“an angel of the lord” tells Joseph to not be afraid to take Mary as his wife and that the baby would be a fulfilment of an old promise, he would be savior to their people, and his name would be “God with us.”

Wise men saw a star in the sky that told them the King had been born and they travelled to look for him. It had been prophecised where he would come from, and the King in that region was troubled. He sought after the child through the wise men. But the wise men did not report J’s location after they met him.
—(The Flight to Egypt) “An angel of the Lord” appeared again to Joseph and told him to take Mary and J to Egypt because King Herod wanted to kill the child. They stayed there until Herod died, then another prophecy was fulfilled saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”
—(Herod Slaughters the Babies) Before King Herod died, he called for all baby boys in the area to be killed, hoping that one would be the messiah. When an angel of the lord gave Joseph the go ahead, Joseph brough his family to Galilee/Nazareth instead of Bethlehem/Judea because he feared the new King was as bad as his father Herod.

Introduces John the Baptist as a preacher saying “repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”, who fulfilled another prophecy by readying the path for J, announcing him, baptising people in the Jordan River, and hearing confessions of their sins. When some leaders from Jewish society came by, he told them ” y’all snakes, who warned you to repent before it’s too late? Actually prove you’re changing your ways and don’t think it’s enough that you are Jewish. God can choose ANY other people to bless. Even now he can chop down the whole tree and discard it if it’s bad. I can cleanse you with water, but the true judge is going to be a lot more intense than me. He will purify the land, keeping what’s pleasing to him and discarding the rest.”
—(Baptism of Jesus) Jesus came from Galilee to be baptized by John, and John protested, knowing who J was. But they did it and when J came up, the heavens opened up, the Spirit of God settled on him, and a voice came from heaven proclaiming J as his son.

The spirit led J into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He overcome him, the devil left, and angels took care of J.
—(Jesus Begins His Ministry) When J learned John the Baptist was arrested, he went to Galilee and hung out in in Capernaum, and started to preach “Repent for the the kingdom of heaven is at hand”
—(The First Disciples) Jesus walked along the sea of Galilee and called Simon Peter and Andrew, James and John to follow him and be fishers of men.
—(Ministry in Galilee) Jesus goes around Galilee, teaching in the synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing diseases. His fame spread and he gained followers.

With all his new fans, Jesus went up on a mountain and sat (like on a throne) with his disciples around him. And he taught to everyone, giving them the good news about the kingdom and reassuring them to not be discouraged when they are persecuted.
—(Disciples and the World) J says that his followers are beacons of light, meant to shine bright and glorify the Father. He assures everyone that he isn’t there to abolish the laws set by moses and the old prophets, but to fulfil their PURPOSE.
–(Personal Relationships) He challenges the laws and gives them more context and purpose. Revealing that the simple laws the corrupt church leaders follow, are incomplete.

Don’t brag about what you do, do charitable things in secret for only God to know. Pray for only God to know. Forgive others to be forgiven. Your treasure is where your heart is, make the treasure be in heaven, not of the world. Don’t worry and have faith in the Lord. It seems the point of this chapter is to not do things for appearances, it’s better to do things totally in secret so it is no question that your intention is only for God’s approval. + the lamp of the body is the eye

J gives more lessons. Against hypocrisy: the same things you judge others by, apply to you. As you are criticizing others, don’t be blind to the fact that you are flawed too. + pearls before swine (said to mean not to force the gospel on the unwilling)
—Be honest with your intentions and humbly ask for what you need. + do unto others as you would want them to treat you too.
—don’t do things the easy way or the way that the majority is fine with, because the real way/the truth, is a specific way that must be found.
—the results are indicative of the nature of “the tree.”
—calling out to the Lord but not doing what he tells you won’t get you into his kingdom. Even if you do all kinds of things in his name, if you don’t keep HIS law then its pointless.
—following his sayings is like building a home on sturdy foundation where even the storms can’t knock it down. But people who do not follow the sayings are like building their homes on sand. (Imagine the 3 little pigs)

After coming down from the mountain, a sick person asked J for healing and he did. But he told the person not to tell people but to show the Priest. (presumably spreading the news of the kingdom to a religious official)
—a Roman commander pleaded on behalf of his servant. But he had enough faith in Jesus’s authority to not need Jesus to physically GO. Jesus is impressed by that faith and asserts that people like that around the world will be able join in the kingdom of heaven, BUT his own people can be cast out into darkness (for lack of the faith and following the law).
—Jesus visits (Simon Peter?)’s house where his mother-in-law was sick. He healed her and she got up and served them.
—In the evening, demon possessed people were healed by Jesus and the spirits were cast out of them with a word.
—After all that, people were swarming around him but he essentially said “let’s get out of here.” And he tells them, being a disciple isn’t what they think it is. He tells them that it means discomfort and sacrifice.
—Him and his disciples get on a boat and a big storm happens. Jesus is sleeping through it, but his disciples are freaking out and wake him up. He dismisses the storm and it leaves his disciples baffled that his miracles extend even to nature.
—Once their boat got to the other side, another country, there were 2 demon possessed men who were hanging around and acting like trolls blocking the way. They recognize J and say pretty much “what do you want? it’s not time for you to mess with us, right? At least let us go possess those pigs over there instead.” J said fine, and they did. Causing the whole herd of swine to die. The owners of the pigs saw what happened, got scared and told everyone. The whole city came out to meet Jesus and begged him to leave.

So J turns back around and goes to his own city. There a paralyzed man was brought to him. Jesus tells him to be happy because his sins were forgiven. The scribes there thought it was blasphemous. But Jesus called it out that it’s easier to forgive someone’s sins than it is to heal them, and he wanted to let people know that the Son of Man did have power to forgive sins. He also healed the man and told him to get up and go home. And the “multitudes” again marvelled and appreciated the miracle.
—Jesus continued on and told Matthew the tax collector to follow him. When the religious leaders saw the kind people who Jesus allowed in his company, they questioned his disciples about it. Jesus heard about that and points out that the people who need repentance are sinners, so why would you NOT associate yourself with them? People that are already righteous don’t need to be taught about it. “Go learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice.”
—Some “disciples of John (the baptist?)” ask Jesus why his disciples don’t fast like them and the religious leaders do. The answer is they don’t need to because he is with them. Fasting seems like it is for mourning, after Jesus leaves them, then he says they will fast. + wineskins (
—Jesus healed two women, one whose period was unending so she thought just touching the hem of Jesus’ garment would heal her. Jesus is pleased with her faith and heals her. The other was the daughter of a ruler who asked Jesus for help. When Jesus came to the ruler’s house, there was a crowd of people mourning for her. But he said she was only sleeping and he brought her back to life.
—Two blind men follow him from the house begging him for mercy. Jesus asks if they believe he was able to do this, and when they say yes, he touches their eyes and they are opened. He tells them not to tell anyone, but then they spread news about him all through that country. (as pointed out by others, they had faith in him without ever seeing him or his miracles done. They only heard about it and believed.)
—A mute man was demon possessed, Jesus cast out the demon and the man could speak again. The Multitude marvelled at the miracle but the religious leaders seemed to think J could cast out demons because he was empowered by satan.
—Jesus continued on his tour, teaching, preaching, and healing. He saw how many people there were that needed help and salvation but he saw that there should be more laborers to help the people. That’s probably why he wanted to make more disciples to go out and do his work.

So Jesus appointed his 12 disciples to BE those laborers, he gave them power to do miracles (cast out demons and heal sicknesses): Simon Peter and Andrew; James and John (Zebedee), Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the Tax Collector; James (Alphaeus), Lebbaeus Thaddaeus, Simon the Canaanite, and Judas the traitor.
—He sent out the 12 and told them to start with the Jewish people, preach that the kingdom of heaven is at hand, heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out demons. Like they saw him do. And don’t bring anything with them. They would be taken care of for their work. When they arrive at a place, find who is worthy and stay with them during their time in the city. When you go into a household, greet it. If it’s worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if not, just pack up and go in peace.
—He warns them that their job won’t be easy, as people are going to be resistant and hostile. But don’t be afraid, just be smart and be harmless.
—Don’t be afraid to preach what I tell you, fear the Lord not man. + more valuable than many sparrows.
—It goes both ways, if you proudly claim Jesus in front of other people, he will proudly claim you in front of his father. But if you deny him, then like he said before about being lawless, “I don’t know you.”
—Jesus says he didn’t come to “bring peace on earth.” There will be division between households and you gotta be willing to pick him–the Truth–even if your family doesn’t. + lost and found life 10:39
—The way people respond to the disciples is how they respond to jesus and god themselves and they will be rewarded accordingly. A simple cup of cold water is appreciated (remember Abraham’s hospitality to the men who visited his tent and told him Sarah would bare a son by next year)

11–While John the Baptist was in prison, he sent 2 more of his disciples go to Jesus. And they asked him if he was the One or if there was another. Jesus laid out the evidence. And to the Multitudes he talked about John. Like when yall went out there, what did you expect to see? He’s a prophet. He is what he said he was, he came to announce me. And he’s the best human here, but but in the kingdom of heaven there are even greater. Yall are like little kids complaining of people not bending to your will. John presented in a unique way (being a weirdo) and yall had a problem with it, but then I came acting pretty normal and yall were like “awww he’s a scoundrel.” But we’re on the same side and we speak the truth.
—Jesus cusses out the cities where he did miracles but the people still didn’t repent.
—J acknowledges that the “lower” people in society seem more receptive to his message than the ones in power. And God must have wanted it that way. No one knows the lord except for him, and no one understands him but the lord, and no one knows the lord unless J reveals him. J invites everyone burdened to follow him. Despite the pushback and trials that come with being a follower, it is much easier to surrender and follow him than to keep struggling in the world.

Jesus and his disciples went through some grainfields on Sabbath. They were hungry so they ate and the Pharisees saw it and had a problem with it. Those religious leaders said they weren’t allowed to do that on Sabbath. Jesus reminded them of when David was hungry and had to eat the showbread that was only meant for priests and how “hey, you know how its legal for priests to work in the temple on sabbath?” I’m sure it was getting annoying dealing with them, so he repeated something he’d said earlier “I desire mercy and not sacrifice.”
—Leaving the grainfield, J went to their synagogue where there was a man with a withered hand. Those pharisees tested him, saying “you’re not really gonna do work on him on Sabbath, are you?!” And Jesus points out, if you had a sheep fall into a pit on Sabbath, wouldn’t you save it? And a human has more value than a sheep, so why WOULDN’T I help him?” So he healed the guy and the Pharasees lost it. They definitely had to plot to destroy him.
—Jesus knew of their hostility so he got out of there. Multitudes followed him and he healed them too, but he said “hey guys, don’t rat me out! I have a destiny to fulfill.”
—There was a blind and mute man who Jesus cured and made able to speak and see. The pharisees saw this and were talking crap saying that Jesus was only able to do these things by the power of Satan. In response, J was like “that doesn’t make sense. If I’m with him, why would I be fighting against him? And your sons (his disciples he empowered?) how would they have the power to cast out the spirits? It makes more sense that I do these things in the name of God, which means you would have to accept that the kingdom of God is here before you thought it would be. I could only overcome these things by being stronger than them. (And Jesus is stronger than demons)
—The worst thing someone can do, according to Jesus in response to this accusation, is take credit from the Holy Spirit and attribute Its works to satan.
Matthew 12:32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the one to come.
—Good begets good, bad begets bad. (12:33)
–(The desire for signs 12:38) Some scribes/REPORTERS and Pharisees asked Jesus for signs, proof of his claims. He says no (though he’s BEEN giving all these signs), he says the only sign that will be given is that the son of man (himself) would go 3 days and 3 nights in the heat of the earth, just as Jonah was 3 days and nights in the belly of the sea monster! –Imagine a court where ghostly ancestors stood as witnesses to cast judgement on the current generation. (Boomers vs Gen Z?) Well, the people of Nineveh would think this generation of self-righteous hipocrites and reporters are…wrong, idiots? Because in their time they knew and believed in the Lord and he saved them. And they’d been shown far less. The signs Jesus had already shown wouldn’t even be necessary and they wouldn’t be there asking for more signs.
And a picture is painted of a man who has a demon cast out of him, but then there’s NOTHING stopping that demon from coming back or bringing worse spirits with him. Because that man is empty. As Jesus tells the Pharisees, their generation will be like that man. But again, HE WAS EMPTY. If the Holy Spirit resides somewhere, then I don’t think unclean spirits really stand a chance.
—As Jesus was talking to the crowds about this, his mother and brothers were outside asking to speak to him. But at this point, they had no special rank over anyone else who does the will of his father. His family was expanding.

Jesus went out of “THE HOUSE” and was swarmed by people by the sea of Galilee. So to give himself a bit of space, he sat on a boat and spoke to them. He gave a lesson in the form of a story about seeds. A seed that falls between fields just gets eaten up by the birds, one that falls on rocks and can sprout up won’t have deep roots and will die, one that is surrounded by thorns/weeds will get choked and die, and the seeds that fall in good soil yield various degrees of success.
—(An Explanation) The disciples asked him why he spoke to the crowds in parables. He explained that a greater capacity for understanding was given to them, but the others weren’t at a point where they could comprehend the deeper truth. Even past prophets couldn’t see it.
—(The Sower Explained) Jesus explains the parable in plain words, the seed that falls in the open and gets eaten is like the people who don’t understand and grasp the Word. They’re just at mercy of the enemy who can swoop in and steal it from them. They don’t have the Truth. Falling among rocks are like those who hear and accept the word immediately but have no roots within themselves, so when they get challenged, they crumble under pressure. (Someone who hasn’t truly repented wouldn’t have those roots) Falling in thorns are people who hear the word but get too distracted by things of the world and get swallowed up and don’t produce fruit. And the good soil that yields wheat are the people who hears, understands, and grasps the word. (Like what I’m trying to do by reading and connecting to it via scenes and notes)
—(Weeds Among Wheat) Jesus gave them another parable along the same lines. But in this one, a man plants good seed in his field but then while his back is turned, his enemy plants weed seeds that look close to the wheat ones. So when harvest comes, the imposter seeds sabotauge the wheat. Seeing this, his servants think they can just pluck out the weeds, but the man says “don’t do that cuz then you’ll cause more damage. Instead, let them all grow then when harvest comes, clear out the weeds and salvage what’s left of the wheat.”
—(The Mustard Seed) J tells another metaphorical story about a mustard seed. This is the smallest type of seed, yet it can grow into a TREE. Instead of just being a snack for a bird, it becomes a whole shelter for them.
—(The Leaven) J told another parable about a woman working with yeast. And you know how a little bit of yeast goes a long way! The reason he tells all these things to the crowd in parable form, is because the prophecy foretold that he would.
—(The Weeds Explained) Back in the house, the disciples asked for the deeper meaning behind the metaphor of the weeds. J says he is the farmer, the good seed are his followers, and the bad seed are agents of the enemy. At the end of the age, those things that are not good will be cast aside and the good will remain. Like when God said he wouldn’t end the whole world again after Noah’s flood. This time, he’ll save what he can.
—(Hidden Treasure) J says the kingdom of heaven is like a field with a hidden treasure in it. The person who buried the treasure found it again and sold everything they had to buy the whole field. Rather than just taking the treasure and returning home, he gives it all up–SELLING what was not a treasure to him.
—(A Costly Pearl) J says the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, upon finding a single pearl of great value, he he went and sold all he had for it. When there is something that ANYONE wants, they will buy it. They will give a surprising amount to do so.
—(A Dragnet) Lastly, J said… The kingdom of heaven is like a net that is lowered into the sea, it gathers all kinds of fish, then once it’s full, they drag the net to the beach and sort through it. What is trash they discard, what is valuable they put into baskets. And he says every scribe that becomes a disciple is like the head of a household who brings out of his treasure things new and fresh and old and familiar.
—(Jesus Revisits Nazareth) J visited his hometown in Nazareth and the people just couldn’t believe him because they were too familiar with him as a local. So he didn’t bother doing miracles there.

Herod Antipas had John the B arrested because he’d spoken out about the immorality of him taking his brother’s wife as his own. He’d wanted to kill him, but worried about backlash from John’s followers. But his wife’s daughter was told to seduce Herod into killing John. And he did cuz he was a perv who made a promise during a lapdance from his stepdaughter/niece.
—(5,000 fed) When Jesus learned of John’s murder, he went off to a secluded place. But his followers followed him. Seeing them, he felt compassion and stayed near to heal them and instead of sending them away, he fed them. I think he was probably very angry and sad about John, but seeing that there were still people who wanted to be with him softened his grief.
—(Jesus Walks on the Water) After feeding the people, he did want some alone time though. So he sent everyone away so he could pray alone on the mountain. When he was done, he walked across the water to catch up with the boat of his disciples. They were freaked out seeing him walking on water and needed proof that it was really him, not some illusion or imposter. So he agreed to their request to command Simon Peter to come out on the water too. As he did that miracle, he started freaking out and sinking. But Jesus saved him and saying “oh ye of little faith. Why did you doubt?” (I can imagine that it was a cute moment where Jesus laughed as He saved him, but Simon Peter’s wavering faith does come up again later…)

The Pharisees and scribes roll up criticising again. They complain that J’s followers don’t follow the religious law because they don’t wash their hands before eating. Jesus rebuts that they themselves did not follow the law because when they SAY honor your mother and father but then take money from people who could use the money to help their parents… that denies them the ability to honor.
—(The Heart of Man) Simon Peter asks Jesus to explain what he meant when he said “it isn’t what enters the mouth that defiles a man, but what exits it.” Jesus (seems a bit frustrated, doesn’t he?) when he replies “Are you still so dull?” He explains that what you put into your mouth just gets passed through, but what comes out (words) can be the evil inner thoughts and plans. Those things coming out of your mouth do more damage to you and others than anything you can literally put into your mouth. I don’t really like this one, not just because he seems short with S.P., but because what goes INTO your mouth isn’t just eliminated. It can be absorbed into you and effect you from the inside-out! But…it can be cured if it’s bad. God can get bad stuff out, but once you say something evil, it can’t be UNSAID. Hmm touche.
—(The Syrophoenician Woman) This is another time where I feel like it’s a test. Jesus and the boys went to Tyre and Sidon where a Canaanite woman begs Jesus to heal her daughter. He ignores her though. He says his job is to take care of the lost sheep of Israel only, and it wouldn’t be fair to “waste” (my words, not his) miracles on outsiders. But she still begged him even after being treated that way. So he rewards her faith and healed her daughter. I don’t think J ACTUALLY looked down on her because at the well he spoke to a Samaritan woman when Jews and Samaritans “had nothing to do with Samaritans.” Though he didn’t do miracles for that woman (unless you count KNOWING her truth) and the conversation didn’t seem any more pleasant, both women responded with humility. And I think the lesson is that humility trumps their differences. And doing this in front of the disciples (after their instructions started as “just stick to Israel”) is showing them to do the work he gave them for non-jews AS WELL when they demonstrate faith and humility like this.
—(Healing Crowds) Again, J does miracles and the crowd are impressed and praise “the God of Israel.”
—(4000 Fed) Again, J feeds the crowd from nothing. Then he sends them away, gets on a boat, and goes to Magadan.

The haters rolled up again, trying to stir up trouble. They tell Jesus to give them a sign from heaven. But he denies them again, saying their only sign would be the sign of Jonah–the three days and nights. He says they can look at the sky in the evening and say the sky is ed and that means it will be fair weather. But then in the morning, they say it will be foul weather because the sky is red and has a foreboding look. He says “You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but cannot interpret the signs of the times?” I don’t understand this because it sounds like they DON’T know how to interpret any signs, not of the sky nor of the times. When the Disciples reached the other side of the sea (unclear if they were with J previously), they realized they had forgotten to bring bread. Jesus told them to be on their guard against the “leaven of the Pharisees and Sadduces.” Seeing their confusion, Jesus does seem annoyed again that they think he’s talking about literal bread. I imagine him rolling his eyes that they would think he cares about them forgetting bread since, as he reminds them, he can MAKE BREAD from nothing. So he repeats himself and THEN they get it. The leaven is the false teaching from those religious hypocrites and high society folks. Since leaven is like yeast, I think the warning is that the haters’ influence will grow.
–-(Peter’s Confession of Christ)
In Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asks his disciples who the people say the “Son of Man” is. (unclear if he means who the people who have met him think he is, or the legend of the person they have heard about) The disciples say “some say John the Baptist, Elijah, or just another prophet.” And he asks them who THEY say he is. Simon Peter speaks up and proclaims that he is the Christ, the son of the living god. (did Jesus call himself that previously?) This pleases Jesus.
“Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.”
–-(Jesus Foretells His Death)
Following on from the warning about the leaven of the Pharisees, J tells his disciples straight up that he must go to Jerusalem where bad things are going to happen to him. Simon Peter wants him to stay far way and not get hurt, but Jesus scolds him and won’t be held back from fulfilling his destiny.
–-(Discipleship is Costly)
In opposition to Simon Peter’s clinging, Jesus tells the disciples to let go of their own way/desire. “Take up their cross and follow him.” Instead of clinging, have faith that following him is the way and will save them. Nothing they could gain in this world is worth as much as their soul. He tells them that he is about to come into the glory of his father and he will reward everyone accordingly. And SOME of them there will live to see what he means.

Six Days later, Jesus took Simon Peter and the Zebedees (John and James) up on a high mountain. There he revealed to his glory and showed them Elijah and Moses. God himself also spoke and it scared the disciples so they bowed down. Jesus comforted them and when they raised their heads, everything was back to normal. He told them to keep what they’d seen secret until after he had been raised from the dead. They asked about Elijah, why did he have to come first? Jesus said “Elijah is coming and will restore all things”, but John the Baptist had been Elijah and the world had done what they wanted with him, and the same thing would happen to Jesus. So I don’t know if “Elijah” fulfilled that destiny BY baptising and announcing Jesus or if the world killed him before he got a chance to do anything else.
–-(The Demoniac)
After that, Jesus and his top 3 disciples rejoined the rest. This time there was a man whose son was possessed and the remaining disciples couldn’t heal him. I’m sure Jesus was disappointed and frustrated that they couldn’t do this by now. When they ask why they couldn’t, he tells them that if they have faith like a mustard seed (might look small, but is FULL of potential), then there is no miracle they can’t do if it is God’s will. Also, that particular kind of evil spirit requires fasting and prayer to be cast out. In Galilee, Jesus tells them all plainly, “I will be betrated and handed over, they will kill me, and I will rise from the dead on the 3rd day. The disciples were upset by this.
—(The Tribute Money)
In Capernaum, the collectors of temple tax approached Simon Peter asking if his teacher was going to pay the tax. Returning home, Jesus already knew. He asks SP what he thinks: do those people tax their own or others? SP said others. So J told him, then we should be exempt from taxation, but so we don’t offend them, he told SP to get a coin that would be in the mouth of a fish, then to take it and give it as tax. (Unclear if this is a literal fish. I could also imagine going out into the street and asking someone could also been a form of fishing. Since Simon Peter’s role was first as a fisher of men.) (Also unclear if this is dig at taxing citizens, or a criticism about potential favouritism /hypocrisy. I’m not sure of the meaning behind temple tax.)

The disciples ask Jesus who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Which is already a weird question to ask. It’d be his father, God, obviously, right? Jesus calls forth a little kid and presents them to the disciples. Saying that unless they change their way of thinking, they won’t even get into the kingdom of heaven. They should be like this child, humble and trusting. Not asking about ranking like they are, I assume. Because they should be welcoming anyone, doing what he has been teaching them. Not worrying about stuff like that because if they go introducing stuff he didn’t tell them to teach about…it aint good.
–(Stumbling Blocks)
Jesus tells them that judgement is coming to the world because of temptations to sin–presumably like the hierarchy the disciples were so concerned about. But they need to let go, renounce, cast aside anything within them or that they do that isn’t good or helpful. Including looking at anyone like they are worth less than others.
–(Ninety-Nine Plus One)
Jesus gives an example of a man who has 100 sheep but loses one. He assumes that the man would leave the 99 sheep on the mountain to find the lost one, and when/if he finds it, he is more happy to have reclaimed that one than the 99 that didn’t get lost. Every single sheep matters and God doesn’t want ANY getting left behind.
–(Discipline and Prayer)
This was especially relevant for me today: If your brother sins, first show him his fault in private. If he listens and pays attention, cool! Y’all good. But if he doesn’t, then bring 1 or 2 other people into it as witnesses. If he still doesn’t listen, get the church involved. Id even that doesn’t work, treat him as you would a heathen or tax collector. I’m not sure what that means, but I guess at that point he isn’t your brother anymore. Jesus says that when there are two believers on earth that are of the same mind about anything they ask within the will of God, it will be done for them by my father in heaven.
–(Forgiveness)
Simon Peter went to Jesus and asked him how many times he should forgive his brother who wrongs him. 7 times? (Like the number Cain would be avenged if killed). Jesus says no, not seven times, but forgive him seventy times seven. (That math might be the same as Lamech’s “seventy-sevenfold”) Jesus says the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wished to settle accounts with his “slaves.” One who owed him was liable to be sold, along with his wife, children, and everything he owned. But that man begged and the king had pity on him and forgave him all his debts. But then, say that man is owed by another man. He demands all he’s owed and doesn’t take the same pity on the King took on him. Well, ow the king finds that out and ok, you’re back on the hook then. So that guy gets thrown in jail and is worse off than he started. This reminds me of the line about forgiving our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

Jesus left Galilee and went into Judea past the Jordan. The Pharisees questioned Jesus about the lawfulness of men who divorce their wives. Testing him because (sticklers for the law) they say Moses says a man has to give her a certificate, so could he divorce her for any reason? Jesus reminds them that in the beginning God created male and female to be joined, and did not plan on divorce. Moses gave them that law only because men were so stubborn, but the truth was that leaving your wife for any reason besides “sexual immorality” and getting with another woman was adultery. The disciples said that if it’s like that, then it’s better to just not get married. (Kinda proves the point about the stubborn hearts of men.) Jesus replies that not all men can accept this message. There are eunuchs born that way, forced by other men, and self-imposed for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. “He who is able to accept this, let him accept it.” But how do you know when the Lord has joined a male and female together? Is it possible that someone could try to force themself to be a eunuch against God’s will?
–(Jesus Blesses Little Children)
Little kids came to Jesus for blessing and his disciples were being snippy towards them. Jesus told them to knock it off because the kingdom of heaven belongs to people like these little ones. And he blessed the kids and left.
–(The Rich Young Ruler)
I think I recognize this guy’s story but here he does not have a name. “Someone” came to Jesus and asked what good thing he could do to be welcomed into the kingdom of heaven. Jesus told him there was nothing he could DO to be good, only God was. But to enter into eternal life, keep the commandments: no murder, no adultery, no stealing, no false testimony, honor your mother and father, and love your neighbour as yourself. The young man replied he’s always kept those, so what else? And Jesus said, “then if you want to be perfect, give up all you own and follow me.” But the young man couldn’t do that because he valued all his earthly possessions more than his relationship with god. So he left. Afterwards, Jesus told his disciples it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. For some reason, this surprised the disciples, and they asked who could be saved? To that, it seemed the answer was that man doesn’t have the ability to choose to be saved, it’s ultimately up to God–only through him is it possible.
–(The Disciples’ Reward)
Simon Peter said he and the other disciples had given up everything and followed Jesus, so what would happen to them? Jesus assures him that when he came into his throne, they would also sit on thrones and judge the 12 tribes of Israel. And like Job, whoever lost their homes or families for him would receive many times that back in eternal life. “But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.”

To explain the first=last, last=first line: the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of an estate who hires laborers to work his vineyard. The ones he hires first, he promises to pay a set amount. And throughout the day he goes hiring others workers to join them. By the end of the workday, he pays all of them the same. The ones who came first might be salty, thinking they would get more money than the ones who came and only worked an hour, but the Boss pays what he wants. (This one is my favorite)
–(Death Resurrection Foretold)
As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the 12 disciples aside and again plainly reminded them of what was to come.
–-(Preferred Treatment Asked)
James and John’s mom knelt before Jesus and asked him to sit her sons on either side of his throne. Jesus said “you don’t know what you’re asking. Are you even willing to drink from the cup of suffering I’m about to?” They said yes. He said, ok, but I’m not in charge of who sits where. My father will decide. When the other 10 disciples heard this, they were mad at the brothers for asking for special treatment. But Jesus assures them that it won’t be like how kings on earth do it. James and John won’t be above the rest of them. (I don’t think he was saying that the Zebedees would be punished for asking, but that even those who sit on thrones are servants)
—(Sight for the Blind)
As they were leaving Jericho with a large crowd following them, a pair of blind men on the road heard Jesus was passing by and loudly begged for his mercy. The crowd told them to shut up but they begged louder. Jesus cured their blindness and they followed him as disciples too.

Approaching Jerusalem, Jesus instructed two of the disciples to go ahead of him and snag a donkey and her baby, and if anyone asked questions, tell them “the lord needs them.” He did this because it was prophesized. The disciples did as he instructed, and Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the donkey’s back. Greeted by people laying down cloths and sticks to make a humble road welcoming him as the “prophet who came in the name of the Lord.”
–(Cleansing the Temple)
Jesus was NOT pleased when he saw the way the temple was being used as place to do business. People were selling animals for sacrifice and doing currency exchange instead of just PRAYING there. So he drove those people out and turned over their tables. Then the blind and lame came to him in the temple area and he healed them, little kids shouted and praised him, and the CHIEF PRIESTS and SCRIBES were hating again. They were offended to hear the kids praise Jesus as the Messiah. In response, Jesus reminded them that the scripture did say that “infants and nursing babies would sing praises.” Then he left the city to spend the night in Bethany.
–(The Fig Tree Withered)
In the morning, Jesus came back to the city and was hungry. So he checked a fig tree and saw it had no fruit. So he cursed the tree to never grow fruit again. The tree died instantly.
–(The Lesson of the Withered Fig Tree)
When the disciples saw it, they marvelled and asked how the fig tree had died so quickly. Jesus told them that through faith, they too could do it and even larger things. A mountain could be moved into the sea. 22 “And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
–(Jesus’ Authority Questioned)
This is another time where the chief priests and elders have shown that they KNEW BETTER yet chose wrong. This is why they should be held to a higher standard than (for instance, Simon Peter when he says something dumb.) They asked Jesus by what authority was he teaching. (Regretfully, I’ve done this too.) Jesus gives them a choice, he’ll answer their question if they answer his. “John’s baptism: where did it come from? From Heaven or from men?” (I’m not sure if the question was “who baptised John” or “who gave him the authority to baptise.”) Those elders DELIBERATED about the implications of saying either answer. They played mental chess about it. “if we say God, then he’ll say ‘then why didn’t you believe him?'” (And I can see where that would also mean they would have to believe in Jesus and that his authority came from heaven too. They would have to admit they were wrong this whole time. But they didn’t want to do that.) If they said John’s baptism came from MEN, they would get “cancelled” because so many people saw John as a prophet. So they just said “we don’t know.” So Jesus didn’t answer their question either.
–(The Parable of the Two Sons)
But Jesus did give them a parable of two sons. One who denied but ultimately obeyed his father, and one who agreed but disobeyed. The chiefs and elders were able to answer Jesus’s question about that parable, but he didn’t let them off easy. They knew the first son was the obedient one, and he told them that the tax collectors and harlots who believed in John (and in him) were like that first son. Because those former sinners believed and repented, they would enter the kingdom of God before them, because the chiefs and elders were too stubborn to believe.
–(The Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers)
Jesus tells the pharasees and chief priests another parable. Where the owner of land builds up a vineyard and leases it out as he goes away to travel. He sends some servants to get what he is owed, but the renters beat and kill the servants instead. He sends more servants and the same happens. Then he sends his son, thinking he will be treated with respect. But instead, the renters kill him too, thinking they will take his inheritance for themselves. Jesus asks the Pharisees what they think will happen to those renters when the master of the land comes back, they correctly answer that they will be totally cooked for their wickedness and will be replaced by renters who will keep the agreement. They also understand that they are like the wicked renters in this metaphor. They may not believe that Jesus’s authority comes from God, but many people do. So just like they didn’t want to get cancelled by slandering John the Baptist, they didn’t want to get rid of Jesus and risk the masses being upset that they killed another prophet.

Jesus gave another parable. In this one, a king is having a wedding for his son and invites certain guests, but they refuse to show up and even kill the servants that invite them. The king gets destroys them and their cities, then sends his servants to invite random people off the street. But there are still standards. Someone who showed up to the wedding in the wrong clothes still got kicked out. “Many are called, few are chosen.” This parable is like how the Lord had his chosen people, but eventually they lost their place of honor and his invitation was extended to others (gentiles, foreigners).
–(The Pharisees: Is It Lawful to Pay Taxes to Caesar?)
The Pharisees plotted how they could catch Jesus slacking, so they sent some of their disciples with the Herodians. Those “spies” tried buttering Jesus up and tried to get him to say he didn’t believe in paying taxes to Caesar. But he couldn’t be tricked. He pointed to the face on the coin and said to give ceasar what was his and give God what belongs to Him. The “spies” were gobsmacked and left.
–(The Sadducess: What about the Resurrection?)
The same day, the Sadducees came and asked Jesus a hypothetical question about marriage and resurrection. If a woman follows the law and marries 7 brothers in a row (they each die and leave her no children), then in the resurrection, who would be her rightful husband? Jesus tells them that their question is totally wrong because in the resurrection, people won’t be married at all. They will be like God’s angels. And regarding the resurrection of the dead in general…he says “God is not the God of the dead but of the living.” I think this means that those who are dead (not alive in Christ) won’t be resurrected at all. So they don’t even have to worry about things like that because God wouldn’t be bringing back people who don’t believe in him anyway.
–(The Scribes: Which is the First Commandment of All?)
When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had stunned the Sadducees too, they gathered together. One of them, a lawyer, asked Jesus which was the most important commandment. Jesus said it is to love God with all your heart, mind, and soul. The second most important is to love your neighbour as yourself.
–(Jesus: How Can David Call his Descendent Lord?)
Jesus asked the Pharisees a question: Whose son is the Christ? They say it’s David, but Jesus points out that in Psalm 110:1, David says “the Lord said to my Lord.” Jesus asks them, how could the messiah be a son of David, if David calls the Messiah his Lord. No one was able to answer that question and they stopped asking him questions. (Did they cease their questioning for that day, or did the Sadducees and Pharisees literally give up asking Jesus any questions in the future?)

J cusses out the Pharisees but he does tell the people that they should LISTEN to the teachings, but don’t do what they do. They are hpocrites. They don’t understand the words they preach and they don’t have the spirit of the word inside of them. And the whole city of Jerusalem is about to be lonely cuz he’s about leave.