Sunday Sermons

In this portion of Matthew 22, we witness an assault by the religious leaders on Jesus through a series of questions. Even though they were asking him the “impossible” questions of their day, our Lord answers each one of them directly and leaves everyone speechless with his responses. This week's passage gives us another example of an attempt by Jesus' enemies to destroy him without success.  

At the beginning of Matthew 22, Jesus continues his teaching through parables. And in this week's passage we are presented with a parable of a king whose invitation to a great wedding feast for his son is met with some surprising responses. In understanding these responses we learn what type of people will be part of the kingdom as well as those who won’t.  

After the events of Jesus entering into Jerusalem and overturning tables in the temple, Matthew includes an interesting, and slightly odd, story of Jesus cursing a fig tree that doesn’t bear fruit. The broader point that is being made by the Lord is with the religious leaders over his authority and where they stand in regards to the kingdom. 

Chapter 21 opens up with a well known story of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and the stir he causes within the temple grounds. These events may be familiar to many of us, but this story is filled with imagery and Old Testament references which paint a fuller picture of who Jesus is and what he came to do.

At the end of Matthew 20, we come across this short story of Jesus’ interaction with two blind men on the road toward Jerusalem. This interaction teaches something crucial about our Lord, as well as the type of people that will populate his kingdom.

In this week's passage, the disciples are reminded again of the Lord's upcoming suffering. This is followed up with a bold request that is made by the mother of James and John. Jesus takes this as an opportunity to teach his followers what life in the kingdom actually looks like and how different it is from what we see in the world.

After last week's interaction with the rich young man, Jesus gives a parable concerning reward in the kingdom. He presents a story that is meant to prompt a reaction as he speaks of a master that approaches work and reward in an unorthodox manner. What we are taught is that our Lord approaches things differently than we would and that the economy of the kingdom is not the same as that of the world.

In the latter half of Matthew 19, we come across the familiar story of the rich young man who asks Jesus what he needs to do to get eternal life. It's a unique interaction in the gospel because it's one of the few places where someone approaches Jesus in full sincerity and yet walks away in sorrow. This is a story that cuts right to the heart of what it really looks like to follow Christ and one that often brings conviction when we dig into it.

After a great summer studying the life of Jacob, we return to the Gospel of Matthew. In chapter 19, we see the Pharisees testing Jesus in regard to permitted divorce. Instead of taking the bait, Jesus uses it as an opportunity to talk about bigger issues of the heart.

Genesis 35 marks the end of the story of Jacob and brings our summer series to a close. In this last chapter Jacob moves further into the promised land with his family while experiencing some tragedy along the way. Though the saga of Jacob ends here, the story of the promise carries on well beyond him.