Latest Commentaries

Jesus tells the first half of the parable of the Vineyard laborers. He describes how the landowner continually goes out throughout the day to hire workers to help harvest. This is a parable about the kingdom of heaven that shows His disciples that the first shall be last and the last shall be first. This parable makes it clear that it is never too late to begin living faithfully. God will give great rewards to some people who come to understanding much later in life.

After Jesus’s interaction with the rich young ruler, Peter expresses a concern about whether they have done enough to enter life. Implied is an underlying question about whether following Jesus is worth the risk or cost. Jesus assures Him that everyone who sacrificially follows Him will receive an exceedingly great reward.

Jesus says that is very difficult for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. He compares this difficulty with a camel passing through the eye of a needle. The disciples wonder aloud who then can be saved to enter the kingdom. Jesus assures them that for them it is impossible. But with God all things are possible.

A devout young man who had great influence and wealth remarkably runs to Jesus and asks what else he can do to enter into eternal life. Jesus loves and admires his zeal and tells him to sell his possessions and give to the poor, and follow Him. But the man departs sad because he loved his tremendous earthly treasures more than the kingdom.

Little children are brought to Jesus, but the disciples turn them away. Jesus calls them back and says to let them come. He tells the disciples that the kingdom of God belongs to them and He lays hands upon them before leaving.

Following what the Pharisees said about marriage, disciples observe that it is better to not marry. Jesus then speaks about serving God as an unmarried eunuch for those who can accept this lifestyle.

The Pharisees come to Jesus and test Him about what Moses said about divorce. They were trying to trap Him. Jesus begins His answer by focusing on what Moses said about marriage before rebuking their hard-heartedness and answering their question.

Jesus leaves Galilee and moves closer to Jerusalem where He will soon be crucified and resurrected. He enters the area known as Judea beyond the Jordan where He heals many among the large crowds that followed Him from Galilee.

Jesus concludes His revelatory conversation with His disciples in Caesarea Philippi by informing them that they too must die if they are to follow Him. Jesus gives the paradox of discipleship, that they must lose their lives for His sake if they are to find their lives. He promises to repay their faithfulness, and prophesies that some of them will see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom before they die.

Jesus continues His significant private conversation with His disciples in Caesarea Philippi. After Jesus acknowledges His identity as both God and Messiah to His disciples, He explains to them how He will be killed in Jerusalem and rise from the dead. But they do not comprehend; Peter takes Jesus aside and rebukes Him for speaking these things. Jesus admonishes Peter and tells him that his thoughts and motives are Satanic.

Jesus begins a significant conversation with His disciples In Caesarea Philippi. He asks His disciples about the Son of Man and who He is. Peter confesses that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God. Jesus commends His disciple for God’s revealing this to him, and tells him that such bold faith will lead the church to overcome culture and Hades itself. Jesus also tells Peter that He will give him authority to act on behalf of kingdom of heaven.

As Jesus and the disciples cross the Sea again, Jesus bids his disciples to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. They mistake his meaning and think they are in trouble because they forgot to bring bread. Jesus explains to them that He meant to beware of their teaching.

The Pharisees have teamed up with their rivals, the Sadducees, and greet Jesus in order to trap Him soon after He returns to the district of Galilee. They ask Jesus for a sign to prove that He is the Messiah.

Jesus tells Peter a parable to emphasize the importance of unlimited forgiveness. It is about how the king forgives an absurdly unpayable debt of one of his ministers when the minister begs for mercy. But this same minister is unwilling to forgive a modest debt that one of his peers owes him. He has the debtor thrown into prison. When the king learns of this unmerciful minister, he seizes him and has him thrown in prison until the debt is paid.

Peter asks Jesus where he should set the limits of his mercy toward his brother and suggested that he should forgive him up to seven times. Jesus said no, do not put limits on your forgiveness, and told Peter to forgive his brother as many times as needed without any limitation whatsoever.

Jesus reminds the disciples that they have been granted the keys of heaven to call upon God’s power to work in them as they proclaim His kingdom on earth, and they have the capacity to redeem things on earth for the kingdom in heaven. Jesus promises that His Father will grant them whatever they ask if even two followers ask and agree.

Jesus teaches His disciples a practical way to help and confront a brother who has become ensnared by sin. It seeks to keep his reputation intact while offering him a chance for repentance.

In the context of showing how much these little ones mean to Jesus and His Father, Jesus shares that the very reason He came as the Messiah was to save them. He then tells His disciples the parable of the lost sheep as a depiction of His deep concern for these little ones.

Jesus warns His disciples not to dismiss or mistreat one of these little ones because their angels are always telling the King of Heaven how they were being treated.

Jesus repeats a metaphor from the Sermon on the Mount warning His disciples that it is better for them to lose part of their body now and enter His kingdom, than to keep all of their body now and miss entering His kingdom.