Category Archives: Matthew’s Gospel – Study Notes

Pastor Rick’s Study Notes and Teaching on Fasting

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Pastor Rick’s Study Notes:

(PRT) Matthew 6:16-21, 33-34

v. 16 And again, when you fast don’t act out like the hypocrites, all gloomy with faces twisted up in pain so they look like they haven’t eaten for days. In all honesty, they get what they deserve.

vv. 17-18 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so you don’t looking like you’re fasting; but fast to seek your Father without attracting attention, and your Father who sees what is done secretly will restore to you what you seek.

vv. 19-20 Don’t surround yourself with the world’s riches, where it can be consumed by moths or rust or where robbers can break in and steal it. Instead, lay up for yourselves riches in heaven where neither moths nor rust can consume it and where robbers don not break in and steal.

v. 21 For the place your treasure will be is where your heart will be, too.

v. 34 So, before everything else, seek the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be given to  you.

v. 35 Don’t be troubled by tomorrow’s concerns for tomorrow will be concerned enough for itself; each day will have concerns enough.

  1. Pure and Simple on Purpose. Life can get complicated, right? And there is a tangible release when we simplify and declutter our lives. Following Jesus is a simple and uncluttered process. And our passage today nudges us toward simplicity, making our values what the Kingdom values and how this practice of fasting pleases the Father and changes our hearts. But life can still be complicated, hurried, busy.
  2. For some of us, we follow Jesus in the midst of a complex and busy life. We invite His presence and nearness, his wisdom, his grace, into the busy-ness. And each time in that busy-ness that we take a moment to love someone or listen or give hope sets our lives apart from the world. And our choice to pace our walk to His tempo stands out in the world. The peace He gives in the midst of the storm, the busyness, becomes the light and becomes salt to those around us.
  3. For some of us, we follow Jesus by making our lives less complex and hurried. We look for ways to regain time with Him, time to listen to Him and be still,  and to respond to his voice by serving others, loving others and giving hope.

Salt and Light is what we are because of Who’s we are.

  • And because we belong to Him and seek Him and follow Him, Jesus scatters us as salt and displays us as light. And it comes naturally because He is present in our lives and we belong to Him.

And in our passage, Jesus encourages us to practice this discipline in order to know Him better and to more effectively be salt and light to our world.

  • Try Fasting. Jesus says,

v. 16 And again, when you fast don’t act out like the hypocrites, all gloomy with faces twisted up in pain so they look like they haven’t eaten for days. In all honesty, they get what they deserve.

vv. 17-18 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so you don’t looking like you’re fasting; but fast to seek your Father without attracting attention, and your Father who sees what is done secretly will restore to you what you seek.

When we fast He restores what we seek, He gives what we need, He opens us up to His gifts and blessings.

What is this practice called fasting? And why is it important for us today?

  • Maybe starting with what it is not might help. Some may go on a hunger strike to seek to bring about political or social change. Others might fast and try to find the divine within. Still others might fast to cleanse their bodies. That’s not what Jesus is talking about.
  • Fasting is focused first on loving and drawing near to Jesus. It’s not mainly to get from God but to give ourselves anew to God. We might ask for God’s provision; but it’s first about God’s will and the values of the Kingdom.
  • And Jesus says twice here – when you fast, when you fast. It’s expected. It’s not commanded here, but he expects that we will. The spiritual value makes it a part of the practice of being Salt and Light in our world.
  • It so valuable, so much a part of the Christian walk that Right before, Jesus talks about “when you pray.” And just before that he teaches on “when you give.” And here he says “when you fast.” So what is fasting all about?
    • Personal fasting – we might fast for a special prayer request, for a friend or family member, or a big choice facing us.
      • Fasting may become a regular part of your devotional life. You fast a day a week for instance. John Wesley asked all who served in the ministry to fast Wednesdays and Fridays.
      • Response to the need to repent. A sin that nags our lives. And we need to live above and past this sin or temptation. And we fast and pray to place this behind us.
      • Urgent need to battle the enemy. We sense that the enemy is attacking our lives, our family. And we fast and pray to attain victory against the tempter or the accuser. Illustration: Jesus at one point cast out an evil spirit, then explained to his disciples how prayer and fasting works to push the darkness out.
      • Need to follow God’s call on your life. He has been speaking about a fresh and renewed call to serve or to go or to lead. And we need to seek the Father’s blessing and wisdom in this pursuit of His calling on our lives.
      • Face an emergency. There is a crisis in our lives that we face and we need to fast and seek God’s provision to avert this danger.
      • Or we may be facing an enormous task or beginning a new journey. And we want to dedicate this to God and ask that it honor Him and bring the values of the Kingdom to your life.

Do you have an enormous task? Are you facing a new journey or challenge? Is God stirring up a fresh task or call for you? Have you faced temptation or battled the enemy this week? Has God revealed the need for repentance and forgiveness?

Try Fasting:  How do we make this happen practically.

  • Don’t start with grand  and long plans. Don’t start with a lot of days. Fast for one day and Fast to listen and to draw near to Jesus. One day (eat dinner one day and then dinner the next.)
  • Keep your day job. Do what you normally do, but pace the day in a way that you can listen to the Spirit, listen to who is in front of you, and see what God might do throughout the day.
  • Take the time for meals to worship, to read Scripture, to pray. Invite God’s presence. Ask him for what you long for. And see who He puts near so you can serve those He puts before you.
  • United fasting – we might join with others in union to fast for a season and for a reason.
    • A need before us for wisdom, for guidance, and for provision.
    • A response to a call to repent and invite God’s healing for our church or for our nation. Illustration: Did you know that General Washington six weeks before the signing of the Declaration called for a day of fasting and prayer for the united colonies.
    • A response to an emergency or tragedy. And ask for God’s healing and provision together. Esther called for a three day fast when the lives of all Jewish people were threatened.
    • An invitation to God to revive His church, pour out His gifts and His Spirit, and to use our nation or church to reach the nations.
  • When we fast and pray, we see life and truth more simply and clearly. And when we fast and pray together, God magnifies that life and truth. We know He is present and answering when we are alone; but when we fast and pray together, that unity acts like a magnifier.   It’s like He causes us to zoom in on what is important and what lasts, and the things that may seem urgent or threatening or calling for our time and money become less important and less a voice in our lives.
  • When we fast, whatever is deep down inside us that we keep hidden or covered by things, busyness, food, addictions, bad relationships, or more. Those things surface and come to light. 1 Corinthians 6 says that we have freedom in all things, but nothing will control or enslave us.

Church, our nation needs us to pray and to fast and to seek God’s healing. Our God is both holy and compassionate.  And we as a church and nation need to pray and fast because repentance is a good thing and mercy is needed.

My application to you in this is simple. I want you to choose a day this week and try fasting. If medically, you have a reason to avoid this, please do. Otherwise,  take a day and choose to fast. I’m on for tomorrow. Because repentance is good – I need it. And our church needs a deeper experience of God’s presence. And our nation needs the intervention of the God of holiness and compassion.

(Sunday, June 26th, this message was chosen especially in light of the US Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade just three days prior. It’s a day to rejoice and a day to pray. Here is my charge for this week:

Sunday, I taught on fasting and prayer and then challenged each of you to join in a day of fasting and prayer for personal needs and for our nation. At the signing of our nation’s Bill of Rights, Washington called for a Day of Prayer for our salvation and, among other things, the will and wisdom “to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness.” (nationaldayofprayer.org).

We have much to be grateful, rejoice in and at the same time, ask for forgiveness for – we celebrate life and the wisdom of our highest court who ended the nationally mandated act of abortion. And we grieve that it took 49 years, and in those years the words, talents, accomplishments, and voices lifted in truth and worship of millions were silenced.

Pray and fast with us, thanking God for the men and women who were bold in truth to overturn a devastating decision a half a century ago. Let’s ask God to revive us, heal our land, protect our nation, and restore His call to us to represent Him well to our world.)

Pastor Rick’s Study Notes: Matthew 5:17-20

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Pastor Rick’s Study Notes:

PRT Matthew 5:17-20

v. 17 Don’t even consider that I have come to destroy the Law or the Prophets; I came not to overthrow and dismiss them but to satisfy and fulfill them.

v. 18 For I tell you this very truth: until heaven and earth come to an end, neither the smallest letter nor the tiniest accent point will disappear until all these things will happen.

v. 19 for this reason, anyone breaks even the smallest of these commandments or teaches others to do the same, will be the smallest in the Kingdom of Heaven. But here’s the one who will be great in the Kingdom of Heaven: everyone who does what it says and teaches others to do the same.

v. 20 For I tell you that, unless your right actions and right relationship with God extends beyond the standards of the legal experts and Pharisees, you won’t even enter the doors of heaven.

Study Notes:

v. 17 Don’t even consider that I have come to destroy the Law or the Prophets; I came not to overthrow and dismiss them but to satisfy and fulfill them.

Jesus is answering an unspoken question here (or perhaps he heard the rumblings of this statement about tearing down the law and prophets – it later became one of the big accusations. He didn’t destroy (he wrote them!) The word is to break down, dissolve, dismiss, abolish. He came to fulfill the prophets and satisfy the law.

This word destroy is a word picture of someone taking down a tabernacle or tent into pieces. He came to fulfill, that is fill to the fullest, the Law and Prophets.

Light plays a huge role in demonstrating the effect of the Kingdom on people, churches, cultures, generations, etc. We are brought into the light, become the light of the world, and are indwelt by the Spirit of Jesus, the Light of the world.

Ephesians 4 “we were in darkness and now we walk as children of light.”

Philippians 2:15 “you shine as lights to the world.”

1 Peter 2 “we are called out of darkness and into His wonderful light.”

Read this in context with v. 15-16 – what we do is in the light, not to show us to the world, but to show Jesus to the world. Matthew says the light is on the stand where everyone in the house can see the light. Luke says the light is on the stand so that everyone who enters into the house can see. He satisfies the reason people grasp for religion and rules. Jesus completes the prophetic.

v. 18 For I tell you this very truth: until heaven and earth come to an end, neither the smallest letter nor the tiniest accent point will disappear until all these things will happen.

The smallest letter of the Hebrew language is the “yod” – no bigger than an apostrophe. The accent point in Greek is the little marking that might distinguish letter and pronunciations. These accents were not widely used in the marketplace since most wrote in Uncial; and after all, it was their language.

Here, the word is not everlasting but sufficient until heaven and earth disappear. At that point, we will as Paul says, “know in full.” Until God brings it all to the culmination, not even an accent point will be canceled.

v. 19 for this reason, anyone breaks even the smallest of these commandments or teaches others to do the same, will be the smallest in the Kingdom of Heaven. But here’s the one who will be great in the Kingdom of Heaven: everyone who does what it says and teaches others to do the same.

Remember that the legal experts and teachers had set the laws in major and minor categories – greater laws and lesser laws with corresponding ramifications. Some says 613, but these are what Moses said to do or not do. The “for all time” laws are the big ten.

The “least” in the kingdom is a word that can mean littlest or smallest; the person who chooses to live contrary to God’s parameters and/or takes others in the same direction chooses a “small” life here, and the “smallest” life in eternity.

It’s choosing to live in the light. Luke adds some insight here; our acts give light to the world and cause the lost to bring glory to God. Our eyes are our light in Jesus’ parables; and we let light in by what we choose to give witness to; or we let “dark” into our eyes by what we feed on.

The big question on everyone’s mind, then, if the Pharisees and the teachers of the law aren’t in, who will be? Nobody wants to be small; so who will be great? Jesus answers: you who do and teach (demonstration, proclamation.) the Pharisees (Matthew 23:3) taught but clearly didn’t do. That’s why he said the next sentence.

v. 20 For I tell you that, unless your right actions and right relationship with God extends beyond the standards of the legal experts and Pharisees, you won’t even enter the doors of heaven.

These are the comments that endeared Jesus to the people and drew the ire of the temple leaders. This would also fly in the face of “common wisdom” that the Pharisees and legal experts were the examples to follow; Jesus says it’s the exact opposite. It’s like the lovers of the law were approaching heaven, but couldn’t see what stopped them (unforgiven sin – they needed a Savior.)

  1. Have you ever been in a place that was completely, utterly, dark? How did it make you feel?
  2. Do you have a favorite Bible verse? What is it? Why is it so meaningful to you?
  3. How do you “let light in” to your life through using the Bible? What practices do you do now? What do you need to begin practicing?
  4. What can you do the avoid places that make your life smaller and darker?
  5. What kinds of “beautiful deeds” do you like doing for others to help them experience the love of the Savior?
  6. How can others help you through prayer and encouragement?

Pastor Rick’s Study Notes: Matthew 5:13-16 The Salt and Light Life

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(PRT) Matthew 5:13-16

v. 13 You are the salt of the earth! If, however, it becomes stale and unsavory how can it become useful salt again; its salty strength is gone, only useful to be dumped out along the pathway for people to trample on.

v. 14 You are the light of the world! It’s not possible to hide a city built on a hilltop;

v. 15 Neither do people kindle a lamp and set it aside under a bowl or hidden behind a basket. Instead, they set it on the lamp pedestal, so it shines out for everyone who is in the house.

v. 16 In the same way, let your light shine out where people are so that they might see your beautiful deeds and they will give praise to your Father in heaven.

Pastor Rick’s Notes:

v. 13 You are the salt of the earth! If, however, it becomes stale and unsavory how can it become useful salt again; its salty strength is gone, only useful to be dumped out along the pathway for people to trample on.

You singular as in each of you, listen, you and you and you are the salt, are the light. This is throughout these verses. Jesus is speaking to each person in an intimate way, calling out their potential found in following Him.

This is an either/or illustration. Jesus doesn’t hold out the option to be a dim flicker or a barely salty salt. We are the light; we are the salt. The world counts on it and the Kingdom sends us to it.

Salt typically is very stable and doesn’t break down; but it can deteriorate in its usefulness if around water, or other elements. He is talking about the taste, but much more. Salt is a preservative. Stops decay. A healing agent. Brings taste to life. But if it becomes stale, it becomes the waste thrown into the pathway.

Some salts can lose effectiveness and savor; this would be spilled out on the walkways when it rained to keep people from slipping.

v. 14 You are the light of the world! It’s not possible to hide a city built on a hilltop;

Jesus is using hyperbole here. How ludicrous that someone would imagine making invisible the city that is built on top of a hill?

Likewise, can you imagine someone full of His light who, when out with people, doesn’t shine?

Philippians 2:15 – we are luminaries lighting the way to the Savior for a world to follow.

v. 15 Neither do people kindle a lamp and set it aside under a bowl or hidden behind a basket. Instead, they set it on the lamp pedestal, so it shines out for everyone who is in the house.

If they light the wick and the oil starts to burn from the lamp, it’s a waste to hide it behind stuff or place a bowl over it. Logically, we light our lamps and place them so all can see.

Interesting parallel: In Matthew, the Gospel to the Jews, he says the light is for every “in the house;” Luke says “for those who are entering in” meaning the nations, true to his Gospel’s purpose and audience to make the Gospel plain to the Gentiles.

For wealthy residences, there may be a lampstand that can be moved around. Jesus had been to wealthy homes before. For most homes, especially in the countryside, there would be a pedestal stone built to stick out where the clay lamp could be placed after lighting so all could see each other. Finding that “pedestal” or “lamp placement” is the sweet spot for the Christian. Where best to place a light than in the middle of a dark place?

v. 16 In the same way, let your light shine out where people are so that they might see your beautiful deeds and they will give praise to your Father in heaven.

Some may have a problem reconciling this with a later passage when Jesus says to do what you do and give and pray without others seeing you. In this passage, we do our “beautiful deeds” for people, and those around see God at work – we point praise where it’s due.

Small Group Study Questions:

  1. Where have you been when it was the most dark? What was it like?
  2. If salt draws attention to where it is scattered, what do we draw attention to when we are scattered as “the salt of the earth?”
  3. If light shines on what needs to be seen, what does the beautiful deed we do today shine on?
  4. As the light of the world, where is the best place for you to make an impact on dark places?
  5. Who in your life is hurting today and you need us to be salt to help with healing?

Pastor Rick’s Study Notes: Matthew 7:7-11

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Pastor Rick’s Study Notes:

Matthew 7:7-11 (NLT)

7 “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

9 “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? 10Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! 11So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.

Mt. 7:7-11 Diligently ask and it will be given to you; seek with a longing to discover and you will find; knock on the door, and that door will be opened to you. 8 For with certainty, everyone who keeps asking, receives; the one who keep seeking, finds; and to the one who keeps knocking, it will be opened. 9 Consider this comparison: which of you, if your child asked for bread, would give him a brick or stone? 10 Or even, if he asked for a fish to eat, would give him a snake? 11 Since therefore you, being sinful and uncaring, know what a good gift looks like, and you give these to your own children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him. (PRT – Pastor Rick’s Translation)

Mt. 7:7 Diligently ask and it will be given to you; seek with a longing to discover and you will find; knock on the door, and that door will be opened to you.

Or, in reverse of action and results:

You will get what you need for those of you who diligently keep asking; you will discover and find what God has in store for you for those of you who keep on seeking; and that door for relationship and provision will be opened for you who keep on knocking.

Ask for, crave, desire, call for and it will be given, supplied, entrusted to you. Seek, seek after, strive for, crave, seek with the expectation of finding, seek with longing to know and worship and you will find, return to the place, understand.  Knock, rap on the door or gate and that gate will be opened, opened fully to you.

Could this be the first verse of Jesus’ answer to the disciples’ unspoken question following the previous teaching? How do we keep from becoming judgmental? And how do we remove the huge sin in our lives so we can help others? How do we discern between giving precious spiritual truth to those who will honor it, instead of those who will toss it into the pig pen?

Easy, prayer changes us. Keep on pressing in to your relationship to Jesus. If the Father opens your eyes to sin in your life, bring it to him. If you find yourself stuck trying to share God’s goodness with one who dishonors it, pray and seek God’ freedom.

7:8 For with certainty, everyone who keeps asking, receives; the one who keep seeking, finds; and to the one who keeps knocking, it will be opened.

For, because, for indeed. Everyone asking receives, takes as one’s own, ; seeking finds; knocking it’s open fully. Pray and, in faith expect God’s gracious provision.

Read this in reverse for emphasis as this is cause/effect. The one who receives God’s answers is the one who keeps on asking; the one who find God’s treasure is the one who keeps on seeking; the one who experiences God’s Presence, who enters into the relationship eternally is the one who keeps on knocking.

The “keep on” tense is both continuous and leads to a greater expression of the action. If I am praying a little now and keep praying a little more, God will honor this and take me deeper into him. Conversely, if I pray just a little now and back off, I will fall into judgmentalism or lack of discernment.

Knocking at the Father’s door for provision, relationship is juxtaposed with Rev 3:20 where the Father is knocking at the door of those in Laodicea who were unrepentant and lukewarm. The Father initiates the knocking and we repent and open the door for salvation; and for the rest of our lives we grow by asking, seeking and knocking.

7:9 Consider this comparison: which of you, if your child asked for bread, would give him a brick or stone?

Which, then, is of you out of or from.  Jesus gives a comparison or juxtaposition. He is saying consider this from your own perspective. Will a Father give his son a brick or rock when he wants bread? The first word in the verse is translated “or” and makes this a comparative statement.

7:10 Or even, if he asked for a fish to eat, would give him a snake?

The comparative conjunction begins this, too.  The snake and fish comparison hints at follower of Jesus or enticed by the evil one. The point of these two verses: the hunger of your kid demands a proper response just like the spiritual hunger inside each of us receives the proper response from the Father.

The “me” in both juxtapositions assumes a negative answer. In no way would a father give his hungry kid a brick or a scorpion.

7:11 Since therefore you, being sinful and uncaring, know what a good gift looks like, and you give these to your own children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him.

You, who by nature, from the inside, act badly, do evil, are corrupt and guilty. The comparison is of God the Father who perfectly chooses goodness and compassion toward his children and me (or you) you imperfect, not good, guilty of choosing badly, evil. Both come out of the heart, out of the inner nature.

If we are evil, even in our best days, compared to God who lacks no good characteristic, we are reminded that we need him.

Pastor Rick’s Study Notes: Matthew 2:21-23, Luke 2:39-40, 51-52

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Pastor Rick’s Study Notes:

Matthew 2:21-23

Joseph obeyed. He got up, took the child and his mother, and reentered Israel. When he heard, though, that Archelaus had succeeded his father, Herod, as king in Judea, he was afraid to go there. But then Joseph was directed in a dream to go to the hills of Galilee. On arrival, he settled in the village of Nazareth. This move was a fulfillment of the prophetic words, “He shall be called a Nazarene.” (The Message)

After this, he got up, took the child and his mother and traveled back to Israel. Also, he heard that Archelaus now ruled in Judea in the place of his father, Herod. He was afraid to go there and, because he was warned in a dream, he turned aside to the region of Galilee. When he arrived, he made his home in the town of Nazareth and, in doing so, fulfilled what was spoken through the prophets: “He will be called a Nazarene.”(PRT)

  • It became such a badge of honor to be from such a place and be such a Savior that it was how others identified Jesus. Come and see Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
  • When the blind or the lame would call out for healing, they called to Jesus the Nazarene.
  • The demons acknowledged his authority to drive them out as Jesus Christ the Nazarene.
  • When Mary and her friends came to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body, the angel assured them that the one they looked for, this Jesus the Nazarene, is not here because He is risen.
  • Peter preaches the first Acts presentation of the Good News of the Kingdom in chapter 2 and declares the this Jesus the Nazarene is the very one who conquered death.
  • Then Peter in chapter 3 reaches down to take the hand of the paralytic and declares “I don’t have a nickel to my name; but what I have I give to you: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk.
  • Paul says that even Jesus identified himself when he had the vision on the Damascus highway – “I am Jesus the Nazarene; the one you are persecuting.” (Acts 22:8)

That Jesus was from such a small, backwater village in a non-descript part of the Israel is as fitting as Jesus as a baby being born in a livestock cave.

He, as the light of the world, entered where least expected and spread throughout the world.

Joseph was warned a third time, this specific to the dangers Herod’s son Archelaus posed to their safety. That’s why Joseph took Mary and Jesus back to his home in Nazareth which was under Antipas’ rule. Interesting that Herod the Great killed off so many of his sons; but some still reign in parts of his kingdom. Archelaus proved his bloodline and refused a godly lifestyle; he was cruel and unpredictable, too.

Luke 2:39-40, 51-52

39-40 When they finished everything required by God in the Law, they returned to Galilee and their own town, Nazareth. There the child grew strong in body and wise in spirit. And the grace of God was on him. (The Message)

39-40 When they had completed all the law of the Lord required, they returned to Galilee and to their home town of Nazareth; it was there that the child grew up and became strong and filled up with wisdom, and God’s grace was on him. (PRT)

51-52 So he went back to Nazareth with them, and lived obediently with them. His mother held these things dearly, deep within herself. And Jesus matured, growing up in both body and spirit, blessed by both God and people. (The Message)

51-52 And Jesus went down from Jerusalem with them and came to Nazareth; he was obedient to them and his mother carefully kept all these things both said and done in her heart. (PRT)

Nazareth is where Jesus grew up, went to synagogue school, learned how to build things, and grew in spirit and the Holy Spirit fully within discovered how to express the Spirit’s fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Some may have difficulties with Jesus growing in wisdom and in the spirit as He is God incarnate. But the “incarnate” – in the flesh – is significant. If Jesus was born with all the wisdom and fully mature, he would not have come in the flesh; he would have come as a superman. He is not. He is God, and He is man.