Daily Bread Pastor Mike Anderson

Click Here to Read or Listen to Matthew 22 What Happening in Matthew 22? In this last week of his life, Jesus continues to teach in parables about the kingdom of heaven. He uses an important social occasion, the wedding banquet, to illustrate his spiritual message with an earthly analogy. Again, the Pharisees try to trap him in his words by asking him about paying taxes to Caesar. He also answers questions about life after death, and the relationships we will have in heaven. He continues to reveal who he is as the Messiah, and whose Son he is.  The Parable of the Wedding Banquet Jesus uses the occasion of the wedding banquet to illustrate the kingdom of heaven. A wedding banquet was a very important occasion in Jesus' culture, perhaps even more than our current society. It was an honor to be invited to a wedding, so the guest list was very important. It would be a huge "faux pas" to show up at a wedding either uninvited, or in the wrong attire.  So it was shocking when th...

Click Here to Read or Listen to Matthew 21 What's Happening in Matthew 21 Matthew 21 marks the beginning of Jesus going into Jerusalem with his eventual destination being the cross. While the crowds are calling out " Hosanna in the Highest" , Jesus continues to confront the hypocrisy and unbelief of the religious leaders. He finishes with two parables, which foreshadow what will happen to him when the Pharisees realize that these parables are about them. Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King  This is also called " Jesus' Triumphal Entry ". The word "king" comes from the word "messiah". But Jesus is a different kind of king. Instead of coming in on a warhorse and stirring up the crowds proclaiming victory over the Romans, he comes in on a humble donkey. Part of this fulfills Zechariah 9:9, where the prophet said,  Say to Daughter Zion,     ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey,     and on a colt, the foal of a donkey. This...

Click Here to Read or Listen to Matthew 20 What is Happening in Matthew 20? Jesus teaches about what the kingdom of heaven is like through another parable. His parables give us secrets into how to live a life in the kingdom of heaven. It sounds like an oxymoron. How can we live a life in heaven when we are on earth? This is the point. Jesus came to show the world what God's kingdom looks like and how we can be part of it.  Martin Luther said in his Small Catechism regarding the petition on the Lord's Prayer, "Thy Kingdom Come". He taught,  "God's kingdom will surely come, the only question is will it come through us!" Jesus predicts his death a third time. It is obvious Jesus knew what fate awaited him. Jesus teaches James and John and their mom about his final destination. It is not what they think. Finally, Jesus performs another miraculous sign by healing two blind men who call on him earnestly.  The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard This is a ve...

Click Here to Read or Listen to Matthew 19 What Is Happening in Matthew 19? Jesus teaches about divorce in response to the Pharisees who are trying to get him to go against the Law of Moses. In the meantime, Jesus gives us probably the clearest explanation of the nature and purpose of marriage, and to view divorce in light of it.  Jesus again points out the value of children, when the people try to hinder them from coming to him. Finally, Jesus talks about the nature of eternal life, the key to entering it, and the role of works in doing so.  Divorce We know from most statistics that roughly 50% of marriages end in divorce. When a person is on a second or third marriage, the percentage goes up even higher. It is often cited that divorce is as high among Christians, as in the world. This is somewhat true though data varies depending on where you look. What is conclusive is that if a Christian couple is mutually committed to their faith, the percentage goes down drastically....

Click Here to Read or Listen to Matthew 18 What Happening in Matthew 18  Jesus teaches on the value of children and why their faith is to be modeled. He defines true greatness, which is quite different than our world's definition of greatness. He gives a clear admonition about being a stumbling block to one of these "little ones". We will look at what he means by "little ones". The parable of the lost sheep shows how great the Father's love is for every one of his children no matter how far they have wandered away. Finally, Jesus gives an invaluable model for dealing with conflict and forgiveness in the church. This is a model that is still very relevant for the church today!  The Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven Jesus has taught about what the kingdom of heaven looks like, and then he showed the disciples what it looked through his signs and wonders. But, the disciples were still thinking of an earthly kingdom not a heavenly one. As Jesus had already told ...

Click Here to Read or Listen to Matthew 17 What is Happening in Matthew 17 Jesus takes his inner circle up on what we now call the Mount of Transfiguration. Jesus predicts a second time about his imminent death, so it makes sense that he would give Peter, James, and John a glimpse of what he will look like in heaven. We would say they got a glimpse of his future glory. It has quite an impact on the disciples as we shall soon see. Jesus also heals a demon-possessed boy. Finally, he teaches them about the nature of paying taxes to Caesar.  The Transfiguration Jesus took Peter, James, and John up on a mountainside. We don't know which mountain this is though some have been suggested various options. Jesus was transfigured before them, meaning his body completely changed. Importantly Moses and Elijah were talking to Jesus. This is significant for a couple of reasons.  For one, it points to their eternal life. Secondly, if Moses represents the Law, and Elijah the prophets, it is sy...

Click Here to Listen to or Read Matthew 16 What Happening in Matthew 16 Welcome to week #3 of reading through the New Testament in a year. This week we will be reading chapters #16 - #20. As we near the ultimate purpose of Jesus' coming to earth, the battle with the Pharisees intensifies.  Peter goes from being the first one to deny Jesus to being the first one to confess his true identity.  Jesus will for the first time talk about the "Church" and its power. Finally, Jesus will break the news that his time on earth is limited and ultimate purpose is drawing nigh.  The Demand for a Sign Although the Pharisees and Sadducees demand a sign from Jesus, one could almost say they were seeking one. Or, one could say they were just trying to trip him up and make him look bad.  My Grandpa owned a cottage on a lake in Northern Michigan. The back patio overlooked a large portion of the lake, where you could see both the sunrise in the east and the sunset in the morning. My Gran...

Click Here To Read or Listen to Matthew 15 What's Happening in Matthew 15? Jesus confronts the Pharisees for their focus on the externals and also their honoring tradition over the Word of God. Jesus exposes their false worship, which doesn't come from their heart but from outward rituals. This has much application for us today.  Jesus also heals a Canaanite woman's daughter noting the exceptional faith she demonstrates on behalf of her daughter.  This is juxtaposed with the Pharisees and teachers legalism who focus not on faith but on religiosity. Finally, there is another miraculous feeding of 4,000, similar to yesterday's story of feeding of the 5,000.  That Which Defiles The Pharisees and Teachers of law talked a lot about what was clean and unclean according to the Mosaic Law. Although God did give the Israelites these laws in the wilderness, the Pharisees had lost sight of the purpose of these dietary laws. After they point out that Jesus' disciples don't ...

Click Here to Read or Listen to Matthew 14 What Happening in Matthew 14? Today, we see the cruel fate of John the Baptist at the hands of Herod, the tetrarch. A tetrarch literally means a ruler over a 1/4 of the land. He was also called Herod Antipas and was the son of King Herod, who ruled when Jesus was born.  John the Baptist rebuked Herod for sleeping with his sister in law, Herodias, his brother Philips's wife. Herodias was the granddaughter of Herod the Great, We also Jesus' exercising authority over nature. Jesus spoke with authority, He exercised authority over sickness, disease, and evil spirits. Now Jesus is going to suspend the laws of nature to show miraculous signs and wonders the world had never seen before.   John the Baptist Beheaded Like his father, Herod the Great, Herod Antipas was paranoid. When he heard about Jesus, he somehow imagined this was John the Baptist risen from the dead, whom he had killed earlier. Then, Matthew explains how John the Baptis...