Matthew 21:4-5

April 23, 2026 by Leave a Comment

“This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, ‘Say to the daughter of Zion, “Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.”’” (Matthew‬ ‭21‬:‭4‬-‭5‬)

These two verses are Matthew’s effort to explain Jesus’ entering Jerusalem on a donkey to the reader. I think Matthew is doing more than giving us a parenthetical explanation, though.

He is making a theological point by referencing Zechariah 9:9, which was regarded as a messianic prophecy. Jesus intentionally rode into the city on a donkey at Passover to signal at least two things.

First, the animal represented humility and nobility. Humility is likely easy to see. However, the nobility may be more challenging to recognize. It seems to me that Jesus is making a natural connection to Solomon, the son of David, riding a donkey immediately following his inauguration as king in 1 Kings 1:33-38. Jesus was signaling his connection to David (2 Samuel 7).

Second, Passover was an annual feast that commemorated God’s deliverance from bondage in Egypt. On this Passover, God was providing a much more significant deliverance for all who would receive it. That deliverance is still on offer: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬)

Father, please help me to see these types of connections in your word. Please use them to help me see your glory. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Matthew, New Testament, Prophecy

Matthew 20:25-28

April 22, 2026 by Leave a Comment

“But Jesus called them to him and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles Lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’” (Matthew‬ ‭20‬:‭25‬-‭28‬)

This lesson is as unpleasant for a modern reader as any lesson that Jesus taught.

Here is the setup: The mother of James and John had asked Jesus to seat her boys at his his left and right sides in his kingdom. In other words, she wanted her sons in seats of authority. The other disciples were angry when they heard about the request.

Here is Jesus’ response: Jesus said his kingdom is different than worldly kingdoms that seat people in positions of power to rule over people. In that type of kingdom, power is status. The higher one sits the greater he is.

In contrast, in Jesus’ kingdom the way to the top is lowliness. Those who are “great” in the kingdom are humble servants.

Here is the model: Jesus, the creator of the world (Jn 1:3, Heb 1:2), humbly took on human flesh, and entered into his creation “not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (20:28)

Here is the challenge: Can I resist my own pride and the value system of my culture, which feeds my pride, to be a servant to others? If I want to be great in Christ’s kingdom, I must.

Father, help me grow in humility. Help me to delight in serving others. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, humility, Jesus Said, Matthew, New Testament

Matthew 19:13-15

April 21, 2026 by Leave a Comment

“Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And he laid his hands on them and went away.” (Mt 19:13-15)

I’m not certain what the disciples were thinking here. I suspect they were trying to protect Jesus’ time and energy. That may sound strange to people who have never been involved in public ministry. Working with people can be draining in so many ways, and it is tempting to find ways to avoid people.

That may sound counterintuitive, but I am aware of a megastar pastor who intentionally designed his new church building to provide a protected entrance to the pulpit, so that he didn’t “have to be around those people.“ I have seen staff pastors fill their hands with documents so they can pretend to read in order to avoid people as they move through a crowd on Sunday morning. These pastors have lost sight of their claimed call to gospel ministry. Gospel ministry involves people. That’s true for pastors and lay people alike.

Jesus’ response to the disciples was instructive for all of us. “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them.” While his specific point of not excluding children is not lost on me, I think this was Jesus’ message about people, in general. We should not hinder people, any people, from coming to Jesus. I am reminded of the story of the blind men at Jericho who the crowds tried to silence as they cried out to Jesus for help (Mt 20). Jesus’ response in that situation was to call those blind men to himself.

This gives me much to consider in how I selectively encourage or discourage various people related to coming to Jesus. Oh yeah, I almost forgot: Mark 14:10 says Jesus was indignant about the disciples trying to prevent children from coming to him.

Father, please help me not to be selective in who I encourage or allow to come to Jesus. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, discipleship, Gospels, heart matters, Jesus Said, Matthew, New Testament

Matthew 18:1-3

April 20, 2026 by Leave a Comment

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, ‘Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.’” (Matthew 18‬:‭1‬-‭3‬)

The disciples seemed to regularly struggle over the title of “Greatest in the Kingdom.” In other words, they struggled with pride. This can be hard to process because many of us have a distorted view of the disciples as already sanctified and wearing their saintly crowns. After all, they were sitting at Jesus’ feet. They had dropped everything to follow him. They were doing it!

All of that is true. But they were normal people like us. They didn’t immediately “get it.” They had to process Jesus’ teaching about pride (and everything else!), and grow in their understanding and sanctification. This story about their pride shows they didn’t immediately get it. And it reminds me that too frequently I don’t get it, either!

It is so easy to allow pride to eat us alive. And this lesson for the disciples lands on me … heavily.

Pride is an interesting sin because it can present itself in very different ways. The loud, boisterous braggart or a shy, timid person can both be infected with pride. One just seems more obvious than the other. The organizational leader who somehow makes every employee recognition celebration about himself is filled with pride. The world-class pianist who quietly assures onlookers that he can hardly play the piano may surely be letting his pride show through false humility.

Jesus’ antidote to the sin of pride is almost funny. One of the last things a proud adult would choose to be is a child. Yet, Jesus said that the disciples would miss the kingdom of heaven if they didn’t “turn and become like children.” Jesus didn’t mean to be childish; he meant to be humble and dependent on God in the sense of Psalm 20:17 – “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”

So much more could be said about pride, but absorbing the above is probably plenty for today.

Father, please help me recognize and then eradicate the pride that is buried deep in my heart. Help me to be humble and recognize my dependence on you. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, humility, Jesus Said, Matthew, New Testament, pride

Matthew 17:22-23

April 19, 2026 by Leave a Comment

“As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, ‘The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.’ And they were greatly distressed.” (Matthew 17:22-23)

Earlier in this chapter (17:9), immediately following his Transfiguration, Jesus mentioned his future resurrection to Peter, James, and John. Later, after descending the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus gave more complete description of his death, including his betrayal, death, and resurrection. This is the second time he told the larger group of disciples; the first was in chapter sixteen.

The disciples’ response is what sticks out to me: “And they were greatly distressed.” (23) I often wonder why they didn’t get it. Why were the disciples surprised to discover that Jesus was resurrected? Why did Thomas refuse to believe until witnessing the wounds? Afterall, they were surely aware of the Hebrew Scriptures, right? They knew Genesis 3:15 told of the collision between the woman’s seed and the seed of the serpent (Genesis 3:15), right? Surely they were aware that Psalm 22:16 and Zechariah 12:10 told of his piercing. They knew Daniel 9:26 described the anointed one, right? What about Isaiah 53? Did they forget that one?

And now, for the second time they are hearing of Jesus coming death AND resurrection (third time for Peter, James, and John). Yet, they don’t get it. My first reaction is often judgmental. If I can get it from this distance of time and geography, why can’t they get it? Then, I remember that I didn’t get it immediately, either.

I am also reminded that faith is not a math formula. So often, I expect that a well-reasoned argument should result in a profession of faith. However, the new birth (Jn 3) is spiritual and requires the work of the Spirit and a surrender of the heart. This is why Jesus emphasized praying for the Lord’s involvement in the harvest (Mt 9:38). So often, I fail to remember that spiritual battles require spiritual armor. I can’t only gear up with a good argument; I need the Holy Spirit’s help.

Father, forgive me for treating the new birth so casually and naturally. Please keep reminding me that the new birth comes from the Spirit above. Please allow me to give a Holy Spirit-anointed testimony to a lost person today. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Evangelism, Jesus Said, New Testament Tagged With:
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