“But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person” (Matthew 15:18 ESV). The Pharisees asked Jesus why His disciples didn’t follow the tradition of the elders by washing their hands before eating. He replied that it isn’t what goes into the mouth that defiles a man, but what
“When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick” (Matthew 14:14 ESV). After Jesus heard about the beheading of His relative, John the Baptist, He withdrew by boat to a remote place to be alone. However, as soon as He stepped ashore, He saw a
“Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old” (Matthew 13:52 ESV). After Jesus had finished using many parables describing the kingdom of heaven, he asked his disciples whether they understood. They
“Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt” (Genesis 41:46 ESV). Joseph is a christological type. His story foreshadows the life of Christ, so that when the time came, the people of God would recognize Jesus as the Messiah. The Scripture records that Joseph was thirty years old
“As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness” (Psalm 17:15 ESV). In this psalm of David, he asked the Lord to deliver him from violent men whose portion was found in the things of this world. After asking the Lord for deliverance from
“For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption” (Psalm 16:10 ESV). Both the apostles Peter and Paul quoted this Psalm of David to make a case for Christ’s resurrection. Peter quoted this verse from King David in his sermon on the day of Pentecost describing him as
“Israel journeyed on and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder.” (Genesis 35:21 ESV). Jacob, whom God had renamed Israel, finally found a place to pitch his tent near Ephrath, which is called Bethlehem. The place was called the “tower of Eder,” or in the Hebrew, “Migdal-Eder,” which means “Tower of the Flock.” It
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28 ESV). The greatest invitation in human history was offered by Jesus. Not an invitation to come to a party, but to a Person. Not an invitation to a religion, but to a relationship. Yet, this invitation is
“How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” (Psalms 13:1 ESV). I remember being in the back seat of our family’s Buick on a long trip and asking my Dad, “How much longer?” And he’d say, “Son, you just asked me that five minutes ago.
“Do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you” (Matthew 10:19-20 ESV). When Jesus sent His disciples out as