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More Important READ Matthew 23:19-22 19 “How blind! For which is more important—the gift on the altar or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 When you swear ‘by the altar,’ you are swearing by it and by everything on it. 21 And when you swear ‘by the Temple,’ you are swearing by it and by God, who lives in it. 22 And when you swear ‘by heaven,’ you are swearing by the throne of God and by God, who sits on the throne.” Jesus was not finished scolding the religious

Snakes and Vipers READ Matthew 23:31-33 31 “But in saying that, you testify against yourselves that you are indeed the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Go ahead and finish what your ancestors started. 33 Snakes! Sons of vipers! How will you escape the judgment of hell?” For those who want only to talk about the gentle, loving Jesus, they should have been in the crowd that day. When He was on earth, Jesus said more about hell than He did heaven. That

Threats of Wars READ Matthew 24:4-6 4 Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, 5 for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately.” Jesus warned that many would come claiming to be the Messiah. He also indicated a troubled world because of wars and threats of wars. He also referred to “the

False Messiahs READ Matthew 24:23-25 23 “Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah,’ or ‘There he is,’ don’t believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones. 25 See, I have warned you about this ahead of time.” Jesus warns what it will be like in the future. False messiahs and false prophets will do signs and wonders. These will seem supernatural and

The Father Knows READ Matthew 24:36 36 “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.” Although no one will know the day or hour when Jesus will return to the earth, people could know when it is getting close. The Antichrist will sit in the Temple himself and demand to be worshiped. That will begin the last three and a half years of the Tribulation. At the end of that time,

Unprepared Servant READ Matthew 24:48-51 48 “But what if the servant is evil and thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ 49 and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? 50 The master will return unannounced and unexpected, 51 and he will cut the servant to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Jesus told what it would be like for those not expecting His return. Th

A Long Trip READ Matthew 25:14-15 14 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. 15 He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip.” Jesus had told a story about the need to watch for the master’s return. No doubt t

Wicked and Lazy Servant READ Matthew 25:26-27 26 “But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, 27 why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’” This was the master’s answer to the servant who hid his money in a hole in the ground rather than doing something with it to gain increase or at least to make use of it. This causes be

Away With You READ Matthew 25:41-43 41 “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. 42 For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. 43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’” Matthew 25:41 reveals the purpo

The Alabaster Jar READ Matthew 26:6-9 6 Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. 7 While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it over his head. 8 The disciples were indignant when they saw this. “What a waste!” they said. 9 “It could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.” In his Gospel, Matthew tells the reader of Jesus visiting the ho

The Scriptures Declared READ Matthew 26:23-24 23 He replied, “One of you who has just eaten from this bowl with me will betray me. 24 For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!” Jesus had said that one of those present would betray Him. Each disciple asked if he was the one to whom Jesus was referring. Jesus identified the pers

Before the Rooster Crows READ Matthew 26:33-34 33 Peter declared, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you.” 34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” Peter was insulted by Jesus’ comments that all of them would desert Him. Peter boasted that he would never do that even if the others did. In answer to that, Jesus gave this prediction of Peter’s denial o

Sleeping Again READ Matthew 26:42-43 42 Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open. Jesus left Peter, James and John alone so He could go pray by Himself. His desire was to have the cup of suffering facing Him to be removed. His greater desire, however, was to do the will of His heaven

Fulfilling Scripture READ Matthew 26:55-56 55 Then Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I some dangerous revolutionary, that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me? Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there teaching every day. 56 But this is all happening to fulfill the words of the prophets as recorded in the Scriptures.” At that point, all the disciples deserted him and fled. Jesus faced the crowd and tried to use reasoning. Their minds were already made up,

Prophesy to Us READ Matthew 26:67-68 67 Then they began to spit in Jesus’ face and beat him with their fists. And some slapped him, 68 jeering, “Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who hit you that time?” This continues the account of the insults and humiliation that Jesus endured when He could have prevented it by calling armies of angels. It is one thing if you suffer abuse when you can do nothing about it, but quite another if you could have stopped it but endured it for

Filled with Remorse READ Matthew 27:3-4 3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and the elders. 4 “I have sinned,” he declared, “for I have betrayed an innocent man.” “What do we care?” they retorted. “That’s your problem.” Although Judas had remorse, there is no indication he changed his mind about the sin he had committed in betra

Give Us Barabbas READ Matthew 27:19-21 19 Just then, as Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Leave that innocent man alone. I suffered through a terrible nightmare about him last night.” 20 Meanwhile, the leading priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be put to death. 21 So the governor asked again, “Which of these two do you want me to release to you?” The crowd shouted back,

Three Crosses READ Matthew 27:35-38 35 After they had nailed him to the cross, the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice. 36 Then they sat around and kept guard as he hung there. 37 A sign was fastened above Jesus’ head, announcing the charge against him. It read: “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” 38 Two revolutionaries were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. The God of the universe allowed Himself to be nailed to a cross. Uncon

Death and Life READ Matthew 27:50-53 50 Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit. 51 At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, 52 and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead. 53 They left the cemetery after Jesus’ resurrection, went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and appeared to many people. Finally, after all t

Risen from the Dead READ Matthew 28:1-6 1 Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. 2 Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. 3 His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. 4 The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint. 5 Then the angel spoke to the women.