Beatitudes – The Tree and Its Fruit

6: 43-45  “A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit.  A tree is identified by its fruit.  Figs are never gathered from thorbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes. A good person produces good things from the treasury...

Beatitudes – Do Not Judge Others

6: 37-42 “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.” “Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you.” “Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.” When I first read these, I felt justified in my inner thoughts.  Throughout my life, I have felt...

Beatitudes – Love Your Enemies

6: 27 – 36  This next section was one of the hardest things for me to read and understand at a heart level!  I had gathered inside all the wrongs I felt others had done to me over the years, which led to an incredible amount of pain and anger that had nowhere to...

Beatitudes – The Danger of Pride

6: 24-26  “What sorrow awaits you who are rich, for you have your only happiness now.” “What sorrow awaits you who are fat and prosperous now, for a time of awful hunger awaits you.” “What sorrow awaits you who laugh now, for your laughing will turn to mourning and...

The Beatitudes

6: 20-23  Jesus turned to his disciples and said, “God blesses you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours.” “God blesses you who are hungry now, for you will be satisfied.” “God blesses you who weep now, for in due time you will laugh.” “What blessings await...

Jesus Chooses the Twelve Apostles

6: 12-19  A few days afterwards, Jesus went up on a mountain to pray.  He prayed to God all night.  At daybreak, he called together all his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles. The disciples were individuals who followed Jesus wanting to learn about what...