Episodes

Monday, 18 November 2024 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. Matthew 5:13 “You, you are the salt of the earth, and if the salt – it may be insipid – in what will it be salted? For nothing it strengthens now. If not, having been cast out – trodden by men.” (CG). In the previous verse, Jesus encouraged the disciples, telling them that even in times of persecuti...

Sunday, 17 November 2024 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:12 “You – rejoice and cavort, for your recompense – great in the heavens, for thus they pursued the prophets before you” (CG). In the previous verse, Jesus noted that His disciples were blessed when they were pursued for righteousness, and when all kinds of evil was spoken against them for Jesus’ sake. Now, He continues, saying, “You ...

Saturday, 16 November 2024 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Matthew 5:11 “Blessed are you when they shall defame you, and they shall pursue, and they shall lay forth all evil utterance, falsifying because of Me” (CG). The previous verse noted those pursued for righteousness’ sake, saying that theirs is the kingdom of the heavens. Jesus’ words continue now with, “Blessed are you when they shall defame you.” The word...

Friday, 15 November 2024 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10 “Blessed – those having been pursued for righteousness, For theirs, it is, the kingdom of the heavens” (CG). In the previous verse, Jesus noted the blessing of the pacificatory. Now, He continues with, “Blessed – those having been pursued for righteousness.” The word translated as pursued, diókó, is introduced here. It signifies to put to flight, pursue, ...

Thursday, 14 November 2024 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. Matthew 5:9 “Blessed – the pacificatory, For they – sons of God – they will be called” (CG). In the previous verse, Jesus referred to the pure of heart. Now He next says, “Blessed – the pacificatory.” The word is found only here in Scripture, eirénopoios. It is an adjective coming from two words meaning “to make peace.” No translations, even the most literal, however, properly use an adjective form in their t...

Wednesday, 13 November 2024 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. Matthew 5:8 “Blessed – the pure of heart, For they – God they will see” (CG). In the previous verse, Jesus referred to the compassionate, noting that they will be compassionated. Next, He turns to the first verse I ever memorized. It was on a refrigerator magnate, and I was probably about five. It begins with, “Blessed – the pure of heart.” Jesus is probably referring to a Psalm of David where this thought i...

Tuesday, 12 November 2024 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. Matthew 5:7 “Blessed – the compassionate, For they – they will be compassionated” (CG). Jesus continues the Beatitudes in this verse, beginning with, “Blessed – the compassionate.” The word is eleémón, merciful or compassionate. It can even be translated as being full of pity. It is found only here and in Hebrews 2:17. It is derived from the verb eleeó, to actively have pity on or be merciful to. That will be ...

Monday, 11 November 2024 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6 “Blessed – those famishing and thirsting righteousness, For they – they will be filled” (CG). In the previous verse, Jesus spoke of the benignant inheriting the land. Now His words continue with, “Blessed – those famishing and thirsting righteousness.” Despite most translations simply following one after the other with “hunger and thirst,” the verbs are present particip...

Sunday, 10 November 2024 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. Matthew 5:5 “Blessed – the benignant, For they – they will inherit the land” (CG). In the previous verse, Jesus noted the poor and that they would be comforted. Continuing now, it says, “Blessed – the benignant.” Although it is a rare and almost wholly unknown word, the word meek, as almost all translations state, falls short of the intent. The word is praus. It goes beyond what one would think of as meek. HEL...

Saturday, 9 November 2024 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4 “Blessed – those mourning. For they will be comforted” (CG). The previous verse spoke of the poor in spirit. Now, the blessings continue with, “Blessed – those mourning.” The word translated as mourning, pentheó, speaks of mourning over death, particularly a close relationship. It is the type of grief that takes hold of a person and which cannot be hidden. It also refers to any great mourning on...

Friday, 8 November 2024 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3 “Blessed the poor of the spirit. For the kingdom of the heavens, it is theirs” (CG). In the previous verse, it noted that Jesus opened His mouth and taught the disciples. Now, the words of Jesus are recorded by Matthew, beginning with, “Blessed the poor of the spirit.” This is the first use of the word makarios, blessed, in the New Testament. It is a prolonged form of the poetical maka...

Thursday, 7 November 2024 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: Matthew 5:2 “And having opened His mouth, He taught them, saying” (CG). In the previous verse, it noted that Jesus, seeing the great throng of people, ascended a mountain where He then sat and His disciples came to Him. The narrative continues with, “And having opened His mouth.” It is an idiom indicating that a purposeful oration is about to follow. An excellent example is found in Psalm 78 – “Give ear, O my people...

Wednesday, 6 November 2024 And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Matthew 5:1 “And having seen the crowds, He ascended to the mountain, and He, having sat down, His disciples – they came to Him” (CG). Chapter 4 finished with the note that great multitudes followed Jesus from many locations. With this great throng about him, Chapter 5 begins with, “And having seen the crowds, He ascended to the mountain.” Matthew identifies the m...

Tuesday, 5 November 2024 Great multitudes followed Him—from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan. Matthew 4:25 “And great throngs, they followed Him from the Galilee, and Decapolis, and Jerusalem, and Judea, and beyond the Jordan” (CG). In the previous verse, people brought the sick from all the areas of Syria, and Jesus healed them. Next, Matthew records, “And great throngs.” It is the first use of ochlos, a throng, in the New Testament. It is a word that can...

Monday, 4 November 2024 Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. Matthew 4:24 “And the hearing of Him, it went into all Syria. And they brought Him all the sickly, having various diseases and constraining torments, and demon-possessings, and moon-strikings, and paralytics, and He cured them” (CG). The previous verse ...

Sunday, 3 November 2024 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Matthew 4:23 “And Jesus, He traverses all the Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every malady in the people’” (CG). The previous verse included the note that James and John left the boat and their father and began follow...

Saturday, 2 November 2024 and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him. Matthew 4:22 “And they, immediately, having left the boat and their father, they followed Him” (CG) The previous verse noted James and John, sons of Zebedee being in a boat with their father preparing nets. While so engaged, Jesus called them. Next, it says, “And they, immediately.” It isn’t said how Jesus called them, but whatever He said, it was enough for them to act. As speculation, He could ...

Friday, 1 November 2024 Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, Matthew 4:21 “And having advanced thence, He saw others, two brothers – James, the ‘of Zebedee,’ and John, his brother – in the boat with Zebedee their father, repairing their nets. And He called them” (CG). In the previous verse, Simon and Andrew were said to have left their nets and followed Jesus. ...

Thursday, 31 October 2024 They immediately left their nets and followed Him. Matthew 4:20 “And immediately, having left the nets, they followed Him” (CG). In the previous verse, Jesus told Simon, called Peter, and Andrew to follow Him, and He would make them fishers of men. With that called out, it next says, “And immediately.” There is no sense of hesitation. When Jesus was baptized, it said that He immediately went up from the water. One act followed directly after the next. That is how it...

Wednesday, 30 October 2024 Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19 “And He says to them, ‘You come – after Me! And I will make you fishers of men’” (CG). In the previous verse, it noted Jesus walking by the Sea of the Galilee when He came upon Simon, called Peter and Andrew, his brother. They were casting their net. It then noted that they were fishers. Now, it says, “And He says to them, ‘You come – After Me!’” The word deute is an exclamatory wor...

Tuesday, 29 October 2024 And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Matthew 4:18 “And Jesus, walking beside the Sea of the Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea - for they were fishers” (CG). In the previous verse, it noted that Jesus began to preach, telling the people to reconsider because the kingdom of the heavens w...

Saturday, 28 September 2024 And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Matthew 4:18 “And Jesus, walking beside the Sea of the Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea - for they were fishers” (CG). In the previous verse, it noted that Jesus began to preach, telling the people to reconsider because the kingdom of the heaven...

Friday, 27 September 2024 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17 “From then, Jesus, He began to proclaim and to say, ‘Reconsider! For it has neared – the kingdom of the heavens’” (CG). The previous verse completed the citation from Isaiah concerning the coming Messiah who would appear in the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali. With that citation complete, it next says, “From then, Jesus, He began to proclaim and to s...

Thursday, 26 September 2024 The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.” Matthew 4:16 “The people sitting in darkness, it saw Light – great, and sitting in a country and death-shadow, Light – it arose upon them” (CG). In the previous verse, Isaiah’s prophecy concerning the coming great Light began. That now continues with the words, “The people sitting in darkness.” The words explain the situation descri...