Today we begin the most sacred part of Matthew's Gospel.

For twenty-five chapters we have watched Jesus preach...

heal...

teach...

comfort...

forgive...

and reveal the Kingdom of God.

Now everything changes.

The shadow of the Cross falls across every conversation.

Every step Jesus takes is intentional.

Every word He speaks carries eternal significance.

Matthew 26 reminds us that Jesus was not a helpless victim of history.

He was the willing Savior of the world.

Last week, in Matthew 24, Jesus spoke about His return.

Many people become fascinated with signs and timelines.

But Jesus shifts the conversation.

Matthew 25 isn't about predicting His return.

It's about preparing for it.

Jesus tells three stories.

Three parables.

Three unforgettable pictures of faithful discipleship.

Each one asks us the same question:

"If Jesus returned today...would He find us faithfully living for Him?"

Matthew 24 is one of the most discussed chapters in all of Scripture.

It contains prophecy.

Warnings.

Signs.

Questions about the future.

And while many people focus on trying to predict dates and timelines, Jesus focuses on something much more important:

How should God's people live while they wait?

This chapter isn't primarily about satisfying our curiosity.

It's about strengthening our faith.

Matthew 23 is one of the most sobering chapters in all of Scripture.

Jesus speaks with unusual intensity.

He exposes hypocrisy.

He challenges pride.

He confronts empty religion.

And yet beneath every warning is a broken heart.

Because this chapter is not about Jesus being angry at people.

It's about Jesus grieving over people who have lost sight of God's heart.

Today we're going to look at what happens when religion becomes more about appearance than transformation.

And we'll discover that Jesus still calls us to something deeper.

Matthew chapter 22 is filled with questions.

Questions about heaven.

Questions about government.

Questions about Scripture.

Questions meant to trap Jesus.

But by the end of the chapter, Jesus cuts through all the confusion and reminds us of what matters most.

And perhaps today, in a world that often feels complicated, we need that reminder more than ever.

Matthew chapter 22 is filled with questions.

Questions about heaven.

Questions about government.

Questions about Scripture.

Questions meant to trap Jesus.

But by the end of the chapter, Jesus cuts through all the confusion and reminds us of what matters most.

And perhaps today, in a world that often feels complicated, we need that reminder more than ever.

Matthew chapter 20 is about expectations.

What we think is fair. What we think we deserve. And what greatness really looks like in the kingdom of God.

Jesus tells a story that still surprises people today— because grace rarely operates the way we expect.

Matthew chapter 19 is deeply practical.

It speaks about:

• relationships
• commitment
• children
• possessions
• and priorities

And underneath all of it is one central question:

What matters most in our lives?

Because Jesus has a way of lovingly exposing the things we hold onto most tightly.

Matthew chapter 18 answers a question we don't always say out loud—but we often feel:

What does it really look like to live in God's kingdom?

Is it about power? Recognition? Status?

Jesus says—no.

It's about something much deeper:

Humility… care for others… and forgiveness.

Matthew chapter 17 gives us one of the most breathtaking moments in all of Scripture—

The Transfiguration.

A moment where heaven breaks through, where glory is revealed, and where God's voice is heard clearly.

But this chapter also reminds us:

Even after seeing glory… we still have to walk by faith.