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5 episodes with Matthew 19
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7 episodes with Matthew 19
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6 episodes with Matthew 19
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9 episodes with Matthew 19
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Is it possible to be close to Jesus but still hold something back?In today's episode, we'll explore the difference between being interested in Jesus and fully surrendering our hearts to Him. Together, we will dive into the story of the rich young ruler in Matthew 19, uncovering what it means to let go of the "no go zones" in our lives and truly obey. We'll reflect on how partial surrender can hold us back, and discover the courage it takes to give every part of our lives to God.Join us for this encouraging devotional as we pray and seek together a deeper, more complete surrender, trusting Jesus with everything.Tap HERE to send us a text! Our podcast family is growing - introducing Men's Morning Devotional! Our dad, Steve Alessi, and all of our husbands are now hosting their own 5 minute devotionals every weekday - for men who want to become better husbands, fathers, and leaders! Listen, follow and subscribe here - MensMorningDevotional.comSupport the showNEW VIDEO EPISODES! You can watch our new video episodes on YouTube! Watch Our Video DevotionalsNEW TO MY MORNING DEVOTIONAL? We're so glad you're here! We're the Alessis, a ministry family working together in a church in Miami, FL, and we're so blessed to partner with the My Morning Devotional community and continue the great work done by the show's creator and our friend, Alison Delamota.We pray our personal reflections and devotions will empower you to grow your faith in God, and that you'll join us every morning in prayer! JOIN THE MMD COMMUNITYSubscribe to the show on this appShare with a friendJoin our newsletter Follow Us on Instagram and FacebookLeave a reviewMORE PODCASTS YOU'LL ENJOYEnjoy more podcasts from Metro Life Studios, including:The Family Business with The AlessisMen's Morning DevotionalThe Mary and Martha Show Available on our Metro Life Studios app!Get The Metro Life Studios app
This message draws from Matthew 19:3-9 to observe what Jesus teaches about marriage and how divorce was not permitted from the beginning when God created humanity male and female. Furthermore, Jesus defined another marriage after divorce as adultery with exception if one divorced a spouse for extramarital sex. This is the 2nd lesson in this series. This sermon series launches each sermon from Jesus's response to religious leaders asking, "Have You Not Read?"
Is your heart feeling a little guarded these days?In today's episode, we explore the idea that hard hearts can lead to hard lives, reflecting on Matthew 19:8 and what it means for our relationships and daily walk with God. Together, we'll uncover how pain, disappointment, and unmet expectations can quietly shape our hearts and what we can do to stay open and soft to God's voice.Let's gather as a community to pray for hearts that remain tender and responsive, inviting God to gently reveal and heal any places of hardness within us. Join us in devotion and prayer as we seek a new level of openness and peace.Tap HERE to send us a text! BECOME A FOUNDING "MY MORNING DEVOTIONAL" MEMBERIf you enjoy your 5 minute daily dose of heaven, we would appreciate your support, and we have a fun way for you to partner with the MMD community! We've launched our "Buy Me a Coffee" membership where you can buy us a latte, OR become a founding member and get monthly bonus video episodes! To donate, go to mymorningdevo.co/join! Support the showNEW VIDEO EPISODES! You can watch our new video episodes on YouTube! Watch Our Video DevotionalsNEW TO MY MORNING DEVOTIONAL? We're so glad you're here! We're the Alessis, a ministry family working together in a church in Miami, FL, and we're so blessed to partner with the My Morning Devotional community and continue the great work done by the show's creator and our friend, Alison Delamota.We pray our personal reflections and devotions will empower you to grow your faith in God, and that you'll join us every morning in prayer! JOIN THE MMD COMMUNITYSubscribe to the show on this appShare with a friendJoin our newsletter Follow Us on Instagram and FacebookLeave a reviewMORE PODCASTS YOU'LL ENJOYEnjoy more podcasts from Metro Life Studios, including:The Family Business with The AlessisMen's Morning DevotionalThe Mary and Martha Show Available on our Metro Life Studios app!Get The Metro Life Studios app
Matthew 19 invites us into some of life's most challenging conversations—marriage, singleness, children, and wealth—but beneath each topic is one central question: Where is your trust? Rather than settling for outward rule-following, Jesus calls us to a deeper relationship marked by dependence on Him. When our security is found in Christ instead of our circumstances, […] The post Matthew 19:1-15 – Seeking God's Heart appeared first on Sierra Bible Church.
God's kingdom often looks very different from the world around us. In Matthew 19 and 20, Jesus reminds us that greatness isn't found in earning, achieving, or being recognized—it's found in receiving God's grace, serving others with humility, and extending mercy to those around us. As followers of Christ, we're invited to lay down comparison, […] The post Matthew 19:16-20:34 – The First Shall Be Last and The Last First appeared first on Sierra Bible Church.
In this message, Pastor Karl walks through Matthew 19, where the Pharisees approach Jesus with pointed questions about divorce — testing him against the competing rabbinic schools of Shammai and Hillel. Rather than settling the debate on their terms, Jesus redirects them to God's original design for marriage from Genesis, addressing not just the surface question but the deeper issue underneath it: a hardened heart that looks for loopholes instead of surrendering to God's standard.Pastor Karl unpacks what Scripture teaches about marriage, divorce, and remarriage with pastoral care and honesty about how difficult these teachings can be to live out. He also explores the chapter's turn toward children, and the story of the rich young ruler — a man who came asking about religious righteousness but was really wrestling with money and control.The big idea: Jesus confronts the hardness of our hearts because his kingdom calls for commitment and sacrifice, while our natural tendency is to search for loopholes and excuses. This message is an invitation to let Scripture rebuke, correct, and train us — and to rely on the power of God's Spirit rather than our own willpower to live faithfully.Join us in person 8:00am, 9:30am & 11:00am every Sunday morning.37193 Ave 12 #3h, Madera, CA 93636For more visit us at flipside.churchFor more podcasts visit flipsidepodcasts.transistor.fm
David and Todd examine Matthew 19:13–30, contrasting the childlike faith that welcomes God's kingdom with the rich young ruler's struggle to surrender what he treasured most. Hold loosely to the things of this world and treasure Christ above all else, trusting that what He offers is far greater than anything you could ever leave behind.
❖ Follow along with today's reading: www.esv.org/1Chronicles28–29;Psalm16;Matthew19 ❖ The English Standard Version (ESV) is an 'essentially literal' translation of the Bible in contemporary English. Created by a team of more than 100 leading evangelical scholars and pastors, the ESV Bible emphasizes 'word-for-word' accuracy, literary excellence, and depth of meaning. ❖ To learn more about the ESV and other audio resources, please visit www.ESV.org
1 Chronicles 18-20; 19 Psalms 37; 40 Matthew 19
David and Paul examine Matthew 19:1–12, where Jesus responds to questions about divorce by pointing back to God's original design for marriage as a covenant that reflects His character and kingdom. Pursue Christ above all else in your relationships, allowing His love to shape your marriage, your singleness, and every season of life with an undivided heart for His kingdom.
1 Chronicles 18-19; Psalms 35; Matthew 19
Matthew 19
This week, Bekah Sankey shares a message from Matthew 19:13–26 titled "Asking the Answer for the Answer." Working through the account of the rich young ruler, Bekah invites us into three places in the story that don't initially make sense, and shows how each one holds a hidden treasure about who Jesus really is.Bekah walks through the encounter in three movements. First, she notices that Jesus responds to the man's question about eternal life with a question about goodness instead, inviting us to question our own questions and notice what we're actually valuing when we bring something to God. Second, she unpacks why the man leaves "extremely sorrowful" after getting the very answer he asked for, tracing it back to a cultural misreading of Deuteronomy 28 where wealth had become flipped into evidence of righteousness rather than a byproduct of obedience. Losing his possessions meant losing his only measuring stick for whether God accepted him. Third, she turns to the disciples' bewildered response, "who then can be saved," and shows how their confusion makes sense once we see they, too, believed prosperity was a shoo-in for salvation. Bekah connects this to the story's bookends: children who bring nothing and are still welcomed into the kingdom, framing the whole passage as an upside-down exclamation point pointing toward grace.The sermon's theological anchor is that Jesus is not merely the teacher offering access to eternal life, righteousness, and treasure — he is those things himself. Drawing on Psalm 16 and the priestly inheritance in the Old Testament, Bekah shows that where others receive land, the priest receives the temple itself. In the same way, our portion isn't the job, the relationship, or the outcome we're chasing, but the presence of Jesus. What we're really asking the answer for, she says, is the answer.Ultimately, this message is an invitation to let God untie the belief systems we've built our security on, even the ones that have quietly shaped how we measure our own standing with him. Bekah calls us to stop striving for evidence of righteousness and instead receive the kingdom like children, coming again and again to ask for more of the one who is already the treasure we're searching for.
Matthew 19:13-30 Watch online: https://youtu.be/w-AiDBbBH7o
❖ Follow along with today's reading: www.esv.org/Joshua11;Psalm144;Jeremiah5;Matthew19 ❖ The English Standard Version (ESV) is an 'essentially literal' translation of the Bible in contemporary English. Created by a team of more than 100 leading evangelical scholars and pastors, the ESV Bible emphasizes 'word-for-word' accuracy, literary excellence, and depth of meaning. ❖ To learn more about the ESV and other audio resources, please visit www.ESV.org
Eat This Book--week 5 day 2
June 28, 2026Emory Davis
Sermon By: Pastor Roman Folia (The Gospel of Matthew pt. 65)
To become a follower of Jesus, visit: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/MeetJesus (NOT a Morning Mindset resource) ⇒ Join the MMM Prayer Team: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/PrayerTeam ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Matthew 19:27–30 - Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” [28] Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. [29] And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. [30] But many who are first will be last, and the last first. (ESV) ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE MORNING MINDSET: (not tax-deductible) -- Become a monthly partner: https://mm-gfk-partners.supercast.com/ -- Underwrite one daily episode: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/daily-sponsor/ -- Give one-time: https://give.cornerstone.cc/careygreen -- Venmo: @CareyNGreen ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FOREIGN LANGUAGE VERSIONS OF THIS PODCAST: Subscribe to the SPANISH version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Spanish Subscribe to the CHINESE version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Chinese ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ CONTACT: Carey@careygreen.com
Sunday Morning, June 21, 2026 Father's DayZacchaeus vs the Rich Young Ruler ... Luke 19:1-10, Matthew 19:16-22A message delivered by Pastor Chip Yoder
To become a follower of Jesus, visit: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/MeetJesus (NOT a Morning Mindset resource) ⇒ BECOME A MONTHLY PARTNER: (not tax-deductible) You can find out how to become a monthly partner including how to receive your "thank you" gift - our bonus podcast called "Digging Deeper." Go to: https://mm-partners.supercast.com/ ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Matthew 19:23–25 - And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. [24] Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” [25] When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” (ESV) ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE MORNING MINDSET: (not tax-deductible) -- Become a monthly partner: https://mm-gfk-partners.supercast.com/ -- Underwrite one daily episode: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/daily-sponsor/ -- Give one-time: https://give.cornerstone.cc/careygreen -- Venmo: @CareyNGreen ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FOREIGN LANGUAGE VERSIONS OF THIS PODCAST: Subscribe to the SPANISH version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Spanish Subscribe to the CHINESE version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Chinese ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ CONTACT: Carey@careygreen.com
To become a follower of Jesus, visit: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/MeetJesus (NOT a Morning Mindset resource) ⇒ Listen to our other podcasts: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Matthew 19:13–15 - Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, [14] but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” [15] And he laid his hands on them and went away. (ESV) ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE MORNING MINDSET: (not tax-deductible) -- Become a monthly partner: https://mm-gfk-partners.supercast.com/ -- Underwrite one daily episode: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/daily-sponsor/ -- Give one-time: https://give.cornerstone.cc/careygreen -- Venmo: @CareyNGreen ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FOREIGN LANGUAGE VERSIONS OF THIS PODCAST: Subscribe to the SPANISH version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Spanish Subscribe to the CHINESE version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Chinese ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ CONTACT: Carey@careygreen.com
To become a follower of Jesus, visit: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/MeetJesus (NOT a Morning Mindset resource) ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ ⇒Check out all of Carey's books - for adults and kids, fiction and non-fiction : https://CareyGreen.com/books ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Matthew 19:10–12 - The disciples said to him, “If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” [11] But he said to them, “Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. [12] For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it.” (ESV) ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE MORNING MINDSET: (not tax-deductible) -- Become a monthly partner: https://mm-gfk-partners.supercast.com/ -- Underwrite one daily episode: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/daily-sponsor/ -- Give one-time: https://give.cornerstone.cc/careygreen -- Venmo: @CareyNGreen ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FOREIGN LANGUAGE VERSIONS OF THIS PODCAST: Subscribe to the SPANISH version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Spanish Subscribe to the CHINESE version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Chinese ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ CONTACT: Carey@careygreen.com
Let the Children Come | Matthew 19:13-15 | Pastor Will Cover
Pastor Aaron preaches through Matthew 19 on Marriage and Divorce
The Gospel of Matthew is a wonderful book, the first text in the New Testament, which gives us an exciting shift from the prophecies of the Old Testament to the fulfillment of those very prophecies in the person of Jesus. You are sure to be equipped and inspired as Jesus Himself shares about the hope we have, gives practical lessons for how to live life the way God intended, shows the love of God through miracles and healings, and makes a way for you to be reconciled to God for all eternity. Join Jerry as he dives into Matthew and walks us through the life, ministry and profound teachings of Jesus. There's no better day than today to take your daily reading to another level with The New Testament Daily with Jerry Dirmann—so grab your Bible and let's get started! Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below: « FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » To listen to or download more teachings from Jerry and others from Solid Lives ministries, visit our new media library at: https://app.jesusdisciple.com/jesus-way/media-library « THE NEW TESTAMENT DAILY PODCAST » https://thenewtestamentdailywithjerrydirmann.buzzsprout.com « SOLID LIVES » Find out more about the ministries of Jerry Dirmann and Solid Lives at https://www.solidlives.com/ « SUPPORT » You can help us get free resources like this out to more people. Visit https://pushpay.com/g/jdglobal Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below:FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » Download or listen at https://SolidLivesMedia.com/ ABOUT SOLID LIVES » Find out more at https://www.solidlives.com/SUPPORT » Help us get the word out at https://solidlives.com/give/
Thursday 6/11/26
Wednesday 6/10/26
An unhurried daily meditation using the Bible, prayer, and reflection led by Pastor Jon Ciccarelli, Discipleship Pastor of Crosswalk Church in Redlands, CA, and Director of Discipleship for Crosswalk Global.If you are enjoying the podcast please go to Apple Podcasts and/or Spotify and share your rating and a review as your input will help bring awareness of this discipleship resource to more listeners around the world.To learn more about Abide and discipleship go to www.crosswalkvillage.com/discipleshipPlease feel free to reach out to us at jon@crosswalkvillage.com any time with your comments and questions. Thanks and blessings!
Jesus teaches on the sanctity of marriage, celibacy and faithfulness.
Weekly sermon from Trinity Church Denver
Sermon By: Pastor Roman Folia (The Gospel of Matthew pt. 63)
Caleb Froedge discusses Matthew 19:27-29—“Then Peter answered and said to Him, ‘See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?' So Jesus said to them, ‘Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.'”
In this sermon from Matthew 19:23–29, we explore the danger of treasuring earthly comfort, wealth, and self-sufficiency above Christ. Jesus reminds us that salvation is impossible through human effort alone, but through God's grace, sinners are rescued, transformed, and invited to find their true treasure in Him.Mission Church — www.missionlasvegas.com
Exploring the Connection Between Matthew 19, the Book of Psalms, and Isaiah 19 For Bible in Ten – By DH – 19th May 2026 Yesterday we completed Matthew 19. Nineteen according to E W Bullinger is “a combination of 10 and 9, and would denote the perfection of Divine order connected with judgment.” During our episodes through Matthew 19, we already learned how “..the words of Chapter 19 span all the dispensations of time.” CG . In Matthew 19 Jesus brought judgments which referenced creation, the law, the insufficiency of human merit, faith and grace, and looking forward to the millennial kingdom. As we will see in this bonus episode we can also find these references in Psalms. Isaiah 19 also adds a sharper prophetic focus. It lends support to the judgment theme. According to BibleHub “It presents a two-fold prophecy against Egypt, revealing not only a looming divine judgment but also an ultimate transformation and redemption. This dual-nature prophecy exemplifies the complexity of God's plans for nations and His sovereignty over all things.” In Matthew 19 every false confidence is judged: confidence in legal argument, in religious achievement, in wealth, in status, and confidence in the flesh. In the end, the chapter points to Christ alone. Consider the following seven sections which trace Matthew 19 as a historical sweep: from creation order and marriage, through law and human hardness, into grace, kingdom promise, final judgment, and the believer's reward before Christ. Innocence and Creation When answering the Pharisees' question about breaking up marriage, Jesus does not begin His answer with Moses. He goes further back. He goes to creation: “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning made them male and female?” Psalms has many Creation references too: “The heavens are telling of the glory of God…” Psalm 19:1 “By the word of the LORD the heavens were made…” Psalm 33:6 “How many are Your works, LORD! In wisdom You have made them all…” Psalm 104:24 To Him who made the heavens with skill, For His faithfulness is everlasting; 6 To Him who spread out the earth above the waters, For His faithfulness is everlasting; 7 To Him who made the great lights, For His faithfulness is everlasting: 8 The sun to rule by day, For His faithfulness is everlasting, 9 The moon and stars to rule by night, For His faithfulness is everlasting. Psalm 136:5–9 3 Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all stars of light! 4 Praise Him, highest heavens, And the waters that are above the heavens! 5 They are to praise the name of the Lord, For He commanded and they were created. Psalm 148:3–5 The earth is the Lord's, and all it contains, The world, and those who live in it. 2 For He has founded it upon the seas And established it upon the rivers. Psalm 24:1–2 You visit the earth and cause it to overflow; You greatly enrich it; The stream of God is full of water; You prepare their grain, for so You prepare the earth. 10 You water its furrows abundantly, You settle its ridges, You soften it with showers, You bless its growth. 11 You have crowned the year with Your goodness, And Your paths drip with fatness. 12 The pastures of the wilderness drip, And the hills encircle themselves with rejoicing. 13 The meadows are clothed with flocks And the valleys are covered with grain; They shout for joy, yes, they sing Psalm 65:9–13 Man was created for ordered life beneath the Lord. Marriage belongs to that created order. It was established by God at the beginning and Psalm 128 references it in verse 3. “Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house…” Psalm 128:3 Law and the Hardness of Heart The Pharisees then press the matter further: “Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?” Jesus answers: “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.” The law could regulate certain consequences of sin, but it could not cure the heart of man. Moses' allowance was not the original ideal. It was an accommodation because of hardness of heart. Psalm 1, Psalm 19, and Psalm 119 all uphold the goodness of the law. The law is not evil. The commandments of the Lord are righteous. The word of God is pure, true, and desirable. But Psalms also makes clear that man himself is the problem. Psalm 14:3 says: “They have all turned aside, together they are corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one. ” Psalm 143 says: “And do not enter into judgment with Your servant, For no person living is righteous in Your sight.” verse 2. Psalm 51 gives the heart of the issue. David does not merely need external correction. He cries: “Create in me a clean heart, God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me..” verse 10. The law highlights sin in man but cannot correct man's fallen state. Psalms illuminates this powerfully. Psalm 49 says: “None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him.” That is the heart of the matter. Man cannot redeem himself. Wealth cannot ransom the soul. Moral seriousness cannot purchase eternal life. Psalm 62 warns: “If riches increase, do not set your heart on them.” Grace through Faith After this, children are brought to Jesus so that He might place His hands on them and pray. Psalm 131 verse 2 says: “I have certainly soothed and quieted my soul; Like a weaned child resting against his mother, My soul within me is like a weaned child.” That is the spirit of Matthew 19. The kingdom is not entered through self-confident legal achievement, but through humble dependence. Psalm 8 also says: “From the mouths of infants and nursing babies You have established strength Because of Your enemies, To do away with the enemy and the revengeful.” Jesus later cites this psalm in Matthew 21. The children, the weak, the dependent, and the seemingly insignificant often perceive what a more mature mind misses. The disciples wrongly rebuke the children. Jesus corrects them. The Lord is near to the humble, the broken, the dependent, and the trusting. The children become a living illustration of the kind of faith that enters the kingdom. The Royal and Millennial Hope Peter then asks what will be given to the disciples, since they have left all and followed Jesus. Jesus answers: “You who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” This moves Matthew 19 forward to the millennial kingdom. Psalm 2 presents the Lord's Anointed as King: “Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion.” Psalm 72 looks forward to the righteous reign of the King, marked by justice, peace, dominion, and blessing. Psalm 89 recalls the Davidic covenant and the certainty of God's promises. Psalm 110 presents the Messiah seated at the right hand of God until His enemies are made His footstool. Psalm 122 says: “For thrones are set there for judgment, the thrones of the house of David.” The Dispensational Sweep of Matthew 19 The chapter begins with creation order: male and female, marriage, and God's original design. It moves to law: Moses, divorce, hardness of heart, and the insufficiency of legal accommodation. It then displays grace: the children come to Christ with nothing, and Jesus receives them. It exposes human inability: the rich young ruler cannot obtain life through personal merit, morality, or wealth. It reveals divine possibility: with man salvation is impossible, but with God all things are possible. It then looks forward to the millennial kingdom: the apostles will sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Isaiah 19 and The Great White Throne Judgment At the Great White Throne, all false confidence is finally exposed. Only those who are in Christ have a righteousness that can stand before God. Isaiah 19 gives a searching picture of Egypt brought under the judgment of the LORD. Egypt's idols tremble. Her wisdom fails. Her princes become fools. Her counsellors are unable to give true guidance. The nation that once appeared ancient, powerful, wealthy, and secure is shown to be helpless before God. This is a stark picture of misplaced confidence. Matthew 19 teaches the same spiritual lesson. Do not trust law-performance, wealth, status, fleshly advantage, religious seriousness, or human ability. With men this is impossible. The rich young ruler appears clothed in morality, youth, wealth, and religious seriousness. But when Christ presses the true demand of perfection, the man is exposed. His confidence cannot save him. His possessions have his heart. He goes away sorrowful. He is like Egypt in Isaiah 19. What seemed wise, strong, and secure is brought to nothing before the LORD. This points forward to the Great White Throne Judgment, where every person outside of Christ will stand fully exposed before God. The books will be opened. No earthly confidence will remain. No religious appearance will cover the soul. No wealth, status, morality, wisdom, or human achievement can answer the demands of divine righteousness. Isaiah 19 shows the collapse of national confidence before the LORD. Matthew 19 shows the collapse of personal confidence before Christ. The Great White Throne shows the final collapse of every confidence outside of God's saving righteousness. Matthew 19 and the Judgment of the believer Matthew 19 ends with the judgment: “But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” In the 19th book of the Bible, Psalms repeatedly shows divine reversal. The proud are brought low. The humble are lifted up. The wicked may flourish temporarily, but they do not endure. The righteous may suffer for a time, but they are finally vindicated. Psalm 37 says the meek shall inherit the earth. Psalm 73 shows the prosperous brought to nothing. Psalm 113 says the Lord raises the poor out of the dust and lifts the needy out of the ash heap. Psalm 118 speaks of the rejected stone becoming the chief cornerstone. Isaiah 19 dramatizes the same reversal negatively. Those who seemed powerful and reliable, Egypt and Cush, are exposed in shame. Their apparent strength becomes humiliation. So Matthew 19 teaches that the judgment of believers will expose the true value of a life. Some things that looked great on earth will be shown to be small. Some sacrifices that looked foolish or unnoticed will be openly rewarded by Christ. Life Application At the Judgment Seat of Christ, the question is not, “Are you saved?” No. The believer's condemnation has already been dealt with in Christ. The question is rather: “How have you as a saved person followed, served, sacrificed, and valued Christ?” Let us not measure our life only by what we keep now, but by what Christ will count then. Lord God, thank You that salvation does not rest upon our merit, wealth, strength, or status. Thank You that what is impossible with man is possible with You. Help us come as children, trust in Christ, and await the kingdom You have promised. For your glory! Amen.
Monday, 18 May 2026 But many who are first will be last, and the last first. Matthew 19:30 “Many, also, they will be: first, last, and last, first.” (CG) In the previous verse, Jesus spoke of priorities, noting that those who have left houses, family, etc., for His name's sake would receive a hundredfold along with eternal life. Having said that, He finishes the chapter, saying, “Many, also, they will be: first, last, and last, first.” There is a contrast set forth from the previous verse – 29And all, whoever he... 30Many, also, they will be... The question that needs to be answered is “Who is Jesus referring to?” His words in verse 29 concerned those willing to forsake things now in order to further His kingdom. That was based on the young ruler who went away sorrowful at hearing he was to sell what he had, give it to the poor, and then he would have treasure in heaven. Because of his departing sorrowfully, Jesus spoke concerning how hard it was to enter the kingdom, using a camel going through the eye of a needle as an example. He then had to explain, after the astonishment of the disciples, that with God, all things are possible. Peter then chimed in and noted they had left everything to follow Jesus. That is when Jesus noted that the disciples would sit with Him on twelve thrones. He followed that thought up with verse 29. These things are pointing to a truth summed up in this verse, and of which an example will be given to start Chapter 20. “All” of verse 29 are those who, regardless of their station, give up the things of this life to follow Jesus. “Many” of verse 30 are those who will enter, but who will do so because of various circumstances that have arisen. Based on those circumstances, they will be included, but in a lesser position. In other words, “last” does not speak of those who are unsaved. That would be to change the categories. Instead, it speaks of those who are within the same category, but for some reason, they are relegated to a lesser position in the process of entering the kingdom. As noted, that will be explained in the parable of Chapter 20. Jesus has another parable in Luke 13 where He will speak of the last and first again. The context will be different, but it is in line with such teachings that help form our understanding of what God is doing in redemptive history. Life application: Jesus' use of the last and the first is given to explain how God views our actions toward and interactions with Him. In determining what God approves of, we can then direct our lives toward those things if we are wise and dedicated servants. In Romans 9-11, Paul speaks of those who strive to earn God's favor through law observance, thinking this is what God finds acceptable for righteousness. However, exactly the opposite is true. When we set about to earn righteousness, we fashion ourselves into being our own savior. But we are already in the sea of sin and death. There is no way we can get ourselves out of it. Paul calls the good news of Jesus, the way of getting out of our fallen state, a stumbling stone. What we need is Jesus. This was the point of the law. It was to be an instructional tool to lead Israel to understand their need for Him, but they could not perceive this and rejected the premise. Paul explains this. Consider his words concerning the last and the first mentioned by Jesus as Chapter 19 closes out – “What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; 31 but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. 33 As it is written: ‘Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.'” Romans 9:30-33 Lord God, may we trust solely in the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord for our salvation. The things we do after that may be good and honorable, but they cannot merit our salvation nor keep us saved. Help us to remember this and to always remain thankful to You for what You have done. It is truly good news! Amen.
Sunday, 17 May 2026 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. Matthew 19:29 “And all, whoever he left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or fields because of My name, a hundredfold he will receive, and life perpetual he will inherit.” (CG) In the previous verse, Jesus noted that those of the disciples who follow Him would sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Next, He continues, saying, “And all, whoever he left.” Jesus is about to give a list of things people may give up for the sake of the gospel. In these words, He is referring to priorities toward God above all else. The word “all” extends the meaning to anyone, not merely those just given the promise in the previous verse. As for the list, He says, “houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or fields.” Some transcripts omit the words “or wife.” That was clearly based on the thought that a husband and wife should never be separated. However, it is rather certain that the words are original. When reading this, we can get mentally stuck on what Jesus is saying. However, to leave something does not necessarily mean forsaking it. When a person leaves his mother, she is still his mother. In Genesis 2, it says – “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” Genesis 2:24 Mom and Dad are still Mom and Dad. The man, however, has made a new allegiance that takes first priority. People leave families all the time for whatever amount of time is necessary to accomplish a job. While writing this commentary, the USS Gerald R. Ford is deployed in the Middle East. So far, they have been at sea for 294 days. It is the longest deployment in over 50 years. Each sailor with a family still has that family, but the navy is the sailor's current priority. A missionary called to serve in Uganda for a year will have his wife waiting for him. If it is a long-term mission, families usually go together. There is no reason to get mentally stuck on Jesus' words, or to take them to unintended extremes. Jesus is referring to placing Him as the highest priority in whatever manner that entails for the situation. He confirms this, saying, “because of the ‘My name'.” Whatever is done for Jesus in His name, obviously with the right heart attitude, is what He is referring to. If so, Jesus says that the effort will not be without its reward, noting that “a hundredfold he will receive.” A new word is seen here, hekatontaplasión, a hundredfold. Some manuscripts say pollaplasiona, manifold. However, many translations that use those manuscripts still render the word as hundredfold. Jesus' words should not be considered as quantity but quality. In other words, if someone left one wife to serve the Lord, he should not expect a hundred wives. Rather, he should expect the blessing to be a hundredfold in results and in internal satisfaction. Understanding this, Jesus finishes with, “and ‘life, perpetual' he will inherit.” These words do not indicate merit for eternal life. Rather, Jesus has already said that what is done is for His name's sake. The person referred to is a believer. All true believers receive eternal life. As such, Jesus includes this thought as an assurance of that, not as a grant based on performance. Read the slight differences in Luke and Mark concerning Jesus' words to get a better understanding of the overall intent of what He says – “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.” Mark 18:29, 30 “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.” Luke 18:29, 30 Life application: True story – A person in a church said he was called to be a missionary. Using this verse as a pretext to go forward, he notified the church and his wife that he was divorcing her to proceed with his calling. This is a complete abuse of what Jesus is saying. The directives for marriage are laid out by both Jesus in the gospels and Paul in the epistles. If a person thinks he can get away with divorcing his wife to honor Jesus, he is severely deluded. Everything has a context. As noted above, a person does not stop being a son just because he unites with his wife. Likewise, a person does not stop being a husband if he goes to serve the Lord (or the US Navy). Never attempt to use Scripture to justify the unjustifiable. The Lord will not be mocked, and judgment awaits all such disobedience. Lord God, may our lives be an acceptable offering to You. Our lives are often filled with difficulties and trials, but help us to persevere and bring glory to You as we continue down the path You have set for us. During our walk, may we do our best to hold fast to Scripture, honoring You through faithful obedience. Amen.
Saturday, 16 May 2026 So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Matthew 19:28 “And Jesus, He said to them, ‘Amen! I say to you that you, the ‘having followed Me', in the rebirth, when He shall sit, the Son of Man, upon ‘throne, glory, His', you will sit, also you, upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes – the Israel.'” (CG). In the previous verse, Peter noted to Jesus that he and the others had left all and followed Him. As such, he asked what they would have. In response, Matthew records, “And Jesus, He said to them, ‘Amen!'” As usual, when making a solemn proclamation, Jesus begins with “Amen.” His word is to be accepted as an assured truth. Continuing, He says, “I say to you that you, these having followed Me.” The response is limited to true followers of Jesus. For example, there are many people who claim Jesus at this time. Hebrew Roots, Mormons, and Seventh Day Adventists, all claim to follow Jesus, but their doctrine holds to either a false Jesus (2 Corinthians 11:4), or a false gospel (Galatians 1:6-8). Jesus' words are exclusive of such. He next says, “in the rebirth.” Two points about this. First, it is a new and rare word, paliggenesia, rebirth. It is from palin, again, and genesis, nativity. As such, it refers to a spiritual rebirth or the messianic restoration. It is only found elsewhere in Titus 3:5 – “...not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration [paliggenesia] and renewing of the Holy Spirit.” The second point is what this is referring to. Some tie the word to the previous clause. Others to the second clause – “I say to you that you, the ‘having followed Me' in the rebirth...” “I say to you that you, the ‘having followed Me', in the rebirth, when He shall sit, the Son of Man, upon ‘throne, glory, His'.” The first option assigns this time as beginning with John the Baptist and continuing through Christ's ministry. The correct option is the latter. After Christ's ministry is complete and the Holy Spirit is poured out, then the rebirth is made possible. Therefore, Jesus' words are referring to what lies ahead in the future “when He shall sit, the Son of Man, upon His throne of glory.” This then leaves open a couple of interpretations. Is this referring to the millennium or to the eternal state. Isaiah 65:17 speaks of a new heaven and a new earth. Thus, many equate it to what is said in Revelation 21:1, where it appears the same thought is presented. However, this is incorrect. In Isaiah 65, it continues, referring to death, such as “For the child shall die one hundred years old.” In fact, such thoughts fill Isaiah 65:20-22. But in Revelation 21:4, it goes on to say, “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” This cannot be the same time frame. Rather, it refers to the millennium. At that time, Jesus will sit on the throne of His glory, exactly what was prophesied to Israel in the prophets. This will be literally fulfilled. At that time, when Jesus is received as Israel's promised Messiah, He emphatically declares to His disciples, “also you upon twelve thrones, judging Israel's twelve tribes.” The twelve disciples, who Jesus designates, will act in leadership roles. The idea of judging is not merely that of a court judging offenses. It is a way of referring to leadership, just as the judges of old served under the Lord. In this case, it will be the Lord incarnate with them serving and judging under Him. Life application: It cannot be that the millennium will be overlooked. God made promises to Israel that must be fulfilled. To say that Isaiah 65 is to be fulfilled in “spiritual Israel,” supposedly meaning the church, does a complete disservice to the promises made exclusively to Israel. The dispensational model must be worked through for people to fully comprehend man's total dependence on God's grace as given through Jesus Christ. If the millennium does not occur, there will be a void in this progression and in man's seeing what needs to be seen. And more, contradictions in the text itself are seen, such as noted above. Other glaring and irreconcilable contradictions will also arise. Jesus does not say that the rebirth is the time of the millennium. He says that the time of the millennium will occur in the time of the rebirth – NO: “the ‘having followed Me', in the rebirth, He shall sit, the Son of Man.” YES: “the ‘having followed Me', in the rebirth, when He shall sit, the Son of Man.” Jesus includes the word hotan, when (implying hypothesis or more or less uncertainty). In Titus, Paul has shown that the rebirth is an event that occurs based on our relationship with Jesus. It is a condition that believers now possess. At some point after the commencement of this event, which has been going on for two thousand years thus far, those in this state will enter the millennium, and Jesus will sit on His throne of glory. This promise is made apart from any notion of the rapture or the tribulation. It is simply a point of fact that will occur. The rapture was, and remained, an unknown event until it was described by Paul with the words, “Behold, I tell you a mystery” (1 Corinthians 15:51). There is no need to shove either the church age or the rapture into Jesus' words here. They simply do not fit. He is speaking to Israel, under the law, about things promised in the law to Israel. He is further defining those matters at this time. Lord God, You are ever faithful to Your people. We thank You that it is so. Your faithfulness to Israel means You will be likewise faithful to us. And what an encouragement that is. We fail You often, but because of Jesus, we are secure in You. Hallelujah to You, O God! Amen.
Friday, 15 May 2026 Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?” Matthew 19:27 “Then answering, Peter, he said to Him, ‘You behold! We, we left all, and we followed You! What hence it will be to us?'” (CG). In the previous verse, Jesus assured the disciples that even if salvation is impossible with men, with God, all things are possible. Next, Matthew records, “Then answering, Peter, he said to Him.” Peter's zeal to speak up once again comes to the forefront. He was bold to speak, not always with careful thought behind his words, but at times his utterances were profound. In this case, his question follows naturally after the discussion about entering the kingdom of the heavens. He emphatically says, “You behold! We, we left all, and we followed You!” Earlier, Jesus had said to the young ruler, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me” (Matthew 19:21). Peter has emphatically noted that they had done just that. They were not rulers in Israel, but they had willingly stepped away from their previous lives as soon as Jesus made the call. This does not mean they didn't continue to fish. Jesus told Peter to go fishing, and in the first fish he caught, there would be a coin in its mouth. What it does mean is that they set aside their vocations to wholeheartedly follow Jesus. If at some point, Jesus said, “We need fish,” it can be assumed that those who were fishers went out and got some. Whether they worked or not at times is not the issue. The issue is that their lives, including any temporary jobs, were directed to the ministry. Because they had left all behind to follow Jesus, Peter's emphatic declaration was surely intended to “remind” Jesus of this fact. And so, he continues, asking, “What hence it will be to us?” The words can be taken in various ways. But the substance behind the question is just as anyone would rightfully wonder, regardless of the intent of the heart, “Lord, what lies ahead for us in the kingdom?” One may have been thinking of riches, another of sitting in a powerful position, etc. It is impossible for us to know the intent behind Peter's question, but it is a logical one from any perspective. The fact that it is asked is really the issue. Jesus said to the young ruler, “Come, follow Me.” Nothing was stated to him about what type of treasure in heaven he would receive. But Peter wants to know. Life application: The Bible tells us various things about what believers can expect, chief among them is the prospect of eternal life. However, we are not given a detailed list of the treasures associated with what eternal life will be. If we are to live lives that are like we have now, getting sick, breaking bones, frustrations of various sorts, etc., would eternal life really look so great? What we do know is that things will be very different. Things like pain, death, and sorrow will be gone. These are promises in God's word. As such, we can be confident that whatever else is associated with eternal life, it will be wonderful. As such, there is no need to ask beyond what has been promised. God will reveal it to us in due time. The call will be made, and this mortal will be replaced with immortality. This is the great hope of the believer. Until that day, may we not lose heart. The world is a tragic place at times, and we must endure through it. We should not take what we know about existence now and assume that what is coming will be like it, but better. Rather, it will be unlike it and infinitely better. Hold fast to this. God has promised us restoration. Therefore, it will come to pass. Lord God, how grateful we are for the hope of a new and better existence, apart from sin and its consequences. May our hearts and minds be directed to You all our days as we anticipate the glory to come. Praises to You, O God, for the words of life and restoration promised in Your word. Amen.
Thursday, 14 May 2026 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26 “Having gazed, also, Jesus, He said to them, ‘With men, this – impossible, it is. With, also, God – all possible, it is.'” (CG). In the previous verse, the disciples were floored at Jesus' words about the chances of the rich entering the kingdom of God, asking, “Who then can be saved?” Because of their question, it next says, “Having gazed, also, Jesus.” This is only the second time the word emblepó is seen in Matthew. It is from en, in, and blepo, to look. As such, it is more than just looking, but “in-looking” or gazing at, observing fixedly, etc. In Matthew, it doesn't say who or what Jesus gazed at, but in Mark, it specifically says He gazed at them, meaning the disciples. Something prompted more than just a cursory look. They may have had confusion, fear, or even a sense of horror at what they heard. If salvation is that hard to obtain, then what will happen to them, their families, or even their nation? Jesus, understanding the magnitude of weight His words placed on their minds, next responds. Matthew records, “He said to them, ‘With men, this – impossible, it is.'” A new word is seen, adunatos, to be unable. It is derived from the negative particle a adjoined to dunatos, powerful or capable. That is derived from dunamai, to be able or possible. Jesus refers to the impossibility of the rich saving themselves (with men). Whatever thoughts the disciples had about salvation, Jesus had taken their highest supposed ideal, that of a rich man, and He had negated any chance of such a person saving himself. The implication, then, is that all others would fare just the same. None could save themselves. With that difficult thought expressed, He then provides a ray of good news, saying, “With, also, God – all possible, it is.” The first use of dunatos is seen here. It was explained already. Where there is no chance of humanity saving itself, with God, it is possible. The disciples had not thought through their state from a biblical perspective. But neither had anyone in Israel done so. If they had, they would not believe that the rich were more easily saved than anyone else. Only in the writings of Scripture, inspired by God, is there a hint of the thought expressed by Jesus. There is a problem that exists within humanity that, by default, negates any hope of man being able to restore himself to God. That problem is sin. It is an internal infection that is found in all humanity. As sin comes through law, it should have dawned on Israel that the medium in which they existed, that of law, would never correct their state, even with the efforts of the most law-observant person. Life application: Imagine a perfect precision machine that requires a particular perfect part to work without catastrophic failure. It is known that such a part is possible to be constructed, but from the first prototype onward, a flaw is found in every single part that follows. Would it make sense to use one of those parts in this perfectly precision machine? Of course not! The machine itself would fail. It would be pointless to even try to use a part with a known defect. Every single copy of the original would have to be destroyed. The problem isn't with the form of the prototype. Rather, it is the state of the prototype. Every piece molded after it carries the same state. To resolve this, another prototype with the same form could be introduced. However, if it had a perfect state to go along with its form, it would be an acceptable “first part.” And more, because it isn't the form, but the state, it could be used to change the state of parts from the original prototype. The form wasn't the problem. There must be a realm, or state, in which the part exists that will make each previously defective part acceptable. Once that is realized, the problem is resolved. The problem for the parts is that they have no power to change their state. They simply exist in the state in which they were produced. But an external source could make the change. This is what Jesus is speaking about. Humanity is in a state that does not, and indeed cannot, restore itself to perfection. But God, who is outside of our realm, could make the change. He could, and He did. When that change was effected, it was then made available to all others. This is why no other religion on the planet can bring salvation. They are dealing within the state of corruption. This is because there is one God, and His correction for our state is only found in Jesus. Only this one, true God, can bring about the necessary change in our state. And He did! Thank God for the goodness of God in Christ. Through the incarnation, cross, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we go from the state of law to the state of grace. Hooray for Jesus! Lord God, we have a fault within us that is impossible to correct. No wonder destroying the whole world by flood, minus eight people, still didn't fix the problem. The corruption remained. What amazing lessons You are giving us in Your word. We need what You have done through Christ. It is evident that nothing else will do. And so, we choose JESUS! Amen.
Wednesday, 13 May 2026 When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” Matthew 19:25 “Having heard, now, the ‘disciples, His', they were outstruck, exceedingly, saying, ‘Who then, he can be saved?'” (CG) In the previous verse, Jesus told the disciples about the difficulty of being saved, it being easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to be saved. Matthew next records, “Having heard, now, the ‘disciples, His', they were outstruck.” They were completely floored at hearing Jesus' words. The prevailing sentiment was that being rich was God's blessing. They probably even thought of that based on the wording found in Moses' writings. Time and time again, Deuteronomy, for example, refers to the blessings that will come upon the people when they do right things, such as helping the widows and orphans, strangers and foreigners, etc. The implication is that they are wealthy enough to do those things. In Deuteronomy 28:1-12, the promises of blessings are many and varied, but they all point to great prosperity. Hence, the assumption is that God is blessing a person when he is rich and prosperous. When the curses are pronounced, there is poverty, dearth, famine, etc. Therefore, the people could look at the writings of Moses and the later prophets and, in this shallow way of viewing their state, assume that the wealthier a person was, the more “right” he must be with God. This thought is not limited to Israel. The thinking permeates the world in general. Because of this, it next says they were outstruck “exceedingly, saying, ‘Who then, he can be saved?'” If God favors the wealthy and it is hard for them to be saved, how could anyone be saved? It seemed wholly contradictory to their thinking. This is because the nation and culture had viewed their interactions with the Lord based on a false premise. Wealth for the nation was a promised blessing when they were right with the Lord, even to “showers of blessings” and the “windows of heaven” pouring forth blessing. However, individual wealth does not necessarily come through being a good person. Nabal, in 1 Samuel 25, was very wealthy, but he was a fool in the eyes of God and was expected to be remembered as such before the people. The people looked at wealth in only one way, failing to understand that it is what is inside a man that makes him right with God. Life application: Jesus' words concerning the wealthy are based on where the wealthy person's priorities lie. It is generally true that poor people are much more willing to share the little they have than the wealthy. In fact, it is almost axiomatic that it is so. Anyone who has ever had a paper route can tell you that the poorer people will usually tip every month and give a big bonus every Christmas. The rich houses almost never tip, and at Christmas, a teeny weeny tip, less than that of the poor people's monthly tip, may (may!) be forthcoming. Studies have shown that the highest 2% of earners are in the highest bracket of shoplifters. Such people do not have hearts right with God. And yet, because of their wealth, everyone assumes they have been blessed by Him. Until we step back and consider what wealth truly means, we will always have a faulty view of what God's favor means. Be sure to honor the Lord with your heart, regardless of your level of wealth. He is watching to see who is sold out to Him, not prosperity, wealth, possessions, etc. Take time to read 1 Samuel 25:2-39 today. Don't be like Nabal, what a fool! Have a heart for the Lord regardless of what your bank account says. This is what God is looking for. Lord God, thank You that we don't need to be rich, wise, powerful, or politically connected to be right with You. All we need is trust in Jesus and a reliance on what He has already done. From there, we can live our lives for You in whatever way You set before us. Thank You for the promise of eternal blessing in Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: 1 Chronicles 16, Psalm 106, Matthew 19 Click HERE to give! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on the Daily Radio Bible, a daily Bible‑in‑a‑year podcast with 20‑minute Scripture readings, Christ‑centered devotion, and guided prayer.This daily Bible reading and devotional invites you to live as a citizen of Jesus' kingdom, reconciled, renewed, and deeply loved. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! In today's episode, Hunter invites us to journey through Scripture on this second day of May, reading from 1 Chronicles 16, Psalm 106, and Matthew 19. Together, we'll reflect on the faithfulness of God throughout history, the enduring nature of His covenant love, and Jesus' teachings on marriage, divorce, and what it means to truly follow Him. Hunter unpacks the heart of God behind the law, highlighting how Christ—the true bridegroom—offers hope, transformation, and freedom for our hard hearts. The episode concludes with times of prayer, encouragement to stay curious and open to God's presence, and a reminder that you are deeply loved. Join us as we warm our hearts by the fire of God's love and listen for what the Spirit is saying today. TODAY'S DEVOTION: He is God's answer for our hard hearts. In Matthew 19, Jesus speaks about the law—not as a set of rules meant to bring life, but as a concession to our hard hearts. When asked about divorce, he makes it clear: the laws were never God's original intention. They are an acknowledgment of our rebellion, our separation, our waywardness. The law meets us in our brokenness, but it is not the answer. God's answer is not a rule but a relationship. The answer is pictured in marriage—a union where two become one, where love and faithfulness are at the center. At the very first miracle, Jesus turns water into wine at a wedding, and at the last, all of creation gathers for the great marriage feast of the Lamb. All of Scripture, from beginning to end, is pointing us to the Bridegroom—Jesus. He alone is the One who transforms and heals the hard places within us. The keepers of the law came to trap Jesus, but he was not interested in debate. Instead, he offers a new way—a way to freedom and newness of heart, a miracle of transformation for all who would let him work. Jesus is the answer for our condition, the One who brings hope and changes hearts of stone into hearts alive with love. It is in him that all things are made new, where the impossible becomes possible, and where grace meets us in our deepest need. The law shows us our limits, but Christ gives us his life. Let us receive him, the Bridegroom who has come for us. Let him soften what has grown hard. Let him make us new. Step into the life that is yours in Christ—the life of joy, reconciliation, and love. That's the prayer that I have for my own soul. That's the prayer that I have for my family, for my wife and my daughters and my son. And that's the prayer that I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen. Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. And now Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. And where there is sadness, Joy. Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life. Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ. Amen. 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