The parable of the workers in the vineyard – the last will be first and the first will be last (Matthew 20:1 – 20:16).
After telling the disciples how difficult it is for a rich person to enter heaven, Jesus said, “Many who are first will be last and many who are last will be first.” To explain, he then told them a parable about workers in a vineyard. Jesus said, “The kingdom of…
Jesus tells us it’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone rich to enter heaven (Matthew 19:16 – 19:30).
A man came to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” Jesus replied, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you want eternal life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones?” he inquired. Jesus replied,…
Jesus heals the little children despite the disciples’ attempts to turn them away (Matthew 19:13 – 19:15).
The people of Judea brought little children to Jesus to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples tried to turn them away. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me. Do not hinder them for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”…
Jesus explains the acceptable reasons for divorce and what it truly means to be married (Matthew 19:1 – 19:12).
When Jesus had finished teaching about forgiveness, he left Galilee and went into the region of Judea to the other side of the Jordan river. Large crowds followed him and he healed them there. Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man…
The parable of the unforgiving servant – what god says about the extent of Christian forgiveness (Matthew 18:21 – 18:35).
Peter asked Jesus, “How many times should I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “Not seven times, but seventy-seven times. The kingdom of heaven is like the king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement,…
Jesus explains how to deal with sin in the church (help sinners reject sin, not push them aside) (Matthew 18:15 – 18:20).
Jesus told the disciples, “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along so that ‘every matter may be…
The parable of the wandering sheep tells us how much God loves each and every one of his children (Matthew 18:12 – 18:14).
Jesus had just given the disciples a lesson about the humbleness of children and how we should seek to be like little children. He went on to warn about the severe punishment for those who mistreat God’s children. Jesus asked the disciples, “What do you think? If a man owns…
Jesus suggests we become like little children – and woe to those who cause a little one to stumble (Matthew 18:1 – 18:11).
The disciples went to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Jesus called a little child to him and placed the child among them. He said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of…
To avoid offending the Pharisees, Jesus pays the temple tax (with a coin from a fish’s mouth) but offers a subtle lesson in hypocrisy (Matthew 17:24 – 17:27).
After Jesus and the disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax went to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?” “Yes, he does,” he replied. When Peter went into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” he…
Jesus heals a demon-possessed boy when the disciples lacked enough faith (Matthew 17:14 – 17:23).
When Jesus and the three disciples came to the crowd (presumably returning from atop the mountain where the disciples witnessed the transfiguration), a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the…
