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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

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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

Click For Today’s Audio

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

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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

Click For Today’s Audio

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