“Because of your little faith,” he told them. “For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matt. 17:20 CSB) As this verse demonstrates,...

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it’” (Matt. 16:24-25 CSB). Jesus told...

He answered, “It isn’t right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” “Yes, Lord,”she said, “yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.” Then Jesus replied to her, “Woman, your faith is great! Let it be done for you as you...

Climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand, caught hold of him, and said to...

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. When he found one priceless pearl, he went and sold everything he had and bought it. (Matt. 13:45-46 CSB) Although fine pearls are valuable today, they were even more highly prized in Jesus’s time. One can...

Anyone who is not with me is against me, and anyone who does not gather with me scatters (Matt. 12:30 CSB). There is a war being waged in the spiritual realm between God and Satan. Jesus is saying that in this war there is no neutrality. If you have not...

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden...

Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s consent. But even the hairs of your head have all been counted. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows (Matt. 10:29-31 CSB). As Jesus sends the twelve...

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest” (Matt. 9:37-38 CSB). Jesus is speaking in terms readily understandable to his listeners who lived in an agricultural culture. We...

A scribe approached him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”  Jesus told him, “Foxes have dens, and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head” (Matt. 8:19-20 CSB). This scribe is an aspiring disciple, declaring his intent...