Matthew 19:23-26 “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were … More John Piper: It’s a problem with the human heart.
Jesus and the Children Pondering Children as Pride Detectors By John PiperJune 22, 2005 One thing to watch for when assessing a person’s spiritual fitness for ministry is how he or she relates to children. Put a child in the room and watch. This is what Jesus did to make his point. Children are the … More John Piper: Pondering Children as Pride Detectors
J.C. Ryle comments on Matthew 18:33-35 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother … More J.C. Ryle: Men who care not for doctrines, can understand a forgiving temper.
When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax went up to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the tax?” He said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? … More Ryle: Jesus makes a fish his paymaster.
“This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased–listen to HIM.” J. C. Ryle with this insight into Matthew 17:5- That voice was meant to teach Peter, that there was one there far greater than Moses or Elijah. Moses was a faithful servant of God. Elijah was a bold witness for the truth. But … More J. C Ryle: LISTEN to JESUS!
From that time, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up. Peter took him aside, and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This will … More J.C. Ryle: Error on many other points is only a skin disease. Error about Christ’s death is a disease at the heart.
The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing him, asked him to show them a sign from heaven. But he answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ In the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You … More J. C. Ryle: Jesus knows the weakness of our memories in spiritual things
And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” But he did not answer her a word. And his … More Ryle: Let us believe that Jesus is not changed
Jesus quoted Isaiah in Matthew 15:9-10 “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” John Piper preached a sermon, “Worship is an End in Itself” based on this passage, and here is the concluding paragraph. He … More John Piper: Only worship is an end in itself. Only worship should not be done as a means to achieving something other than itself.
J. C. Ryle with encouragement gleaned from Matthew 14:22-33 at “Grace Gems!”– There is encouragement here for all true Christians. Let them know that there is nothing created, which is not under Christ’s control. “All things serve Him.” He may allow His people to be tried for a season, and tossed to and fro by storms … More J. C. Ryle: winds, and waves, and storms are all Christ’s servants
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