Mike Blogs

Jesus has spoken directly to the crowds and the disciples. He warned the people about imitating the behavior of the scribes and Pharisees...

The questioning is over; now Jesus responds to the assault. Three years as a missionary to the natives of Galilee and Judea have given...

As I stated last week, chapters 21 and 22 are structured around a revolving cast of authorities who ask various questions that are meant...

22: 15-17.  Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the...

22: 1-6.  Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet...

Matthew 21 is an important chapter, so I want to review what was said and done there. Jesus has arrived in Jerusalem and has begun his...

21: 23-27.  When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching and said, “By what...

We must be careful; I must be careful not to split this lesson up from the last lesson. This chapter is a seamless story, yet time...

Jesus declared in Chapter 16 that it was a divine necessity that he go to Jerusalem; the word is ‘must go’ and it is an expression of the...

As I said before, be suspicious of any breaks that appear in your English text of the Bible. In neither Hebrew nor Greek were there...

As is often the case, the break for a new chapter here is not helpful because we lose some of the continuity of Jesus’ thought. It’s like...

The scene changes quickly. Children were being brought to him, but now “ someone” shows up with a burning question. Matthew gives us no...

Jesus and the disciples have gathered at base camp Capernaum to prepare for a journey to Jerusalem. Apparently, they are now ready and so...

Where are we in the story? This whole chapter is a rather extended discourse about leaders and members of the Community of the King, aka...

After the glory of the Transfiguration when Jesus was honored by Moses and Elijah and confirmed by God as his Son, Jesus and the...

The Transfiguration is a high point in the story, both for Jesus and for the disciples. From here, Jesus takes a different direction. As...

What came before? Jesus and the disciples journeyed north of Galilee into the district of Caesarea Philippi, which was a Roman-governed...

16: 13-17.   Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man...

Consider this: In Chapter 14, Jesus fed the 5000, walked on water, and healed the sick at Gennesaret. In Chapter 15, Jesus healed the...

Throughout the last couple of chapters, the crowds have chased Jesus, the Pharisees have cross-examined him, and Jesus has kept moving...