It is possible to show respect to Christ and the things of God and yet remain an unbeliever. The Pharisee, Simon, shows respect to Christ - he is polite, but he has no love of our Lord. You can go to church, sit in a pew, sing the Psalms, and want nothing to do with Jesus Christ. Being religious does

Our Lord Jesus Christ compares the unbelieving hearts of the Jews to children at play. No matter who God sends to them, no matter what the message, they are never satisfied. They are always finding fault, complaining, and objecting - refusing to listen. But these objections are only a cover for their hatred of what God has to say. The

As soon as the disciples of John the Baptist leave, Jesus begins defending the reputation of John. He sees that the people around him are inclined to think lightly of John. To the crowds of the day he is old news. He used to be very popular, but now in prison and deserted by most, the crowds have moved on

John the Baptist is a prisoner in the hands of Herod. He knows that his life is coming to an end. A long imprisonment or a violent death is the only future ahead of him. Yet, during this time his concern is not for himself, but for his disciples. He knows they are ignorant and weak in the faith. He

A young man, the only son of a widow, is dead. Why? Why does God allow tragedies like this to happen? Why do decent people often suffer terrible things? It’s not an easy answer, but a simple one. Sin. The presence of pain, death, suffering, and grief in this world is directly linked to the presence of sin. Adam and

The centurion is kind. He cares for his ill servant and sends for the very best Healer. He’s treats the Jews with respect and love, building them a synagogue. Why? Why is he so kind? It’s completely out of character for a rough Roman soldier. Unbelievers are kind only when they get something out of it - even if it’s

Many people claim to believe in God, to be a follower of Jesus Christ, but they do not do what He commands. This evil has always existed in the Church, and it is responsible for turning many away from the truth. Men and women see the church full of hypocrites, those who say one thing and do another, and they

Jesus warns us against listening to false teachers. A teacher who does not know the way to heaven himself, isn’t likely to lead others to heaven. Those who listen to these teachers are in danger of being lost eternally. There are ministers throughout our country that are like these blind and false teachers, leading others astray. If we want to

These verses are all about Christian love. Our love for others is to be like Christ’s toward sinners - unselfish and uninfluenced by any hope of return, self-sacrificing and self-denying. We are to give up our rights and put up with wrong treatment in order to avoid quarrels. Like Christ, we are to be long-suffering, meek, and humble. Jesus knows that

Christ describes as blessed those who are poor, hungry, sad, and hated. But we must not misunderstand what He is saying. The mere fact of being poor, hungry, sorrowful, and hated by men isn’t enough to claim this blessing. Jesus is talking about those who are poor, hungry, sorrowful, and hated for their faith in Him. He is saying that