Tag Archives: Jesus

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Matthew 5:5 A person who is “meek” is often thought of as being resigned to their circumstances, even weak, but that really isn’t what is being described here. Those who … Continue reading →

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matthew 5:4 Most of the time, we don’t associate blessing with mourning; maybe we should rethink this… Matthew didn’t actually say what those blessed ones are mourning; it could be … Continue reading →

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3 The first Beatitude speaks of those who are “poor in spirit”. Much has been made about the difference between Matthew’s language and that of Luke … Continue reading →

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him,  and he began to teach them. Matthew 5:1-2 The Sermon on the Mount begins with nine “Beatitudes” in which Jesus describes … Continue reading →

Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe … Continue reading →

When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: “Land … Continue reading →

Matthew 4:1-11 After His baptism by John, Jesus heads out to the Wilderness (desert) to be tempted by Satan. In this narrative, we see once again Matthew’s fondness for connecting his story about Jesus with the history of Israel, in … Continue reading →

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is … Continue reading →

Matthew 3:1-12 Matthew skips over nearly 30 years between 2:23 and 3:1 and in so doing he has emphasized for us his priority on the identity and role of Jesus over that of providing mere biographical information. This is further … Continue reading →

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 As a Christian reading this verse as translated in the NIV, and then seeing Matthew’s reference to it in … Continue reading →