Sermons on Matthew (Page 3)
Jesus on Taxes, Wealth, and God’s Generous Kingdom
Jesus talks a lot about money. In two different episodes, He addresses the paying of the temple tax and the payment of taxes to Caesar. He uses both discussions as opportunities to talk about greater matters. Then He encounters a wealthy young man who wants to walk with God but his heart is ensnared by riches. Following it with the parable of the workers, Jesus speaks to the generosity of the kingdom of God. (Matthew 17:24-27; 19:16-30; 20:1-16; 22:15-22) Sermon…
Jesus on Greatness
What is greatness really all about? Jesus flips it upside-down with three separate teachings about personal greatness, welcome of the least of these, and His pathway to greatness. (Matthew 18:1-14; 19:13-15; 20:20-28) Sermon Outline “… whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for…
Jesus on Divorce and Marriage
Jesus speaks to the reality and pain of divorce and also the nature of marriage in the eternal kingdom. (Matthew 19:1-12; 22:23-33) Sermon Outline “Haven’t you read,” Jesus replied, that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?” (Matthew 19:4-5) The First Test (Matthew 19:1-12) The hostile question from the Pharisees (19:3)…
Jesus on Sin and Forgiveness
Jesus addresses how we deal with sin and conflict in the church, pairing it with a parable on forgiveness and showing mercy to others. (Matthew 18:15-35) Sermon Outline “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.” (Matthew 18:15) Sin, Confrontation, and Community Life (Matthew 18:15-17) Sin and pointing it out A pathway for pointing sin out The goal of pointing…
His Resurrection Brings Hope
Jesus’ second and third predictions of His death also point toward the resurrection that will come through the Messiah. This brings into focus the life that comes through Jesus to a world overcome with death. (Matthew 17:22-23;20:17-19) Sermon Outline “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.” (Matthew 17:22-23) Jesus’ Three Predictions First prediction (Matthew 16:21) – in Caesarea…
His Healing by Faith
Jesus’ turn toward Jerusalem is framed by two stories of healing. This brings into focus the healing that comes through Jesus to a world turned upside-down with pain. (Matthew 17:14-20; 20:29-34) Sermon Outline “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1) The Faith Problem (Matthew 17:14-20) The father and son: I want to believe The disciples: I thought I believed The teachers of the law: I won’t believe The…
His Glory Brings Joy
At the Transfiguration we receive a glimpse of the glory of Jesus that is seen nowhere else in the Gospels before the resurrection. This brings into focus the glory that comes through Jesus to a world turned inside-out with humiliation. (Matthew 17:1-13) Sermon Outline “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!’” (Matthew 17:5) A…
His Suffering Brings Peace
Jesus’ predicts His death the first time in an unsettling passage that makes clear redemption will come at a cost. The redemptive suffering of Jesus brings into focus how much a world needs meaning in what can often seem like meaningless suffering. (Matthew 16:21-28) Sermon Outline “From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things…and that he must be killed and on the third day raised to life.”…
‘Naming’ Jesus
Peter boldly declares who Jesus is and this becomes the pivot of Jesus’ turn toward Jerusalem. Peter’s declaration calls us to respond to Jesus. Matthew 16:13-20 Sermon Outline “When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’” (Matthew 16:13) Jesus’ First Question (Matthew 16:13-14) “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” Who Have People Said Jesus Is? John the Baptist (Matthew 14:2) Elijah (11:14) Jeremiah…
Mixed-Up Priorities
Jesus is confronted by religious leaders, who again ask for a sign. He challenges their mixed-up priorities about God and life. Matthew 16:1-12 Sermon Outline “Why is it you don’t understand that when I told you, Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees, it wasn’t about bread? Then they understood that he had not told them to beware of the leaven in bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” (Matthew 16:11-12) Jesus tested by Pharisees…
Soul Food: Feeding the 4,000
Jesus feeds a crowd of over 4,000 people with near to nothing. What does that tell us about Jesus? Matthew 15:29-39 Sermon Outline “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.’” (Matthew 15:32) Jesus’ Amazing Healing (Matthew 15:29-31) Great crowds with great needs Great healings…
Jesus and the Canaanite Woman
Jesus heals an outsider, a Canaanite woman, and it shows us some very interesting things about the nature of Jesus’ mission. Matthew 15:21-28 Sermon Outline Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment. (Matthew 15:28) The Request A Canaanite woman asks Jesus to heal her daughter. Jesus is off duty, needing rest. Woman is a representative of Israel’s enemy; she is “other.” The Delay Jesus is…