Day 943 - Matthew - Chapter 15

Matthew 15 : Teachings about what makes a person unclean, Canaanite Woman's faith, Feeding of the 4000

Jesus says that we must follow Gods commands and not our own.
What makes a person unclean is not what goes into his/her mouth but what comes out. We should really guard our mind and tongue and mind what we think or say.
Jesus heals a Canaanite woman of great faith.
He feeds 4000 with 7 loaves of bread and few fish. We had a sermon about this topic last week. Achen said this incident is different from that of feeding of the 5000. Both took place at different times in different areas.

Day 942 - Matthew - Chapter 14

Matthew 14 : Death of John the Baptist

John the Baptist is beheaded at the request of Herodias' daughter.
Jesus goes to lonely place to pray. People follow him and since they have come far from their homes, disciples ask Jesus to send them away to eat food. Jesus feeds 5000 using 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish.
Everyone goes away and Jesus stays back to pray. In the night, he walks on water towards the boat that the disciples are in. Peter comes out of the boat and also is able to walk but starts drowning when there is a wind. Jesus pulls him out of water in time.

Day 941 - Matthew - Chapter 13

Mathew 13 : Parables of the Sower, Weeds, Mustard Seed, Yeast, Hidden Treasure, Pearl, Net

Jesus preaches to people using parables. Parables are simple stories that people understand, they are very interesting so people listen and they also have lot of insight which make people think about the meaning many times afterwards.

Day 940 - Matthew - Chapter 12

Matthew 12 : Question about Sabbath, Jesus's miracles

Pharisees accuse Jesus' disciples of violating the Sabbath and Jesus sites the Biblical example of David and his men eating bread offered to God when they were very hungry.
Jesus heals a man with paralyzed hand and casts out demons and evil spirits from other people.

Day 939 - Matthew - Chapter 11

Matthew 11 : The Messengers from John the Baptist

John the Baptist is in prison and his disciples visit Jesus and ask him if he is the one John said would come. Jesus told them about the miracles and asked them to judge themselves if he is the one or if they should wait for someone else.
Jesus says about John in verse 11 - "I assure you that John the Baptist is greater than anyone who has ever lived. But the one who is least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than John."
There are many towns that do no believe Jesus even after the miracles. Jesus says that if the miracles were performed in Sodom, it could have been in existence even today.
Then Jesus thanks Heavenly Father for everything that has happened.
Jesus says - "Come to me and Rest".
See verse 28 - "Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest."