When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and the elders. “I have sinned,” he declared, “for I have betrayed an innocent man.” “What do we care?” they retorted. “That’s your problem.” Then Judas threw the silver coins down in the Temple and went out and hanged himself. —Matthew 27:3-5 Callous people do not care about the “problems” of others. Judas was responsible for his actions, but so were the leading priests and elders. They did not care at all about Judas, but they used him…

“Put away your sword,” Jesus told him. “Those who use the sword will die by the sword. Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?”—Matthew 26:52-54 Power under control! Jesus could have called upon His Father to save Him from the cruelty of men. He did not have to be arrested. He did not have to be questioned. He did not have to be spit upon. He did not have to be beaten in the face. He did not have…

Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests and asked, “How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?” And they gave him thirty pieces of silver. From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus. —Matthew 26:14-16 How much do you value Jesus? Is there anything that you think is more important or of more worth than He? If there is then that is your god, your idol. For Judas the betrayer 30 pieces of silver was more important to him than Jesus. It was the price of a gored slave— “If the bull gores a male or…

He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip. —Matthew 25:15 Are you and I truly using the abilities God proportioned to us? He has given us responsibility over a part of His property and resources. Are you and I investing them wisely? We will give an account to the Lord one day. “After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money” (Matthew 25:19). Also in II Corinthians 5:10 we…

And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come. —Matthew 24:14 The goal of Wycliffe Bible Translators is to have God’s Word in every language by 2025. The Worldwide Status of Bible Translation (2015): · More than 1,300 languages have access to the New Testament and some portions of Scripture in their language. · More than 550 languages have the complete translated Bible. · About 7,000 languages are known to be in use today. · Up to 180 million people need Bible translation to begin in their language. · Just under 2,300…

In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. —Matthew 23:28 Who are you? Who you are is answered by who you are on the inside. The inner person is really who you are. Many people can put on an outward appearance which is totally different from who they are on the outside. Now, we all do this to some degree, but if there is a huge difference of who we portray to others on the outside from who we really are on the inside then that is hypocrisy and deception. In the above verse…

They do not practice what they preach. —Matthew 23:3 This is voiced by Jesus about the religious leaders in His day. It is not a positive comment. Today there are those who say this about some who are church-goers and at times they surely have a point. We who follow the Lord Jesus Christ, whether a leader or not, ought to be applying the Word we preach and teach to our own lives. Those around us will be quick to pick up whether or not we are “walking our talk.” A life that is applying the Word of God will be a life that radiates His character. Years ago when…

Then, surrounded by the Pharisees, Jesus asked them a question: “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?” They replied, “He is the son of David.” Jesus responded, “Then why does David, speaking under the inspiration of the Spirit, call the Messiah ‘my Lord’? For David said, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies beneath your feet.’ Since David called the Messiah ‘my Lord,’ how can the Messiah be his son?” No one could answer him. And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions. —Matthew 22:41-46 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BARVAg0gl6w They could…

Jesus said, “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God” (Matthew 22:21). Will you cheat on your taxes? Will you give to God what is His? This article says that “All told, as many as 30 to 40 percent of Americans won’t pay all of the taxes they owe in 2011.” http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Latest-News-Wires/2011/0413/Tax-evasion-Why-do-so-many-Americans-cheat. When it comes to giving to charity, Americans give 2.2% of their income http://nccs.urban.org/nccs/statistics/Charitable-Giving-in-America-Some-Facts-and-Figures.cfm. It is my hope that we followers of Jesus Christ are faithful in paying our taxes. But how faithful are we in giving to God? This last article above said those giving to religious organizations gave 1.8%…

The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing, and it is wonderful to see. Anyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone it falls on. —Matthew 21:42, 44 Rejection of Jesus is an eternal mistake. To reject the One who created all things and sustains them is forever fatal. He Who is all powerful beyond our ability to fully grasp came to this planet because of His love which we barely comprehend because He desires us to be in relationship with Him. Yes, this is the love God has for us and His Awesome…