Matthew 18:21-22

²¹ Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, how many times should I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Should I forgive as many as seven times?”
 ²² Jesus said, “Not just seven times, but rather as many as seventy-seven times." (CEB)

The point of this dialogue is not to have Peter (or us) sharpen our math skills but rather the power of forgiveness. Stop for a second and think about this question from another perspective...what if God was asking how many times He had to forgive you and me? 

All of a sudden "seventy-seven" (or some translations say "seventy times seven") doesn't seem like that many. Remember, the focus is not to track the number of times you forgive someone and once he or she gets to 490 times you don't have to forgive him or her anymore. Just like the number seven represents "wholeness" in the Bible, the point of Jesus' response is to forgive wholly. What does it look like for you to forgive wholly? Who needs to receive forgiveness from you today?

What do you find meaningful, confusing, or challenging in this passage? 

Matthew 18:1-5

¹ At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
 ² Then he called a little child over to sit among the disciples, ³ and said, “I assure you that if you don’t turn your lives around and become like this little child, you will definitely not enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Those who humble themselves like this little child will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ⁵ Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. (CEB)

 What a question to ask. Not to say that some of us haven't wanted to ask questions just like this one. Before Jesus even utters a word, He makes a powerful statement by calling a child over to sit with them. The disciples had become obsessed with the idea of an earthly kingdom and needed to be refocused, what better way to do that than by looking at a child.

This is a story about the greatness of humility and how we must make that a legitimate part of our lives and attitudes. What does it look like for you to "become like a little child?" 

What do you find meaningful, confusing, or challenging in this passage? 

Matthew 16:24-28

²⁴ Then Jesus said to his disciples, “ All who want to come after me must say no to themselves, take up their cross, and follow me. ²⁵ All who want to save their lives will lose them. But all who lose their lives because of me will find them. ²⁶ Why would people gain the whole world but lose their lives? What will people give in exchange for their lives? ²⁷ For the Human One is about to come with the majesty of his Father with his angels. And then he will repay each one for what that person has done. ²⁸ I assure you that some standing here won’t die before they see the Human One coming in his kingdom. ” (CEB)

Anyone that tells you being a Christian is easy, has never read this passage. Anyone who says discipleship doesn't require everything you are, has never understood this passage. Christ calls us to follow Him but it is not without cost. Saying 'no' to self, carrying one's cross, losing one's life..."because of me" says Jesus.

Carrying a cross is not a pleasant image. It would be great to hear what that means to you. What cross is Christ calling you to bear? Perhaps to help carry the cross of another?

What do you find meaningful, confusing, or challenging in this passage?

Matthew 16:13-23

¹³ When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
 ¹⁴ They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
   ¹⁵ “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
 ¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
 ¹⁷ Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. ¹⁸ And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. ¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” ²⁰ Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
 ²¹ From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.  ²² Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”
 ²³ Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” (NIV)

What a straightforward question, "Who do you say I am?" There was no way evading that question or giving some sort of beat-around-the-bush answer. Peter speaks up, because that's what Peter does but I wonder, what did the other disciples say? What would you say?

What do you find meaningful, confusing, or challenging in this passage? 

Matthew 16:5-12

⁵ When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. ⁶ “Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
 ⁷ They discussed this among themselves and said, “It is because we didn’t bring any bread.”
 ⁸ Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? ⁹ Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? ¹⁰ Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? ¹¹ How is it you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” ¹² Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. (NIV)

One of the things that yeast does it cause things to expand or grow. We know that's why the dough rises as it sits before baking. There has been a lot of talk of bread recently for the disciples and so they weren't exactly sure what Jesus was talking about when He mentioned the "yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees." If any of you have ever made something with bad yeast, it ruins the entire batch. Here is what Jesus is talking about, keep from letting bad things grow in your life.

Stop and think about that for a second, what sorts of things do you allow to "grow" in your life that don't belong there or make you sick (spiritually or physically)? These are the types of things we need to give up and get over because they keep us from having enough room for the good stuff.

What do you find meaningful, confusing, or challenging in this passage?

Matthew 14:22-33

²² Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. ²³ After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, ²⁴ and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
 ²⁵ Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. ²⁶ When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
 ²⁷ But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
 ²⁸ “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
   ²⁹ “Come,” he said.
   Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
 ³¹ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
 ³² And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. ³³ Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God." (NIV)

Jesus continues to assert His authority over the created order, while also freaking His disciples out. In the midst of all of this, Peter tells Jesus to call him out of the boat. Jesus does, and Peter goes. Sure Peter began to sink but at least he got out of the boat.

Where is Christ calling you to go? What boat do you need to get out of and walk in faith?

What do you find meaningful, confusing, or challenging in this passage?

Matthew 14:13-21

¹³ When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. ¹⁴ When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
 ¹⁵ As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”
 ¹⁶ Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
 ¹⁷ “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.
   ¹⁸ “Bring them here to me,” he said. ¹⁹ And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. ²⁰ They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. ²¹ The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children. (NIV)

There could have been close to ten thousand people gathered there that day to listen to Jesus' teachings and maybe even be healed by Him. We read that Jesus had compassion on the people and not only met their physical needs, healing and hunger, but their spiritual needs as well.

Once again we read of Christ's power over the created world as well as the spiritual. We also see that He is faithful to provide. One of the things this passage makes me wonder, what types of things might happen if we allow ourselves to be moved to action out of compassion for others? 

What do you find meaningful, confusing, or challenging in this passage?

Matthew 13:44-46

⁴⁴ “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
   ⁴⁵ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. ⁴⁶ When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. (NIV)

 Have you ever wanted something so much that you were willing to part with other things to get it? It sounds like "the kingdom of heaven" is one of those things. Selling everything to buy a field or a pearl of great value will certainly change the way one lives. 

And here is part of the challenge we read, giving up everything for the kingdom will change our lives. We must ask ourselves if we are willing to sell-out for the kingdom. Are you?

What do you find meaningful, confusing, or challenging in this passage?

Matthew 13:18-23

¹⁸ “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: ¹⁹ When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. ²⁰ The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. ²¹ But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. ²² The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. ²³ But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (NIV)


So, I'd like to hear from you. After reading this parable (13:1-9), what sorts of things stick out to you? What do you find meaningful, confusing, or challenging in this passage?

Matthew 12:33-37

³³ “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. ³⁴ You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. ³⁵ A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. ³⁶ But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. ³⁷ For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” (NIV)

When James tells us we should be "quick to listen, slow to speak" (1:19) he is reminding us that our words matter. I'm sure there are plenty of recent examples we can come up with where words have caused hurt and pain, many of which are, as Jesus describes, "empty."

As we continue our journey through Lent, are there empty words you need to seek forgiveness for? What might happen in your relationships at work, school, home if you were to be a little quicker to listen and maybe a little slower to speak?

What do you find meaningful, confusing, or challenging in this passage?

Matthew 12:1-14

¹ At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. ² When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”
 ³ He answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? ⁴ He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. ⁵ Or haven’t you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent? ⁶ I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. ⁷ If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. ⁸ For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
 ⁹ Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, ¹⁰ and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to bring charges against Jesus, they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”
 ¹¹ He said to them, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? ¹² How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”
 ¹³ Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. ¹⁴ But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus. (NIV)

Have you ever been so caught-up in following the rules that you forgot why they were there in the first place? The Sabbath rules were so Jews would be reminded to rest, not ignore doing good. Once again the religious guys don't seem to be acting very religious, they got upset with Jesus because he healed a man's deformed hand. Wait, what?!? They got mad because Jesus wasn't following the rules by healing that guy...perhaps a missed point?

Can you think of times when you have made faith more about following rules and  missed opportunities around you?

What do you find meaningful, confusing, or challenging in this passage?

Matthew 9:10-13

¹⁰ While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. ¹¹ When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
 ¹² On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. ¹³ But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (NIV)

 It was a big deal that a Jewish rabbi would sit down to a meal with tax collectors and sinners. Tax collectors were basically seen as traitors and sinners were, well, sinners, so for Jesus to enjoy fellowship with people like this around the dinner table was considered scandalous. Why? Because the religious guys thought he wasn't being religious enough by hanging out with these irreligious guys. Jesus' response, "That's the whole point of the Church" (my paraphrase).

How are you looking to engage the "sick" around you? Are you? Don't forget that you and I are the "tax collectors" and "sinners" as well. These are our people because it is all people. Jesus gave us quite an example, so go and invite someone to dinner.

What do you find meaningful, confusing, or challenging in this passage? 

Matthew 9:1-8

¹ Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. ² Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”
 ³ At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”
 ⁴ Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? ⁵ Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? ⁶ But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” ⁷ Then the man got up and went home. ⁸ When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man. (NIV)

I am fascinated by the faith of the paralyzed man's friends. We see Jesus assert His authority not only over spiritual things, like forgiving sin but also over the physical world, by allowing the man to walk. With that said, it is the faith of the man's friend that really stands out to me. It is because of their faith that their friend is not only forgiven but healed. Is it possible that your faith might change the life of someone else? Have you ever witnessed this happen?

What do you find meaningful, confusing, or challenging in this passage?

Matthew 7:24-27

²⁴ “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. ²⁶ But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ²⁷ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” (NIV)

A classic Sunday School song from growing up, "The wise man built his house upon the rock...the rains came down and the floods came up...and the house on the rock stayed firm." The outcome was slightly different for the foolish man who built his house on the sand. This story is all about foundations, what are you building your life upon? Wealth? Health? Fame? Faith in Christ? Rock or sand?

What do you find meaningful, confusing, or challenging in this passage?

Matthew 7:1-5, 12

¹ “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. ² For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
   ³ “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴ How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? ⁵ You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
¹² So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. (NIV)
 
 "Judge-y" is often a charge given to many Christians. Perhaps it is human nature to want to point out the "specks" of those around us while ignoring our own "planks." Paul talks about this very thing in the first couple verses of Romans chapter 2. The Church has become so quick to pass judgment while forgetting we stand condemned ourselves and forgetting the grace we have been shown. Have you ever experienced the "judgment of Christians?"

Thinking more about this idea of passing judgment, do you think it is ever appropriate for one to pass judgment on another? Why or why not?

What do you find meaningful, confusing, or challenging in this passage?

Matthew 6:25-34

Matthew 6:19-21, 24

¹⁹ “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

²⁴ “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. (NIV)

Think about the connection of "treasure" and "your heart" for a moment. I wonder if the two can ever be disconnected or if they always go together. I find myself leaning toward the always go together idea. Even if you flip the statement around, "for where your heart is, there your treasure will be," it still makes sense to me. Your heart will be with your treasure, and of course vice versa. Think about it. Agree or disagree? Either way the question we must ask ourselves daily: What is it we treasure?

What do you find meaningful, confusing, or challenging in this passage? 

Matthew 6:5-15

⁵ “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ⁶ But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. ⁷ And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. ⁸ Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
   ⁹ “This, then, is how you should pray:
   “‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
¹⁰ your kingdom come,
your will be done,
   on earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹ Give us today our daily bread.
¹² And forgive us our debts,
   as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³ And lead us not into temptation,
   but deliver us from the evil one.
   ¹⁴ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (NIV)

I have to admit, I'm not always very good at praying. I don't feel as though it's the quality of my prayers but rather the quantity of them. I don't think I pray enough. I'm going to establish a goal to pray at least 3x a day for the remainder of Lent and see what happens. What about you, what kinds of things come to mind when you think about prayer?

What do you find meaningful, confusing, or challenging in this passage? 

Matthew 5:43-48

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. ⁴⁶ If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? ⁴⁸ Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (NIV)

Talk about a tough teaching. Not only are we told to love our enemies but pray for them as well? Then Jesus goes on to say that loving the people that are easy to love (or just like us) is not something we should pat ourselves on the back for. Instead he is challenging us to love the ones we might find most unlovable. Then he caps it all off with the one line zinger about "being perfect." I can't help but think about Wesley's idea of "going on to perfection." What does that look like to you?


What do you find meaningful, confusing, or challenging in this passage?

Matthew 5:38-42

³⁸ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ ³⁹ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. ⁴⁰ And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. ⁴¹ If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. ⁴² Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. (NIV)

At one point there was a teaching that said it was fine to determine your own justice, to do unto others as they have done unto you. Jesus shows up and says, "not so much" (my paraphrase). Turning the other cheek is rarely ever an easy thing to do. What sort of experiences have you had when turning the other cheek? What do you think it means when Jesus tells us to go the second mile?


What do you find meaningful, confusing, or challenging in this passage?