Category Archives: Matthew

Seventy-Seven Times

Posted on February 17, 2025 by Pete

“I’ll take hard-to-obey commands of Jesus for $1,000, Alex.” “Okay. And the answer is: On this one you’ll want to go with the ESV’s seventy-seven rather than the CSB’s seventy times seven. But in reality, you’re not gonna be crazy … Continue reading →

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Bet Ya’ He Wasn’t Wearing Shoes

Posted on February 13, 2025 by Pete

Hovering over the first part of Matthew 17. Trying to imagine a face shining like the sun and clothes as white and bright as light itself. Not even the best, darkest sunglasses are going to allow you to stare into … Continue reading →

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Poor is Where You Want to Be

Posted on January 27, 2025 by Pete

Okay, not gonna lie! I get pretty pumped when I can remember something I read six months ago and the impact it had on me then (hey, in these days of my sixth decade I’m excited that I remember stuff … Continue reading →

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Your Father

Posted on January 15, 2025 by Pete

I’ve put it down on paper (aka typed it into my journal) before and I’ll do it again. Repetition in Scripture is the Spirit’s megaphone. So, when Jesus is quoted as saying the same thing multiple times, it’s not because … Continue reading →

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The Cry of Deliverance in Its Fullness

Posted on January 29, 2024 by Pete

Flying down to the Golden State tomorrow morning to see kids and grandkids, so decided on doing a double reading in my reading plan this morning. It bore the unexpected fruit of picking up on one of those repetitive drumbeats … Continue reading →

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The Only “We”

Posted on January 11, 2024 by Pete

It’s not so much about a condition, but more about character. Not a quid pro quo — I’ll do so that You’ll do — but more of a “because You have done, how can I not?” It’s the only “we … Continue reading →

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Like Father, Like Sons

Posted on January 10, 2024 by Pete

God’s first covenantal people received a Law given to them from a mountain in Sinai. God’s people of the new covenant received a law from a mount (probably more of a hill) somewhere in Galilee. God’s servant, Moses, was the … Continue reading →

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No Pressure!

Posted on January 8, 2024 by Pete

I don’t know how many times I’ve read these words. Don’t know how many times I’ve heard someone else read these words and then preach on them. But for some reason, this morning they hit with a particular weightiness. “You … Continue reading →

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The Gift of God

Posted on December 28, 2023 by Pete

I know that the nativity scenes around my house (yes, there’s more than one . . . been a tradition in our house since I don’t know when), though they are meant to remind me of “the reason for the … Continue reading →

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What Jesus Could Have Prayed

Posted on March 14, 2023 by Pete

Hovering over Matthew 26 this morning and a garden. A garden called Gethsemane, born of another garden, Eden. A garden of obedience made necessary because of a garden of disobedience. A garden of divine prayer, God’s response to a garden … Continue reading →

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