Wednesday in the Word

Jesus says he did not come to bring peace, but a sword, and in this episode, we slow down to understand what that really means. Working through Matthew 10:34–39, we look at how Jesus’ words fit into the Old Testament hope for a peaceful Messiah, why he quotes Micah, and how his coming confronts each of us with a costly but life-giving choice of loyalty.

In this week’s episode, we explore:

• How Matthew 10:34–39 fits into Jesus’ instructions to the Twelve as he sends them out
• The Old Testament expectation that the Messiah would bring peace (Isaiah 9; Micah 4–5)
• Why Jesus, the “Prince of Peace,” can still say he came to bring “a sword”
• How Micah 7 provides the background for Jesus’ words about families divided
• Why the gospel message naturally creates division, even within our closest relationships
• What Jesus means by “loving” or “hating” family and life itself—language of loyalty and priority, not emotion
• The sense of “worthy” in this passage, and why it is about living consistently as a disciple, not earning acceptance
• What it truly means to “take up your cross”—not generic hardship, but a willingness to face hostility, rejection, and even death for Christ
• How “finding” your life now leads to loss, and “losing” your life for Jesus’ sake leads to true and lasting life in his kingdom
• Why this age is “the time of the sword” and what that reveals about what God values in our faith and perseverance

After listening, you’ll come away with a clearer grasp of why following Jesus inevitably involves division and cost—and why it is still worth everything. You’ll be encouraged to weigh where your ultimate loyalty lies, to see suffering and rejection in light of eternal life, and to stand firm in the approval of Christ even when family, culture, or authorities push back.

In this episode of Wednesday in the Word, we turn to Matthew 10:24–33 and wrestle with a searching question: Who do you fear? As Jesus sends the twelve out as his representatives, he prepares them – and us – for rejection, opposition, and cost. Yet beneath his warnings lies a deeper invitation: to let the fear of God, not the fear of people, shape our choices, our loyalties, and our hope.

In this week’s episode, we explore:

• How Jesus defines the relationship between disciple and teacher, servant and master – and why we should not expect kinder treatment than he received
• What it means that what is hidden will be revealed, and why God will not allow his message to be silenced
• Jesus’ command not to fear those who can kill the body but not the soul – and what this tells us about eternal life and true security
• The image of sparrows and numbered hairs as a picture of God’s intimate care, even in suffering and danger
• Jesus’ promise to acknowledge before the Father those who acknowledge him before others – and the sober warning for those who deny him
• How “who you fear” reveals what you truly believe about God, judgment, mercy, and your ultimate good
• What it practically looks like to become more like Jesus in confronting self-righteousness and worldliness
• How valuing God’s eternal promises over this world’s rewards will inevitably put us at odds with a culture that loves image, status, and comfort

By the end of the episode, you’ll be better equipped to see how fear – or reverence – for God can free you from being ruled by the opinions, threats, or approval of others. You’ll gain a clearer picture of what it means to identify with Jesus in a costly world, to be honest about your own need for mercy, and to live with your eyes fixed on the kingdom that cannot be taken from you.

Jesus tells his disciples to flee persecution—but then adds a puzzling phrase about his return. What did he mean, and why does it matter?

In this episode, Krisan Marotta tackles one of the most debated verses in the New Testament. As Jesus sends out the twelve, he tells them they will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. This short sentence opens up big questions about timing, mission, and what Jesus is preparing his disciples to expect. Without settling every theological argument, Krisan offers a thoughtful and clear look at the possible interpretations—and how this verse fits into the broader picture of Matthew’s gospel.

In this week’s episode, we explore:

• Why Matthew 10:23 is considered one of the most difficult verses in the New Testament
• Five major views on what “the coming of the Son of Man” could mean
• How Old Testament passages in Daniel, Amos, Ezekiel, and Jeremiah shape our understanding
• What it means that the disciples’ mission to Israel will remain unfinished
• How Jesus prepares his followers for rejection, not success
• Why this verse invites humility in interpretation and perseverance in calling

After listening, you’ll come away with a deeper grasp of how Jesus shapes expectations for those he sends. You’ll see that rejection isn’t a sign of failure and that some missions unfold on God’s timeline, not ours. Most of all, you’ll be encouraged to stay faithful even when the outcome seems uncertain—because the story isn’t over until the Son of Man comes.

Jesus sends his disciples out with no supplies, no safety net, and a clear warning: expect rejection.

In this episode, Krisan Marotta continues exploring Jesus’ second major teaching discourse in the Gospel of Matthew. As he sends out the twelve disciples to minister on his behalf, Jesus gives them surprising instructions. Instead of preparing for a successful campaign, he prepares them for hardship. Their journey will test the hearts of those they encounter and teach the disciples to rely completely on God. Through it all, Jesus makes it clear: representing him will not be easy, but it is deeply significant.

In this week’s episode, we explore:

• Why Jesus tells the disciples to carry no money, clothes, or supplies
• How their dependence on hospitality serves as a test for Israel
• What it means to “shake the dust off your feet”
• The powerful comparison to Sodom and Gomorrah and what it reveals about rejecting truth
• How this first mission prepares the apostles for their future ministry
• The meaning of being “wise as serpents and innocent as doves”
• The difference between divine revelation to apostles and Spirit-given understanding for believers today
• Why hardship, rejection, and persecution are part of the journey of faith

After listening, you’ll gain insight into how Jesus prepared his followers for a life of mission marked by both challenge and purpose. You’ll better understand how God uses trials to grow our faith, and how the message of the gospel calls for perseverance and courage. Most of all, you’ll be reminded that even in the hardest places, God is at work and his kingdom is near.

Before the disciples were sent, Jesus saw the crowds and he had compassion.

In this episode of Wednesday in the Word, Krisan Marotta opens a new section in the Gospel of Matthew as Jesus prepares to send out the twelve disciples. But first, we see what moved him to act: compassion for people who were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. That compassion launches a mission. Jesus not only sends his disciples out with instructions. He gives them authority to extend his ministry of healing and proclaiming the kingdom.

In this week’s episode, we explore:

• How this moment transitions from Jesus’ miracles to his second major teaching discourse
• What it means to be “sheep without a shepherd” in the biblical story
• The importance of Jesus’ compassion and why it drives mission
• The echo between the twelve apostles and the twelve tribes of Israel
• Why Jesus initially restricts their mission to Israel
• How Matthew emphasizes Jesus’ authority and his power to share it

After listening, you’ll understand how Jesus equips ordinary people to carry out extraordinary tasks. You’ll see the connection between compassion and calling, and how the work of the apostles flows from the heart of Christ himself. Most importantly, you’ll be encouraged to see your own opportunity to extend that same compassion by speaking truth, offering hope, and pointing others toward the Good Shepherd.

Jesus heals two blind men and a mute man, but the real question isn’t what he can do—it’s whether we’re willing to believe what those miracles mean.

In this final episode of Matthew chapter 9, Krisan Marotta guides us through two striking healings that mark a turning point in Jesus’ ministry. As the crowds grow more amazed, the Pharisees grow more hostile. These miracles are more than moments of compassion. They’re acts of authority that force everyone watching to wrestle with who Jesus really is—and how they’ll respond.

In this week’s episode, we explore:

• What the title “Son of David” reveals about Jesus’ identity
• Why faith isn’t wishful thinking, but a right response to who Jesus is
• The cultural role of beggars and what the blind men risked by asking for healing
• Why Jesus tells the healed men to stay silent and why they can’t
• The significance of the Pharisees’ accusation that Jesus works through demons
• How these miracles summarize major themes from chapters 8 and 9

After listening, you’ll walk away with a richer understanding of what Jesus’ miracles were meant to show—not just then, but now. You’ll be able to recognize how his healing points to something greater than relief from suffering. It calls us to trust him not just as a miracle worker, but as the Messiah who came to restore all things.

When death seems final, Jesus shows that it isn’t.

In this episode, Krisan Marotta walks us through the story of Jairus, a synagogue leader who risks everything to beg Jesus for help when his daughter is dying. But before they even reach the house, news arrives that it’s too late—she’s already gone. What follows is not only a demonstration of Jesus’ authority over death, but also a powerful portrait of his compassion for the grieving and his challenge to hopelessness. This passage calls us to believe, even when the situation looks beyond saving.

In this week’s episode, we explore:

• Why Matthew shortens the account, and what the longer versions in Mark and Luke reveal
• Who Jairus was, and why his bold approach to Jesus mattered
• How Jesus balances tenderness toward the grieving and severity toward those who surrender to despair
• What Jesus meant when he said, “She is not dead, but sleeping”
• How fear of death can enslave us and why Jesus calls us to believe instead
• What this story teaches us about hope, grief, and the real victory of the gospel

After listening, you’ll see that Jesus not only has authority over sickness and storms, but over death itself. You’ll understand how this story reframes what it means to live by faith, and why death for the believer is not the end of the story—it’s only sleep before the resurrection. This kind of hope changes how we grieve, how we pray, and how we live.

In this episode of Wednesday in the Word, Krisan Marotta unpacks the quiet but powerful story of a woman who reaches out to Jesus in the middle of a crowd, desperate for healing after twelve long years of suffering. Her faith isn’t loud or dramatic, but it’s real—and Jesus sees it. This moment reveals not only Christ’s power to heal but his desire to restore, comfort, and affirm those the world has overlooked.

In this week’s episode, we explore:

• The cultural and religious weight of ritual uncleanness in the first century
• Why the woman’s condition isolated her from community, worship, and help
• How Jesus responds to her hidden act of faith
• The meaning behind Jesus’ words, “Your faith has made you well”
• What this story tells us about spiritual restoration, not just physical healing
• How Jesus prioritizes the outcast over social status and urgency

By the end of this episode, you’ll see how Jesus meets us in our hidden pain, not just to heal our bodies but to restore our hearts and reintegrate us into community. You’ll come away with a deeper understanding of how personal and tender Christ’s healing really is—and why your faith, no matter how quiet, never goes unnoticed.

In this episode of Wednesday in the Word, Krisan Marotta examines one of Jesus’ most striking confrontations with the religious traditions of his time. When questioned about why his disciples don’t fast like the Pharisees or John the Baptist’s followers, Jesus responds with powerful imagery about weddings, wine, and worn-out garments. This passage challenges us to consider whether our religious practices are sincere expressions of faith or empty rituals used to judge others.

In this week’s episode, we explore:

• Why Jesus’ disciples did not follow the expected fasting customs
• The biblical context and history of fasting in Jewish tradition
• How fasting became a ritual used for self-righteousness and judgment
• What Jesus’ metaphors about weddings, patches, and wineskins reveal about his mission
• The difference between outward religious practices and inward humility
• How Jesus’ response speaks to modern church culture and communion practices

By the end of this episode, you’ll gain a clearer understanding of how Jesus distinguishes between authentic faith and hollow tradition. You’ll be better equipped to examine your own spiritual habits, not just by what you do, but by the heart behind your actions.

Jesus didn’t avoid sinners. He ate with them. But not to excuse sin. He came to heal it.

In this episode, we reflect on one of the most personal and theologically loaded moments in Matthew’s Gospel: the call of Matthew and Jesus’ decision to dine with tax collectors and sinners. This encounter isn’t just about hospitality. It’s a confrontation with the religious leaders of the day over what righteousness really looks like, who needs saving, and what it means to reflect the heart of God.

In this week’s episode, we explore:

• Why Jesus’ call to Matthew was both shocking and deliberate
• What the Pharisees got wrong about holiness and association
• The meaning of “I desire mercy, not sacrifice” and why Jesus quotes Hosea
• How hesed—steadfast, merciful, covenantal love—shapes our understanding of righteousness
• What real compassion looks like and why it must be grounded in truth
• How saving faith changes not just what we believe, but how we live

After listening, you’ll be better equipped to hold together two hard but essential truths: sin is serious, and grace is real. You’ll gain clarity on how to love others like Jesus did—without minimizing sin or compromising truth—and be reminded that the most loving thing we can do is help people face their true condition and point them toward the only cure.