Matthew 22

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Devotional

They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

– Matthew 22:21

You can be sure that Jesus’s interrogators were amazed at His ability to handle their question. In fact the next sentence says, “When they had heard these words, they marveled.” They thought they “had Him” with their cunningly devised question, but He masterfully defused their ultimate weapon.

We could learn an awful from how Jesus handled questions.

Helpful Resources

Enduring Word Commentary with Pastor David Guzik

Read the Scriptures at Bible.com

Download the YouVersion Bible App

Additional Daily Devotionals

My Utmost for His Highest | Oswald Chambers

Morning & Evening | Charles Spurgeon

Matthew 21

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Devotional

And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ”

– Matthew 21:13

It’s easy to point a finger of condemnation at those making merchandise of God’s people in the temple. Sometimes it is far easier to do so than to take a critical look at how well we are making God’s house a house of prayer. I am definitely challenged by this to be far more prayerful in my life.

Helpful Resources

Enduring Word Commentary with Pastor David Guzik

Read the Scriptures at Bible.com

Download the YouVersion Bible App

Additional Daily Devotionals

My Utmost for His Highest | Oswald Chambers

Morning & Evening | Charles Spurgeon

Matthew 20

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Devotional

But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

– Matthew 20:25-28

As we saw a week ago the “peaceful transfer of power” in the United States, and have now come to the end of the first full week of the Donald J. Trump Presidency, I think these words of Jesus are an appropriate meditation.

Helpful Resources

Enduring Word Commentary with Pastor David Guzik

Read the Scriptures at Bible.com

Download the YouVersion Bible App

Additional Daily Devotionals

My Utmost for His Highest | Oswald Chambers

Morning & Evening | Charles Spurgeon

Matthew 19

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Devotional

Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”

– Matthew 19:13-14

I wonder how many times I’ve gotten in the way of the working of Jesus? How many times have I rebuked the one that Jesus wanted to receive? How many times have I overlooked the one Jesus wanted to blessed?

I’m truly grateful that God is gracious with my ever evident failings and misgivings.

Helpful Resources

Enduring Word Commentary with Pastor David Guzik

Read the Scriptures at Bible.com

Download the YouVersion Bible App

Additional Daily Devotionals

My Utmost for His Highest | Oswald Chambers

Morning & Evening | Charles Spurgeon

Matthew 18

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Devotional

“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

– Matthew 18:19-20

The authority and power granted by Jesus to His followers is phenomenal. But how far short we often come in experiencing, expressing and extending this power in our lives for a whole host of reasons. May God build and increase our faith to be more audacious and bold in our prayers.

Helpful Resources

Enduring Word Commentary with Pastor David Guzik

Read the Scriptures at Bible.com

Download the YouVersion Bible App

Additional Daily Devotionals

My Utmost for His Highest | Oswald Chambers

Morning & Evening | Charles Spurgeon

Matthew 17

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Devotional

Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up.” And they were exceedingly sorrowful.

– Matthew 17:22-23

No matter how many times I read the Gospel accounts, I am always amazed at how often the disciples missed just what Jesus was saying. No less than three times in Matthew Jesus tells His closest followers of His ensuing betrayal, death and resurrection. But each of the three times they seemed to miss the resurrection that would come after His death. It makes me wonder just how much of Jesus’ message I overlook.

Helpful Resources

Enduring Word Commentary with Pastor David Guzik

Read the Scriptures at Bible.com

Download the YouVersion Bible App

Additional Daily Devotionals

My Utmost for His Highest | Oswald Chambers

Morning & Evening | Charles Spurgeon

Matthew 16

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Devotional

Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

– Matthew 16:12

As Jesus cautions His disciples to beware of the leavening doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees, I think it begs the question, just what is (or was) their teaching?

Certainly their teaching centered upon religious ritualism and formality over repentance and spiritual transformation. There’s was a teaching that emphasized external displays of righteousness, and the praises of men as a reward, verses an internal holiness that only God could see and honor. The Pharisees and Sadducees lived a form of doctrine that sought earthly authority and political power gains, but such are vain before God. They were self-righteous and proud, but Jesus calls us to a humble dependence upon His righteousness alone.

Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees, it’s potency is alive and well today too.

Helpful Resources

Enduring Word Commentary with Pastor David Guzik

Read the Scriptures at Bible.com

Download the YouVersion Bible App

Additional Daily Devotionals

My Utmost for His Highest | Oswald Chambers

Morning & Evening | Charles Spurgeon

Matthew 15

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Devotional

“Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

– Matthew 15:11

We are, by nature, defiled and evil. The heart of man is desperately wicked, and the wickedness of our evil hearts is revealed through our words.

Thank you God for giving us new hearts and the ability by Your spirit to bridle our tongues.

Helpful Resources

Enduring Word Commentary with Pastor David Guzik

Read the Scriptures at Bible.com

Download the YouVersion Bible App

Additional Daily Devotionals

My Utmost for His Highest | Oswald Chambers

Morning & Evening | Charles Spurgeon

Matthew 14

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Devotional

And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.

– Matthew 14:14

I am always blessed by the compassion of Jesus. No doubt He was grieved by the news of John the Baptists execution. But sorrowful as He may have been, He was still moved with compassion to heal the sick and stirred to minister to the needs of those around Him.

Helpful Resources

Enduring Word Commentary with Pastor David Guzik

Read the Scriptures at Bible.com

Download the YouVersion Bible App

Additional Daily Devotionals

My Utmost for His Highest | Oswald Chambers

Morning & Evening | Charles Spurgeon

Matthew 13

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Devotional

“but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way.

– Matthew 13:25

We are in a very real battle against an enemy whom we know to be cunning, crafty and deceitful. We are engaged in a spiritual battle at every moment of every day. Therefore we must be vigilant and aware of his tactics.

Helpful Resources

Enduring Word Commentary with Pastor David Guzik

Read the Scriptures at Bible.com

Download the YouVersion Bible App

Additional Daily Devotionals

My Utmost for His Highest | Oswald Chambers

Morning & Evening | Charles Spurgeon