Encounter the Truth

As Jesus engages with the crowds, we begin to see how the world responds to Jesus Christ—and we see what Jesus makes of their responses. These engagements, of course, carry vital lessons for us as we consider our own response to Jesus. And so we want to observe them carefully to ensure that we respond rightly to Jesus—and keep on responding rightly to him.

As Jesus engages with the crowds, we begin to see how the world responds to Jesus Christ—and we see what Jesus makes of their responses. These engagements, of course, carry vital lessons for us as we consider our own response to Jesus. And so we want to observe them carefully to ensure that we respond rightly to Jesus—and keep on responding rightly to him.

In Matthew 10, Jesus sets out clear expectations for his followers of what it will look like to serve him and walk with him. And he wants us to know, quite frankly, that if we were trying to find our way to a lifestyle dream—a place of comfort and pampering—we have come to the wrong place, and we have chosen the wrong Lord.

In Matthew 10, Jesus sets out clear expectations for his followers of what it will look like to serve him and walk with him. And he wants us to know, quite frankly, that if we were trying to find our way to a lifestyle dream—a place of comfort and pampering—we have come to the wrong place, and we have chosen the wrong Lord.

Here Jesus focuses on our response to his Word—and the eternal implications of that response. We need to avoid false teachers as being very dangerous, we need to bear fruit as a sign of our response to the Word, and we need to be careful to build our lives on the solid and secure foundation of his Word.

Here Jesus focuses on our response to his Word—and the eternal implications of that response. We need to avoid false teachers as being very dangerous, we need to bear fruit as a sign of our response to the Word, and we need to be careful to build our lives on the solid and secure foundation of his Word.

As our heavenly Father treats us with grace and kindness, Jesus calls us to treat others with grace and kindness (and not judgmentalism). This sums up the requirements of the Old Testament Law—and it acts as an indicator of our spiritual state. Living as Jesus calls us to live is an indicator that we are entering life by the narrow gate; hypocrisy in this area is a sign that a person may be headin...

As our heavenly Father treats us with grace and kindness, Jesus calls us to treat others with grace and kindness (and not judgmentalism). This sums up the requirements of the Old Testament Law—and it acts as an indicator of our spiritual state. Living as Jesus calls us to live is an indicator that we are entering life by the narrow gate; hypocrisy in this area is a sign that a person may be headin...

In a culture obsessed by material gain and material security, Jesus calls us to use our money to store up treasures in heaven—and as we do so, to train our hearts to love the things of heaven. And he calls us to turn away from worry and to trust our Heavenly Father to provide for us.

In a culture obsessed by material gain and material security, Jesus calls us to use our money to store up treasures in heaven—and as we do so, to train our hearts to love the things of heaven. And he calls us to turn away from worry and to trust our Heavenly Father to provide for us.

Jesus addresses a group of people who are very concerned that their religious acts should be seen and observed by others. He insists that their religious acts are worthless if they are done for show—and he calls us instead to seek the approval of the Father and not of men.

Jesus addresses a group of people who are very concerned that their religious acts should be seen and observed by others. He insists that their religious acts are worthless if they are done for show—and he calls us instead to seek the approval of the Father and not of men.

This section of chapter 5 is showing us that we need a Saviour who can deal with our guilt. As he outlines this kingdom ethic, Jesus is actually telling us how he wants us, his saved people, to live. Jesus really does mean that his saved people are to live out a righteousness that will be greater than even the righteousness of the Pharisees. Living out that righteousness will be evidence that we h...

This section of chapter 5 is showing us that we need a Saviour who can deal with our guilt. As he outlines this kingdom ethic, Jesus is actually telling us how he wants us, his saved people, to live. Jesus really does mean that his saved people are to live out a righteousness that will be greater than even the righteousness of the Pharisees. Living out that righteousness will be evidence that we h...

Although some thought Jesus overturned the Law of Moses, he insists that he has come to fulfil it. His teaching on the Law’s requirements sets a standard of righteousness that we fail to meet on our own—and so it shows us that we need to rely on him and his righteousness to be acceptable to the Father. At the same time, Jesus does mean to call us to live according to a radically high standard. Thi...

Although some thought Jesus overturned the Law of Moses, he insists that he has come to fulfil it. His teaching on the Law’s requirements sets a standard of righteousness that we fail to meet on our own—and so it shows us that we need to rely on him and his righteousness to be acceptable to the Father. At the same time, Jesus does mean to call us to live according to a radically high standard. Thi...

While the world thinks blessing is found in aggressive self-advancement and self-preservation, Jesus teaches the surprising and counter-cultural message that blessing is found in an attitude of meekness and humility—because that is the disposition that is required for entering the kingdom of heaven through faith in him. Those who enjoy true blessing will live distinctively as salt and light in thi...

While the world thinks blessing is found in aggressive self-advancement and self-preservation, Jesus teaches the surprising and counter-cultural message that blessing is found in an attitude of meekness and humility—because that is the disposition that is required for entering the kingdom of heaven through faith in him. Those who enjoy true blessing will live distinctively as salt and light in thi...

Ultimately, the gospel will mean that God’s people will be devoted to doing good works. Those works don’t save us—but they are the natural result of our salvation. Those who refuse to live in this way have clearly not been transformed by God’s kindness.

Ultimately, the gospel will mean that God’s people will be devoted to doing good works. Those works don’t save us—but they are the natural result of our salvation. Those who refuse to live in this way have clearly not been transformed by God’s kindness.

Self-control and a gracious attitude toward others must mark the Christian—and must set us apart from the culture around us. But we will only know how to do this when we remember how incredibly gracious and kind God has been to us in the gospel. Without his gracious intervention in our lives, we would be just like those around us.

Self-control and a gracious attitude toward others must mark the Christian—and must set us apart from the culture around us. But we will only know how to do this when we remember how incredibly gracious and kind God has been to us in the gospel. Without his gracious intervention in our lives, we would be just like those around us.

Life-transformation does not come out of nowhere—and we cannot achieve it by ourselves. It only comes through the power of the gospel. Having told us how we need to live, Paul now reminds of why and how this is possible.

Life-transformation does not come out of nowhere—and we cannot achieve it by ourselves. It only comes through the power of the gospel. Having told us how we need to live, Paul now reminds of why and how this is possible.

We need help knowing how to apply the gospel to our everyday lives. Here Paul breaks down the church into age-and-stage groups, and tells each one of us what godly living in accordance with the truth looks like. What practical teaching—and how badly we need it!