What Jesus Did

A man came to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to have life forever?"

—Matthew 19:16

Key Thought
There's something about our human nature that makes us want to find the best bargain.
"What do I have to do to get that?"
"Come on, you can let me have it for less than that!"
"I can get the same thing for less down the street."

Grace is a gift that is given to us for free! Yet grace requires us to surrender unconditionally to Jesus as Lord. In other words, we get...

 

Then the people brought their little children to Jesus so that Jesus could put his hands on them and pray for them. When the followers saw this, they told the people to stop bringing their children to Jesus. But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me. Don't stop them, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to people that are like these children." After Jesus put his hands on the children, he left there.

—Matthew 19:13-15

Key Thought
In a world dangerous to children, loving...

 

The followers said to Jesus, "If that is the only reason a man can divorce his wife, then it is better not to marry." Jesus answered, "Not every person can accept this truth {about marriage}. But God has made some people able to accept it. There are different reasons why some men cannot marry. Some men were born without the ability to make children. Other men were made that way later in life by other people. And other men have given up marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. But the...

 

The Pharisees asked, "So why did Moses give a command allowing a man to divorce his wife by writing a certificate of divorce?" Jesus answered, "Moses allowed you to divorce your wives because you refused to accept God's teaching. But divorce was not allowed in the beginning. I tell you that any person that divorces his wife and marries another woman is guilty of the sin of adultery. The only reason for a person to divorce and marry again is if his first wife had sexual relations with another...

 

Jesus answered, "Surely you have read this in the Scriptures: When God made the world, 'he made people male and female.' And God said, 'So a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife. And the two people will become one.' So the two people are not two, but one. God joined those two people together. So no person should separate them."

—Matthew 19:4-6

Key Thought
Rather than getting caught up in the religious debate, Jesus makes the biblical point, God's point, on...

 

Some Pharisees came to Jesus. They tried to make Jesus say something wrong. They asked Jesus, "Is it right for a man to divorce his wife for any reason he chooses?"

—Matthew 19:3

Key Thought
To trick Jesus, the religious leaders try to get Jesus to debate the legalistic elements of their law. What is most powerful about this exchange is not just what Jesus said, but how he said it. First, he refused to get caught up in their argument. Second, he moved deeper than the debate over a...

 

After Jesus said all these things, he left Galilee. Jesus went into the area of Judea on the other side of the Jordan River. Many people followed Jesus. Jesus healed the sick people there.

—Matthew 19:1-2

Key Thought
In transitional verses, we often find key elements of truth that Matthew most wants us to see. Jesus has brought to a close his Galilean ministry. He is headed for Jerusalem. The crowds are still infatuated with him. He will consistently heal them and minister to their...

 

"The master was very angry, so he put the servant in prison to be punished. And the servant had to stay in prison until he could pay everything he owed. This king did the same as my heavenly Father will do to you. You must truly forgive your brother or sister, or my heavenly Father will not forgive you."

—Matthew 18:34-35

Key Thought
God is gracious and merciful until he finds those to whom he has freely dispensed mercy and they withhold it from others. The key principle of mercy and...

 

"All the other servants saw what happened. They felt very sorry for the man. So they went and told their master everything that happened. Then the master called his servant in and said, 'You evil servant. You owed me much money, but you begged me to forgive your debt. So I told you that you did not have to pay anything. So you should have given the same mercy to that other man that is a servant with you. You should have given him the same mercy that I gave you.'"

—Matthew 18:31-33...

 

"Later, that same servant found another servant that owed him a few dollars' worth of silver. The servant grabbed the other servant around the neck and said, 'Pay me the money you owe me!' The other servant fell on his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me. I will pay you everything I owe.' But the first servant refused to be patient. The servant told the judge that the other servant owed him money, and the other servant was thrown into prison. The servant had to stay in prison until he...