Coro Baptist Church

The parable of The Labourers in the Vineyard before us this week from Matthew 20 is in fact a continuation from last week as Jesus explains the statement at the end of Chapter 19, "Many who are first will be last, and the last first." Most of us expect a certain 'order of things' in life to be kept and maintained by the vast majority. And it is interesting, and somewhat revealing, to observe how we respond when such expectations are not met. Jesus teaches us that we should not presume we are entitled to anything in the Kingdom of Heaven. Instead, whether we are first in line, or last, we receive far more than any of us deserve. It is all gift! Such is the generosity and grace of our Lord and God.

In our passage, little children are brought to Jesus so that he might bless them, but the disciples again miss the point and turn the children away. Jesus shows us that salvation is for everyone, not limited to the rich and important. We also read of a wealthy young man approaching Jesus to find out what 'good thing' he must do to get eternal life. But the only one who is good and can bring salvation was standing right before him! The young man kept the six relational commandments, but Jesus saw his heart and knew he served money, not God. In response, Jesus tells him to sell all his possessions and give to the poor, saying that he might have treasure in heaven and follow him. The Young man was sad and fled because he had great wealth. Jesus shows us what is important and what is not to both the young man and the kingdom. "It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for the rich to enter the kingdom". While Jesus' hyperbole reveals the impossibility of saving ourselves, 'with God all things are possible'.

We heard last week that believers have a position in the kingdom of heaven like that of beloved "little ones". With the image of believers as children in mind and a desire to guard them, Jesus addresses the most significant threat his children face: the threat of sin. Jesus warns those who would lead believers to stumble, and he warns believers themselves of the severe seriousness of participating in sin. To sin is to wander away from God, like a sheep going astray, or as we see in our passage this week, a brother or sister leaving the family. So, what happens when a "little one", a sheep, a brother or sister sins? Are they lost, doomed to wander? This week, we see Jesus's heart forgive sin and reconcile the wandering family—the same heart he would see family have for one another.

Chapter 18 in Matthew lifts our eyes to life in the Kingdom of God and how those in the Kingdom are called to live and relate to each other. Jesus points us to the deep love of the Father for each of His children and reminds us of the need to show true humility, love and grace to others, even those whom we may not get along well with. While this passage reveals our God's unbounded compassion and love for His flock, it is also a strong and severe warning against the danger of taking sin lightly. May we reflect on Jesus's words humbly as we examine our own hearts and lives.

We are all familiar with paying taxes. Few people would say it is a joyful experience, and most would avoid it if they were free to. In this week's passage from Matthew 17, Jesus teaches Peter that, as a son of God, Peter is free not to pay the yearly temple tax but that he should anyway. The question we might have is, what would drive a person like Peter, or even you and I, to do such a thing, to not make use of our rights as children of God and instead pay a tax that we are free from? Paul gives us a clear answer in 1 Corinthians 9, "For the sake of the gospel." Join us as we spend more time examining the words and heart of this passage.

Coming down from the mountain where he was transfigured, Jesus finds a great crowd gathered around his remaining disciples. Those who need healing have come to receive it from Jesus' followers. But there is a problem. Despite Jesus having given them authority to heal and drive out spirits, the disciples are, to their surprise, powerless to help. It is wonderful for a believer to be given kingdom work in this world—work like loving God and others more than ourselves, forgiving those who sin against us, and proclaiming the good news of Jesus to the world. Yet how often do we find ourselves, like the disciples, powerless to move such mighty mountains? This Sunday, we will read in Jesus' own words, as he prepares for his death and resurrection, that if you have even a minuscule grain of faith in God, "Nothing will be impossible for you."

In the doubt and confusion brought about by the revelations given in Matthew 16, the transfiguration is, quite literally, a guiding light and glorious hope. The suffering and death foretold by Jesus are not the end of the road. He has already told them he would be raised on the third day and now, at the Transfiguration, they are shown more than a mere glimpse of the glory that awaits him. The suffering and death of the cross are not the end of the road at all, they are in fact the path to this glory– for Jesus, and for all who would follow him.

For other talks in this series go to sermonaudio.com-acts-Winter Word 2024- A gathering for Bible teaching given by local Adelaide pastors from different denominations who share a commitment to the Authority of the Scriptures, the centrality of the Gospel of Christ crucified, and the importance of sound expository preaching.

For other talks in this series go to sermonaudio.com-acts-Winter Word 2024- A gathering for Bible teaching given by local Adelaide pastors from different denominations who share a commitment to the Authority of the Scriptures, the centrality of the Gospel of Christ crucified, and the importance of sound expository preaching.

In Matthew 16:13-28 we have three well known passages containing a saving revelation, a strong rebuke, and the sure return of the Son of Man. It is not what we say, what we do, or why we do it, that determines how we will stand before him on the day of his appearing, it is who Jesus is. In fact, it is our answer to the question, "who do you say that I am?" that determines what we do and why we do it. And so, I ask that you pray with me that the Father of glory would open the eyes of our hearts and reveal the Son of the living God to us as he did for Peter that day– that we would know him and love him.