He (Jesus) Appointed Twelve

They Were Watching Him Closely to See

Mark 3:1–6 LEB

1 And he entered into the synagogue again, and a man who had a withered hand was there. 2 And they were watching him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath, in order that they could accuse him. 3 And he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come into the middle.” 4 And he said to them, “Is it permitted on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. 5 And looking around at them with anger, grieved at the hardness of their hearts, he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6 And the Pharisees went out immediately with the Herodians and began to conspire against him with regard to how they could destroy him.

In “he entered the synagogue again”. Jesus had been teaching in the synagogues and in the house in Capernaum. He had cast the devil out in the synagogue. He healed the paralytic in the House. And, now he is healing the mans withered hand. Since he returned from Jerusalem, the scribes and Pharisees had been paying attention to his actions and in they "had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem". Now, back in the synagogue, on the sabbath, in

(LEB) And they were watching him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath, in order that they could accuse him.

Is it Permitted to Heal on the Sabbath?

Matthew 12:9–14 LEB

9 And going on from there he came into their synagogue. 10 And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand, and they asked him, saying, “Is it permitted to heal on the Sabbath?” in order that they could accuse him. 11 But he said to them, “What man will there be among you who will have one sheep and if this one fell into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 Then to what degree is a man worth more than a sheep? So then, it is permitted to do good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand,” and he stretched it out, and it was restored as healthy as the other one. 14 But the Pharisees went out and plotted against him in order that they could destroy him.

In the account from we find that this is not just a man that happened to be in the synagogue that needed healing. They staged this man to be able to accuse Jesus of breaking the Sabbath and "He (Jesus) deliberately and publicly broke the Sabbath law; and the result was a conference of the orthodox leaders to search out a way to eliminate him".

Barclay, W. (2001). The Gospel of Matthew (Third Ed., p. 32). Edinburgh: Saint Andrew Press.

As we see in

(LEB) But the Pharisees went out ⌊and plotted⌋ against him in order that they could destroy him.

No matter to them that this man was made whole in

(LEB) Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand,” and he stretched it* out, and it was restored as healthy as the other one.

They Were Filled With Fury

Luke 6:6–11 LEB

6 Now it happened that on another Sabbath he entered into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there, and his right hand was withered. 7 So the scribes and the Pharisees were watching closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath, in order that they could find a reason to accuse him. 8 But he knew their thoughts and said to the man who had the withered hand, “Get up and stand in the middle,” and he got up and stood there. 9 And Jesus said to them, “I ask you whether it is permitted on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save a life or to destroy it?” 10 And after looking around at them all, he said to him, “Stretch out your hand,” and he did, and his hand was restored. 11 But they were filled with fury, and began discussing with one another what they might do to Jesus.

Luke gives us very much the same account as we find in Mark and Matthew but in this account we find that Jesus made a little more of a public spectacle in Luke 6:8-10 by placing the man with the withered hand "in the middle" so all could see, and "his hand was restored".

A Great Crowd Followed Him

Matthew 12:15-21

A Great Crowd Came to Him

Mark 3:7–12 LEB

7 And Jesus went away with his disciples to the sea, and a great crowd from Galilee followed him. And from Judea 8 and from Jerusalem and from Idumea and the other side of the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon a great crowd came to him because they heard all that he was doing. 9 And he told his disciples that a small boat should stand ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not press upon him. 10 For he had healed many, so that all those who were suffering from diseases pressed about him in order that they could touch him. 11 And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw him, were falling down before him and crying out, saying, “You are the Son of God!” 12 And he warned them strictly that they should not make him known.

tells us the crowd was not just local people from Galilee but they were also "And from Judea and from Jerusalem and from Idumea and the other side of the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon ... because they heard all that he was doing". And again in they prepared "a small boat ... so that they would not press upon him". This was all because in

(LEB) For he had healed many, so that all those who ⌊were suffering from diseases⌋ pressed about him in order that they could touch him. 11 And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw him, were falling down before him and crying out, saying, “You are the Son of God!”

In His Name the Gentiles Will Hope

Matthew 12:15–21 LEB

15 Now Jesus, when he learned of it, withdrew from there, and many followed him, and he healed them all. 16 And he warned them that they should not reveal his identity, 17 in order that what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah would be fulfilled, who said, 18 “Behold my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. 19 He will not quarrel or cry out, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. 20 A crushed reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not extinguish, until he brings justice to victory. 21 And in his name the Gentiles will hope.

Mark tells us that Jesus went away after healing the withered hand in the synagogue, but here in we learn that Jesus left because he learned of the plot against him by the Pharisees in . Matthews account simply tells us "many followed" Mark gives more detail about the crowd. Matthew is very brief about the crowds and the healings but goes on to give us a prophetic word from Isaiah 42:1-4.

He (Jesus) Appointed Twelve

says that Jesus did this "so that they would be with him" and there are accounts where Jesus needed their assistance in dealing with the crowds of people. This appointment came with delegation of authority and mission.

So That He Could Send Them Out To Preach

Mark 3:13–19 LEB

13 And he went up on the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted, and they came to him. 14 And he appointed twelve, so that they would be with him and so that he could send them out to preach 15 and to have authority to expel demons. 16 And he appointed the twelve. And to Simon he gave the name Peter, 17 and James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (and he gave to them the name Boanerges, that is, “Sons of Thunder”), 18 and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot, 19 and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

Jesus appointed them so, in "he could sent them out to preach and to have authority to expel demons". Also note in that Judas was among them and received the same appointment.

These short verses give us great insight into Jesus method of development for these men. He didn't pre-judge them but gave them full access, even Judas. He was clear about the purpose they were appointed to "Jesus called them to him for two purposes. First, he called them to be with him. He called them to be his steady and consistent companions ... Second, he called them to send them out. He wanted them to be his representatives".

Barclay, W. (2001). The New Daily Study Bible: The Gospel of Mark (p. 85). Edinburgh: Saint Andrew Press.

And, they were equipped with what they needed to accomplish the task "Jesus equipped them with two things. First, he gave them a message. They were to be his heralds ... Second, he gave them a power. They were also to cast out demons".

Barclay, W. (2001). The New Daily Study Bible: The Gospel of Mark (p. 86). Edinburgh: Saint Andrew Press.

Whom He Also Named Apostles

Luke 6:12–16 LEB

12 Now it happened that in these days he went away to the mountain to pray, and was spending the whole night in prayer to God. 13 And when day came, he summoned his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he also named apostles: 14 Simon (whom he also named Peter) and his brother Andrew, and James, and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, 15 and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, 16 and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

tells us that Jesus "was spending the whole night in prayer to God" and then in "he summoned his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he also named apostles". Jesus made these selections after prayer as these would become his ambassadors. But Luke does not describe their role or function. This is a new term for the Church but not a foreign concept for Jesus and the disciples. They understood that "The Greek word apostolos means someone who is sent out. It can be used for an envoy or an ambassador. They were to be his ambassadors".

Barclay, W. (2001). The Gospel of Luke (p. 89). Louisville, KY; London: Westminster John Knox Press.

See "; ; ... Christianity, therefore, appears to have picked a secular term and made it into a specific office and title."

Betz, H. D. (1992). Apostle. In D. N. Freedman (Ed.), The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (Vol. 1, p. 309). New York: Doubleday.

Teaching, Preaching, and Healing Every Disease

Matthew 4:23–25 LEB

23 And he went around through all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and every sickness among the people. 24 And a report about him went out throughout Syria, and they brought to him all those who were sick with various diseases and afflicted by torments, demon-possessed and epileptics and paralytics, and he healed them. 25 And large crowds followed him from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from the other side of the Jordan.

Jesus was, in "teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and every sickness among the people". And in "a report about him went out ... they brought to him all those who were sick ... and he healed them". Then in again, "large crowds followed him" and now they are also from Decapolis and "from the other side of the Jordan".

The Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 5:1–12 LEB

1 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain and after he sat down, his disciples approached him. 2 And opening his mouth he began to teach them, saying, 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, because theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are the ones who mourn, because they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, because they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are the ones who hunger and thirst for righteousness, because they will be satisfied. 7 Blessed are the merciful, because they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, because they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, because they will be called sons of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, because theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you, lying on account of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.

This famous passage begins when in "he saw the crowds". Jesus had been teaching, preaching and healing in the synagogue, but the word of healing was spreading and more and more people came. Jesus realized they could not be accommodated in the synagogue so "he went up the mountain".

Then, Jesus did not begin healing, instead, he began teaching. But his teaching wasn't about some future blessing, a prize that would be awarded later. The significance of the form of the beatitudes in is lost on us because "Jesus did not speak the beatitudes in Greek; he spoke them in Aramaic, which was the kind of Hebrew people spoke in his day. Aramaic and Hebrew have a very common kind of expression, which is in fact an exclamation ... The beatitudes are not simple statements; they are exclamations: ‘O the blessedness of the poor in spirit!’"

Barclay, W. (2001). The Gospel of Matthew (Third Ed.). Edinburgh: Saint Andrew Press.

The Sermon on the Mount - The Beatitudes

Jesus is teaching his followers here in "he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain and after he sat down, his disciples approached him. 2 And opening his mouth he began to teach them". Yes, there well may have been sick and demon possessed in the crowd, but that isn't mentioned here. In fact, healing isn't mentioned until after this message. And, there may well have been scribes and Pharisees or others in the crowd, but again, they aren't mentioned here.This message isn't spoken to those in opposition, it is spoken to His disciples to teach them how to handle opposition.

LEB

Matthew 5:3–12 LEB

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, because theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are the ones who mourn, because they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, because they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are the ones who hunger and thirst for righteousness, because they will be satisfied. 7 Blessed are the merciful, because they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, because they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, because they will be called sons of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, because theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you, lying on account of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.

You Are The Salt of the Earth

​ LEB13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt becomes tasteless, by what will it be made salty? It is good for nothing any longer except to be thrown outside and trampled under foot by people. 14 You are the light of the world. A city located on top of a hill cannot be hidden, 15 nor do they light a lamp and place it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it shines on all those in the house. 16 In the same way let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Jesus uses two very familiar analogies, things everyone is familiar with, as he describes who "you are". The "you are" refers to his disciples and followers. Jesus is not addressing the needy crowd to be healed or fed.- He first compares them to salt. We all enjoy salt as a seasoning in our food. And if you have ever been on a salt free or salt restricted diet you will understand the point that Jesus is making in . And here is the point, a little salt seasons the whole pot, the whole dish. Who we are changes the whole environment around us, if we are the salt He intends us to be.- Second, He compares us to light. Most of us have electricity and strong and bright light bulbs, maybe several in each room so that even at night, the whole room is illuminated. They didn't have electricity. They had oil lamps, and candles, but you understand that in a dark room, that small light source makes all the difference between seeing and being in the dark. Jesus says, in "let your light shine", "on top of a hill", "on a lampstand", not so they see you, but "so they can see your good works and glorify your Father". When we are living the Christian life, there is something different in us. It may not be blinding light, but it is bright enough for people to notice.

Great in the Kingdom of Heaven

​ LEB17 “Do not think that I have come to destroy the law or the prophets. I have not come to destroy them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one tiny letter or one stroke of a letter will pass away from the law until all takes place. 19 Therefore whoever abolishes one of the least of these commandments and teaches people to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever keeps them and teaches them, this person will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say to you that unless your righteousness greatly surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus teaches them about the importance of the Law and the Prophets. He had turned over the tables of the money changers, He had healed on the Sabbath, His disciples took grain from the field to eat on the Sabbath, and there were those challenging his authority and methods accusing Him of breaking the Law of Moses. Jesus sets the record straight inMatthew 5:17 (LEB) “Do not think that I have come to destroy the law or the prophets. I have not come to destroy them but to fulfill them".It is by this law that He can be the sacrifice for sin. Righteousness must be fulfilled and it is fulfilled through Him. This doctrine, this fulfillment of the word of the prophets, is one of the most misunderstood concepts. It is not by our keeping the law that we are saved. It was by his keeping the law that He was able to be the sacrifice for us. And by that sacrifice, He opened the way for God's grace by faith. (LEB) For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 it is not from works, so that no one can boast. (LEB) Therefore, because we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God.Read , the fulfillment of what Jesus did through His life on the earth.

First Go Be Reconciled to Your Brother

​ LEB21 “You have heard that it was said to the people of old, ‘Do not commit murder,’ and ‘whoever commits murder will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry at his brother will be subject to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, ‘Stupid fool!’ will be subject to the council, and whoever says, ‘Obstinate fool!’ will be subject to fiery hell. 23 Therefore if you present your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and first go be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your gift. 25 Settle the case quickly with your accuser while you are with him on the way, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I say to you, you will never come out of there until you have paid back the last penny!

Many people recite commandments, as Jesus says in and He begins here to push back from the act and addresses the thoughts that have led to the act. There are things we do as reflexive action, pulling our hand away from a fire for example, but here, Jesus is talking about our thought life. He is exposing the thoughts that build in our minds and lead to an action. We say and do things that we shouldn't. We say and do things that hurt other people. Jesus is saying, in that we, as His followers, should take the initiative when we remember, when we realize, that someone has something against us. He says, "be reconciled". We can't control other peoples reactions or their feelings, but we can offer an apology, we can ask them to forgive us if we have hurt them. How can we have a clear conscience before God if we have a bad relationship nagging us?

In His Heart

​ LEB27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 And if your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it from you! For it is better for you that one of your members be destroyed than your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it from you! For it is better for you that one of your limbs be destroyed than your whole body go into hell. 31 “And it was said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for a matter of sexual immorality, causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Here, Jesus teaches about another "Do Not", saying and again is trying to go beyond the external behavior to address the thoughts that result in that behavior. Divorce is the end behavior that begins with, well, inMatthew 5:27 "You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery'"Then He says in (LEB) But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.This is another are where many struggle so please read this carefully. Jesus doesn't say a man should not look at a woman (or that a woman should not look at a man for that matter). What He says is, not to look with lust for her. There are many right relationships between a man and a woman, father to daughter, mother to son, brother to sister, friend to friend. But there is only one relationship that is appropriate as a sexual one and that is husband and wife.

Fulfill Your Oaths to the Lord

​ LEB33 “Again you have heard that it was said to the people of old, ‘Do not swear falsely, but fulfill your oaths to the Lord.’ 34 But I say to you, do not swear at all, either by heaven, because it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, because it is the footstool of his feet, or by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great king. 36 And do not swear by your head, because you are not able to make one hair white or black. 37 But let your statement be ‘Yes, yes; no, no,’ and anything beyond these is from the evil one.

Go With Him Two

​ LEB38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, do not resist the evildoer, but whoever strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 And the one who wants to go to court with you and take your tunic, let him have your outer garment also. 41 And whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

Pray for Those Who Persecute You

​ LEB43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘Hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven, because he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not the tax collectors also do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing that is remarkable? Do not the Gentiles also do the same? 48 Therefore you be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Again in Jesus uses the phrase, "you have heard that it was said". Here, the saying was "Love your neighbor’ and ‘Hate your enemy.’" But that isn't the nature of God. Jesus shows us who God is in "he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust". Anyone can like those that like you and as Jesus says in "Do not the gentiles also?". But He tells us in to "be perfect as your heavenly father is perfect". In this we should follow our heavenly father, love even those that are our enemies. Love even those that persecute us.

Your Father Who Sees in Secret Will Reward You

​ LEB1 “And take care not to practice your righteousness before people to be seen by them; otherwise you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 2 Therefore whenever you practice charitable giving, do not sound a trumpet in front of you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, in order that they may be praised by people. Truly I say to you, they have received their reward in full! 3 But you, when you practice charitable giving, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 in order that your charitable giving may be in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Shut Your Door and Pray

​ LEB5 And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, because they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, in order that they may be seen by people. Truly I say to you, they have received their reward in full! 6 But whenever you pray, enter into your inner room and shut your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 7 “But when you pray, do not babble repetitiously like the pagans, for they think that because of their many words they will be heard. 8 Therefore do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Did it ever occur to you that there is a reward for prayer? And there are two ways to be rewarded. That is what Jesus said in "whenever you pray" is how he starts.- Then he says, "they love to stand and pray ... in order that they may be seen by people". For these he says, "they have received their reward in full!" and it is the praise of men.- He also says, "pray to your Father who is in secret". When you do this, he says, "Your father who sees in secret will reward you".But in this short introduction, Jesus doesn't say anything about the content of the prayer or the answer to the prayer. His first and foremost distinction is that "The essence of prayer is the communion of the disciple with his Father"France, R. T. (1985). Matthew: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 1, p. 137). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.And it might be enough simply to be in God's presence because as it says in (LEB) You will make known to me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy. At your right hand are pleasures forever.Jesus doesn't say what the reward is, but that the Father "will reward you" which may also mean to pay back, to render what is due, to cause to happen.Now, at the end, Jesus gives us a glimpses of the content of the prayer he is speaking about in "your Father knows what you need before you ask". So, these prayers are for our needs. And our Father wants us to ask him and when we do, Jesus says He will reward us, He will answer us as He said inJeremiah 33:3 (LEB) ‘Call to me, and I will answer you, and I will tell you great things and inaccessible things that you have not known.’Prayer is not an activity to undertake lightly. Prayer is spiritual warfare as described in . (LEB) with all prayer and supplication praying at all times in the Spirit, and to this end being alert with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints,

Pray In This Way

​ LEB9 Therefore you pray in this way: “Our Father who is in heaven, may your name be treated as holy. 10 May your kingdom come, may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. 14 For if you forgive people their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive people, neither will your Father forgive your sins.

Many people have heard the Lord's prayer and this is it in . It is a simple prayer that covers the needs of our life right now and for today. It begins though, by acknowledging that God is Holy, it honors God for who He is. Then there is a request for God's kingdom on earth. And if you haven't noticed, God's Kingdom is in heaven and the earth has not yet been subdued. This is the place where spiritual warfare takes place. Then there are the three things we need, our daily bread, forgiveness, and protection as he say, deliverance from evil.

Your Father Who Sees in Secret

​ LEB16 “Whenever you fast, do not be sullen like the hypocrites, for they make their faces unrecognizable in order that they may be seen fasting by people. Truly I say to you, they have received their reward in full! 17 But when you are fasting, put olive oil on your head and wash your face 18 so that you will not be seen by people as fasting, but to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Next, Jesus speaks about fasting. Not, in "like the hypocrites ... that they may be seen fasting by people". Jesus says in "when you are fasting" do it "to your father who is in secret, and you Father ... will reward you". These statements could easily be from (LEB) Is the fast I choose like this, a day for humankind to humiliate himself? To bow his head like a reed, and make his bed on sackcloth and ashes; you call this a fast and a day of pleasure to Yahweh?And the fast in secret is the works of feeding the poor, taking in the homeless as it continues hereIsaiah 58:6–9 (LEB) Is this not the fast I choose: to release the bonds of injustice, to untie the ropes of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and tear every yoke to pieces? 7 Is it not to break your bread for the hungry? You must bring ⌊home⌋ the poor, the homeless. When you see the naked, you must cover him, and you must not hide yourself from your relatives. 8 Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall grow quickly. And your salvation shall go before you; the glory of Yahweh will be your rear guard. 9 Then you shall call, and Yahweh himself will answer. You shall cry for help, and he will say, ‘Here I am!’ If you remove from among you the yoke, the finger-pointing and evil speech,

Store Up for Yourselves Treasures in Heaven

​ LEB19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and consuming insect destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor consuming insect destroy and where thieves do not break in or steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. Therefore if your eye is sincere, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be dark. Therefore if the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! 24 “No one is able to serve two masters. For either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You are not able to serve God and money.

Do Not Be Anxious

​ LEB25 “For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, what you will eat, and not for your body, what you will wear. Is your life not more than food and your body more than clothing? 26 Consider the birds of the sky, that they do not sow or reap or gather produce into barns, and your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth more than they are? 27 And who among you, by being anxious, is able to add one hour to his life span? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Observe the lilies of the field, how they grow: they do not toil or spin, 29 but I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like one of these. 30 But if God dresses the grass of the field in this way, although it is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not do so much more for you, you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?,’ 32 for the pagans seek after all these things. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow, because tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Do Not Judge

​ LEB1 “Do not judge, so that you will not be judged. 2 For by what judgment you judge, you will be judged, and by what measure you measure out, it will be measured out to you. 3 And why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the beam of wood in your own eye? 4 Or how will you say to your brother, ‘Allow me to remove the speck from your eye,’ and behold, the beam of wood is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the beam of wood from your own eye and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye! 6 “Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls in front of pigs, lest they trample them with their feet, and turn around and tear you to pieces.

Ask, Seek, Knock

​ LEB7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened for you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man is there among you, if his son will ask him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or also if he will ask for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 Therefore if you, although you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him? 12 Therefore in all things, whatever you want that people should do to you, thus also you do to them. For this is the law and the prophets.

Enter Through the Narrow Gate

​ LEB13 “Enter through the narrow gate, because broad is the gate and spacious is the road that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it, 14 because narrow is the gate and constricted is the road that leads to life, and there are few who find it!

There are many distractions in the world, many demands, many needs and they all consume your time. But there are few things in life that carry with them eternal value. Jesus also said this another way in (LEB) For what does it benefit a person to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? 37 For what can a person give in exchange for his life?And to add emphasis, here are a few related references forvs 13: . . –32vs 14: ; ; . :16Blayney, B., Scott, T., & Torrey, R. A. with Canne, J., Browne. (n.d.). The Treasury of Scripture knowledge (Vol. 2, p. 5). London: Samuel Bagster and Sons.

Every Good Tree Produces Good Fruit

​ LEB15 “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inside are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits: they do not gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles, do they? 17 In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree is not able to produce bad fruit, nor a bad tree to produce good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 As a result, you will recognize them by their fruits.

Jesus warns that there will be false prophets, these are people that claim to be Christians, the y claim to have God's word for you, yet are out for their own gain. These are false leaders in the Church. And "The connection of thought with vv. 13–14 may well be that, like the false prophets in the Old Testament (; )".France, R. T. (1985). Matthew: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 1, p. 151). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.Jesus said we would know them by their fruit: Are they bringing people to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ? Are they raising disciples? Are mature believers going out from their ministry?Or are they teaching some other doctrine, as it says in (LEB) But there were also false prophets among the people, as there will be false teachers among you also, who will bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, thus bringing on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their licentious ways, because of whom the way of truth will be reviled. 3 And in greediness they will exploit you with false words, whose condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep."prophecy was an honoured gift (; ; , ; .; etc.)".France, R. T. (1985). Matthew: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 1, p. 151). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

The One Who Does the Will of My Father

​ LEB21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many miracles in your name?’ 23 And then I will say to them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you who practice lawlessness!’

After Jesus cautions about false prophets, false teachers, false leaders, he turns to a caution about false followers. There is a simple test in "the one who does the will of my father". And then there are those that always have a reason, who say God's grace is sufficient, who continue in their own way. To these, Jesus will say, from "depart from me, you who practice lawlessness".There is a righteous and holy life that God has for us to live and he will lead us into it: , , :19Blayney, B., Scott, T., & Torrey, R. A. with Canne, J., Browne. (n.d.). The Treasury of Scripture knowledge (Vol. 2, p. 5). London: Samuel Bagster and Sons.

A Wise Man Who Built His House

​ LEB24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain came down and the rivers came and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it did not collapse, because its foundation was laid on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain came down and the rivers came and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it collapsed, and its fall was great.”

Jesus now reinforces this concept of "doing the will of my Father" by saying in "everyone who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man". It is by hearing His words and doing what He says that we are able to stand against the adversity in this world. We have had recent evidence that hurricanes are not selective about their path. But the son of God, the man and woman that know Jesus Christ will speak to the storm. This wise man, will still be standing. (LEB) And he said to them, “Why are you fearful, you of little faith?” Then he got up and* rebuked the winds and the sea and there was a great calm.

Like One Who Had Authority

​ LEB28 And it happened when Jesus finished these words the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he was teaching them like one who had authority, and not like their scribes.

Some of this message, that we call the sermon on the mount, was new information to some of these followers in the crowd. Jesus wasn't talking like the scribes who may have offered this ones opinion or that ones ideas or the wisdom from the books of the oral or written tradition. Instead, "he (Jesus) was teaching them like one who had authority".

The Sermon on the Plain

​ LEB17 And he came down with them and stood on a level place, and a large crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all of Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast district of Tyre and Sidon, 18 who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases, and those who were troubled by unclean spirits were cured. 19 And the whole crowd was seeking to touch him, because power was going out from him and healing them all. 20 And he lifted up his eyes to his disciples and said, “Blessed are the poor, because yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are those who are hungry now, because you will be satisfied. Blessed are those who weep now, Because you will laugh. 22 Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil on account of the Son of Man. 23 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For their fathers used to do the same things to the prophets.

There are many that believe this is simply Luke’s account of the sermon on the mount from , , . There are similarities in the message. However, Jesus went from city to city and shared the gospel of the kingdom. Since "we know that our Lord delivered some of His weightiest sayings more than once, there is no difficulty in supposing this to be one of His more extended repetitions"Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 104). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.At the introduction in they "stood on a level place, and a large crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people" were there. This is different from Matthew's account and Luke goes on in they "came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases, and ... power was going out from him and healing them all".After this, in "he (Jesus) lifted up his eyes to his disciples and said". Jesus begins speaking to his disciples. Note that he had just chosen twelve of his disciples and called them apostles in (LEB) And when day came, he summoned his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he also named apostlesAnd, here in he is talking to his disciples. This is not just to the twelve apostles, and it seems he is not generally addressing the crowd. This is a message for Jesus followers, his disciples.

Woe To You

​ LEB24 “But woe to you who are rich, because you have received your comfort. 25 Woe to you who are satisfied now, because you will be hungry. Woe, you who laugh now, because you will mourn and weep. 26 Woe whenever all people speak well of you, for their fathers used to do the same things to the false prophets.

Be Merciful

​ LEB27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 To the one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from the one who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic also. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and from the one who takes away your things, do not ask for them back. 31 And just as you want people to do to you, do the same to them. 32 “And if you love those who love you, what kind of credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them! 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what kind of credit is that to you? Even the sinners do the same! 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive back, what kind of credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, so that they may get back an equal amount! 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend expecting back nothing, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful!

Love your enemies

Remove The Beam

​ LEB37 “And do not judge, and you will never be judged. And do not condemn, and you will never be condemned. Pardon, and you will be pardoned. 38 Give, and it will be given to you, a good measure—pressed down, shaken, overflowing—they will pour out into your lap. For with the measure by which you measure out, it will be measured out to you in return.” 39 And he also told them a parable: “Surely a blind person cannot lead the blind, can he? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 A disciple is not superior to his teacher, but everyone, when he is fully trained, will be like his teacher. 41 And why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the beam of wood that is in your own eye? 42 How are you able to say to your brother, “Brother, allow me to remove the speck that is in your eye,” while you yourself do not see the beam of wood in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the beam of wood from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother’s eye!

Jesus begins by saying in "do not judge" his message is clear, what you do to others is what will be done to you. So instead of judging, condemning, casting a sentence on others, we should leave these things to God. And in he says "give, and it will be given you". We can't get better by judging and condemning others. We can get better by giving. And Jesus goes on step further in when he says "you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the beam of wood that is in your own eye". There is an important principle here. The thing that irritates us most in other people may well be the one thing we need to deal with in ourselves. As he says inLuke 6:42 (LEB) How are you able to say to your brother, “Brother, allow me to remove the speck that is in your eye,” while* you yourself do not see the beam of wood in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the beam of wood from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother’s eye!

Out of the Good Treasure of His Heart

​ LEB43 “For there is no good tree that produces bad fruit, nor on the other hand a bad tree that produces good fruit, 44 for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorn plants, nor are grapes harvested from thorn bushes. 45 The good person out of the good treasury of his heart brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasury brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. 46 “And why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I tell you?

Jesus not only makes the point that we, like trees, are known by our fruit, but connects this with what is in our hearts. This one phrase is widely quoted, from "out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks". In our heart is what we believe, and that is what influences everything we think and then the words come out of our mouth.I like the way it is said in (LEB) Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are right, whatever things are pure, whatever things are pleasing, whatever things are commendable, if there is any excellence of character and if anything praiseworthy, think about these things.In fact, you might read the whole section there, .

The One Who Hears My Words

​ LEB47 “Everyone who comes to me and listens to my words and does them—I will show you what he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug and went down deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood came, the river burst against that house and was not able to shake it, because it had been built well. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation, which the river burst against, and immediately it collapsed—and the collapse of that house was great!”

Jesus makes a simple statement in : Come to him, listen to his words, do them. It is so simple in concept, but in the world there are many voices. The voice of the world, the voice of our flesh, the voice of the devil, and the one that will never fail us, the voice of the Lord. (LEB) “Everyone who comes to me and listens to my words and does them—I will show you what he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug and went down deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when* a flood came, the river burst against that house and was not able to shake it, because it had been built well.

Conclusion

-10Matthew 8:5-13

Such Great Faith

​ LEB1 After he had finished all his statements in the hearing of the people, he entered into Capernaum. 2 Now a certain centurion’s slave, who was esteemed by him, was sick and was about to die. 3 So when he heard about Jesus, he sent Jewish elders to him, asking him that he would come and cure his slave. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they began imploring him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy that you grant this for him, 5 because he loves our nation and he himself built the synagogue for us.” 6 So Jesus went with them. Now by this time he was not far away from the house, and the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy that you should come in under my roof. 7 For this reason neither did I consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word and my slave must be healed. 8 For I also am a man placed under authority, who has soldiers under me, and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another one, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” 9 And when Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning around to the crowd that was following him, he said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith!” 10 And when they returned to the house, those who had been sent found the slave healthy.

Jews were not to go to Romans hom

​ LEB5 Now when he entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him, appealing to him 6 and saying, “Lord, my slave is lying paralyzed in my house, terribly tormented!” 7 And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 8 And the centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should come in under my roof. But only say the word and my slave will be healed. 9 For I also am a man under authority who has soldiers under me, and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another one, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” 10 Now when Jesus heard this, he was astonished, and said to those who were following him, “Truly I say to you, I have found such great faith with no one in Israel. 11 But I say to you that many will come from east and west and be seated at the banquet with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the sons of the kingdom will be thrown out into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!” 13 And Jesus said to the centurion, “Go, as you have believed it will be done for you.” And the slave was healed at that hour.

​ LEB46 Now he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And there was at Capernaum a certain royal official whose son was sick. 47 This man, when he heard that Jesus had come from Judea into Galilee, went to him and asked that he come down and heal his son, for he was about to die. 48 So Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will never believe!” 49 The royal official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies!” 50 Jesus said to him, “Go, your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he departed. 51 Now as he was going down, his slaves met him, saying that his child was alive. 52 So he inquired from them the hour at which he had gotten better. Then they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 53 So the father knew that it was that same hour at which Jesus said to him, “Your son will live,” and he himself believed, and his whole household. 54 Now this is again a second sign Jesus performed when he came from Judea into Galilee.

the glory revealed in us