What Jesus taught me in Matthew

Chapter 3

John Baptizes Jesus:

We need to be baptized – to make our commitment to practice what God expects of us.

Chapter 4

Satan tempts Jesus in the Desert.

·         We need to pay attention to the word of God that is given in the Bible and from the Holy Spirit through other means (e.g. life, readings, sermons).

·         We are to trust God and not “test” Him by asking him for anything other than guidance, and expecting certain results; instead of just expecting his will to be done.

·         “Worship the Lord your God, and SERVE him only.

Jesus begins his ministry.

Becoming a follower of Christ means turning away from our self-centeredness and “self” control and turning our lives over to God’s direction and control.

Four Fishermen Follow Jesus

When God asks us to serve , we must be like th disciples and do it at once.

Chapter 5

Jesus Gives the Beatitudes

God’s way of living usually  contradicts the world’s.  If you want to live for God you must be ready to say and do what seems strange to the world.  You must be willing to give when others take, to love when others hate, to help when others abuse.  By giving up your own rights in order to serve God, you will share in God’s love in heaven.

This approach means the experience of hope and joy.  To find hope and joy, we must love God no matter what the cost.  Our attitude must be one of humility and self-sacrifice.

Facing challenging times is good because:

1.       It takes our eyes off earthly rewards.

2.       It strips away casual belief.

3.       It strengthens the faith of those who endure, and

4.       Our attitude through it serves as an example to others.

The fact that we are being persecuted proves that we have been faithful.

Jesus Teaches about Salt and Light

If we are too much like the world, we are worthless.  Instead, we should attempt to affect others positively.

If we live for God we will show others what Christ, as our example, expects of us.  We hide our light by:

1.       Being quiet when we should speak,

2.       Going along with the crowd,

3.       Denying what is right,

4.       Letting sin dampen our light,

5.       Not explaining our faith to others

Jesus teaches about the Law

Whoever practices and teaches God’s commands, will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.  But even more important is allowing God to change our hearts (or attitudes).  This change is reflected by our actions.  Our life must:

1.       Come from  what God does in us,

2.       Be God-centered; not self-centered,

3.       Be based on love for God, not approval from people,

4.       Live by the principles behind the law.

Jesus Teaches about Anger

We miss the intent of God’s Word when we read HIS rules for living without trying to understand why he made them.

Anger  refers to a seething, brooding bitterness against someone.  Anger  keeps us from a spirit pleasing to God.  Broken relationships  can affect our relationship with God.  We are hypocrites if we claim to love God while we hate his children.  We need to get things right with others before we are called to him.

Jesus teaches about lust

To be faithful to your spouse with your body but not your mind is to break the trust so vital to a relationship.  Left unchecked, wrong desires will result in wrong actions and turn people away from God.

Jesus Teaches about vows

Telling the truth is important..  Keeping  oaths and promises is important.  It builds trust and makes committed relationships possible.

Jesus Teaches about Retaliation

Make the punishment fit the crime with mercy added in is the minimum God expects.  God’s desire for us  to love and forgive.  As example, we should pray for people that we have a strained relationship.

Jesus Teaches about Loving Enemies

By loving and praying for our enemies we can overcome evil with love.  When we love our enemies and treat them well, we truly show that we love God with our whole heart.  This is possible only for those that have placed control of their life in God’s hands.

How can we be perfect:

1.       In character We can try to be as much like Jesus

2.       In holiness –We are to be devoted to God’s desires and carry his love into the world.

3.       In maturity-We must work at growing more like Christ,

4.       In love-We can learn to love others.

Chapter 6

Jesus Teaches about Giving to the Needy

God will reward those who are sincere in their faith.  Our giving to God and to others must be pure.  Believers should give as a response to God’s love.  We should do our good deeds quietly or in secret, with no thought of reward.

Jesus Teaches about Prayer

Prayer  should be a private communication with God.  We need to make our prayers are honest and sincere.  We should praise God, pray that his will be in the forefront of our life. pray for our guidance by the Holy Spirit.  We must  remember that God is in love with us.  We must commit to honor God.  We should pray that God’s purpose will be accomplished.

We should remind ourselves daily that God is providing everything to us like air to breathe.  We must trust God daily to provide what he knows we need.    God allows us to be tested.  We should pray for guidance to get through difficult challenges.  God has promised that he won’t allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear.  We need to choose God’s way.

If we refuse to forgive others, God will also refuse to forgive us.  

Jesus Teaches about Fasting

Fasting gives us time to pray, teaches self-control, reminds us that we can live with a lot less, and helps us appreciate God’s gifts.  He wants us to do our acts of self-sacrifice quietly and sincerely.  He wants people to adopt spiritual disciplines. 

Jesus teaches about money

We store up treasures in heaven when we obey God.  Spiritual vision is our capacity to see clearly what God wants us to do and to see the world from his point of view.  Serving God is the best way to improve it, by keeping our goal as loving God.  We need to ask ourselves if our thoughts, time, and efforts are on God or other things.  Jesus is calling us to live contently with whatever we have, because we are looking to join our lover in heaven.

Jesus teaches about worry

Worry may:

1.       Damage our health,

2.       Cause the object of our worry to consume our thoughts,

3.       Disrupt your love of God,

4.       negatively affect the way we treat others, and

5.       reduce your ability to trust God.

We need to turn to God first for help, to fill our thoughts with his desires take his character for our pattern, and to love and obey him in everything.  Worriers are consumed by fear and find it difficult to trust God.  We need to concentrate on our relationship with God.

Chapter 7

Jesus Teaches about Criticizing Others

Jesus tells us to examine our own motives and conduct instead of judging others.  Judging yourself first, and then lovingly forgive and help your neighbor.  We should not stop giving God’s Word to unbelievers, but we should be wise and discerning in what we teach to whom, so that we will not be wasting our time.

Jesus Teaches about Asking, Seeking, Knocking

Jesus tells us to persist in pursuing God.  Knowing God takes faith, focus, and follow-through.  Continue to ask him for more knowledge, patience, wisdom, love, and understanding.  He is a loving Father, who understands, cares, and comforts. 

Jesus Teaches about the Way to Heaven

Living his way may not be popular but it is the best way.

Jesus Teaches about Those Who Build Houses on Rock and Sand

God is more concerned about our walk than our talk.  He wants us to do right, not just say the right words.  What yo9u do cannot  be separated from what you believe.  To build “on the rock means to be a hearing, responding  disciple, not a phony; superficial one.  Practicing love of God becomes the solid foundation to weather the storms of life.  Part of our responsibility as lovers of God is to help others stop and think about  where their lives are heading.

Chapter 8

Jesus performs many miracles

We must realize our inability to help ourselves and ask God’s saving help. 

A Roman Centurion Demonstrates Faith

We need to keep many obstacles stand between God and us like: pride, doubt, money, language, distance, time, self-sufficiency, power, and race.  We must  be careful not to become so set in our religious habits that we expect God to work only in specified ways.  In  claiming God’s promises, we must apply the Christian family/faith is a wonderful blessing, but it won’t guarantee your eternal life.  You must love God with your WHOLE heart, mind, soul and strength.

Jesus Heals Peter’s Mother-in-Law and many others

Because God has promised us all the rewards of his kingdom, we should look for ways to love him and his followers now.

Jesus Teaches about the Cost of Following Him

Following Jesus means great cost and sacrifice, with no earthly rewards guaranteed, except his love and peace.  You may find that following Jesus cost you popularity, friendships, leisure time, or treasured habits.  Discipleship is an investment for the future that lasts for eternity and yields incredible rewards.  Nothing should be placed above a total commitment to loving God.

Jesus calms the storm

There is often a stormy area of our human nature where we feel God can’t or won’t work.  Jesus power can help us deal with the problems we face; if it his will and part of his plan.

Jesus Sends the Demons into a herd of pigs.

Just believing is not enough.  We must live out our faith by obeying his guidance.  We must realize that every human individual is a unique creation of God, needing to be informed about his love.  Unlike human gods, our God cannot be contained, controlled, or appeased.  How foolish and yet how easy it is to value possessions, investments, and even animals above what God offers and demands of us.

Chapter 9

Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man

Spiritual health comes only from God’s healing touch through shared love.  First we have to learn to love him.  Talk is cheap, but our words lack meaning if our actions do not back them up.  We can say that we love God, but if we are not taking practical steps to demonstrate that love, our words are empty and meaningless.

Jesus Eats with Sinners at Matthew’s house

Sometimes the decision to follow Christ requires difficult or painful choices.  We should not be afraid to reach out to people who are living in sin – God’s message can change anyone.  We should provide encouragement and practical help.  Following Jesus’ example, we should share the gospel with the poor, immoral, lonely, and outcast.  The first step in following Jesus is acknowledging our need and admitting that we can’t do it on our own.

Religious Leaders Ask Jesus about fasting

We need to take the next step and trusted in God.  When we follow Christ, we must be prepared for new ways to live, new ways to look at people, and new ways to serve.

Jesus Heals a Bleeding Women and Restores a Girl to Life.

We can simply reach out in faith.  He will respond.  God can change what seems unchangeable if it his will, giving new purpose and hope.

Jesus Heals the Blind and Mute

When we think that God is too slow in answering your prayers, consider that he might be testing/training us; or it may not be part of his plan. 

Jesus Urges the Disciples to Pray for Workers

Jesus needs workers who know how to deal with people’s problems.  We can comfort others and show them the way to live because we have been helped with our problems by God and his followers.  Be prepared for God to use us to show another person the way to him.

Chapter 10

Jesus Sends out the Twelve Disciples

Christ doesn’t twist our arms and make us do something we don’t want to do, when he calls us.  God can use anyone, no matter how insignificant he or she feels.  Because God has given us great love through his blessings, we should give generously to his other children of our time, love, and possessions.

Jesus Prepares the Disciples for Persecution

Living for God often brings on persecution, but with it comes the opportunity to tell the good news of the love we can share.  Standing firm to the end is the evidence that a person truly loves God with a WHOLE heart, mind, soul and strength.  And this ability comes through a truly devoted life.  The real test of value is how well something holds up under the wear, tear, and challenges of everyday life.  As we take our cross and follow him, our different values, morals, goals, and purposes will set us apart from others. 

Chapter 11

Jesus teaches about the kingdom

If we doubt the work of God in our lives, we only have to look at how God is impacting our lives.  Entering God’s kingdom takes courage, unwavering faith, determination, and endurance.  We must remember that this approach will not be popular, because it challenges our comfortable, secure, and self-centered lives.  This approach requires us to change our life.

Jesus Promises Rest for the soul

We who have access to Christian teachings will not have any excuses.  We need to be like little children – Humbly open to receive the love of God’s Word.  We need to have an intimate relationship with God.  Jesus offers us love, healing and peace with God.  A relationship with God changes meaningless, wearisome toil into a better quality of life.

Chapter 12

The Disciples Pick Wheat on the Sabbath

Jesus was not condoning disobedience to God’s laws.  Instead he was emphasizing discernment and compassion in enforcing the laws.  The purpose of the Sabbath is to worship God.  If we become more concerned with the means of worship, than with the One we worship, we will miss God even as we think we are worshiping him.  Our heart/love attitude toward God comes first.  Only than can we properly obey and observe religious regulations and rituals.

Jesus Heals a Man’s Hand on the Sabbath

God is a God of people, not rules. 

Large Crowds Follow Jesus

God’s work is usually quiet and it happens according to his perfect timing, not ours.

Religious Leaders Accuse Jesus of Being under Satan’s Power

God knows all our thoughts. This is comforting because he knows what we really mean when we speak to him.   Anyone who is not actively following him has  chosen to reject him.  We must allow the Holy Spirit to fill us with new attitudes motives when we turn over control of our life.

Religious Leaders Ask Jesus for a Miracle.

Just cleaning up one’s  life without filling it without filling it with God’s love and obedience to him. 

Jesus Describes His True Family

Jesus pointed out that spiritual relationships are more important than physical ones, and he was paving the way for a new community of believers (the church).

Chapter 13

Jesus Tells the Parable of the Four Soils

If you honestly seek God’s will, you have spiritual hearing, and Jesus’ parables will have meaning.

Jesus explains the Parable of the Four Soils

We are responsible to use what we have.  How easy it is to agree with Christ, with no intention of obeying.  It is easy to denounce worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth, and still do nothing to change our ways.

Jesus Tells the Parable of the Weeds

The kingdom of heaven is a spiritual realm which God rules and where we share in his love and eternal life.  We join that kingdom when we trust and love God.  We need to prepare for this kingdom by making sure that our faith is running our life.

Jesus Explains the Parable of the weeds

If we start judging people we may mis-judge someone; instead we need to concentrate on our response to life.

Jesus tells of Hidden Treasure and the Pearl Merchant

The kingdom of heaven is more valuable than anything else we have and a person must be willing to give up everything to obtain it.

Jesus Tells the Parable of the Fishing Net

We are to obey God and tell others about our faith.

The people of Nazareth Refuse to Believe

If we can’t see God working in our life; maybe it’s because we don’t believe enough to turn over control of our life. To God.

Chapter 14

Herod kills John the Baptist

We need to avoid situations where it will be too embarrassing to do what is right.  Be ready to do right mo matter how painful it may be.

Jesus Feeds five Thousands

We need to keep remembering that Jesus hurts with us.  Whatever we turnover in our life,like talent, time, or money, God can use.

Jesus walks on Water

Spending time with God, nurtures a vital relationship and equips us to meet life’s challenges and struggles. We need to keep our love on fire for God so that we can grow spiritually and achieve what God has planned for us.

Jesus Heals All Who Touch Him

Only when we understand our true purpose on earth can we truly achieve the “abundant life.”  The purpose of learning to love God with our WHOLE heart mind, soul and strength.

Chapter 15

Jesus Teaches about Inner purity

God’s principles never change, and his principles do not need additional laws or traditions.  When we claim to honor God while our hearts are far from him, our worship means nothing.  Our actions and our attitudes must be sincere.  We must make sure that our earthly leaders who guide our spiritual life are teaching us what is in the Bible.  The way we are in our whole heart, mind, soul and strength are very important.  God wants us to seek healthy thoughts and motives.

Jesus Sends a Demon Out of a Girl

We need to be open to God’s message is for ALL people, and we need to take it to all people by our actions AND words.

The Crowd Marvels at Jesus Healings

One of the best ways we can bring out God’s message is through prayer and/or through explaining how God worked in your life.

Jesus Feeds Four Thousands

When faced with a difficult situation, remember how God has cared for you in the past and trust him to work faithfully again.

Chapter 16

Religious Leaders Ask for a Sign in the Sky

One of the reason God does not always answer prayers is that he knows that it will not improve anyone’s relationship with him.  He needs to know  that people will  be helped to  step forward in faith and love him, then you will begin to see the miracles that fit into his plans.

Jesus Predicts His Death the First Time

Great temptations can come from those who love us and seek to protect us; this is one of the reasons God will not allow love of others over love of him.   Satan is always trying to get us to leave God out of the picture, because of that.  Real discipleship implies real commitment – pledging our whole existence to love of him and thereby service to him.  If we protect ourselves from pain, we begin to die spiritually and emotionally.  Our lives turn inward, and lose our intended purpose of loving God completely.  When we do make that commitment  of complete love, we discover the real purpose of living.

Chapter 17

Jesus is Transfigured on the Mountain

When we have a correct understanding of Christ, we will obey him.

Jesus Heals a Demon possessed Boy

If we feel weak or powerless as Christians, we need to examine our faith, love and trust in God.  Only when we have these things right will our life become useful and peaceful.

Chapter 18

The Disciples Argue about Who would be the greatest

 We are to be childlike, with humble and loving heart.  Someone who is trusting and dependent.  We have to be careful when we are that-way that we are led away from our faith.

Jesus warns against Temptation

We must never take lightly the spiritual education and guidance of the young in age and in the faith.  For the individual, any relationship, practice, or activity, that affects our hearts and minds negatively against our faith should be stopped.

Jesus Warns against Looking Down  on Others

We need to steer the youn\g in age/faith  by our example, our words, and our acts of kindness.

Jesus Teaches How to Treat a believer Who Sins

We need to forgive and restore our relationship with everyone who wrongs us.  Handling problems God’s way will have an impact now and for eternity.  A key to achieving this is to remember that it is God, our lover, who we need to satisfy.

Jesus Tells the Parable of the unforgiving Debtor

When we don’t forgive others, we are setting ourselves outside and above Christ’s law of love.

Chapter 19

Jesus Teaches about Marriage and Divorce

Instead of looking for reasons to leave a marriage, we need to concentrate on how to stay together.  We need to build marriages with mutual commitment.  A good reason to remain single is to use the time and freedom to serve God.

Jesus Blesses Little Children

People need the attitude of love and trust of God to join him in heaven.

Jesus Speaks to the Rich young Man.

Jesus pointed  out that not by good deeds, do we get to heaven, but by loving God.  And then submit to the LORDSHIP of Jesus Christ.  We need to be willing to give up everything if God asks us to do so.  Loving him totally means using our resources in ways that would please him.  As believers, our true reward on earth is God’s presence and power through the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Be willing to accept human disapproval, while knowing that you have God’s approval.

Chapter 20

Jesus Teaches about Serving Others

We need to be a good and faithful servant, doing what God gives us to do.

Chapter 21

Jesus Clears the Temple Again

Any practice  that interferes with worshiping God should be stopped in the church.

Jesus Says the Disciples Can Pray for anything

God does not grant requests that would hurt us spiritually or others or that would violate his own nature, plan or will.  The stronger our love and trust, the more likely our prayers will be in line with God’s will and plans, and then God will be happy to grant them.

Chapter 22

Religious Leaders Question Jesus about paying Taxes

Our citizenship inn the kingdom of heaven requires that we pledge to God our primary love, trust, obedience and commitment.

Religious Leaders Question Jesus about the Resurrection

We should concentrate more on our relationship with God than about what heaven will look like.

Religious Leaders  Question Jesus about the Greatest Commandment

We need to concentrate on all we can do to show our love for God.

Chapter 23

Jesus Warns against the Religious Leaders

We need to live by his standards of love if we are to say we are Jesus’ followers.  It is   It is dangerous when we love for the position in a church grows stronger than loyalty to God.

Jesus Grieves over Jerusalem

Those who turn over control of their lives to Jesus will find that he helps and comforts aas no one else can.

Chapter 24

Jesus teaches about the future.

We need to be prepared for whatever God requires of us – living God’s way consistently so that Jesus will claim us as his own.  Remember the benefits of standing firm and continue to love God and live for Christ

Chapter 25

Jesus Tells the Parable of the Loaned Money

For most of us , it means doing our daily work out of love for God.  We are responsible to use well what God has given us.

Chapter 26

Jesus agonizes in the garden

Jesus’ strength to obey came from his relationship of shared love with God the Father, who is also the source of the strength needed.  What does it take to be able to say “as you will”?  It takes firm trust in God’s plans; it takes love, prayer and obedience each step of the way.

Chapter 28

Jesus gives the Great commission

When someone is dying or leaving us, his or her last words are considered very truthful and important.  Jesus with his last words told his disciples and all who would follow him; that they were to make more disciples, they were to baptize and teach  these new disciples to obey Christ.  Baptism symbolizes submission to God, a willingness to live and love God’s way.  We must turn over control of our lives to Christ to use as God the Father see’s fit and to do this by Loving God with our WHOLE heart, mind, soul and strength.