Matthew 6:19

Verse of the Day: Matthew 6:19

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,” – Matthew 6:19

Where are our treasures?  More importantly, what are our treasures?  What is it that means the most to us?  Are they things down here which are subject to decay or can be taken away from us by thieves?

I want to first say it is ok to have nice things.  However, they must be in proper perspective.  Remember what Jesus said to the rich young ruler.  Mat 19:21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” It was not because it was wrong to have stuff.  It was wrong to place these earthly possessions above Christ.  In the next verse, it says “When the young man heard this, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”  His stuff was more important than following Christ.

If these earthly things get in the way of doing God’s will, then we may need to separate ourselves from them.  For nothing takes precedence over God and His will.  Again, it is ok to have nice things, but God’s work is more important.  Jesus summed it up best when He said, Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries, Inc.

Matthew 5:6

Verse of the Day: Matthew 5:6

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.’ – Matthew 5:6

We all desire to be righteous before God.  However, how strongly do we desire it?  Jesus said that we should hunger and thirst for it.  In other words, we should desire this above anything else.

This is what God desires of us.  To be righteous, to do the right thing, to be as He created us to be.  However, if we do not make this our focus, or if other things can take precedence, we will not attain it.  I want to encourage everyone reading this to go before God in prayer, asking Him to guide your steps to do all that He commands and turn away from that which He does not want.  Ask Him to help you be a righteous servant and son.  For if this is truly your greatest desire, you will attain it.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries, Inc.

Matthew 28:19-20

Verse of the Day – Matthew 28:19-20

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Mat 28:19-20

We, as Christians, are called to make disciples of all nations.  The word ‘disciple’ comes from the Greek word ‘mathetes’ which means pupil or learner.  It is not just to get them saved, but to disciple them as well.  They need to understand what being a Christian is really about.  Then, they can go out and make disciples of those who accept Christ.  This is our mission here on this earth.

Matthew 5:6

Verse of the Day Devotion.  Matthew 5:6

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.

In this verse, Matthew is talking about people’s attitudes toward righteousness. Most people want to do things that are right. We, as Christians, are called to do what is right. However, there is a big distinction between doing righteous things and desiring righteousness. And that distinction is defined as even greater then desiring it. We are called to ‘hunger and thirst’ for righteousness. Now this goes far beyond desiring righteousness. Jesus is speaking of an intense longing for righteousness that may be likened to both hunger and thirst. Everyone now and then does what is right, but Jesus is pointing his hearers not to occasional acts but to a passionate concern and regarding what is right.

Righteousness is often used in the New Testament for the right standing believers have before God because of Christ’s atoning work. Now it is plain that Matthew has a strong interest in the upright living that should characterize the servant of Christ. To be more specific, we should notice that he is not suggesting that people can make a strong effort and achieve the righteousness of which he is writing: it is a given righteousness, not an achieved righteousness. The blessed may not totally achieve it but hunger and thirst for it.

There are several verses in the Old Testament that have the same idea as we find in our focus verse. “As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, While they say to me all day long, Where is your God?” Psalm 42:1-3. Note our focus verse. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.” Matthew 5:6. As the dear pants for water, in other words, as the dear needs water due to thirst, I thirst for God and His ways.

Another verse is found in Psalm 63, which is a Psalm of David. “God, You are my God; I shall be watching for You; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and exhausted land where there is no water.” Psalm 63:1. Here, David compares his desire for God as one who desires water where he cannot find it. David sought God at the tabernacle as earnestly as a thirsty man looks for water in a dry and thirsty land. The Wilderness of Judah is largely desert, so this was a picture of longing that came easily to David’s mind. And one more psalm, “I spread out my hands to You; My soul longs for You, like a weary land. Selah” Psalm 143:6. This is another from David, who is spreading out his hands to God to reply.

And then in the book of Amos. “Behold, days are coming, declares the Lord GOD, When I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine of bread or a thirst for water, But rather for hearing the words of the LORD. People will stagger from sea to sea And from the north even to the east; They will roam about to seek the word of the LORD, But they will not find it.” Amos 8:11-12. Notice the nature of this famine. It is not a lack of God’s word, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD. The condition described is that of being deaf to the words of Jehovah, not able to hear them. It is not a case of God withholding His revelation; but of people being in such a state that they do not see it, do not hear the words.

God is calling us to seek Him, His word, and His righteousness.  We should desire God’s righteousness more than a starving man cries out for food, and more than someone who is intensely thirsty cries out for water. Deeply joyful and spiritually whole are those who actively seek a right relationship with God and, in so doing, discover that He alone can completely save and satisfy our souls.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries, Inc.

Matthew 26:49.

Verse of the Day Devotion.  Matthew 26:49.

“And immediately he went to Jesus and said, ‘Hail, Rabbi!’ and kissed Him.” – Matthew 26:49   

After Jesus’ time in prayer in Gethsemane, He went to His disciples and urged them to wake up, for the time had arrived to fulfil the purpose for which He had come. “Then He came to the disciples, and said to them, Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Behold, the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Arise, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!” Matthew 26:45-46. Jesus fully understood what Judas was doing, for he was working with the Pharisees to have Him arrested. And all this for a paltry sum as his reward, thirty pieces of silver.

Now Judas gives the guards a sign as to whom to arrest. “Whomever I shall kiss, He is the one; seize Him.” Matthew 26:48b. And Judas wasted no time in giving this sign. “And immediately he went to Jesus and said, Hail, Rabbi! and kissed Him.” Matthew 26:49. Judas goes to Jesus and warmly greets Him, even giving Him the customary kiss. Now it was getting dark, and therefore Judas needed to show the soldiers who Jesus was in a way they could get Jesus without Judas simply handing Him over. Also, he addressed Jesus by the title Rabbi rather than as Lord. It appears Judas had already stopped believing Jesus was God’s son, or actually never did from the beginning.

Jesus then responds to Judas in a way that was not condemning. “Friend, do what you have come for. Then they came and laid hands-on Jesus and seized Him.” Matthew 26:50. Jesus is being quite calm here. Judas betrayed Him and turned Him over to the soldiers, and even after this He still referred to Judas as friend. After this, the soldiers took hold of Jesus to take Him away. But before they could leave, we read, “And behold, one of those who were with Jesus reached and drew out his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest, and cut off his ear.” Matthew 26:51. Here in Matthew we are not told who this was, nor in Mark or Luke. But John declares who this was. “Simon Peter therefore having a sword, drew it, and struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear; and the slave’s name was Malchus. Jesus therefore said to Peter, put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?” John 18:10-11. Jesus tells Peter to put the sword away, for this was ordained by His Father for the purpose of paying the penalty for all. And besides, Is the Father’s hands tied? No! “Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? How then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen this way?” Matthew 26:53-54. Then Jesus said to the people there. “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as against a robber? Every day I used to sit in the temple teaching and you did not seize Me. But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled. Then all the disciples left Him and fled.” Matthew 26:55-56.

The apostle John wrote the following, “the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.” 1 John 2:6. Jesus accomplished exactly what His Father sent Him here to do. And He trusted His Father to be there with Him, knowing that everything that happens to Him is allowed by His Father for the express purpose of providing salvation to all who believe and live it. And we must do the same. Do we believe God would leave us on our own during times of trial and tribulations? He would never do that. Moses wrote to the Israelites. “Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6. And the writer of Hebrews wrote, “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you. So we can confidently say, The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:5-6. And finally, Paul wrote that whatever we go through will end good. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28. There is nothing that happens that surprises God, or that He did not know about before it happened. “Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,” Isaiah 46:8-10. As Jesus trusted completely in God the Father no matter the circumstances, we should as well. He is always with us, and He can do anything. Therefore, we can rest in this trust. And as the end comes closer, we can trust that He will help us through all that comes our way. What more could we ask for?

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries, Inc.

Matthew 21:13

Verse of the Day Devotion.  Matthew 21:13.

“He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.” Matthew 21:13

After Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, He entered the Temple and was not happy with what He saw. “And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of those who sold pigeons.” Matthew 21:12. The purpose was to drive out the merchants, who in cooperation with the priests cheated visitors to Jerusalem by forcing them to purchase approved sacrificial animals and currencies at high prices. What would happen is that people would be told their sacrifice was not worthy to be offered in the temple, and thus would be sold another deemed acceptable for a high price along with the offering brought to them, which many times they would sell to another at a high price. For example, it was not unusual for a dove to be sold in the temple for 15 to 20 times what could be purchased elsewhere. “

This was a serious issue for Jesus, which is shown by what He did. He drove out those who bought and sold wrongly in the temple and overturned the tables and chairs of those who cheated the people. And our focus verse clearly shows why He was angry. “He said to them, It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.” Matthew 21:13. He is quoting Isaiah here. “And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be his servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it and holds fast my covenant. these I will bring to my holy mountain and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.” Isaiah 56:6-7. Isaiah calls the Temple a house of prayer for all people, not just Jews. However, the Jewish leadership used it as a place to cheat the people by stealing from those who came to give their sacrifice to God.  

After this, many came to Jesus in the Temple. “And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them.” Matthew 21:14. The bold action of Jesus when He drove out the merchants and money changers from the temple courts did not discourage the needy from coming to Him. The blind and the lame were restricted to the court of the Gentiles; they could not go closer to the temple and could not go to the altar to sacrifice. After purging the court of the Gentiles of merchants and robbers, Jesus then ministered to the outcasts who congregated there. He did the work of the Messiah, a significant part of which was showing the power of God in the context of compassion and mercy to those who so needed this. 

We do not have the temple today, but we do have Churches where the Body of Christ meet to praise God, hear needed teachings, pray together, and in all ways lifting each other up. We must never, whether we are leaders or not, take advantage of anyone for our own benefit. We should never limit good things and deeds to only those who donate up to certain expectation. And we should never deceive anyone into giving with promises we will or cannot deliver. God, in no way approves of this. Paul laid this our clearly. “and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you.” 1 Thessalonians 4:6. Today, church is a place for ‘the Church’ to honor God, giving Him praise and worship as well as growing our knowledge such that we build up our faith. It is not for anyone to take advantage of anyone for his/her own advantage and gain. I believe God abhors this, and will, as the above verse shows, avenge those who take part in these things.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries, Inc.

Matthew 16:16.

Verse of the Day Devotion.  Matthew 16:16 

“And Simon Peter answered and said, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  – Matthew 16:16

After Jesus told His disciples to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, He led them to Caesarea. “Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He began asking His disciples, saying, Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” Matthew 16:13. Caesarea Philippi lies approximately twenty-five miles north-east of the Sea of Galilee, where the population is mainly Gentile. It was an area associated with idols and rival deities. It was scattered with temples of the ancient Syrian Baal worship. Also, there rose a great hill, in which was a deep cavern; and that cavern was said to be the birthplace of the great god Pan, the god of nature. Also there was a great temple of white marble built to the godhead of Caesar. There He would have been able to teach the Twelve away from the crowds.

Here, Jesus asks them a question. “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they gave Him several answers. “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” Matthew 16:14. Some thought Jesus was a herald of national repentance like John the Baptist, or a famous worker of miracles like Elijah. And some believed He was someone who spoke the words of God, like Jeremiah and the prophets. Perhaps in seeing Jesus in these roles, many hoped for a political messiah who would overthrow the corrupt powers oppressing Israel. The disciples, who often mingled with the crowd were in a good position to hear what people were saying about Jesus.

Then He asked His disciples, “He said to them, but who do you say that I am?” Matthew 16:15. The disciples were clear in describing what others thought. But Jesus had to ask them, as individuals, what they believed about Him. “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:16. Jesus presupposes that his disciples would not have the same beliefs as others had. They would not follow the spirit of the age and shape their views by those of the people of that period. Simon was very clear and concise. This was a most powerful confession of His faith. He is, in essence, declaring Jesus to be more than just a man. He is Christ the Messiah and the Son of God. This emphasizes his divinity for both are joined together as one.

And He responded to this answer given by Simon. “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:17-19. God the Father revealed this truth to Simon. And because this truth was revealed to Simon, Jesus said to Him “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it.” He did not call Him Peter because He was the rock upon which His church would be built. He called him Peter because the Father had revealed this to Him, specifically who Jesus was and he declared it openly. This was the rock, It was the words, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” which the Church would be built on. Putting all this together He was saying ‘I will bring my people together as my Church, on a solid foundation which will be a stronghold which cannot be defeated.’

And finally, Jesus tells them that He will give them the keys to the kingdom. Keys can be used to lock doors as well as open them. Part of the gospel message is that faith is necessary. Without faith in Christ, the door to heaven is shut and barred. “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:18. As the apostles preached the gospel, those who responded in faith and repentance were granted access to the Kingdom of Heaven; yet those who continued to harden their hearts and reject the gospel of God’s saving grace were shut out of the Kingdom

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries, Inc.

Matthew 22:17

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Verse of the Day Devotion.  Matthew 22:17

“Tell us therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to give a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?” –  Matthew 22:17  

This is an interesting verse in that there are two very opposing sides that are trying to trap Jesus, and as always, Jesus comes out on top. Let us start by looking at these two groups.  “Then the Pharisees went and counseled together how they might trap Him in what He said. And they sent their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians, saying, Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any.” Matthew 22:15-16. First, the Herodians were a non-religious Jewish party who supported Herod’s dynasty and the general policy of the Roman government. They perceived that Christ’s teachings and influence were antagonistic to their interests. The Pharisees, on the other hand, were members of an ancient Jewish sect who believed in the strict observance of oral traditions and the written Law of Moses. They didn’t believe that Christ was the Messiah because He taught a different practice, despite His many miracles during His earthly ministry. Although Herodians and Pharisees were at opposite ends of the political spectrum, their common hatred of Christ was enough for them to join forces to try to destroy Him.

Now, they ask their question. “Tell us therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to give a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?” Matthew 22:17. Jesus had just returned to Jerusalem for the final time and recently finished sharing several parables with the crowd. Jesus’ enemies saw an opportunity to put Jesus on the spot in front of His followers. Therefore, they came together to ask Jesus the above question. And it was a trick question, and I believe Jesus knew it was. If He had answered no, the Herodians would charge Him with treason against Rome. If yes, the Pharisees would accuse Him of disloyalty to the Jewish nation, and He would lose the support of the crowds. To pay taxes or not to pay taxes? The question was designed as a Catch-22.

However, His response is not what they anticipated. “But Jesus perceived their malice, and said, Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites?” Matthew 22:18. He knew their goal was to trap Him so they could accuse Him of false teachings. Their hypocrisy was that they professed to be actual inquirers, while their actual goal was to trap Him.  However, Jesus does not fall into it.  “Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax. And they brought Him a denarius.” Matthew 22:19. Now, the denarius was a coin used as the tax money at that time. It was made of silver and featured an image of the emperor with an inscription calling him divine. The Jews considered such images idolatry, forbidden by the second commandment. This was another reason why, if Jesus answered yes, He would be in trouble. His acceptance of the tax as lawful could have been seen as a rejection of the second commandment, thus casting doubt on His claim to be the Son of God.

Thus, Jesus trapped them by His response. “Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax. And they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, whose likeness and inscription is this? They said to Him, Caesar’s. Then He said to them, Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Matthew 22:19-21.  Jesus first asked them whose image was this on the coin.  They answered Him honestly, that it was Caesar.  Then Jesus puts an end to their hypocrisy. He tells them to give Caesar what is his, and to God what is His.  When Jesus said, render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, He was drawing a sharp distinction between two kingdoms. There is a kingdom of this world, and Caesar holds power over it. But there is another kingdom, not of this world, and Jesus is King of that one. “Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting, that I might not be delivered up to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.” John 18:36. Christians are part of both kingdoms, at least temporarily. Under Caesar, we have certain obligations that involve material things. Under Christ, we have other obligations that involve things eternal. If Caesar demands money, give it to him, it’s only mammon. But make sure you also give God what He demands.

Caesar produced and minted coins which the people used, and then required them to give some back by way of taxes. As king, He had the right to do both. After all, his image was stamped on what he had made. God has given us the human soul, and He has stamped His image on everyone. So give Caesar his due. the temporary stuff of this world. But make sure to give God His due: “and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.” Romans 6:13.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries.

Matthew 22:42

Verse of the Day Devotion Matthew 22:42

“What do you think about the Christ, whose son is He? They said to Him, The son of David.” –  Matthew 22:42

Now, after the Pharisees had asked questions of Jesus, He then turned the tables on them, and He asked a question of them.  “Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question,” Matthew 22:41. They had been asking Him questions, so He chooses to ask them one as well. He had evaded all their traps, which were based fundamentally on their refusal to recognize him as Messiah. Their problems were the fact that they were looking for a purely human, nationalistic liberator, and as far as they were concerned, He did not fit this idea. Now, we see this question in our focus verse. “What do you think about the Christ, whose son is He?” Matthew 22:42a.

Jesus directs his question to explore the scriptural nature of messiahship. From whose ancestry is the Messiah to come. The answer, at least for Jesus’ immediate audience, would have indisputably been from the lineage of David. Their answer no doubt came from verses like one found in 2 Samuel.

“When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men, but My lovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you.” 2 Samuel 7:12-15.

Now, Jesus responds to their answer with another question. “He said to them, Then how does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying, The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet? If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his son?”  Matthew 22:43-45. Their answer sets up the opportunity for Jesus to denounce their beliefs regarding the Messiah with the above questions. If the Messiah is merely the human offspring of David, why does David himself speak of him as “Lord”, a master or sovereign above the one who is king of Israel and the highest human authority in the land? Jesus here employs the rabbinic method of setting up antinomy, a contradiction between the two beliefs that are themselves reasonable.

He bases this on a verse in a Psalm of David.  “The LORD says to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand, Until I make Thine enemies a footstool for Thy feet.” Psalm 110:1. Now, in order to completely understand this, we need to look at a couple of Jewish words that are translated as one word in English. The first ‘Lord’ (The Lord says) is YAHWEH, which is the Hebrew covenant name for God, the eternal God of the universe, the Great I AM who revealed Himself to Moses.  The second ‘Lord’ (says to my Lord) is Adonai, someone or something having power, authority, or influence, a master or ruler, but not almighty God.  Only Yahweh would be the word translated ‘God’, Therefore, what David said here was essentially, “God said to the Messiah, sit at my right hand, until your enemies are a footstool for you.”

Jesus’ reasoning is this: ‘Son of David’ is your title for the Messiah, yet David himself calls Him ‘Lord.’ The Messiah, then, must be much more than just a son, a physical descendant of David. According to Psalm 110:1, this ‘Son of David’ was alive during David’s time and was greater than David. All of this information is contained in the statement that “the LORD says to my Lord.” Jesus is David’s Lord; He is the Christ, the Jewish Messiah, and Psalm 110 is a promise of Jesus’ victory at His second coming.

Jesus made it clear when He said, “If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his son?” Matthew 22:45. The Messiah could not be a physical son of David because David died long before the Messiah was born. And this left the Pharisees speechless.  “And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor did anyone dare from that day on to ask Him another question.” Matthew  22:46.

They refused to accept this, for it went against everything they had been taught by Jewish Leaders and Scholars.  We need to be careful that we do not accept something as truth simply because it has always been taught that way.  We must be open to the truth we may not fully understand, and then honestly study to understand it.  And when we do this, asking the Lord to guide us, we can learn what is actually truth, and not merely tradition.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries.

Matthew 19:13

Verse of the Day Devotion Matthew 19:13  

“Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them.” – Matthew 19:13 

There was a time when some children were brough to Jesus so He could lay His hands on them and pray for them.  We see this in our focus verse.  This was most likely the parents who brought them to Him.  However, the disciples rebuked them for doing this.  Now it is important to know that just before this occurred, the Pharisees had come to Jesus and had asked Him about divorce.  “And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?” Matthew 19:3.  Then Jesus counters their argument, essentially rebuffing them.  Now a rebuff is essentially a rejection of something said in an abrupt manner.  However, when the parents brought the children to Him, He allowed them to go right up to Him and he laid His hands  on them and prayed over them. 

Now the disciples rebuked the parents for bringing them to Him.  However, Jesus said to them, “Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14.  Jesus told them leave the children, and ultimately the parents, alone.  “Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14.   Mark’s version says Jesus was indignant about what they did.  This showed that He basically rebuked them, telling them they had no business telling them to go away.  And after a time, He went off after laying hands on them. “And after laying His hands on them, He departed from there.” Matthew 19:15.

It is important to remember that children in Jesus’ time were not necessarily regarded as special or particularly endearing, with the exception of their own family. Many cultures today look on children as especially sweet, innocent, and even wise at times. It seems that the Jewish culture in that day did not see children in such optimistic terms. The disciples most likely rebuked those bringing the children to Jesus because they felt bringing children to Jesus was socially improper or possibly they thought the children would bother Jesus. It is likely that their move to hinder the parents from bringing their children to Jesus was motivated not by unkindness but by a desire to respect Jesus’ position as a teacher. But Jesus wanted the children to come to Him, for He told them, “Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14. I believe He wanted to bless them before He left.

It is wonderful to think of Jesus interacting with children. They are often needy and dependent, and they know almost nothing about this life. They react on emotion rather than reason. Yet Jesus said, “for the  kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14.  Jesus’ command to “let the little children come to me” reveals several truths.  First, children are as important to Jesus as anyone else, and therefore we must help them be introduced to Jesus as well.  The Lord wants to bless children, and He corrected His disciples when they tried to send them away.  Parents should be encouraged to bring their children to Jesus at as early an age as possible and teach them His ways. Second,  Jesus has regard for the weakest and most vulnerable among us. No matter how compassionate Jesus’ followers are, Jesus Himself is more compassionate. And those who come to Christ must do so in childlike humility, faith, and simplicity.  Remember what Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:4-5.   

Like children who naturally follow their parents, believers must come to Him in the same basic way. Faith is not about knowing everything or doing everything right. It is about knowing that no matter what happens, our Father will take care of us. That trust in Him, even when life is extremely troubling and sad and makes no sense, is what makes a believer like a child. “All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.” John 6:37.   God loves His children, His people.  And we should see Him as a child sees His wonderful parents, as someone who loves us, cares for us, and will always be there at all times.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries.