“It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” — Matthew 15:11 Tradition Versus Commandment (Verses 1–9) Pharisees and scribes arrive from Jerusalem with a complaint: why do the disciples eat without washing their hands according to the tradition of the…
“And when the men of that place recognized him, they sent around to all that region and brought to him all who were sick and implored him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.” — Matthew 14:35–36 The Death of John the Baptist…
“To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” —…
“Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets; a bruised reed he will not break, and…
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” — Matthew 11:28–29 John’s Question from Prison (Verses 1–6) John the Baptist is in…
“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” — Matthew 10:16 The Twelve Named and Commissioned (Verses 1–4) Jesus calls his twelve disciples and gives them authority over unclean spirits and every disease and affliction. Then Matthew does something deliberate: he…
“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” — Matthew 9:12–13 The Paralytic and the Deeper Healing (Verses 1–8) Jesus crosses back to Capernaum and is…
“Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed.” — Matthew 8:8 The Leper and the Touch (Verses 1–4) Coming down from the mountain where he had delivered the great sermon, Jesus is immediately met by a man with leprosy —…
Context and Key Themes Matthew 7 concludes the Sermon on the Mount, gathering its final instructions into a series of increasingly urgent imperatives. The chapter opens with a warning about judgment — not a prohibition on discernment, but a command against the self-exempting hypocrisy that sees the speck in a brother’s eye while ignoring the…
Context and Key Themes Matthew 6 continues the Sermon on the Mount, moving from the antitheses of chapter 5 into the interior of religious practice. Where chapter 5 deepened the ethical demands of the Law by exposing the heart beneath the act, chapter 6 exposes the danger of performance — of doing the right things…