Gospel of Matthew
Fasting for the Glory of God (Matthew 6:16-18 Teaching Outline)
Introduction: As we approach this text, it is good to remember the preceding context. Earlier in this passage, our Lord Jesus warned us against hypocrisy in giving and called upon us to be concerned about giving for the glory of God rather than men (6:1-4). Then He warned us against hypocrisy in praying and called…
A Principle Concerning When Not to Share the Truth (Matthew 7:6)
Introduction: In this post I am going to attempt to tackle a difficult saying of our Lord Jesus, one that has often been misunderstood but which contains a crucial teaching that we must all learn to heed. This teaching comes in the form of a principle stated by means of metaphor, a principle which offers…
The Importance of Proper Judging (Matthew 7:1-5)
Introduction: In the following illustration Kent Hughes relates the “experience of a certain young bachelor”: Every time he brought a prospective wife home, his mother criticized her unmercifully. The young man was at his wits end when a friend offered this advice: “Find someone like your mother.” So he looked and looked until he found…
The Narrow Way (Matthew 7:13-14 Teaching Outline)
Introduction: As I studied this passage, I was reminded of a famous poem by Robert Frost: Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took…
Matthew 7:12 – The “Golden Rule” as Uniquely Taught by Jesus (Teaching Outline)
Introduction: Advocates of “religious tolerance” – or as more accurately termed, advocates of religious relativism or religious pluralism – often cite the Golden Rule as an example of how all religions are essentially teaching the same thing. Of course, it is common knowledge that there are actually a number of ancient religions or ancient philosophers…
Joy Comes in the Mourning
Do you know what it’s like to feel the sorrow of a bereaved mother? A mother’s life is wrapped up in the care and well-being of her children. When those children are taken away from her or, worse, when they’re wantonly slaughtered before her eyes, it’s like ripping out her heart. She feels empty. She feels as if she no longer has…
Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25:31-46 Teaching Outline)
Introduction: Not all scholars agree that Jesus’ teaching in this part of Matthew 25 should rightly be called a parable. For example, one prominent New Testament scholar, characteristic of those who think we should not call this a parable, argues: This is not really a parable. At most we have a parabolic saying about the separation of sheep…
Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30 Teaching Outline)
As we approach our study of this parable, we must keep in mind that Jesus has been teaching about His second coming and that this provides the context for this parable as well as for the one that preceded it. Introduction: F. B. Meyer, a Baptist pastor and evangelist who lived from 1847-1929, had this prayer…
Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13 Teaching Outline)
Introduction: Today as we continue our journey through the parables of Jesus, I just want to remind you of an important principle when interpreting parables, which is that we should not over-interpret them. It is tempting for many scholars and pastors to start reading all kinds of allegorical meanings into parables such as the one…
Parable of the Two Servants (Matthew 24:45-51 Teaching Outline)
Jesus tells this parable in the context of His prophecies about His future return and the signs that will precede it. An important emphasis of this teaching is on the fact that we do not know when He will return. Indeed, He tells His disciples that this is one fact of which they can be…