Only one more chapter until Jesus claims all authority in heaven and on the earth. Matthew is writing about how the kingdom of heaven came. We saw Jesus claim that from this moment on, the people would see Him at the right hand of Power and coming in the clouds. Peter denied Him, fulfilling prophecy... Continue Reading →
On Denying Jesus
https://feeds.castos.com/733p8 The theme of Matthew’s Gospel is the arrival of the kingdom of heaven. At the beginning, Jesus is born and begins preaching, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). At the end of the Gospel account, He proclaims, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18).... Continue Reading →
When Jesus is Coming in the Clouds
https://feeds.castos.com/733p8 The theme of Matthew’s Gospel is the kingdom of heaven. From the start, Jesus’s message has been that the kingdom of heaven is at hand (near). In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus revealed that the hour was here. It was time for the kingdom of heaven to finally be established. At the end of... Continue Reading →
Encouragement for Those Who Have Been Betrayed
https://feeds.castos.com/733p8 Betrayal comes in many forms on this earth. Betrayal can come even from people with good intentions. You’ve heard the old adage, “The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.” Betrayal hurts. People we feel should support us shoot us down or stab us in the back. Unfortunately, betrayal is still a part... Continue Reading →
Gethsemane
After having the Passover meal and clarifying the true meaning of the cup, Jesus goes with His disciples to Gethsemane. Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of... Continue Reading →
The Eucharist According to Matthew
It is the eve of Christ's betrayal into the hands of Israel's chief priests and elders. From the beginning of His public preaching ministry, Jesus has been teaching that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. At the end of Matthew's Gospel, Jesus declares that the kingdom is here. Since Matthew is the most Jewish... Continue Reading →
All Eyes on Me
After He predicted the destruction of the Temple, Jesus taught about the kingdom of heaven as a kingdom that the master had left in the charge of his servants during his absence. Jesus then began to prepare His disciples for His own absence and the establishment of His kingdom, which is at hand during Jesus’s... Continue Reading →
The Master’s Departure
Jesus told two parables in order to teach what the kingdom will be like when He leaves His disciples. It will be like ten virgins eagerly awaiting their bridegroom. It will be like servants with whom a master leaves his fortune until he returns to collect his return. When the master returns, He will judge... Continue Reading →
Christ’s Glorious Return
Jesus has been answering His disciples’ question about the fall of Jerusalem. After telling two parables about what the kingdom of heaven was and would be like, he begins teaching about the moment He will sit upon His throne. Matthew’s Gospel and all of Jesus’s teaching is about the coming kingdom of heaven. During His... Continue Reading →
The Parable of the Talents
Jesus’s disciples asked Him when the Temple would be destroyed. Jesus responded by giving them the signs in Matthew 24. Now, Jesus is telling two parables that depict the kingdom of heaven. The two parables paint a picture of the same spiritual reality, a reality that is not assigned a particular time but is true... Continue Reading →