Matthew 9:9-13 Last year David Cameron called “pockets of our society… not just broken but, frankly, sick.” He was referring not, of course, to politicians but to the riotous youth of Britain. Jesus says, there is a problem with moral and spiritual sickness – a deadly one. Yet the far greater problem is people who […]
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Glen
Matthew 9:1-12 It sounds like the sort of saying we should use at Christmas. It has that ye olde yuletide ring to it: “Be of good cheer!” But when Jesus used this phrase there was nothing cheery about the circumstances. There was no earthly reason to ‘cheer up.’ Yet that didn’t stop Jesus from saying […]
Matthew 8:23-27; Matthew 14:22-33 At heart, God is Giver. We, therefore, are meant to receive – that is, believe. And yet, listen to how Jesus commonly speaks of His followers: “O ye of little faith.” (Matthew 6:30; 8:26; 14:31; 16:8; Luke 12:28) There are two exceptions – the Roman Centurion and the Canaanite woman (Matthew 15:28). They have […]
John 3:16-21 Everything is relative. By which I mean that all things correspond to God. Even God corresponds to God and has His existence relative to God. That is the doctrine of the Trinity. Therefore how much more ought the creature to properly relate to its Creator. So the vital question arises, how should we […]
John 3:1-16 Suppose I told you that anyone could drive my car. What kind of car would you imagine? And if I told you that anyone could have my car, what would you suppose? Would you imagine a sports car? Probably not. More likely I was offering a rust bucket due for an expensive MOT. […]
Luke 13:22-30 Sometimes the KJV translates it as “weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 8:12; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30; Luke 13:28) Sometimes it says “wailing and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 13:42, 50) Both are translations of the same Greek phrase. (The King James is not as consistent as some like to make out). Yet the popular […]
Matthew 8:1-13 The Jews were insiders – the chosen race, the people of God. Israel was a light to the nations, a shining advertisement for the LORD’s grace and glory. And yet, as Jesus would often say, “the first shall be last and the last shall be first.” (e.g. Matthew 19:30) Judgement involves dramatic reversals. […]
Matthew 7:21-27 Jesus splits the world in two. But He does it by descending right into our midst. There He is, the son of Mary, an itinerant preacher with no qualifications and no fixed abode. Surrounded by the poor, the meek and the persecuted, He holds forth with His distinctive northern accent. Yet as He […]
Matthew 7:15-20 Jesus has told us “Beware” of wolves in sheep’s clothing. They look like Christians, they speak in Christ’s name but they are false prophets. And their false teaching devastates the flock. But how can we defend ourselves against this secret threat? After all, these wolves look – at least from a distance – […]
Matthew 7:15-20 In the sermon on the mount, there is a progression in Christ’s teaching about the Scribes and Pharisees. They begin as standard-bearers for outward righteousness. If anyone is to enter the Kingdom, they must have a righteousness that exceeds the Scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 5:20). Of course that means that these do-gooders are […]
