Tag Archives: life

Those Who Mourn

Posted on May 30, 2019 by Don Merritt

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 →

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Poor in Spirit

Posted on May 29, 2019 by Don Merritt

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 →

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The Beatitudes: An Introduction

Posted on May 29, 2019 by Don Merritt

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 →

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Kingdom, Teaching, Healing

Posted on May 28, 2019 by Don Merritt

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 →

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Calling Disciples

Posted on May 28, 2019 by Don Merritt

  As we continue with Matthew’s account of Jesus, we come to the time when He began calling disciples, and no matter how many times I read these accounts whether it be here in Matthew or in one of the … Continue reading →

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Jesus Heads to Galilee

Posted on May 27, 2019 by Don Merritt

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 →

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Jesus in the Wilderness

Posted on May 27, 2019 by Don Merritt

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 →

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Jesus Appears on the Scene

Posted on May 26, 2019 by Don Merritt

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 →

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Preparing the Way of the Lord

Posted on May 25, 2019 by Don Merritt

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 →

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A Sudden Trip to Egypt and a Home in Nazareth

Posted on May 24, 2019 by Don Merritt

Matthew 2:13-23 When we left off, the Magi, because of a message from God in a dream, left the house where the infant Messiah was staying in Bethlehem and returned home without going back to tell Herod where the child … Continue reading →

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