Category: 7 Arrows

Jesus proves his authority.

This was a mic drop moment. Likely many common folk longed to see a know-it-all scribe put in his place.

God does what he wants, and his wants are always right.

Religious folk can come across haughty when they focus a harsh unmerciful spotlight on th sins of others. The motive for such behavior smells off.

Watch your assumptions- especially when it comes to Jesus.

Dealing with our own sins can be tough because many times we are blind to our most fundamental sin issues.

Lord, help me have your attitude towards my sins and the sins of others…humility…truth tempered with grace.

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Jesus shows his authority over the natural and supernatural. Jesus is Lord!

Miracles like this were unheard of.

Jesus is Lord!

People are amazed, even frightened, by the power Jesus showed.

I need to answer the question from verse 27, “What kind of man is this?” Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, King of kings, and Lord of Lords!

The divinity of Christ has been attacked for years. These miracles are not parlor tricks.

Jesus, my Lord, my God. I love you and serve at your good pleasure.

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Jesus shows is compassion and divinity by healing many.

These miracles were as amazing then as they would be today.

God is concerned.

Mankind has needs of all kinds. Some are more obvious than others.

Meet people’s needs as best as I can where they are and use any opportunity to talk about Jesus.

Passages like this underline the divinity of Jesus.

Jesus, you. are the great physician.

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Those who are a part of God’s Kingdom will be recognized from the foundation up.

Verse 29 sums up these thoughts, “crowds were astonished…”.

Our spiritual foundation is what everything else is built on.

Men ten to pay more attention to what is seen.

Continue building on the rock of Jesus.

Both of these analogies are helpful in seeing the importance of a Jesus

Lord Jesus, thank you for being a firm foundation. You do not shift. You do not change. And you are always, always good.

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God’s heart is good and he knows what his children need.

The thought of Jehovah God being concerned with everyday individual needs was not a major theme with the religious people of the day.

God loves his children.

Our lack of faith in the goodness of God reveals our dependence on our own behavior to please God. This spiritual pride must be corrected.

Trust in God’s perfect loving character.

Trust God but don’t expect unspiritual people to do the same.

God, thank your for your perfect goodness. You know me and my needs better than I do.

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Jesus doesn’t stomach hypocrisy.

Religious posturing is common practice.

God is not distant, but concerned for his children.

Ignoring our own sin while pretending to care about the sins of others is wicked.

Deal with my own issues- bring them to Jesus. Don’t cost or try to sweep them under the rug, because they stink.

Hypocrisy is a great topic among believers and unbelievers alike. Make much of Jesus’ power to remove logs & splinters alike.

Father, thank you for your patience.

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Jesus speaks about trusting God with day to day cares of life.

It was hard to make it in the world at this time in history. Jesus’ words were powerfully needed.

God is not distant, but concerned for his children.

Worry and despair are so easy to fall into. And they are the enemy of the fully life Jesus offers.

Trust God fully.

I could see this passage being a great encouragement to many.

Father, thank for for your watchful eye, love, and provision. I trust you. Help me to rest in you more.

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Jesus examines several common religious practices and gets to the heart of them.

Every Jewish person in the crowd would have caught on to what Jesus was doing- contrasting the common showy outward religious activities with the inward heartfelt pure meaning/motive.

God is concerned at our heart level first.

Religious people can fall into a trap of trying to put on a show to please God (works), when what God really wants is honesty and devotion.

May my exterior actions and my interior motives match for the glory of God.

Many people are put off by empty religious activity- probably because of bad examples or bad experience. Show a better way.

Our Father in heaven your name be honored as holy.  Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.  And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

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Jesus fulfills the law that we cannot.

These laws were common knowledge but this took a tough turn. Who can keep this? Jesus can, perfectly.

God is as concerned with the root of sin (heart/motive) as he is with the fruit of sin (actions).

Amplifying these common OT laws exposes our hearts, and turns out we are worse off than we thought.

Deal with the root of sin and the fruit will take care of itself.

This is a great conversation: God’s end game is not behavior modification. Rather, he wants to transform the deepest part of who we are!

Father, thank you for your law. And thank you for Jesus who fulfilled this law. Search my heart and change what needs changing for your glory.

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Jesus explains the backwards Kingdom of God.

Every one of these “blessed” statements were at odds with the culture of the day- particularly the religious culture of the day.

God values different character traits than people.

Being changed into salt and light will make a difference in the lives of others. When salty and lit we will represent the Kingdom on earth.

Be transformed. Be salty. Be lit.

Pointing out the true Kingdom of God is important because there are so many who have totally different preconceived notions. Some will recognize and glorify God.

Father, continue to constantly reorder my heart to look more like yours.

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