The average church sermon is probably only remembered for about twenty minutes after it has ended, or until we get to lunch. But the words of Jesus have been remembered and recited for over 2000 years after he spoke them. Jesus only directly answered three of the 183 questions he was asked, according to gospel accounts. Sometimes he would put the question back on the person and sometimes he stayed silent. Jesus asked more questions than he answered. His own questions were intentional, to make people think or challenge their view. He often asked people what they wanted or what they believed. […]
Category:In Jesus' Words - from Matthew
Matthew 21:14-17 ~ Children’s praise in the temple The blind and the lame came to Jesus in the temple complex, and He healed them. When the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonders that He did and the children shouting in the temple complex, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant and said to Him, “Do You hear what these children are saying?” “Yes,” Jesus told them. “Have you never read: You have prepared praise from the mouths of children and nursing infants?” Then He left them, went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the […]
Category:In Jesus' Words - from Matthew
Jesus said, “These people honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. They worship Me in vain, teaching as doctrines the commands of men.” “You have revoked God’s word because of your tradition.” It’s easier to believe in the big miracles – the feeding of the 5000, walking on water. Those events seem far away from us today and not much accountability is needed to believe in them. It’s harder when things gets personal, and that is just what Jesus is doing in these statements when talking with the elders. His words can be a little hard to take in, if I am honest with myself… Do my traditions stand in […]
Category:In Jesus' Words - from Matthew
The parables Jesus told were not just moral stories on how to live – they told us about heaven and hell. I imagine the questions people might have asked Jesus would go something like this: If you are the Son of God from heaven, then tell us what is heaven like, and is there really a hell? Wouldn’t you ask the same thing if you could? Jesus’ response is found in his parables. He did not really explain the physical nature of heaven in his stories, as our minds would not be able to fully understand that. But he did do a lot of explaining on how to get to […]
Category:In Jesus' Words - from Matthew
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About the Author
Sue McCusker is a writer, Bible teacher, and web developer who loves to share the stories of life, hope, and faith she sees around her every day. She has written for Guideposts and Angels on Earth magazines, and teaches the story of God in women's Bible study.
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Happy are the feet of those who bring good news! Isaiah 52:7