Jesus withdrew the money the region of Tyre and Sidon. It was there that a Canaanite woman cried out to Him to have mercy on her because her daughter was demon-possessed and suffering.

Jesus did not utter a word to the woman. His disciples encouraged Him to send her away. Jesus said that He was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.

The woman approaches Him again and asks for Him to help her. Jesus told her that it wasn’t right to take the bread of the children and toss it to the dogs. But the woman said that it was because even the dogs eat the crumbs of the bread that falls. Jesus told her that she had great faith and immediately her daughter was healed.

This is an interesting passage here. It’s unusual for Jesus not to respond to someone in need. Jesus doesn’t sugarcoat the fact that this woman is not of His people. In fact, Matthew intentionally uses the label “Canaanite” to emphasize she was of the enemy to His people…even though the term Canaanite was rarely used by this point.

So why did Jesus have this kind of exchange? Do we really want to believe Jesus wasn’t going to help her because she was a Canaanite? Here’s my thoughts…Jesus knew what He was doing when He went to Tyre and Sidon. His intention was to teach His disciples that faith is not limited to a Jew only…but to all who believe. Scripture says that Jesus died once, FOR ALL. It was a lesson they would need to learn as leaders who helped establish the church.

The lesson for you and I is simple. God doesn’t look at the outward appearance…He doesn’t care what nationality you are, the color of your skin, etc. He examines the heart instead. So understanding this, we, as His followers, should do the same. Loving our neighbor as ourself is not limited to those we know and have things in common with…it’s loving without boundaries. Stop judging others by outward appearances…start loving them as God loves you.

Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus as asked Him why His disciples break the tradition of the elders by not washing their hands before they eat.

Jesus responds with a question of His own if why they break the command of God for the sake of tradition. The command is to honor your father and mother and anyone who curses them will be put to death. The Pharisees, however, say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their parents is devoted to God, they are to not honor their parents with it. Jesus then calls them hypocrites and quotes Isaiah to illustrate them:

“These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.”

Isaiah 29:13

Jesus said that what goes into the body does not defile them, rather, it’s what comes out of the mouth that does so.

His disciples told Him that He had offended the Pharisees (sounds like something that would be said today).

Jesus replies that every plant not planted by His Father has no roots. He said to leave them because if the blind lead the blind they both will fall into the pit.

Peter asked Jesus to explain the parable.

Jesus says that whatever enters the mouth goes into the body and then out. But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. Out of the heart come evil thoughts-murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander. These are what defile a person, because eating with unwashed hands does not.

Tradition can really mess over someone’s relationship with God. Here we see the religious leaders more concerned about hand washing than they were the true evil desires of the people. Jesus says it’s what comes out of the mouth…and it comes from the heart. What is your heart saying today? Where does your heart lie today? Love God…love others. That should be the language of our hearts.

Immediately after Jesus had fed the 5,000, He sent his disciples on ahead in the boat while He dismissed the crowds. Then He went up on a mountainside to pray by Himself.

Before dawn, Jesus went out to His disciples, walking on the lake. When His disciples saw Him coming, they were terrified and cried out in fear that it was ghost.

But Jesus said to them to take courage and don’t be afraid because it is Him.

Peter replies that if it is Him, to call him out to where He is. So Jesus says come.

Peter gets out of the boat and begins to walk on the water towards Jesus. When Peter notices the wind, he becomes scared and begins to sink.

Jesus reaches out His hand and catches him. He asks why he doubted and had so little faith.

When they got back into the boat, the wind stopped. Those in the boat worshiped Him saying that He truly was the Son of God.

They landed at Gennasaret. When the men there saw Him, they went and gathered their sick and begged Jesus to just let them touch His cloak so they would be healed, and all who touched it were healed.

This is such a famous story. One that most everyone has heard and read. I want to focus on Jesus here. Could it be that He had to retreat by Himself and pray because He was disappointed in His disciples’ lack of faith with the feeding? Then, He sees Peter lose faith over some wind right after He actually DID feed all of those people. Faith is such an important part of our faith. To truly have faith isn’t just to say I believe, but to then take that next step and live out your claimed belief. That’s where it gets hard…like with a Peter…but it’s also where we grow and experience the power of God. Love out your faith today friends. Take that next step towards a closer and deeper relationship with Him.

When Jesus heard the news (John’s beheading) He withdrew by boat to a solitary place. When the people heard this, they followed him on foot and waited by the shore. When Jesus landed and saw the crowds, He had compassion on them and healed their sick.

As evening came, His disciples came to Him and suggested that He dismiss the crowd so that they could go into town and get something to eat because they were in a remote place.

Jesus responded by saying that He didn’t need to send them away because they would just feed them right there.

His disciples, of course as many of us would say, claimed that they only had 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish.

Jesus had them bring Him the food. He gave thanks and broke it. The disciples distributed it and EVERYONE ate and was satisfied. In fact, the disciples had 12 basketfulls left over. There were 5,000 men plus their women and children present.

Jesus proves that He can take care of not only your spiritual needs but also your physical needs. So often we live our life like the disciples…we believe in Jesus and have seen what He can do, but we still question and doubt what seems impossible. We doubt He can bring us out of our sin, our debt, our pain, our grief, our anger, our jealousy, etc. Today, start believing in the God who fed thousands with so little…believe that she is greater than your worst struggle. BECAUSE HE IS! Seek the only one you can find true peace and restoration in today.

During this time Herod the Tetrarch heard about Jesus and assumed it was John the Baptist. He thought John had risen from the dead and that is why miraculous powers flowed from him.

You see, Herod had arrested John and put him in prison because of his brother Philip’s wife, who was living there. John would tell Herod that he should not have her. Herod wanted to just kill John, but he was afraid of the people because they viewed him as a prophet.

On Herod’s Birthday, Herodias’ daughter danced for Herod. Herod was pleased and promised her anything that she wanted. Promoted by her mother, she asked for John’s head on a platter. So Herod had John beheaded and his head brought to her on a platter. John’s disciples buried his body and then went and told Jesus.

This is a morbid story. To think that was the messenger’s fate on earth is disturbing to think about. However, what we can learn from this is that John acted in boldness. No matter the circumstances, he spoke truth and tried to steer them back to good. John was aware of the consequences but never backed down. You and I don’t even begin to face the same kinds of circumstances and yet we find it difficult to speak in boldness about God. As we have already learned, Jesus taught of an amazing eternal reward to those who were obedient. Be bold today. Share the Gospel today. Stand up for Jesus today!

When Jesus has finished speaking these parables, He left there and traveled to His hometown where He began teaching in their synagogue. The people were amazed at His wisdom and miraculous power. They began asking isn’t He Joseph’s son? Isn’t His mother’s name Mary? Doesn’t He have brothers and sisters who are here with us? Where does He get all these things? So they took offense to Him.

Jesus said to them that a prophet is without honor except in His hometown and home.

Jesus did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

What strikes me as interesting here is the fact that Jesus did not perform many miracles because of their lack of faith. I wonder how many times in our life we have limited what the power of God could do in our life because of our lack of faith? Do you really believe in the miraculous power of God? Do you really believe He can transform you heart? Do you really believe He is what’s best for your life? I think sometimes our life would show a different narrative. Pursue your faith today. Grow it…nurture it…and let it flourish.

Jesus said the Kingdom of Heaven is like a net that was cast out into the water. When it was full, they brought it up to shore. They collected the good fish and threw away the bad fish. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will collect the good and throw away the bad into the furnace.

Jesus asked them if they had understood all of these things, and their reply was yes.

Jesus said that every teacher of the law who becomes a disciple of the Kingdom of Heaven is like an owner of a home that brings out new treasure from their storeroom along with old treasure.

Jesus gives them one more parable to help them understand what’s going to happen. The good will be saved, the bad will be thrown into the fire. The same goes for you and I. If we are obedient and faithful, we will be gathered to His side in Heaven one day. If we choose the world and our own desires, we will be thrown into the fires of Hell. Seems like a pretty easy decision…yet we make it very difficult. Choose Jesus today and every day. Choose life, not death.

Jesus said that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that is hidden in a field. When a man finds this treasure, he hides it again, and then goes and sells everything that he has and buy the field joyfully.

He says it is also like a merchant who is looking for fine pearls. When he finds some of great value, he will go and sell all that he has and then go buy the pearls.

What Jesus is explaining here is the idea that when we find salvation in God…nothing else can compare. No possessions or money, no status or fame, etc. can measure up to what God can offer. When you find Jesus, you’re willing to lose everything in order to have Him. This is an incredible thought. But I ask, are you that willing? What is it that you would be willing to give up for Jesus? Could it be that maybe we aren’t as committed as we believe we are? When you find that kind of treasure or pearl, you will lose everything in order to have it. Jesus gave up His own life for you…what are you willing to put aside for Him?

Jesus finishes speaking and went into the house. His disciples approached Him and asked Him to explain the meaning of the parable of the weeds.

Jesus told them that the one who sowed good seed was the Son of Man, the field is the world, the good seed is the righteous, the weeds are the wicked, the enemy is Satan, the harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

He explained that just as the weeds are pulled up and thrown into the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The wicked will be weeded out and thrown into the fiery furnace where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. The righteous, however, will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.

I don’t know about you, but this parable is cause enough for me to consider my ways. If I am not obedient to Him, I will end up being thrown in the fire with weeping and gnashing of teeth. I don’t know about you, but that just doesn’t sound appealing to me. God is serious about this. He is a loving God…but He is also a just God. Live your life in such a way now, that at the end of the age you will have no worry or doubt. Choose God over self/world today and every day.

Jesus told them another parable. He told them that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed that a farmer planted. Though it is the smallest of seeds, it grows into the largest of plants that even birds can perch in.

He told them yet another parable. He said that the Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast that a woman mixed into 60 pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.

Jesus made sure to speak all of these things in parables so that He fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet:

“I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.”

Psalm 78:2

These two parables show just how awesome the Kingdom of Heaven is. When God’s people grab hold of it, it grows in their life. Not only does it grow, but God’s people spreads it around. When we truly have Jesus, our life is transformed. We can’t help but grow in our love for God and others. We can help but grow in our selfless thoughts and deeds. We also can’t help but share His love with others. Thats the mission we have been given! Is your life transformed? Do you share God’s love with others? Why? Why not?