Episodes

Sunday, 8 September 2024 But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. Matthew 3:15 “And Jesus, having answered, said unto him, ‘Permit now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then he permits Him.” (CG). In the previous verse, John had tried to prevent Jesus from being immersed by him and said that rather he needed a baptism from Jesus. However, Matthew next records, “And...

Friday, 6 September 2024 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. Matthew 3:13 “Then Jesus, He comes from Galilee upon the Jordan unto John to be immersed by him.” (CG). The previous verse completed John’s words of warning and impending doom spoken to the Pharisees and Sadducees. However, during his speech to them, he had said, “Indeed, I, I immerse you in water to reconsideration, but He coming after me is mightier than I. He is whom I am not adequate to lift...

Thursday, 5 September 2024 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Matthew 3:12 “Whose winnower - in His hand, and He will thoroughly cleanse His threshing-floor. And He will gather His wheat into the granary, but the chaff He will consume – fire unquenchable.” (CG). In the previous verse, John spoke of the authority and power of the coming Christ, noting ...

Wednesday, 4 September 2024 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Matthew 3:11 “Indeed, I, I immerse you in water to reconsideration, but He coming after me is mightier than I. He is whom I am not adequate to lift His sandals. He, he will immerse you in the Holy Spirit and fire” (CG). John had just told the Pharisees and Sadducees that any tre...

Tuesday, 3 September 2024 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Matthew 3:10 “And already also, the ax, toward the root of the trees it lies. Therefore, every tree not producing good fruit, it is hewn, and into fire, it is thrown” (CG). In the previous verse, John warned the Pharisees and the Sadducees not to trust in the fact that they were physical descendants of Abraham. In fact, he no...

Monday, 2 September 2024 and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. Matthew 3:9 “and think not to say in yourselves, ‘A father, we have – Abraham.’ For I say to you that God can from these stones rouse children to Abraham” (CG). In the previous verse, John warned the Pharisees and Sadducees to produce fruits worthy of reconsideration. Now, he continues his thought, saying, “and th...

Sunday, 1 September 2024 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, Matthew 3:8 “Produce, you, therefore, fruits worthy of reconsideration” (CG). The previous verse cited John the Baptist’s words to the Pharisees and Sadducees who were coming to him as he was immersing people. He called out to them, “Vipers’ offspring! Who disclosed to you to flee from the coming wrath?” With that stated, he now continues his chiding of them, saying, “Produce, you, therefore, fruits.” The word is karpos, fr...

Saturday, 31 August 2024 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Matthew 3:7 “And having seen many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming about his immersion, he said to them, ‘Vipers’ offspring! Who disclosed to you to flee from the coming wrath?’” (CG). In the previous verse, it noted that those who went out to John the Baptist were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing th...

Friday, 30 August 2024 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. Matthew 3:6 “and they were immersed in the Jordan by him, acknowledging their sins” (CG). The previous verse noted that Jerusalem, all Judea, and the region around the Jordan went out to John the Baptist. With that remembered, the thought now continues with “and they were immersed.” The word baptizó, to baptize, is now used for the first time in the New Testament. It is a transliteration of the Greek word. ...

Thursday, 29 August 2024 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him Matthew 3:5 “Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the surrounding of the Jordan” (CG). The previous verse noted John the Baptist’s attire and his food. Despite what would seem a person who was completely out of touch with reality in today’s world, the people of Israel realized they were dealing with a great man of God. Therefore, it next says, “Then went out to him Jerusa...

Wednesday, 28 August 2024 Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. Matthew 3:4 “And he, John, had his apparel from camel’s hair, and a leathery girdle around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey” (CG). In the previous verse, Matthew cited words from Isaiah 40 and stated that John the Baptist was the fulfillment of that particular prophecy. Now, he continues the narrative by describing John, sayin...

Tuesday, 27 August 2024 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.’” Matthew 3:3 “For this is he, having been spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, ‘A voice hollering in the desolate, “Prepare the Lord’s way. Make straight His paths.”’” (CG). In the previous verse, it was noted that John the Baptist had proclaimed that people were to reconsider because the kingdom of the ...

Monday, 26 August 2024 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” Matthew 3:2 “and saying, ‘Reconsider! For it has neared – the kingdom of the heavens’” (CG). In the previous verse, John the Baptist was introduced, noting that he came proclaiming in the wilderness of Judea. The words now continue with his message. He was proclaiming “and saying, ‘Reconsider!’” The Greek verb metanoeó is introduced here. It is almost always translated as “repent,” a word that has such a diffe...

Sunday, 25 August 2024 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, Matthew 3:1 “And in those days, comes John the Baptist, proclaiming in the desolate of Judea,” (CG). The previous verse ended Chapter 2, noting that Jesus was settled in Nazareth, thus He would be called a Nazarene. Now the narrative changes direction and introduces a new figure. Chronologically, he has already been introduced in Luke’s gospel, but Matthew begins his arrival on the scene many yea...

Saturday, 24 August 2024 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene.” Matthew 2:23 “And having come, he dwelt in a city being called Nazareth, that it should be fulfilled having been spoken through the prophets, that a Nazarene He will be called” (CG). In the previous verse, Joseph was warned in a dream concerning where to live in the land of Israel, noting that he withdrew to the allotments of G...

Friday, 23 August 2024 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. Matthew 2:22 “And having heard that Archelaus reigns over Judea instead of Herod his father, he feared to go there. And having been admonished in a dream, he withdrew to the allotments of Galilee” (CG). In the previous verse, it noted that Joseph took the Child and His mother and ...

Thursday, 22 August 2024 Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. Matthew 2:21 “And having arisen, he took the Child and His mother and came to the land of Israel” (CG). In the previous verse, the messenger of the Lord spoke to Joseph in a dream. His words were, “Having arisen, take the Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel.” Now, in exacting obedience to that word, it next says, “And having arisen, he took the Child and His mother.” ...

Wednesday, 21 August 2024 saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.” Matthew 2:20 “saying, ‘Having arisen, take the Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for they have died – those seeking the soul of the Child’” (CG). In the previous verse, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream while he was in Egypt. This occurred after the death of Herod. In the appearance, he was “sayin...

Tuesday, 20 August 2024 Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, Matthew 2:19 “And Herod having died, behold, a messenger of the Lord in a dream appears to Joseph in Egypt” (CG). In the previous verse, Matthew cited Jeremiah 31:15 concerning the prophecy about Rachel mourning for her children. With that now complete, he next records, “And Herod having died.” Herod’s death was recorded by Flavius Josephus and others in antiquity. The Exposi...

Monday, 19 August 2024 “A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more.” Matthew 2:18 “A voice – it was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, and a wailing, and a mourning – great. Rachel sobbing – her children. And she would not be comforted, For they are not” (CG). The previous verse introduced the idea of the fulfillment of that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet. Now, Matthew ci...

Sunday, 18 August 2024 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: Matthew 2:17 “Then it was fulfilled that having been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet, saying” (CG). The previous verse detailed the massacre of the children of Bethlehem by Herod. As tragic as that was, God knew that it would occur. This is evidenced in the next words, where Matthew records, “Then it was fulfilled.” Matthew is saying that the event of the killing of these children, which was just r...

Saturday, 17 August 2024 Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. Matthew 2:16 “Then Herod, having seen that he was mocked by the magicians, was exceedingly enraged and, having sent, he killed all the boys in Bethlehem and in all her borders, from two ye...

Friday, 16 August 2024 and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” Matthew 2:15 “And he was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled, having been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, ‘Out of Egypt, I called my Son’” (CG). The previous verse noted that Joseph arose from his sleep and took the Child and His mother and withdrew to Egypt. The narrative now ...

Thursday, 15 August 2024 When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, Matthew 2:14 “And having arisen, he took the Child and His mother – night, and he withdrew to Egypt” (CG). In the previous verse, Joseph had a dream where the Lord’s messenger told him to flee to Egypt and stay there until he was given word, noting that Herod would seek the Child to destroy Him. Now, in compliance with those words, it next records, “And having arisen, he took the Ch...