Tag: Devotion

On their way to Jerusalem, they arrived at Bethphage on Mount Olivet. Jesus sent two of his disciples ahead of them. “Go into the village there and you’ll find a donkey tied up. It will have its foal with her. Untie them both a bring them to me. If anyone asks what you are up to, tell them their Lord needs the animals. The person will immediately let you take the animals.” 

This all happened to make what the prophet said come true: “Tell the daughter of Zion that your King is coming, and he is gentle and riding on a donkey and on a foal, the offspring of a working animal.” 

The disciples did what Jesus told them to do. They brought the donkey and the foal back. They saddled them with cloaks and Jesus sat on them. A big crowd laid their coats on the road. Others cut down branches and laid them on the road. 

The crowds went in front of and behind Jesus and yelled out, “The Son of David will save us! Praise him for coming in the Lord’s name. He is our saviour! Yell from the heavens that we will be saved!” 

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, everyone in the city became agitated. They asked each other, “Who’s this guy?”  

The crowds replied, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” 

Jesus went to the temple and threw out everyone who was selling and buying in there. He tipped over the money exchanger’s tables and the seats of the dove sellers. 

“It’s been written that my house will be called a house of prayer,” Jesus said. “You’ve all turned it into a place for robbers to hangout!” 

The blind and disabled in the temple came to Jesus and he healed them. 

The chief priests and academics saw Jesus’ miracles and heard the children in the temple yelling out, “The Son of David will save us!”. 

They were very annoyed. “Do you hear what these children are saying?” 

“Yes, I do, Jesus replied. “Didn’t you read, ‘Perfect praise comes out of the mouth of children and babies.’?” 

Jesus left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he stayed the night. 

In the morning, Jesus came back into Jerusalem and was hungry. He saw a fig tree on the side of the road, but couldn’t find any fruit on it, only leaves. He said to the tree, “You will never produce any more fruit.” The tree immediately died. 

The disciples saw this and were amazed. “How did that fig tree die so quickly?” 

Jesus answered, “I’m honestly telling you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you can not only do miracles like what I just did to this fig tree, but even if you tell a mountain to get up and jump into the sea, it will happen. If you believe, you will receive everything you ask for in prayer.” 

Jesus went into the temple and started teaching. 

The chief priests and elders of the people came to him and asked, “What power do you have to do you what you do? Who gave you the power?” 

“I also want to ask you something. If you answer me, I will tell you who gives me the power to do what I do. Did the baptism of John come from heaven or from people?” 

They started debating amongst themselves. “If we say heaven, he will ask why we don’t believe him. But, if we say from people, we should be worried about the crowds. They all believe that John is a prophet.” They finally answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” 

“Then I’m not going to tell you who gives me the power to do what I do,” Jesus replied. “But what do you think of this? A man had two sons. He said to the first son, ‘Go work in the vineyard today.’ The son answered, ‘Sir, I’m not going to.’ But he said sorry afterwards and did as he was told. The man went to his second son and said the same thing as he said to his first son. The second son said, ‘I will, sir’. But he didn’t go to work. Which of these two sons did what the father wanted?” 

“The first one,” the chief priests and elders answered. 

“I’m honestly telling you,” Jesus said, “The tax collectors and prostitutes will get into God’s kingdom before you. John came to you to show you the right way to live but you didn’t believe him. But the tax collectors and prostitutes believed him. Even when you this all happening you did not change your minds and believe him. 

“Listen to another story: A master of a house planted a vineyard and put a fence around it. He built a wine press and a watch tower and rented it out to farmers while he lived in another place. When it was harvest time, the owner sent his servants to the farmers to get his share of their fruits. But the farmers captured the servants and beat one, killed one and then stoned another. 

The owner sent more servants, and the farmers did the same to them. 

The owner sent his son to the farmers. “They will respect my son,” he assumed. 

The farmers saw the son coming. “That is the owner’s son. Let’s kill him and steal his inheritance.” 

They captured the son, threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. 

So, when the owner of the vineyard comes back home, what will he do to the farmers?” 

The chief priests and elders replied, “He will destroy the horrible people and rent out the vineyard to other farmers who will give him his share of the fruit at harvest time.” 

“Didn’t you ever read the scriptures?” Jesus asked. “‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the foundation stone. This came from the Lord and looks amazing to us.’ So, I’m telling you, God’s Kingdom will be taken away from you and it will be given to the people who are producing its fruits. Whoever falls on this stone will be broken, but whoever the stone falls on it will be crushed into a powder.” 

The chief priests and the Pharisees heard the stories and knew Jesus was talking about them. They considered getting Jesus arrested, but they were worried about the crowds because the crowds believed he was a prophet. 

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Continue exploring Matthew 21

If you’d like to read Matthew 21 in other translations, here are a few BibleHub links:
For a translation that aims to be word-for-word, try Matthew 21 in the English Standard Version.
For a translation that aims to be more thought-for-thought, try Matthew 21 in the New International Version.
For a translation that aims to communicate the overall meaning, try Matthew 21 in the Contemporary English Version.

If you prefer to read the Bible in a hard-copy format, here are cheaper versions from Amazon:
[These are Amazon affiliate links which support the production of this blog]
For a translation that aims to be word-for-word, ESV Economy Bible
For a translation that aims to be more thought-for-thought, NIV, Economy Bible, Paperback: Accurate. Readable. Clear.
For a translation that aims to communicate the overall meaning, Holy Bible: Contemporary English Version

If you’d like to explore Matthew in more depth, here are some commentaries I would recommend:
[These are Amazon affiliate links which support the production of this blog]
Easy to access commentaries that include life applications:
The NIV Application Commentary: Matthew
Matthew (The Story of God Bible Commentary)
For a commentary that goes into more depth:
The Gospel of Matthew (The New International Commentary on the New Testament)

“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a boss who went out in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. The workers agreed on getting $100 for the day, so the boss sent them into his vineyard. 
A few hours later, the boss saw more workers hanging out in the markets. 
He said to them, ‘Go work in my vineyard and I’ll pay you a fair amount.’ 
So, the workers went. The boss went out later and did the same thing again. 
In the late afternoon, the boss went out again and saw more workers standing around. ‘Why haven’t you been working today?’ 
‘No one has hired us,’ they replied. 
The boss said. ‘Go work in my vineyard and I’ll pay you a fair amount.’ 
When it was the evening, the boss said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers in and pay them. Start with those I hired last today and go backwards.’ 
The workers that were hired last received their $100. The workers that were hired at the beginning of the day came to be paid and assumed they would be paid more, but only received $100 each. After getting their money, they went and complained to the boss, ‘Those workers only worked an hour and were paid the same as us. We worked for the whole day in the burning heat!’ 
The boss replied to one of them, ‘I didn’t do you wrong, mate. Didn’t you agree to work the day for $100? Take your pay and leave. I wanted to give the worker I hired last the same as what I gave you. Is it illegal to do what I want with my stuff? Or are you jealous because I am generous?’ 
“In the same way, the last will be first and the first will be last. Many are called, but few are chosen.” 

On their way up to Jerusalem, Jesus took his twelve disciples aside. “Listen, we’re on our way to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and law teachers, and they’ll sentence him to death. They’ll give him to the foreigners who will mock, torture and execute him. But on the third day he will come back to life again.” 
James and John’s mum came and knelt in front of Jesus, and asked for a favour. 
“What do you want?” Jesus asked. 
“Tell me my two sons can sit with you,” she replied. “One on your right and one on your left, in your kingdom.” 
“You don’t know what you’re asking. Are you able to drink from the cup I’m about the drink from? And be baptised in the same way I’m about to be baptised?” 
“We can,” James and John replied. 
“Yes, you will drink from my cup and be baptised in the same way that I will be. But you sit on my right and left isn’t a privilege I can give you. It’s for those that it’s been prepared for by my father.” 
When the ten other disciples heard all this, they were very annoyed at the two brothers. 
Jesus called all the disciples together. “You know the rulers of the foreigners boss them around, and their superiors rule over them. It won’t be same among you. Whoever wants to be powerful must be your servant. Whoever among you wants to be the first must be your slave. Even the Son of Man came to serve, not be served, and to sacrifice his life to pay off many people’s ransom.” 

A big crowd followed Jesus and his disciples as left Jericho. Two blind men who were sitting on the side of the road heard Jesus was coming past. They yelled, “Lord, have compassion for us! Son of David!” 
The crowd told them to shut up, but the two men yelled louder. “Lord, have mercy on us! Son of David!” 
Jesus stopped and called out to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” 
“Lord, open our eyes!” 
Jesus felt sorry for them. He touched their eyes and they could see at once. They followed him. 

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Continue exploring Matthew 20

If you’d like to read Matthew 20 in other translations, here are a few BibleHub links:
For a translation that aims to be word-for-word, try Matthew 20 in the English Standard Version.
For a translation that aims to be more thought-for-thought, try Matthew 20 in the New International Version.
For a translation that aims to communicate the overall meaning, try Matthew 20 in the Contemporary English Version.

If you prefer to read the Bible in a hard-copy format, here are cheaper versions from Amazon:
[These are Amazon affiliate links which support the production of this blog]
For a translation that aims to be word-for-word, ESV Economy Bible
For a translation that aims to be more thought-for-thought, NIV, Economy Bible, Paperback: Accurate. Readable. Clear.
For a translation that aims to communicate the overall meaning, Holy Bible: Contemporary English Version

If you’d like to explore Matthew in more depth, here are some commentaries I would recommend:
[These are Amazon affiliate links which support the production of this blog]
Easy to access commentaries that include life applications:
The NIV Application Commentary: Matthew
Matthew (The Story of God Bible Commentary)
For a commentary that goes into more depth:
The Gospel of Matthew (The New International Commentary on the New Testament)

When Jesus had finished speaking, he left Galilee and went to Judea, which is on the other side of the Jordan river. Big crowds followed him, and he healed them. 
Pharisees came to test Jesus. “Is it illegal for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?” 
Jesus answered, “Haven’t you read that the one who created them made them man and woman from the beginning, and said, ‘because of this, a man will leave his parents and be joined with his wife and the two will become one. So, they are no longer two bodies but one body. So, what God joined together, no person should separate.” 
The Pharisees replied, “Then why did Moses tell us to give a man a divorce certificate and send the wife away?” 
“Moses said you are allowed to divorce your wives because you have hard hearts, but this is not how it was at the start. I’m telling you now, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality reasons, and marries someone else is being unfaithful.” 
Jesus’ disciples asked, “If this is what marriage is, like isn’t it better to just not get married?” 
“Not everyone accepts this teaching,” Jesus replied. “But only those who have been given it. There are some single people who were born like this, and there are some single people who are made single by others, and there are single people who made themselves single for the sake of the heavenly kingdom. Whoever can accept it, let them accept it.” 
Children were brought to Jesus, so that he could put his hands on them and pray for them. But Jesus’ disciples told the people off for bringing the children. 
Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. They are the type that belong in the heavenly kingdom.” 
He put his hands on them, and then left. 
A man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good things do I need to do to get eternal life?” 
“Why do you ask me what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only one who is good. If you want to go into life, obey the commandments.” 
“Which ones?” the man asked. 
“Don’t murder or commit adultery or steal or lie. Honour your mum and dad and love your neighbour as if they were yourself.” 
“I’ve done all these things. What am I missing?” 
“If you want to be perfect, go and sell everything you own and give the money to the poor. You will have treasures in heaven. Then you can come and follow me. 
“The young man didn’t like what he heard and went away sad because he owned a lot. 
Jesus said to his disciples, “I’m telling you, that rich guy will struggle to enter into the heavenly kingdom. I’ll tell you again, it’s easier for a camel to get through the eye of a needle then a rich guy to get into God’s kingdom.” 
The disciples were amazed when they heard this. “Who can be saved then?” 
Jesus looked at them. “With men, it’s impossible. But with God, all things are possible.” 
“Look, we left everything to follow you,” Peter said. “What will we get?” 
“I’m honestly telling you, because you followed me, when you die and the Son of Man sits on the glorious throne, you will also sit on twelve thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel. Everyone who has left houses or siblings or parents or spouses or children or land for my purposes will receive 100 times more and eternal life. Many who are currently first will be last, and currently last will be first.” 

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Continue exploring Matthew 19

If you’d like to read Matthew 19 in other translations, here are a few BibleHub links:
For a translation that aims to be word-for-word, try Matthew 19 in the English Standard Version.
For a translation that aims to be more thought-for-thought, try Matthew 19 in the New International Version.
For a translation that aims to communicate the overall meaning, try Matthew 19 in the Contemporary English Version.

If you prefer to read the Bible in a hard-copy format, here are cheaper versions from Amazon:
[These are Amazon affiliate links which support the production of this blog]
For a translation that aims to be word-for-word, ESV Economy Bible
For a translation that aims to be more thought-for-thought, NIV, Economy Bible, Paperback: Accurate. Readable. Clear.
For a translation that aims to communicate the overall meaning, Holy Bible: Contemporary English Version

If you’d like to explore Matthew in more depth, here are some commentaries I would recommend:
[These are Amazon affiliate links which support the production of this blog]
Easy to access commentaries that include life applications:
The NIV Application Commentary: Matthew
Matthew (The Story of God Bible Commentary)
For a commentary that goes into more depth:
The Gospel of Matthew (The New International Commentary on the New Testament)

Straight afterwards, Jesus’ disciples came to him and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 
Jesus called a child over to him and stood the child in their group. 
“I’m honestly telling you,” said Jesus. “If you don’t change and become like little children, you won’t enter into the kingdom of heaven. So, whoever becomes as humble as this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child in my name, welcomes me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to start sinning, it would be better for that person to be hung with a heavy stone around their neck and drowned to the bottom of the sea. It’s a terrible shame the world has so much sin! Sin will inevitably come, but it’s a terrible shame for the person who causes the sin.  
“If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better to continue in life crippled or disabled then have two hands or two feet and be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, rip it out and throw it away. It’s better to continue in life with one eye then have two eyes and be thrown into the fires of hell. 
“Make sure you don’t purposely ignore these little ones. I’m telling you, their angels in heaven are always in front of my Father, who is in heaven. “The Son of Man has arrived to save the lost. What do you think? If a man has 100 sheep and one gets lost, won’t he leave the 99 on the mountain and go look for the lost one? And if he finds it, I’m telling you he’ll be happier about that one than the 99 who didn’t get lost. So, your Heavenly Father doesn’t want any of these little ones to die. 
“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him about the fault in private. If he listens to you, you will have won your brother back. If he doesn’t listen to you, take one or two more people with you so there are two or three witnesses who can confirm what you say. If your brother still doesn’t listen to them, tell the church. If he doesn’t listen to the church, think of him as someone you wouldn’t associate with. 
“I’m honestly telling you, whatever you prohibit on earth will be prohibited in heaven and whatever you allow an earth will be allowed in heaven. I’m honestly saying again, if two of you agree something about anything here on earth and ask for it, it will be done for them by my Heavenly Father. If two or three people are together as my followers, I am also there.”

Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, how often should I forgive my brothers who sin against me? Seven times?” 
Jesus replied, “No, not just seven times but 70×7 times! Because of this, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wants to settle things with his servants. After he had begun settling, someone was bought to him who owed him a lot of money. The servant couldn’t afford to pay up. The king commanded that the servant, his wife and children and everything they had be sold to settle the debt. 
“The servant fell down on his knees and begged, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you!’ 
“Feeling sorry for him, the servant’s boss freed the servant and forgave his debt. 
“After leaving, the former servant came across one of his colleagues who owed him some money. He grabbed him and began choking him. ‘Pay me everything you owe me!’ 
“His colleague fell down and begged him, ‘Be patient with me and I will pay you!’ 
“But the former servant refused and had his colleague thrown into prison until he could pay up. The former servant’s other colleagues saw what happened and they were incredibly sad. They went and told the king what had happened. 
“The king summoned the servant. ‘You evil servant. I forgave all your debts because you begged me. Wouldn’t it have been right for you to have compassion for your colleague like I had compassion for you?’ 
“The servant’s king angrily sent him to prison until he could pay everything he owed. 
“So, my heavenly Father will do the same thing to you, if each of you doesn’t forgive your brother from your heart.” 

To read the next chapters, you might like to follow or subscribe to this blog!

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Continue exploring Matthew 18

If you’d like to read Matthew 18 in other translations, here are a few BibleHub links:
For a translation that aims to be word-for-word, try Matthew 18 in the English Standard Version.
For a translation that aims to be more thought-for-thought, try Matthew 18 in the New International Version.
For a translation that aims to communicate the overall meaning, try Matthew 18 in the Contemporary English Version.

If you prefer to read the Bible in a hard-copy format, here are cheaper versions from Amazon:
[These are Amazon affiliate links which support the production of this blog]
For a translation that aims to be word-for-word, ESV Economy Bible
For a translation that aims to be more thought-for-thought, NIV, Economy Bible, Paperback: Accurate. Readable. Clear.
For a translation that aims to communicate the overall meaning, Holy Bible: Contemporary English Version

If you’d like to explore Matthew in more depth, here are some commentaries I would recommend:
[These are Amazon affiliate links which support the production of this blog]
Easy to access commentaries that include life applications:
The NIV Application Commentary: Matthew
Matthew (The Story of God Bible Commentary)
For a commentary that goes into more depth:
The Gospel of Matthew (The New International Commentary on the New Testament)

Six days later, Jesus took Peter and the brothers James and John to a tall mountain. Jesus transformed in front of them. His face shone brightly, and his clothes became a bright white. Moses and Elijah appeared next to him and the three of them together. 
Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it’s a good thing we are here. If you want, I can set up three tents—one for each of you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 
While he was saying this, a bright cloud came over them and a voice said from the cloud, “This is my son, I love him, and I am very pleased with him. Listen to him!” 
When the disciples heard this, they fell down on the ground, terrified. Jesus came over to them, touched them he told them to get up and not be scared. The disciples looked up. Only Jesus was in front of them. 

As they walked back down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you just saw until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.” 
His disciples asked him, “Why do the law teachers say Elijah needs to come first?” 
“Elijah will come first and restore everything,” Jesus replied. “But I’m telling you that Elijah already came but they did not recognise him. They did whatever they wanted to him. The Son of Man will suffer from them in the same way.” 
The disciples realised Jesus was talking about John the Baptist. 

When they reached the crowd at the bottom of the mountain, a man knelt before Jesus. “Lord, be kind to my son! He suffers horribly from epilepsy. He often falls into the fire and into the water. I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn’t heal him.” 
“This generation has no faith and is perverted,” Jesus answered.  “How long will I be with you? How long will I have to worry about you? Bring him to me.” 
Jesus put the demon in his place. It left the boy, healing him straight away. 
The disciples privately asked Jesus, “Why weren’t we able to cast out the demon?” 
“Because you don’t have enough faith,” Jesus replied. “I’m telling you truthfully if you have faith the size of a tiny mustard seed, you will be able to tell mountains to move from here to there and they would move. Nothing would be impossible for you. But this type of demon does not leave except through prayer and fasting.” 

They were now staying in Galilee. Jesus said to his disciples, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed and handed over to the people. They will kill him, but on the third day be raised back to life.”
The disciples were deeply saddened to hear this. 

They went to Capernaum and came across the temple tax collectors. The tax collectors asked Peter, “Your teacher doesn’t want to pay his taxes?” 
“Yes, he does,” Peter replied. He went back into the house they were staying in. 
Jesus was expecting Peter and asked him, “What do you think, Simon? Who do earthly kings receive payments and taxes from? From their own people or from strangers?” 
“From strangers,” Peter replied. 
“Then their own people are free not to pay,” Jesus said, “But we don’t want to offend them. Go fishing in the sea, and the first fish you catch will have a coin in its mouth. Give it to them to pay our taxes.”

To read the next chapters, you might like to follow or subscribe to this blog!

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Continue exploring Matthew 17

If you’d like to read Matthew 17 in other translations, here are a few BibleHub links:
For a translation that aims to be word-for-word, try Matthew 17 in the English Standard Version.
For a translation that aims to be more thought-for-thought, try Matthew 17 in the New International Version.
For a translation that aims to communicate the overall meaning, try Matthew 17 in the Contemporary English Version.

If you prefer to read the Bible in a hard-copy format, here are cheaper versions from Amazon:
[These are Amazon affiliate links which support the production of this blog]
For a translation that aims to be word-for-word, ESV Economy Bible
For a translation that aims to be more thought-for-thought, NIV, Economy Bible, Paperback: Accurate. Readable. Clear.
For a translation that aims to communicate the overall meaning, Holy Bible: Contemporary English Version

If you’d like to explore Matthew in more depth, here are some commentaries I would recommend:
[These are Amazon affiliate links which support the production of this blog]
Easy to access commentaries that include life applications:
The NIV Application Commentary: Matthew
Matthew (The Story of God Bible Commentary)
For a commentary that goes into more depth:
The Gospel of Matthew (The New International Commentary on the New Testament)