Christians need to "test the spirits", exercising godly discernment in the face of spiritual forces seeking to undo us. We can have great courage knowing that "greater is he who is in us than he who is in the world".

Forgiveness is a complex subject. But Jesus' point is simple and sharp: if we don't forgive others their debts, God won't forgive ours. Those who truly get the gospel of mercy will mercifully forgive others. How can we not forgive others their comparitively small debts when God has forgiven us our astronomically large spiritual debts.

Everything gets broadcast these days. From wars to family vacations to people posting pics of themselves reading their Bible (with a nice cup of coffee of course!). Jesus warns against being spiritual show-offs like the hypocrites of the day. He teaches his disciples to pursue and practice piety in private, promising that our Heavenly Father sees in secret and will reward us.

We're told masculinity is toxic. But God created men and redeems them to be means and models of spiritual stability and health in volatile and vile times.