Imagine a corporate boss, who despite his high status, regularly takes the time to listen and to personally assist his employees no matter their role or status within the company. Certainly, that would be the type of boss any of us would want to work for! Humble leadership is a rare quality.
We have no greater example of humble leadership than Jesus. In Matthew 20, the mother of James and John, two of Jesus’ disciples, asked for places of honor for her sons in His kingdom (vv. 20–21). Jesus responded: “You don’t know what you are asking” (v. 22). Following and serving Jesus was not about prestige but about following His path of service and suffering.
Jesus explained that in His kingdom true greatness would be found in serving others: “[W]hoever wants to become great among you must be your servant” (v. 27). This echoes some of Matthew’s major themes: self-denial, status denial, servant-leadership, and Jesus’ mission.
Like the corporate boss who sets aside status to serve his team, Jesus— though He was God Himself—stepped into human history as a baby. He then served humanity by sacrificing His own life to offer eternal life. Jesus’ presence was marked by humility and service, not domination and control. Although He deserved all the glory, Jesus used His life to bring hope and justice to the marginalized. His presence brought healing, restoration, and dignity to the overlooked.
This is a counter-cultural perspective on greatness. In God’s kingdom, greatness is not about power, control, or status but about service and sacrificial love. Verse 28 gives a beautiful picture: “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
Go Deeper
What are some ways we can serve as Jesus served? How can we humble ourselves, and in so doing, entice others to join in on the loving and transformative presence of God?
Pray with Us: You are the Almighty King, and yet You said You came to serve. In our world that glorifies power, these are shocking words! Lord God, examine our hearts today and help us follow Your example of a humble Servant.
A symphonic band is comprised of musicians playing many types of instruments. There is the woodwind section with clarinets and saxophones. A brass section features trumpets and trombones. Joining them are stringed instruments—violin and cello. Each produces a unique sound. But when the musicians play together, guided by their conductor, they produce harmonious and beautiful music.
Matthew 18:15–20 stresses the importance of believers living together in beautiful harmony, but there is a powerful force that can make this work—the presence of our Lord Himself! “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them” (v. 20).
Many have associated this verse with people gathering for prayer. And while prayer in groups is certainly a good thing, the central focus of this passage is about the process of restoring erring believers (v. 15). Jesus clearly wants His disciples to know that if we as believers go about the tough task of restoring others in the name of Jesus (v. 20) within the church, He will be right there in their midst helping to bring that to pass.
The goal here is reconciliation, not condemnation. We are called to resolve conflicts with grace and love, striving to maintain unity among believers. God is in the business of restoration, that is why Jesus promises His very presence to assist believers in that difficult process. As we reflect on this passage, let’s remember the words of Psalm 133:1: “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!” Let us strive for creating space for our Lord’s presence to move among us and restore those who are straying away. As we gather in His name, we can be confident that our Lord is guiding and blessing us with His divine presence.
Go Deeper
What guidelines do we find in Matthew 18 for biblical confrontation among believers? How can we make sure that God is present in these difficult conversations?
Pray with Us: Lord, Your promise to be with us in a special way when we gather together prompts us to strive for unity, reconciliation, grace, and love in our churches. Restore those who have strayed! Bring them back, we pray.
Sometimes we act like following Jesus requires building an impressive religious resume. We make sure our calendar is packed with plenty of to-do items for Jesus. How many church committees have we served on? How many times have we read through the Bible? Do we have perfect attendance at church services? Do we look the part of a perfect Christian?
Matthew 15 contains a conversation between Jesus and the Pharisees about tradition and purity. The Pharisees were accusing Jesus’ disciples of breaking tradition by not washing their hands before eating (v. 2). Jesus highlighted the Pharisees’ hypocrisy, emphasizing that it’s not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of it (v. 11). Jesus was redirecting their focus from external rituals to their heart’s condition. He declared that what defiles a person comes from the heart and is not caused by what a person consumes.
Jesus listed several unclean things that come out of our mouths that actually come from our hearts. From our hearts come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, and slander (vv. 18–19). The mouth simply reveals what has been in our hearts all along.
What lesson can we learn? It is critical to prioritize the state of our hearts over the performance of religious duties. Jesus said, “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me” (v. 8). God’s presence is not dependent on our outward practices but on our inward commitment and love for Him. He desires hearts that are devoted to Him more than merely complying with tradition. It is critical to do some internal “housecleaning” to discover, through confession and repentance, what evil lurks in our hearts.
Go Deeper
How are we sometimes like the Pharisees? What behaviors do we consider unclean and clean today? Do we sometimes prioritize the performance of religious duties over the state of our hearts?
Pray with Us: How do we get rid of hypocrisy? Jesus, we confess we often resemble the Pharisees when we honor You with our lips, but our hearts are hardened. Draw us by Your Spirit to love You with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Have you ever tried to start a garden? The necessary ingredients are pretty basic: seeds, water, sunshine, and soil. But if any part of that equation is missing or less than ideal, the results can be disappointing!
In Matthew 13, Jesus tells a series of parables (the highest concentration in any single chapter of Matthew’s Gospel). But Jesus is not just telling amusing anecdotes. He is using these object lessons to make an important point. In His two previous sermons, Jesus introduced the idea of His kingdom—its ethics (chapters 5–7) and its mission (chapter 10). In chapter 13, He answers many of the objections and concerns the crowds had about the coming kingdom, such as why it would not come about quickly.
Jesus tells of a farmer who scatters seed on various types of soil (vv. 3–8). Some seeds fall on the path, eaten by birds. Some fall on rocky ground, sprout quickly, but wither without deep roots. Some fall among thorns and are choked out. But the seed that falls on good soil flourishes, producing a bountiful harvest. This parable teaches us about God’s Word and the power of its presence in our lives. In Mark’s version of this parable, he states that the seed is the Word of God, and the soil is different levels of people’s receptivity to that Word (Mark 4:13–20). God’s Word is ever available, ever potent. However, the condition of our hearts determines how well we receive and cultivate His presence.
Just as a farmer prepares the soil before planting, we must prepare our hearts to receive God’s Word. This involves eliminating distractions, seeking forgiveness, and approaching God’s Word with openness and expectancy. When we allow His Word to take root in our lives, it not only transforms us but also produces fruit that benefits others.
Go Deeper
What can we do to prepare our hearts for God’s Word? What type of soil is your heart and how has that affected your time in the Word?
Pray with Us: Dear Jesus, thank You for the parables You told while You walked on earth. They reach out to us centuries later with power and wisdom. Give us understanding and humility to learn from them and allow Your Word to dwell in us.
You are probably familiar “tug of war,” a game where two teams pull on the opposite ends of a rope. All members must work together, straining against the opposition. However, if any one team member decides to let go or starts pulling in the opposite direction, their team will begin to lose.
So it is in our relationship with Jesus. You are either with Him or against Him. Just as in tug of war, there is no neutral position because there are forces of darkness aligned against Him. You must choose which side you are on. Matthew 12:30 says, “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” If you are not working for Jesus, you are actively working against Him.
In Matthew 12, Jesus heals a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute (v. 22), prompting various reactions from the crowd. Many marveled at the miracle (v. 23), while others questioned His being the “Son of David” (that is, the Messiah, v. 23). Sadly, others outright accused Him of using demonic power (v. 24). Jesus responds to these accusations with the assertion that His power is divine, saying, “But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you” (v. 28).
God’s presence, embodied in Jesus, is not only a beacon of light in a world cloaked in darkness, but He is also “present” in its midst! His power over evil, sickness, and death assures us of His divine authority and His commitment to overturn the effects of sin and keep dark spiritual forces in check. Jesus’ point is that there is no way He could be aligned with demonic forces to do what He does because His teachings and work are in direct opposition to what Satan wants.
Go Deeper
Whose team are you on? Do your values and actions align with Jesus? In what tangible today can you demonstrate your allegiance even in the face of the spiritual darkness around us?
Pray with Us: Merciful Lord, Your presence drives away darkness. You’ve brought us from slavery to sin into Your wonderful light. May we cling to You, with the desire to do Your will, even as we face the spiritual darkness of this world.
