What Jesus Did

[Jesus continued:]
"God blesses those who are humble,
for they will inherit the whole earth."

—Matthew 5:5 NLT

Key Thought​

Everything in our culture and experience says the meek and the humble will get run over and will be targets for bullies. But God says these are the very ones to receive the earth as an inheritance. Why? Because their strength comes from their dependence on God and not on worldly power, an accumulation of possessions, or unleashed violence. They don't try...

 

[Jesus continued:]
"God blesses those who mourn,
for they will be comforted."

—Matthew 5:4 NLT

Key Thought​

Paul told Christians in Rome, "Weep with those who weep" (Romans 12:15). Disciples face sadness for many reasons. Discipleship is not about always being happy. It's about following the path of Jesus who was "a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief" (Isaiah 53:3). He surrendered his rights in order to bless others. He surrendered his life in order to...

 

[Jesus taught:]
"God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs."

—Matthew 5:3 NLT

Key Thought​

The Kingdom family is made up of people who know they have deep spiritual needs. When we come into the presence of God, we are awed into a profound sense of humility as well as a deep conviction of our lack of holiness and character before his majesty. While we deeply want to be like our Father, we recognize that our greatest...

 

One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, and he began to teach them.

—Matthew 5:1-2 NLT

Key Thought​

A certain characteristic can define a family. Many members of the family can be distinguished by this special characteristic. It may be a physically prominent feature. It may be a phrase or a way of saying things. It may be certain traditions. It may be a similar nervous tic. The Sermon on the...

 

Large crowds followed [Jesus] wherever he went — people from Galilee, the Ten Towns, Jerusalem, from all over Judea, and from east of the Jordan River.

—Matthew 4:25 NLT

Key Thought​

In many of our minds, this list of towns is just a collection of Jewish hamlets. However, this list of towns — along with Syria in the previous verse (Matthew 4:24) — is telling us something essential about Jesus' ministry: These towns had Greeks, Romans, Samaritans, and Jews living in them, and they...

 

News about [Jesus] spread as far as Syria, and people soon began bringing to him all who were sick. And whatever their sickness or disease, or if they were demon possessed or epileptic or paralyzed — he healed them all.

—Matthew 4:24 NLT

Key Thought​

Jesus healed them all! He could handle any kind of pain. He could handle any kind of person. He could meet any kind of need. He could overthrow any kind of oppression. No wonder people from all over the region heard about him. In an...

 

Jesus traveled throughout the region of Galilee, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness.

—Matthew 4:23 NLT

Key Thought​

Preaching, teaching, and healing. Three key elements of authentic ministry are:

1. Proclaiming the Good News of God's Kingdom.
2. Teaching people how to live obediently to the will of God.
3. Ministering to people's brokenness with the grace and power of God.

With all...

 

A little farther up the shore [after calling Peter and Andrew, Jesus] saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind.

—Matthew 4:21-22 NLT

Key Thought​

Most of the time, when a person comes to Christ, that person is more loved and more greatly appreciated by his or her family. This greater love is because of the...

 

[After moving to Capernaum,] Jesus began to preach, "Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near."
One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers — Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew — throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, "Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!" And they left their nets at once and followed him.


—Matthew 4:17-20 NLT

Key...​

 

[Jesus' going to Capernaum] fulfilled what God said through the prophet Isaiah:

"In the land of Zebulun and of Naphtali,
beside the sea, beyond the Jordan River,
in Galilee where so many Gentiles live,
the people who sat in darkness
have seen a great light.
And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow,
a light has shined."

—Matthew 4:14-16 NLT

Key Thought​

Few, if any, symbols are more widely known than light and darkness. While our modern ability to...