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

In Matthew 13:44-46, Jesus speaks about the same subject twice. It’s the parables of the treasure and the pearl. The person who finds the treasure and the pearl, hides it. Then goes and sells everything he has and buys the treasure and the pearl. You have to look at this 2 different ways, God’s and ours. God’s way is the He sold His all, Jesus, to redeem us, the pearl and treasure, us. And our way is that we sell all we have, which is our life, to purchase the treasure and the pearl, Jesus. It was a dark saying, proverb or parable, to most everyone. He that has ears let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In Matthew 13:34-43, Jesus explained why He spoke in parables. He quoted a scripture from Psalms 78:2, “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter (dark sayings) things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.” (KJV). Jesus took the disciples aside to house where they were staying. He began to explain the parable of the tares. Jesus said He is the sower. The good seed are the children of the kingdom. The tares are the children of the devil. The Angel’s are the harvesters. The tares will be gathered first and thrown into hell. The children of God will be gathered into heaven. “Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.”

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

A parable is a proverb. In Matthew 13:33-35, Jesus told the parable of the leaven. A parable or proverb is a dark saying. To understand them, you must seek God. Without the Holy Spirit, you can’t understand the bible. Jesus began to reveal the mysteries of the kingdom. Even the disciples at this point didn’t understand the parables. Jesus had to explain them to the disciples. The parable of the leaven is the word of God recieved in your heart. It begins to grow inside of you. So much so, that it will change you from the inside out. You become a different person. One that is useable in the work of the kingdom. Jesus is the bread of life. We become little Jesus’s or Christian’s. Only the people who sought God would understand the parables. This is one of the mysteries of God.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In Matthew 13:31-32, Jesus talks about the mustard seed. It is a very tiny seed, but grows to almost a tree. Jesus was saying to never judge a person by their size or heart. Because of what a person can grow into. A friend, from high school, was the worst student and so much trouble that they graduated him to get rid of him. He got to college and caught fire. He graduated with a doctorate in Petroleum engineering. He is a fine man and a good Christian. One of his many accomplishments is a abortion counseling clinic. I would have never thought it. Jesus said those who are last shall be first. In God’s hand all things are possible. In the parable, Jesus said that the birds of the air lodge in the branches of the mustard plants. Meaning that we as believers will help the world find rest for the weary. All this from a little mustard seed.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com