good will be with the bad. He talked about how there was good and the enemy came and sowed the bad during the night. He says both will grow together and judgment will separate the two.
A – In seeing God’s plan, he wants us to abide in the tension of good and evil. He wants us to choose Him. And there will be a time of judgment. It isn’t pleasant but it is truth.
R – Lord, I am grateful someone told me about a relationship with you. I choose you. I want to know you more each day. I ask for your Holy Spirit to help me grow in all that you have for me.
S – How can someone enter a strong man’s house and steal his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.
Matthew 12:29 CSB
O – Jesus is answering the question with a strong answer – he can cast out demons because He defeated the devil in his own temptation. Jesus is acting as the Son of God because that is who He is. Another reason for the religous leaders not to like him.
A – We need to live from a place of victory like Jesus. He already beat satan and death. When we operate from victory it changes our perspective and faith.
R – Lord, thank you for the victory that comes in knowing you. Help us to walk and live from that place today. Allow us to see into the spiritual realm and follow the leading of your Holy Spirit.
S – Now when John heard in prison what the Christ was doing, he sent a message through his disciples 3 and asked him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”
4 Jesus replied to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news, 6 and blessed is the one who isn’t offended by me.”
Matthew 11:2–6 CSB
O – John has doubts. He may be expecting a Savior who ushers in the Kingdom of God with power and judgement, not servanthood and miracles. If he was the forerunner to Jesus, what was He a forerunner to? Jesus answers with Isaiah and things the Messiah would do. He finishes with blessed are those who don’t fall away or stumble because of Him.
A – We all have doubts. As believers, we wonder if, when, how, or where God is going to intervene in our lives. It requires a great faith to believe God will work in an areas where we don’t “see Him.” The who is not in question, but for some it is the problem. From the moment Jesus walked the earth till today, people struggle with Him as the Son of God.
R – Lord, thank you that you show up in my disbelief to help me grow my faith. There are many doubts and questions I have. I meet those with your Word and Holy Spirit to move closer to you. I stumble but I come back. I am grateful for Jesus, my savior. I will not fall away from you.
* Jesus is saying they should practically apply intelligence and wisdom and don’t get mixed into the emotions and temperature of the moments. Keep it simple.
A – This is great wisdom for us today. If we can apply the intelligence and wisdom God gives us each day without letting our emotions and feelings dictate our actions, we would be in a great place. I know I can build “a story” about a situation and need to keep it to the truth.
R – Lord, I invite you to be in all that I face today. I pray for the ability to draw from the wisdom and intelligence you have provided for me. I ask that your Holy Spirit guard my emotions and feelings. Help my thoughts, words and actions bring honor to You and your presence into each situation.
S – Now when he heard this, he said, “It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice., For I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Matthew 9:12–13 CSB
O – Commentary: I want mercy and not sacrifice Jesus is quoting Hos 6:6, which critiques Israel for focusing on the letter of the law while ignoring its spirit. God desires His people’s faithfulness and steadfast love more than their ritual observances.
Faithlife Study Bible
A – God wants our hearts before he wants our actions. If we get our hearts right, everything else lines up. That will reflect in how we interact with others. It will cause us to move in “mercy” (compassion, courage) and not sacrifice (ritual, selfishness).
R – Lord, I need my heart to line up with your heart today. I can be selfish and self-centered. It causes me to do things in a perfunctory way. Give me a heart that demonstrates my love for you and others. Let me be a vessel of your mercy and grace in all situations today.
8 “Lord,” the centurion replied, “I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I too am a man under authority, having soldiers under my command
Matthew 8:7–9 CSB
O – Heal (θεραπεν́σω). So A. V. and Rev. The word, however, originally means to attend, and to treat medically. The centurion uses another and stronger word, shall be healed (ἰαθήσεται). Luke, who as a physician is precise in the use of medical terms, uses both words in one verse (
9. Also (καὶ). “I also am a man under authority,” as well as thou. (Tynd., I also myself). The centurion compares the Lord’s position with his own. Christ had authority over disease. The centurion also was in authority over soldiers
A – Both words mean a lot to this passage. Jesus asked about doing a medical miracle and the Centurion answered with a finished work. The soldier could do that because he understood authority. We need to understand the authority we have in Christ not to activate our faith but to walk confidently in it.
R – Lord, thank you for our relationship with you. It gives us the ability as your child to walk in the authority you give us in the name of Jesus. We can expect miracles to happen in the physical and spiritual realms. Increase our faith each day because we know our authority comes from you and not us.
S – Why do you look at the splinter in your brother’s eye but don’t notice the beam of wood in your own eye?
Matthew 7:3 CSB
O – Jesus is talking about judging others. We can focus on the minor things that others do and judge them for it. Yet, we have our own faults and do not address them.
A – When Jesus interacted with people, he focused on their heart. He recognized that their physical attributes were secondary to their spiritual attributes. That is tremendously difficult to do. The only thing I can control is myself. I must do life with others but my responsibility is for me to grow in my relationship with Him.
R – Lord, forgive me for judging others. I recognize that I fall short in my own life. Start with me today. Help my thoughts, words and actions line up with your will and purpose for my life. I surrender my desires to you today.
S – But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.,7 When you pray, don’t babble like the Gentiles, since they imagine they’ll be heard for their many words.
Matthew 6:6–7 CSB
O – “Secret” – kruptŏs, kroop-tos´; concealed, i.e. private:— hid (-den), inward [-ly], secret.
When you pray individually, it should be private (secluded from the display of others) and inward (coming from within). God will see those prayers and answer them. Don’t think your eloquateness or length of prayer makes a difference.
A – A relationship goes better when it is genuine and from the heart. Our prayers should be that. Not a list that prattles on but a relationship building conversation.
R – Lord, thank you that I can talk to you and you want to talk with me. In getting to know you, I reverence you as the God of everything. Yet, you allow me to share my heart in good and challenging situations. Meet me in those moments so I can grow closer to you.
S – Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Matthew 5:48 CSB
O – Commentary: He did not lower His standard to accommodate humans; instead He set forth His absolute holiness as the standard. Though this standard can never be perfectly met by man himself, a person who by faith trusts in God enjoys His righteousness being reproduced in his life.
“Matthew,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures
A – The Lord’s standard is perfection which I cannot achieve. Yet, I choose how I think, speak and act. I can make choices that allow me to grow and mature. Perfection isn’t a legitimate goal. Continuing to grow and reflect the heart and character of God is a daily one.
R – Lord, thank you for your grace and mercy that allow me to grow each day. Help me to make choices that will grow my heart and character to reflect you. Give me strength and courage to do that in good and bad times. While Your standard is perfection, I am grateful that you love me in my journey.
Just Add Water . Chris Bonham 