Friday, February 22, 2019

Matthew 17

After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. v. 1-3

While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” v. 5-7

When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. v. 14-15

Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment. v.18
Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” v. 19-20

When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.” And the disciples were filled with grief.v. 22-23

After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”
“Yes, he does,” he replied.
When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own children or from others?”
 “From others,” Peter answered.
“Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him. “But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.” v. 24-27

Friday, February 15, 2019

Matthew 16

"A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah." Jesus then left them and went away. v. 4

"Do you still not understand?  Don't you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? How is it you don't understand that I was not talking to you about bread?" v. 9-11a

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"
They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
"But what about you?" he asked.  "Who do you say I am?"
Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." v. 13-16

From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.  v. 21

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.  For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it." v. 24-25


Friday, February 8, 2019

Matthew 15

Jesus called the crowd to him and said, "Listen and understand.  What goes into someone's mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them." v. 10-11

"Leave them; they are blind guides.  If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit." v. 14

"For out of the heart come evil thoughts -- murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.  These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them." v. 19-20

A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me!  My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly." v. 22

Jesus said to her, "Woman, you have great faith!  Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed at that moment. v. 28

Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee.  Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down.  Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them.  v. 29-30

Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat.  I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.  v. 32

His disciples answered, "Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?"
"How many loaves do you have?" Jesus asked.
"Seven," they replied, "and a few small fish." v. 33-34

He told the crowd to sit down on the ground.  Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people.  They all ate and were satisfied.  v. 35-37a

The number of those who at was four thousand men, besides women and children.  v. 38

Friday, February 1, 2019

Matthew 14

Herod wanted to kill John (the Baptist), but he was afraid of the people, because they considered John a prophet. v. 5

Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist." v. 8

His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. v. 11

When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place.  Hearing this the crowds followed him on foot from the towns.  v. 13

Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away.  You give them something to eat." v. 16

"We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish," they answered. v. 17

"Bring them here to me," he said.  And he directed the people to sit down on the grass.  Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves.  Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.  v.  18-19

The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children. v. 21

After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. v. 23a

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.  v. 25

But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I.  Don't be afraid." v. 27

"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." "Come, he said." Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.  But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" v. 28-30

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.  "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"  And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.  Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." v. 31-33

And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country.  People brought all their sick to him and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed. v. 35-36