Matthew 5 - 03.20.25

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 5:3 NIV

“Jesus said,

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

OBSERVATION 

Jesus went up on a mountainside, sat down and settled in for what would become HIS Most Famous Teaching “The Sermon on The Mount”. Most likely The Teaching covered several days—beginning with the famous—Beatitudes. Jesus did not come with a brand new teaching. HE came as the Promised Messiah with a Message Heard from the Beginning of Time. Jesus will Fulfill and accomplish the entire Law and The Prophets—

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to FULFILL them.” (Matthew 5:17 NIV)

APPLICATION 

What does it mean that Jesus Came to Fulfill the Law?

The Law required Perfect Obedience. When The Law was broken-even unintentionally—The only WAY to Forgiveness was the death of an animal without blemish. 

Blood had to be shed and sacrificed.

For a sin offering, the live animal (without blemish) was brought to the altar, and the sinner was required to lay his hand on the head of the animal  (in effect-transferring his sin to the animal). Then the animal was killed, at which point the priest would take some of the  blood and put it on the horns of the altar.

“In this way the priest will make atonement for them for the sin they have committed, and they will be forgiven.” (Leviticus 4:29-30, 35)

Jesus did not abolish the Law.

God still wants our obedience. In fact, as you read through the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus upped the ante by focusing not just on “outward appearance” but on the condition of our “character and heart”. 

Jesus Fulfilled the Law—by offering HIMSELF Up for the Sins of the world. (Hebrews 9:22) Jesus was the perfect Lamb without blemish whose precious blood was Spilled after being publicly slain. Jesus blood sacrifice satisfied the Law requirement ONCE for ALL Sin—and—Tore the curtain in the inner Sanctuary Making the WAY Wide Open. We now have access to God 24/7– Through the unmerited grace and mercy of Jesus. We cannot earn it-we don’t deserve it. It is a free Gift —because of HIS very great Love for us. A Love we will never fully understand.

Now-Everyone has access to Forgiveness AND Heaven—without waiting for a special “day of atonement” or the need to go through a “High Priest” at a Temple. We can accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord at home, in a Park, at the grocery store, over the phone. We can receive His forgiveness and grace in the car, in the kitchen, anywhere and everywhere—God speaks to us. Jesus OPENED the WAY. JESUS—IS—THE WAY. (John 14:6)

Now-ANYONE who realizes their poverty and great need of Christ’s atoning blood sacrifice—can Come—and Receive—the Kingdom of eternal heaven!

“For God SO Loved the world that HE gave HIS ONE and ONLY SON, that whoever Believes IN HIM shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16)

Jesus prayed…“Now this is eternal life: that they KNOW you, the only true God, AND Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” (John 17:3 NIV)

“I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”” (Mark 10:15 NLT)

“When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, 

but those who know—they are sinners.”” (Mark 2:17 NLT)

PRAYER

LORD Jesus,

Thank YOU for Your gracious mercy that saved me when I didn’t know I needed to be saved. Help me to have the same courage and boldness that this lady (whose name I do not remember) had when she walked into the store where I was working and shared the gospel with every single customer and worker that day. Not one person seemed to be receptive. And she will not know until heaven that her seed grew into my salvation just a few months later. We may not know at park outreach-IF someone later recognizes their poverty AND receives the Kingdom of Heaven. Lord, help us to just keep praying and sharing WHEREVER You lead us—with family and friends—at the grocery—at restaurants—planting and watering. Thank you for your Holy Spirit that ALWAYS supplies us with ALL we need for Your Kingdom work.

In Jesus Name. Amen.  

Tina L Kudelka

Matthew 4 - 3.19.25

Scripture

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4)

Observation

This happened when Jesus was about to start his ministry. He was on a forty day fast, eating nothing and waiting on God. At the end of his fast, he was hungry. The Devil approached Him with temptations. Jesus met every temptation by quoting from the scripture.

The first temptation was about food. The Devil tempted Him to command the stones to become bread. Jesus said “Man shall not live by bread alone”. Jesus was quoting directly from Deuteronomy 8:3 which says “...that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD”. The Devil continued to bring two more temptations. Each time, Jesus overcame it by quoting scripture.

In the armour of God, we are presented with multiple weapons of defence, but only one weapon of offence - the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17). If you have played chess, you know that you can never win a game by just playing defence. You need to make a move to checkmate your opponent. A soldier cannot win a battle by just defending himself. He needs to attack the enemy with his sword. 

The word of God is the sword given to us by God to stop the enemy’s attack. When an attack comes, we overcome it by quoting God’s promises from the word. 

Application

God’s word is food for our spirit. We are commanded to desire the pure milk of the word like newborn babies, so that we may grow (1 Peter 2:2). Our inner man grows strong when we feed on God’s word. If we don’t take time to nourish our spirit by spending time with the Word on a regular basis, when an attack comes we will find ourselves ill-prepared and a weak and easy target for the enemy!

Let us make sure that our daily time with God in prayer and Bible reading is non-negotiable, and is given the highest priority in our life. No matter what the pressures of the day are, let us start the day by looking at the face of Jesus and listening to Him, by reading His word. 

Prayer

Dear Father, thank you for your word. Forgive me for the times I have gone about my day, without spending time with you and without reading your word. Help me to make your word a priority in my life. May the word of Christ dwell in me richly (Colossians 3:16). May your word be a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my paths (Psalms 119:105). Help me to discipline myself to make my time with you the first and most important time of my day. Help me to hide your word in my heart, so that I do not sin against you (Psalms 119:11). Lord, thank you because I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13). Help me to live my life as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to you (Romans 12:1). In Jesus’s name. Amen.

- Asha Chacko George

Matthew 3 - 3.18.25

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew 3:8 “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.”

OBSERVATION: The author of this portion of Scripture, Matthew, told how John the Baptist called people to change their behavior and repent of their sins. He told them to produce fruit in keeping with their repentance.  “The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

APPLICATION:  “Any tree that doesn’t bear fruit will be cut down?  Nope, that’s not what it says!  Only the tree that doesn’t bear GOOD fruit will be cut down and burned in the fire.  The emphasis is on the word, “good” fruit!  Is my life bearing more rotten fruit or good fruit?  Is my faith being activated in obedience or has it gone stagnant?  Am I obeying God and loving people. Am I serving the needs of others. Am I actively looking for ways to share the Good News of Jesus Christ?  Am I following the Great Commission by going and making disciples? Those are all ways to produce good fruit from my life. Genuine Christ-followers are recognized by our love AND by the fruit that is being produced from our lives!  In the Old Testament, a fruitful tree was often used as a symbol of godly living.  “If you remain in Me, and My words remain in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” Another thing that comes from aligning ourselves with God and fruitful living is the joy of our answered prayers. Jesus declared, “Very truly I tell you, My Father will give you whatever you ask in My name…Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” (John 16:23b,24).

PRAYER:  I pray the roots of my faith will grow deeper as I abide in Jesus, and that as I remain in the Vine, my life will produce MUCH GOOD fruit.

- Robin Orefice