Finishing chapter 23 of Matthew in our "Biography of the King", Jesus saves his strongest words of correction for the religious elite of his day. The eight "woes" he proclaims against the Pharisees reveal their wicked hearts and hypocrisy to do so well at their ritual and outward experience while being dead on the inside. Yet Jesus is not so much angry as he is sorrowful as he would have gathered them together as a mother hen gathers her chicks--but they were not willing.

On Communion Sunday, we looked at the story of the woman with the great debt in 2 Kings chapter 4. God provides for her need through her obedience to collect empty vessels. Are you empty enough to be filled by God's Spirit, or are you already full of everything the world is offering? God needs an empty vessel that He can keep filling as we are poured out and used up for Him!

On Communion Sunday, we looked at the story of the woman with the great debt in 2 Kings chapter 4. God provides for her need through her obedience to collect empty vessels. Are you empty enough to be filled by God's Spirit, or are you already full of everything the world is offering? God needs an empty vessel that He can keep filling as we are poured out and used up for Him!

Continuing our study through Matthew's gospel, Jesus speaks plainly about the religious elite's problem with pride and hypocrisy in chapter 23.

Continuing our study through Matthew's gospel, Jesus speaks plainly about the religious elite's problem with pride and hypocrisy in chapter 23.

On this communion Sunday, we focus our attention to the hypothetical question the Sadducees tried to use to discredit or disprove the truth of resurrection. Again, Jesus' teaching causes all who hear to be in awe of his teaching with authority and power.

On this communion Sunday, we focus our attention to the hypothetical question the Sadducees tried to use to discredit or disprove the truth of resurrection. Again, Jesus' teaching causes all who hear to be in awe of his teaching with authority and power.

As we start chapter 22 in our continuing study through the gospel of Matthew, Jesus continues to teach in the temple, directly speaking to the religious leaders through parables. Chapter 22 opens with the parable of the wedding feast and the king's invitation to celebrate together with Him.

As we start chapter 22 in our continuing study through the gospel of Matthew, Jesus continues to teach in the temple, directly speaking to the religious leaders through parables. Chapter 22 opens with the parable of the wedding feast and the king's invitation to celebrate together with Him.

Finishing up chapter 21 this week in our study of Matthew--Jesus tells a "judicial parable" to the religious leaders that exposes their hatred for the Father (the landowner) by their treatment of the son. When they realize they have judged themselves by judging (rightly) the parable's meaning, they are ready to seize Jesus--and if it wasn't for the crowds they would have. He is the chief cornerstone that the builders rejected, but he is precious in God's eyes and those of us who have trusted in Him!