Matthew Episodes

Friday, 23 May 2025 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Matthew 10:16 “You behold! I, I send you as sheep in wolves’ midst. You become, therefore, sagacious as the serpents and simple as the doves” (CG). In the previous verse, Jesus told the apostles what it would be like on judgment day for the cities that rejected their message. He now continues His words to them, saying, “You behold! I, I send you as sheep in wolves’...

Thursday, 22 May 2025 Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city! Matthew 10:15 “Amen! I say to you, it will be sufferable – land Sodom and Gomorrah – on judgment day than that city” (CG). In the previous verse, Jesus instructed the apostles to out-swing the dust from their feet of any house or city that rejected their word concerning the coming of the kingdom of heaven. Now, He tells them what that act sig...

Wednesday, 21 May 2025 And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. Matthew 10:14 “And who, if not he should receive you nor he should hear your words, departing the house or that city, you out-swing the dust of your feet!” (CG). In the previous verse, Jesus continued his instructions about greeting a house when looking to stay with someone in a city. Concerning someone whose peace is not received, Jesus sa...

Tuesday, 20 May 2025 If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. Matthew 10:13 “And indeed, if the house, it should be worthy, it came – your peace – upon it. And if not it should be worthy, your peace, it returns to you” (CG). In the previous verse, Jesus said, “And entering into the house, you greet it.” He now continues, saying, “And indeed, if the house, it should be worthy.” The order at first seems off. How can they gr...

Monday, 19 May 2025 And when you go into a household, greet it. Matthew 10:12 “And entering into the house, you greet it” (CG). The previous verse noted that when a worthy house is found, the apostles were to stay there until they left. Jesus continues with, “And entering.” Being a participle, the intent is “at the time you enter,” or “while you are entering.” He continues with “into the house.” The KJV and NKJV say “a house.” This is incorrect. They were to go to houses until they found a ...

Sunday, 18 May 2025 “Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. Matthew 10:11 “And into what city or village you shall enter, you inquire who in her, he is worthy. And there you remain until if you shall depart.” (CG). In the previous verse, Jesus continued His instructions to the twelve about what they should not take with them, noting that the toiler is worthy of his food. Next, He continues, saying, “And into what city or village you s...

Saturday, 17 May 2025 nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food. Matthew 10:10 “nor wallet in the way, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staff. For the toiler, he is worthy of his food” (CG). In the previous verse, Jesus began a list of things that the twelve were not to take when they went out to evangelize the cities of Israel. That list now continues, saying, “nor wallet in the way.” Here, the péra , pouch, is introduced...

Friday, 16 May 2025 Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, Matthew 10:9 “Not you shall acquire gold nor silver nor copper into your girdles” (CG). In the previous verse, Jesus instructed the twelve concerning what to do when they went out among the people. He finished with, “Freely you received, freely you give.” Now, His words continue with, “Not you shall acquire gold nor silver nor copper.” The word ktaomai is introduced here. It signifies to acquire. It has var...

Thursday, 15 May 2025 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Matthew 10:8 “Being feeble – you heal, leprous – you cleanse, dead – you rouse, demons – you eject. Freely you received, freely you give” (CG). In the previous verse, Jesus instructed the twelve what to say when they went forth to proclaim their words to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Now, adding to the proclamation they were to make, He tells them of the au...

Wednesday, 14 May 2025 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Matthew 10:7 “And going, you proclaim, saying that ‘It has neared – the kingdom of the heavens’” (CG). In the previous verse, Jesus told His twelve to specifically go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Next, He instructs them, “And going, you proclaim, saying.” Jesus uses the same word that has been used several times already, kérussó . It signifies to proclaim or herald an announcement. HELP...

Tuesday, 13 May 2025 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Matthew 10:6 “And you rather go to the sheep, the ‘having been lost’ – house, Israel” (CG). In the previous verse, Jesus instructed His twelve to not go into the way of the Gentiles nor into a city of the Samaritans. Rather, He next says, “And you rather go to the sheep.” The use of sheep is a common metaphor in Scripture to denote people, but most especially people needing the care of a shepherd. They are not anima...

Sunday, 11 May 2025 Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. Matthew 10:4 “Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, the ‘also having betrayed Him’” (CG). In the previous verse, the list of the twelve named apostles continued with six names. The final two are mentioned next, beginning with, “Simon the Kananaios.” The name Simon has been explained. The title that is given to him is Kananaios , sometimes translated as a Canaanite. At other times, it is translated as a Ze...

Saturday, 10 May 2025 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Matthew 10:3 “Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew, the taxman. Jacob the ‘ of Alphaeus,’ and Lebbaios, having been denominated Thaddaeus” (CG). In the previous verse, Jesus’ apostles began to be listed. The next names in the list begin with “Philip.” Philip has been with Jesus since the time He was in Judea, as is recorded in Joh...

Friday, 9 May 2025 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Matthew 10:2 “And the twelve apostles, the names, they are these: First, Simon, being called Peter, and Andrew, his brother. James the ‘ of Zebedee,’ and John, his brother” (CG). In the previous verse, Jesus called His twelve disciples together and gave them power over spirits and sicknesses. Matthew continues his nar...

Tuesday, 6 May 2025 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Matthew 9:37 “Then He says to His disciples, ‘Indeed, the reaping – plentiful, and the toilers – few’” (CG). In the previous verse, Jesus saw the multitudes and was moved with compassion for them. It also noted that they were enervated and strewn as sheep with no shepherd. Having looked on such masses of people, Matthew next records, “Then He says to His disciples.” Without going any further, one can sense that something about those lost sheep will be expressed by Him. The narrative is carefully leading the reader to understand the heart of God as it is displayed in the Person of Jesus. And what is it that moves Him concerning the situation? Matthen next records, “Indeed, the reaping – plentiful.” In other words, Jesus is now changing the metaphor from sheep to stalks of grain. He is looking out at the masses as if they are a field of grain ready for harvesting. In such an ins…

Monday, 5 May 2025 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Matthew 9:36 “And having seen the crowds, He gut-wrenched about them, for they were having been enervated and having been strewn, as sheep not having a shepherd” (CG). In the previous verse, Jesus was said to have gone about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues about the gospel of the kingdom. He was also said to c...

Sunday, 4 May 2025 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. Matthew 9:35 “And Jesus, He traverses all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every malady in the people” (CG). In the previous verse, Jesus was accused by the Pharisees that He was ejecting demons by th...

Thursday, 1 May 2025 As they went out, behold, they brought to Him a man, mute and demon-possessed. Matthew 9:32 “And they, departing – you behold – they presented Him a man, mute – demon-possessings.” (CG). In the previous verse, the two men healed from blindness disregarded Jesus’ admonition and then went out and divulged Him in all the land. Now, the narrative focuses on a new subject, found only in Matthew’s gospel. The words begin with, “And they, departing – you behold.” In other words...

Wednesday, 30 April 2025 But when they had departed, they spread the news about Him in all that country. Matthew 9:31 “And they, having departed, they divulged Him in all that land” (CG). In the previous verse, Jesus strictly charged the men whose eyes had been healed to see that none knew about what He had done. However, the account now says, “And they, having departed, they divulged Him in all that land.” Charles Ellicott tells of a difference of perception about their actions, saying that...

Sunday, 27 April 2025 And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” Matthew 9:28 “And having come into the house, they came to Him – the blind – and Jesus, He says to them, ‘You believe that I can do this?’ They say to Him, ‘Yes, Lord’” (CG). In the previous verse, Jesus departed from the ruler’s house, and two blind men followed Him, crying out for mercy upon them. Now, the n...

Saturday, 26 April 2025 When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of David, have mercy on us!” Matthew 9:27 “And Jesus, passing thence, they followed Him – two blind – croaking and saying, ‘You compassionate us, Son of David’” (CG). In the previous verse, it was noted that the report of what Jesus did in restoring life to the damsel went throughout all the land. Now, the narrative continues with the account of another miracle, beginning with, “And...

Friday, 25 April 2025 And the report of this went out into all that land. Matthew 9:26 “And this saying, it went out into all that land” (CG). In the previous verse, Jesus had seized the hand of the damsel, at which time she arose. The tragedy for the parents had ended in joy. With that complete, Matthew next begins his final words of this short account with the words, “And this saying.” This is a new word in Scripture that will only be seen again in Luke 4:14, phémé, a report, fame, a sayin...

Thursday, 24 April 2025 But when the crowd was put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. Matthew 9:25 “And when He ejected the crowd, having entered, He seized her hand, and the damsel, she arose” (CG). In the previous verse, Jesus told those mourning the death of the damsel that she was not dead but only sleeping. In response, they derided Him. Matthew next says, “And when He ejected the crowd.” Mark’s gospel adds the following – He took the father and the mothe...

Wednesday, 23 April 2025 He said to them, “Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him. Matthew 9:24 “He said to them, ‘You withdraw! For not she died, the damsel, but she sleeps.’ And they derided Him” (CG). In the previous verse, Matthew noted that when Jesus came into the house, He saw the pipers and those tumultuating. Now Matthew continues the thought, saying, “He said to them, ‘You withdraw!’” In place of the idea of withdrawing, Mark’s gospel reads a bit...