Abide Together: Reflections on Matthew 15

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Matthew 15 records Jesus having a run in with the Pharisees and scribes, He teaches on the heart, heals a daughter of a Canaanite woman, heals many others and feeds 4,000.  His miracles once again show His power over everything and His compassion for people.  His healing of the daughter of the Canaanite shows His mission was no only the Jews, but every other nation as well.  The thing that stands out to me is Jesus teaching on the heart.  The Pharisees and scribes are accusing the disciples of breaking the tradition of the elders by not going through a ceremonial washing of their hands when they eat.  It was not the breaking of God’s law that bothered them, but the breaking of the “tradition of the elders” that upset them. They had elevated tradition over God’s law.  Jesus calls them out on this by pointing to the fact that they break God’s law by not caring for their parents who are in need, because they have “dedicated their resources to God.”  Jesus says by doing this they invalidate the word of God for the sake of tradition.  People do the same today when they elevate preferences or traditions over God’s Word.  Jesus then tells the crowds and his disciples that it is not what goes into a person that defiles them, but what proceeds out of them that defiles them.  He explains to the disciples that what goes into a man’ s mouth runs its course through the digestive tract and then is eliminated. What comes out of man’s mouth comes from the heart and this is what defiles him/her.  Our words and actions come from our hearts.  Without Jesus mankind’s heart is wicked and only lives for self.  Praise the Lord, that those who trust In Jesus as Lord and Savior – they are given a new heart that has the desire and power to say and do what honors the Lord and His Word.  Lord, may I always choose your principle/truth over preferences so that You are glorified.  Thank you for giving me a new heart in Christ so that I may honor you with my lips and my life.

– Bryan McKenzie

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Abide Together: Reflections on Matthew 14

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Matthew 14 records Herod’s cowardice act of beheading John the Baptist.  This is followed by the feeding of the 5,000 (plus women and children) with only five loaves and two fish.  Matthew then records that Jesus “made” the disciples get into a boat and go ahead of him to the other side.  He, on that other hand, went up on a mountain to pray. When Jesus made the disciples get into the boat, he knew there was a storm coming.  He placed them in a storm and then came to them walking on the water.  Sometimes Jesus places His people in a difficult place to teach them something and mature them. We know from the other Gospel accounts that the boat could make only slow progress in the storm, yet Jesus easily caught up to the boat as he walked on the water.  Peter then successfully walked on the water to Jesus, until he took his eyes on Jesus and put them on his surroundings.  Peter cried out to Jesus for help and Jesus saved him.  When Jesus go into the boat the storm stopped and the disciples responded by worshipping Him.  The feeding of the 5,000, the walking on the water and the calming of the storm all showed that Jesus has power over things created, therefore the disciples could trust Him completely.  Lord, thank for placing me in storms to grow me and then coming to me in the storms to rescue me.  Help me to worship You and trust You more no matter the circumstances.

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Abide Together: Reflections on Matthew 13

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In Matthew 13 Jesus begins to teach in parables. The 2 major parables He uses emphasize the same main message.  The first parable is the parable of the soils.  Seed is sown on different types of soils and yet fruit is only realized in the good soil. Jesus explains that the seed that is sown is the word of God and the different soils represent the hearts of people.  They all hear the word, but only the good soil/the one who hears and understand produces fruit.  The second major parable He uses is the parable of the tares among wheat.  A man sowed good seed in his field and while he was sleeping an enemy sowed tares among his wheat.  Jesus explained that the good seed/sons of the Kingdom is sown by him. The devil sows the tares/sons of the evil one.  There will be a day when Jesus will send forth his angels and gather the sons of the devil and throw them in that place where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  Then the sons of the Kingdom will be left and shine brightly.  They key to understanding these 2 parables is found in verses 10-17 where Jesus explains why he uses parables.  He uses parables so that people in their own wisdom and strength cannot understand the truth.  In fact the disciples did not understand these parables until Jesus gave them the explanation.  Therefore, the main message is: it is only those who are rightly related to Jesus that will understand the truth and believe.  Some may appear to understand (others soils) and even live among the sons of the kingdom (tares), but ultimately it will be brought to light those who are truly sons of the Kingdom/those rightly related to Jesus by faith.  Lord, help me be faithful to sow Your seed/Word among all people and trust you to open their hearts to understand and believe. Thank you for opening up my heart to understand and believe.

– Bryan McKenzie

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Abide Together: Reflections on Matthew 12

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In Matthew 12 Jesus is challenged by the Pharisees concerning working on the Sabbath.  He shows them that God wants them to be more concerned for the needs of people than externally keeping the Sabbath.  Jesus says that He is the Lord of the Sabbath and proves it by healing a man on the Sabbath.  Once again the Pharisees show that their heart is wrong by desiring to destroy Jesus, instead of rejoicing over the restoration of the healed man.  Jesus reminds them that He also came for the Gentiles.  Jesus heals again and they accuse Him again of being from Satan.  He rebukes them and warns them not to reject the Holy Spirit who is clearly showing them that He is the promised Messiah.  By rejecting the Holy Spirit and Jesus as Messiah, they are rejecting the only means by which their sin can be forgiven and therefore be made right with God.  He then shows them how important words are, for they reveal the heart.  What we say matters, because it flows from our hearts.  Our words are an indicator of the condition of our hearts.  Ironically the scribes and Pharisees call for a sign from Jesus.  He has given them multiple signs that He is the Messiah and yet they still reject Him.  The Lord has given the world innumerable signs that point to Jesus as Messiah and Savior from sin, yet most of the world still rejects him.  Jesus once again points to the fact that He must be the priority in our lives and this will be made evident if we do His will.  Lord, by Your grace may I make mercy and compassion an emphasis in my life, instead of external religious activity.  May I also continually point people to the truth of Jesus as the Savor of the world and trust you to change their hearts. By Your grace may my words be edifying and truthful and may I do Your will so that You alone are made much of in this world.

 

– Bryan McKenzie

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Abide Together: Reflections on Matthew 11

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In Matthew 11 Jesus makes it clear over and over that He is the promised Messiah. His answer to John the Baptist’s question of whether He is the “Expected One” points to His works as proof that He is the Messiah.  Jesus also points to the fact that He is the Messiah by explaining John’s ministry.  John is the fulfillment of the prophecy concerning the one who will prepare the way for the Messiah, as well as the one who was promised to come in the spirit of Elijah. Jesus says that HE has made it so plain that He is the Messiah that many cities that have rejected Him will be judged more severely than the wicked cities of Tyre, Sidon and Sodom of the Old Testament.  Although Jesus’ words, works and the witness of John are enough to condemn people for their unbelief, Jesus explains that it is not intelligence that will cause a person to believe.  Instead, those who believe will be the ones who are humble and know they need rest for their souls.  Only God can reveal this to people.  Thank you Lord, for clearly revealing that Jesus is the Messiah who saves from sin and for opening my eyes to this truth.  By Your grace, may I continually proclaim this truth every day.

– Bryan McKenzie

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Abide Together: Reflections on Mathew 10

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In chapter 10 Jesus grants a measure of authority to the original 12 apostles.  He sends them out first to the nation of Israel for they were the first people that should have been expecting Him and His message of salvation.  Jesus warns the 12 they will be rejected and persecuted by some.  They will even be handed over to governors and kings for the sake of Jesus.  Jesus says this will happen as a testimony to those government leaders and to the Gentiles.  This again points to the fact that Jesus is the Savior for the world, not just the Jews. Jesus tells them not to be surprised by this persecution and hatred, for they hate him too and accuse Him of being Beelzebul (ruler of the demons). He tells them not to fear for God is in control and will care for them through the persecution. He challenges them that they will have to give up the life they once knew to pursue true life.  Jesus and His mission cannot just be part of their lives, He must be their life.  Jesus also reminds them that although following Him will mean difficulty, there will be reward. Following Jesus is not easy, it is difficult, yet the Lord will provide His followers all they need to fulfill His call on their life and will reward them in His time and His way.  Father, I know a life of following Jesus will not be easy, so remind me daily that You dwell in me through the person of the Holy Spirit to empower, encourage and instruct me to fulfill the mission of making disciples of all the nations. Thank you, Lord.

– Bryan McKenzie

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Abide Together: Reflections on Matthew 9

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In Matthew 9 Jesus heals many different kinds of diseases, gives sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, casts out a demon and even raises a girl from the dead.  He also does this for people who were outcasts and people who were in prominent positions. This shows that His ministry was to all types of people.  The fact that He heals all these people shows His power over the effects of sin in the world.   Yet, the most impressive and important thing is that He shows His power and authority to forgive sin.  The Pharisees did not like the fact that Jesus spent time with tax collectors and sinners.  Jesus lets them know that His ministry was to sinners.  Therefore, in chapter 9, Jesus shows that His mission was to deal with the effects of sin and more importantly to forgive sin.  Jesus, at the end of chapter 9, calls for His followers to be willing workers in calling people to come to Jesus for forgiveness of sin.  He also calls them to ask the Lord to send out many workers to spread the great news that Jesus saves from the penalty, power and presence of sin.  Lord, use me to spread your message of salvation from sin.

– Bryan McKenzie

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Abide Together: Reflections on Matthew 8

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In chapter 8 by healing the leper, the Centurion’s servant, and Peter’s mother-in-law – Jesus shows his power over sickness.  When Jesus calms the storm that He and some of his disciples are in at sea – He is showing His power over the natural or created world.  Then in the last part of the chapter we see Jesus cast out demons from the 2 men in the country of the Gadarenes – which shows His power over the supernatural.  Only God has power over sickness, the natural and the supernatural, therefore Jesus was proving that He was God in the flesh.  After Jesus healed the leper, the Centurion’s servant and Peter’s mother-in-law, He challenged the commitment to follow Him of those who were around Him.  He did so, by testing whether their commitment to follow Him was greater than their own personal comfort (v. 20) or their ties to their own families and their earthly inheritance (v. 22).  If a person truly believes that Jesus is God in the flesh and has power over everything, then following Him above all else is the natural response.  Lord, thank You for showing me that Jesus is God the Son and has power over everything, therefore Jesus alone is to be followed.  By Your grace enable me to follow Jesus in such a way that you alone will be glorified.

– Bryan McKenzie

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Abide Together: Reflections on Matthew 7

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In chapter 7, Jesus addresses making proper judgments, the generosity of God, the exclusivity of the Gospel, and false prophets/teachers who bear bad fruit.  The end of chapter 7,  Jesus tells a parable of two men and their lives.  They both experience the difficulties of life (rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds slammed against that house). The difference between these two men is their response to the words of Jesus.  The wise man is the one who hears Jesus words and acts on them (v. 24).  The foolish man is the one who hears Jesus’ words and does not act on them (v. 26).   The man who acted on Jesus’ words (built his house not he rock) withstood the difficulties of life, while the man who did not act on Jesus words (built his house on the sand) did not withstand the difficulties of life.  Lord, by Your grace may I continually hear and act on Your Word, so that I will handle the difficulties of life in a way that brings You glory and not me.

– Bryan McKenzie

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Reflections on Matthew 5: Abide Together

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Matthew 5-7 contains what is referred to as the “Sermon on the Mount.”  One of the main  purposes of the “Sermon on the Mount” is to shatter self-righteousness.  Most people of the day, especially Jewish leaders, were trying to attain the righteousness God demands through self effort in the keeping of the law externally.  Here in chapter 5 Jesus goes straight to the heart, showing that it is the heart that counts.  A new heart leads to God honoring actions.  People need a new heart, which Jesus gives to those who trust Him as their savior from sin and the one who meets the righteousness God demands (2 Corinthians 5:21).  Lord, thank you that I do not have to earn my salvation and for the fact that you have given me a new heart through faith in Jesus who died and rose again in my place.

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