In Matthew 15:32-39, Jesus was in the wilderness teaching a multitude of people for 3 days. He asked His disciples to feed the people before He dismissed them. Jesus had the people to sit down. The disciples said we’re in the wilderness and don’t have enough food for them. Jesus asked what do you have? They said 7 loaves and a few fish. Jesus said bring it. He blessed the food and began to give it to the disciples to give it out. Everyone ate and were filled. The disciples gathered 7 baskets of food left over. God will never ask you to do something without providing for it. God uses what is in your hands to perform a miracle. It only takes faith to produce this miracle. Whether it’s food, healing, salvation or provisions. The one element that causes this miracle to work is faith. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Yes, faith is always walking into the unknown. You don’t know exactly what God is going to do, but you have the assurance that God is going before you. And He will make that way for you.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Jesus looked upon the multitude and saw a flock without a shepherd. God has compassion for this world, as a shepherd for His flock. In Matthew 15:29-31, Jesus went to sea of Galilee up into the mountains. A great multitude gathered. They were blind, lame, dumb, maimed and many others. Jesus healed all who came unto Him. For God so loved this world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes, shall have everlasting life. It’s what motivates God to compassion. Jesus went about doing good and healing all who are oppressed by the devil. And with God, mercy triumphs over judgement. All of our life we look for a never ending love. And it’s right in front of our face and always has been.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In Matthew 15:21-28, Jesus and His disciples left Israel and went to Phoenicia, around Tyre. There came a Phonician woman crying out to Jesus to heal her daughter. Jesus didn’t answer her. She persisted and cried out more. Even the disciples ask Jesus to get rid of her. Finally Jesus said, I’m sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. She fell before Jesus worshipping and said, Lord help me. Jesus said, it’s not right to give the children’s bread to the dogs. She said, even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the master’s table. Jesus answered, great is your faith. It will be done as you asked. Her daughter was healed that hour. Even the worst sinner can turn to God and be forgiven. Faith, trusting and believing, is what moves God. It’s the key to entering heaven. By faith people are justified.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In Matthew 15:10-20, Jesus explained what He said to the pharisees. The disciples said that the pharisees were offended by what Jesus said. Jesus talked about what comes out of your heart. He said that is what defiles a man. Why? Your heart is who you are. This is the part of you that is eternal. It came from God when you were born and it is the part you that goes back to God. Jesus said it a different way, out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. He explained the principle to the disciples. Jesus said, the pharisees are the blind leading the blind. He said to leave them alone. Jesus talked about the wisdom of God and then said, with wisdom get understanding. We are made up of 3 parts, body, soul and spirit. The body is the dust of the earth, our soul is the life of God and our spirit is who we are. So, we are to guard our mouth and have God to change our heart into His image. Because that which proceeds out of our mouth defiles the man.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In Matthew 15:1-9, Jesus was approached by the scribes and pharisees from Jerusalem. They asked why His disciples weren’t following the traditions of the elders? There were 2 different schools of thought in Israel. The first was from Jerusalem, where they followed the letter of the law. The second was from Nazareth. They believed in the Spirit of the law. Jesus went to the school in Nazareth. Jesus condemned them for perverting the word of God. Man has always wanted to be in charge and not following God. Even in the church, you will find people who will subvert God’s word for their own agenda. Jesus quoted Isaiah 29:13, they honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. Teaching for commandments the tradition of men. Jesus called them vain or worthless. There are going to be people at the last judgement who were active church members that Jesus will cast into hell. Because as Jesus said, I don’t know you, because they never gave their heart completely to Him. Getting to know Jesus is the only thing that guarantees your entrance into heaven. Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In Matthew 14:22-36, Jesus finished teaching and told the disciples to take the boat to go to the land of Gad. He sent the multitude away so He could pray. Jesus went up into the mountain to pray. The disciples went in the boat. A storm arose on the sea of Galilee. It took them awhile to grow across the sea. Before dawn Jesus came to them walking on the water. The disciples became afraid and thought it was a Ghost. Jesus called out to them. Peter said, if it’s you, let me come to you. Jesus said, come. Peter got out of the boat and walk on water to Jesus. But when he looked at the waves and wind, he began to sink. Peter called out to Jesus and He saved him. Jesus said, do you have so little faith, why did you doubt? They both got into boat and reach the shore. When people saw and heard it was Jesus, they began to gather. Jesus healed them all. Jesus went up the mountain to pray and build His faith for the task at hand. And show us what to do when we are in need of faith. Prayer opens a direct link to God and will strengthen our faith. A side note, Peter was the only one to get out of the boat. He was willing to risk his life for Jesus. Even though his faith failed, he went at Jesus’s command. How many of you are willing to risk your life because of the word of God?

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In Matthew 14:15-21, Jesus was teaching in a desert place. There were 5000 men, not including women and children. It was getting late in the day. The disciples came to Jesus and said that these people need to go and get food, while they can. Jesus said to have the multitude sit down. He told them that they would feed them. The disciples said all they had was 5 loaves and 2 fish. Jesus said bring it to Me. He pray over the food, then broke it and gave to the disciples to hand out. When the people had finished eating, the disciples gathered 12 baskets of fragments. Faith isn’t about what you can do. Faith is about what God can do for you. We don’t possess the power to change anything. What we do possess is faith, believing and trusting, that God will honor His word. All things are possible when you believe. And Jesus did miracles because people believed.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In Matthew 14:1-14, Herod had news of jesus and all the miracles. Herod thought that John the Baptist had risen from the dead. He had beheaded John for speaking against his wife. Jesus left Jerusalem when John was beheaded. Jesus and the disciples went into a desert place. Many people followed Jesus into the desert. Jesus healed everyone that came and asked. Even then people wanted to kill Him. But it wasn’t the time to reveal Himself. God arranges our life. Even Jesus’s life was directed by God. We have a choice to make. We have to choice what we are going to do, every minute of every day. Nothing makes us do anything. We have to choose it, either good or bad. Jesus didn’t have to die for us. God gave Him a free will just like us. Jesus chose to die on the the cross. And because He did, God raised Him from the dead and made Him King of kings and Lord of lords. God is still trying to make us kings and priests. But we have to choose this life. No one can make you. Choose life this day.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In Matthew 13:53-58, Jesus had finished teaching and headed home. He taught in His synagogue. The people who knew Him were amazed. They had a hard time believing that Jesus could teach with such wisdom and to do all those miracles. They said we know His family and He is just a carpenter. They didn’t want to believe that Jesus was more than they were. The people became offended. Jesus said that a prophet is without honor in his own country and family. The bible says that Jesus couldn’t do many miracles because of their unbelief.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In Matthew 13:47-52, Jesus told 2 parables, the net and the scribe. He said a fisherman cast his net into the sea and caught many fish. He rowed ashore. There he separated the good from the bad. Saving the good and destroying the bad. Jesus said these are the angels that gather the harvest of people and separate the good from the bad. The bad are thrown into the furnace of fire, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Jesus also talked about the scribe who understands the mysteries of heaven and brings them forth. It’s like bringing out his treasures and sharing. Parables aren’t meant to be understood by everyone. They are meant to be understood by those that seek God. Because only the Holy Spirit will give us understanding. So, Jesus spoke in parables, dark sayings.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com