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

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

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

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.

In Matthew chapter 1 – The genealogy of Jesus, through Joseph, has grace written all over it – for in it we find the names of 3 women (Tamar, Bathsheba and Mary), who by justice’s standards should have been discarded.  Yet, God chose to show them grace.  In chapter 2, the Magi chose to fear God rather than men in not telling Herod the location of Jesus.  Lord, thank you for your grace in my life.  May Your grace empower me to fear you rather than men.

-Bryan McKenzie