S – “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and take you in, or without clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick, or in prison, and visit you?’ 

⁴⁰ “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me

Matthew 25:37–40 CSB

O – The commentaries view “brothers and sisters” as diverse groups.  It could be the “Jewish”nation, the poor or people who teach God’s word.  The concept of showing compassion and value to all people is more on point with me.  Each person had a vulnerable need and it was met by another.  We show God’s love when we do this.

A – We can express God’s love in tangible ways as an outer expression of an inner work done in our hearts.  As we allow God’s love to work in us, it becomes a easier and natural for us to slow down and serve another person in need.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the one, true God.  Please work in our hearts to move from being centered on ourselves to seeing the needs around us.  We want your love that changed us to others where they are at in their own needs.

S – This is why you are also to be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect

Matthew 24:44 CSB

O – Commentary:

The limits of the Tribulation period are known to God, for the Seventieth Week of Daniel will have a definite starting time and a definite ending time. But the people living then will only know in generalities the limits of the time. Therefore watchfulness is important. If a person knows the approximate time a thief may come to break into his house, he takes precautions and prepares accordingly. Likewise believers in the Tribulation, who will be looking forward to the coming of the Lord of glory, should be alert. They will know generally, from the signs of the end, when He will return, but they will not know the exact time

“Matthew,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – Jesus is coming again.  There is so much information and speculation on when, where, and how.  If we are ready for his return, than all of that isn’t the primary focus.  We should live our lives as if it were today.  Our hearts and lives would be in relationship with our Heavenly Father.

R – Heavenly Father, you hold the timeline of all things in your hands.  Help us to live our lives today that bring us into the strongest relationship with you.  Whether you return or not, we want to honor and please you in our hearts and actions today.

S – The scribes and the Pharisees are seated in the chair of Moses. ³ Therefore do whatever they tell you, and observe it. But don’t do what they do, because they don’t practice what they teach.

Matthew 23:2–3 CSB

O – Commentary:

The hypocrisy and unbelief of the nation’s religious leaders, evidenced in chapter 22, prompted a strong message from Jesus. He turned to the crowds and to His disciples, who were in the temple listening to His debates with the various religious leaders. He warned them about their teachings saying that their authority was to be recognized (they sit in Moses’ seat, i.e., they teach the Law), but their practices, being hypocritical, should not be followed.

“Matthew,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – Jesus recognized the authority that came with sitting in the chair of Moses and the word of God taught.  He also recognized the fallibility of the leader.  Jesus honored God’s word but not the heart of a hypocritical leader.  God is always looking at our hearts.  We must keep it aligned with him and genuine.  There is no room for hypocrisy as a leader.

R – Heavenly Father, you are creator of all.  Please search our hearts for anything that would not align with yours.  Reveal to us any sin, fear, pride or hypocrisy that would cause our hearts to be disgenuine in sharing your love with others.

S – Whose image and inscription is this?” he asked them. ²¹ “Caesar’s,” they said to him. 

Then he said to them, “Give, then, to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” ²² When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away. 

Matthew 22:20–22 CSB

O – Commentary:

He therefore answered their question by demonstrating that government does have a rightful place in everyone’s life and that one can be in subjection to government and God at the same time. He asked them to give Him a coin used to pay the tax. A Roman denarius, with its image of Caesar, the Roman emperor, made it obvious they were under Roman authority and taxation. (One coin inscription reads, “Tiberius Caesar Augustus, son of the Divine Augustus.”) Therefore the taxes must be paid: Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s.

But Jesus also reminded them that a sphere of authority belongs to God: Give to God what is God’s. Individuals are to be subject also to His authority. Man has both political and spiritual responsibilities. Amazed at Jesus’ answer, both the Pharisees and the Herodians were silenced.

 “Matthew,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – Jesus gives the perfect answer to an impossible question, while discerning the motives of the hearts of the leaders.  We can do the same.  By inviting the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom and discernment, we can navigate the challenges we face.  

R – Heavenly Father, you are God of all.  We invite your Holy Spirit to equip us with the Spirit of Wisdom and Discernment today.  We want to see each challenge through your eyes and act in a way that glorifies you.  We need your presence to help us in all we do and say.

S – The blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. ¹⁵ When the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonders that he did and the children shouting in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant ¹⁶ and said to him, “Do you hear what these children are saying?” 

Jesus replied, “Yes, have you never read: 

You have prepared praise 

from the mouths of infants and nursing babies?” 

Matthew 21:14–16 CSB

O – Couple of items noticed in this scripture:
1. Previous, Jesus arrived triumphantly then drove out the money changers.  Lots of action and emotion.

2. The temple would be animated by Jesus’ presence and actions.

3. The blind and lame were allowed into the temple – this wasn’t allowed.  Jesus healed them – all visible healings for all to see.

4.  Children emulated what they saw adults doing – shouting “Hosanna.”

5.  Jesus shares God’s word to the question of their actions and in the Messiah implications.

A – Jesus demonstrates who He is in various forms. He is Lord, just, healer, Lord, and the Word all in a short time.  We need to know that he is able to be all things we need in our own lives.  In knowing Him better, we see the power and blessings that come in a relationship with Him.

R – Heavenly Father, we worship and surrender to you. Thank you for your love for us.  There are so many benefits that we enjoy in our relationship with you.

S – It must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, ²⁷ and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave; ²⁸ just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Matthew 20:26–28 CSB

O – Commentary:

There was no greater example of this principle than the Lord Himself. He did not come into the world to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. Here was the first clue as to what the death of Christ would accomplish. He had told them on a number of occasions He would die. But He had not indicated the reason for His death. Now it was clear that His death would be to provide a “ransom” (lytron, “payment”) “for” (anti, “in place of”) “many” (see the chart, “New Testament Words for Redemption” at Mark 10:45). His death would take the place of many deaths, for only His death could truly atone for sin (John 1:29; Rom. 5:8; 1 Peter 2:24; 3:18). He was the perfect Sacrifice, whose substitutionary death paid the price for sin.

“Matthew,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – Jesus is our example.  He who created all things, left heaven to come as a man and die for our sins.  He is the greatest among us and he came and served us with his life, death and resurrection.  As great as we think we are, there is no comparison.  

R – Heavenly Father, you are above all things.  Thank you for the example of Jesus for us to serve others.  As we lay down our gifts and abilities, we ask that you use them to bring glory to your name and that others would be drawn into a deeper relationship with you.

S – Jesus said, “Leave the little children alone, and don’t try to keep them from coming to me, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”^{, 15} After placing his hands on them, he went on from there

Matthew 19:14–15 CSB

O – Commentary:

But the disciples felt this was a waste of Jesus’ time. They began rebuking those bringing their children. Apparently the disciples had already forgotten what Jesus said earlier about the worth of children and the seriousness of causing them to fall (cf. 18:1–14). Jesus rebuked the disciples, telling them to let the little children come and not hinder them. The kingdom of heaven is not limited to adults who might be considered to be worth more than children. Anyone who comes to the Lord in faith is a worthy subject for the kingdom. This implies (19:15) that Jesus had time for all the children, for He did not depart from the region till He had blessed them all.

 “Matthew,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – We naturally want to establish an “order of importance.”  We look at others and compare.  Jesus is breaking the cultural norm that children were less important than the adults.  Everyone is important to him.  We should emulate that same posture.  Whatever we can devise to give ourselves a greater sense of worth than someone else is wrong.  God loves us all the same.

R – Heavenly Father, you are all knowing and all present.  Thank you that you loved me so much that Jesus would go to the cross.  Please help me have that same love for each person I interact with today.  You love us equally so I should do the same.  

S – Then Peter approached him and asked, “Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? As many as seven times?” 

²² “I tell you, not as many as seven,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven. 

Matthew 18:21–22 CSB

O – Peter was being generous by saying 7; the religious leaders were teaching to forgive three times.  Jesus exceeds that number dramatically to basically say it should be limitless. 

A – Jesus was introducing a new “heart” towards other people.  It was one that valued the person and the relationship.  Jesus knew relationships would suffer from sin and self desires.  He was giving a different mindset that would allow someone to wrong another and still be in relationship.  Even with healthy boundaries, forgiveness allows us to value each other and be in unity.

A – Heavenly Father, you are God.  You have no rival or peer – you stand alone.  Please give us the heart and courage to forgive others.  We are not perfect and have no right to hold someone in their sin.  We must forgive to provide the opportunity for relationship and unity to continue.

S – While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased. Listen to him!”

Matthew 17:5 CSB

O – Commentary:

While Peter was still speaking, a more important voice spoke from a bright cloud that had enveloped them. This voice said, This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well-pleased. Listen to Him! (cf. 3:17) This authentication of the Son of God by the voice of God carried great significance for the disciples. Years later when Peter wrote his second epistle he referred to this event (2 Peter 1:16–18). This authentication of Jesus by the Father caused the terrified disciples to fall on their faces.

“Matthew,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – As believers, we want to hear the voice of God.  I have never heard it audibly.  I hear God’s voice when the Holy Spirit reveals things through his word and in my thoughts.  It is like a muscle – you have to use it and work it for it to begin to grow. Over time, it get’s easier.  Like faith, there is another of level of growth to move toward.

R – Heavenly Father, you are creator of all things and you hold all things.  As believers, we want to hear your voice.  It is tremendously important to our relationship that we communicate.  Please speak to us through your Holy Spirit so we can know your heart, character and direction.

S – “But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am?” 

¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Matthew 16:15–16 CSB

O – Commentary:

But what about you? Who do you say I am?

Speaking for the disciples, Peter spoke his now-famous words, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. As “the Christ,” He is the Messiah. Ho christos is the New Testament equivalent of the Old Testament māšîaḥ, which means “the anointed One.” In Him are fulfilled all the promises of God to the nation. And as the Old Testament made clear, the Messiah is more than a human being; He is God (Isa. 9:6; Jer. 23:5–6; Micah 5:2). Peter thus acknowledged Jesus’ deity as the Son of the living God. 

  “Matthew,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – This question is posed to all of us in our lives.  “Who do you say that Jesus is?”  That is a question we must answer and will be accountable for when we stand before God. It will be the bridge to our relationship with God or the reason we are separate from Him.  My hope is that all would accept that Jesus is God’s son and our savior.

R – Heavenly Father, you are holy, holy, holy.  Thank you for the gift of Jesus as our savior.  It is through accepting Him and the shedding of his blood to forgive us of our sins that we have a relationship with you.  We invite the Holy Spirit to work in us today to continue to draw us closer to you.