TimFortner.com Matthew 8: Faith Jesus closes his teaching we call The Sermon on the Mount with clear instructions what we are to do with his teaching. Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams … Read more
Matthew 25,Part C: The Judgment What is interesting about todays lesson is the Lord is not giving his disciples and us a parable- he is telling us the facts of his second coming. This will be at the end of that horrific seven year period known as The Great Tribulation. Scripture tells us the church, … Read more
Matthew 26: Marys Alabaster Box Read I Corinthians 13 and it uses the word charity to describe the word for love that we also define as agape love. Charity has a connotation today of giving something without any expectation of return. This is what the sheep on the right did in Matthew 25- they … Read more
Matthew 26 B: Do This in Remembrance of Me Todays lesson begins with the announcement it is the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread- the Passover. One of the most revered feasts in all of Judaism. The disciples come to Jesus for instructions. Jesus has already made provisions for a room and directs … Read more
Matthew 3: Repentance In todays lesson we will meet John the Baptists, who appears briefly on the scene as the prophesized voice of one calling in the desert. He was to have an important ministry of preparing the way for the Lord. We will look at the significance of Johns baptism, which Paul called the baptism … Read more
Matthew 4: IF Obedience and sin sometimes hinge on the small word IF. Consider these verses: And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, IF we ask anything according to His will, He hears us: And IF we know that He hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the … Read more
Matthew 26 & 27: Peter and Judas We are moving into familiar territory once again with the story of the arrest, trials, and subsequent scourging, beating and crucifixion of the Lord Jesus. I want to focus on two of the twelve disciples and their actions during this brief, but fast moving period of time. Jesus … Read more
Matthew 28: The Great Commission If anyone ever asked you did Jesus ever say he was the son of God? The answer is yes. In Matthew 26: 63-64, we read: The high priest said to him, I charge you under oath by the living God; tell us if you are the … Read more
Matthew 5: Bless Your Heart! Today we start our study of what is called: The Sermon on the Mount. If you have a Bible that highlights Jesus words in red, you will notice the next three chapters are completely red. This is the Lords longest recorded sermon. He would repeat portions of this sermon often as … Read more
Matthew 22B: The Contest Continues The Herodians and Sadducces continue in their efforts to entangle, entrap and discredit Jesus. These are proud men who cannot believe this carpenters son from the backwater town of Nazareth is any match for their intelligence and knowledge. For Jesus to outwit them or be able to answer their clever … Read more
Matthew 25, Part 2: As Jesus finished the Parable of the Virgins, he segues into the next parable by advising the disciples and us- to watch therefore , because we do not know the day. His next parable is also a parable about the Kingdom of Heaven, as he says Again.; and what proceeds is … Read more
Matthew 25: As Jesus continues in his answer to his disciples questions- he provides parables to illustrate truths about the signs of his coming and the end of the age. He says when you see these signs- you will know the end is near, but tells us- no man, no angels of heaven know the … Read more
Matthew 22: Parable of the Wedding Banquet The first verse of this chapter tells us this is a continuation of Jesus conversation and confrontation with the Chief Priests and the elders. And Jesus answered them and spake unto them again by parables and said, Matthew 22:1, KJV. This parable represents the gospel offer and … Read more
Matthew 24: The Long and Winding Road That Lies Ahead As we read last week in Matthew 23, the Lord proclaims Look , your house is left desolate! Matthew 24 begins by telling us- Jesus left the temple and was walking away He will not enter the temple again. His disciples come up … Read more
Matthew 23: The first verse tells us this address is to the crowds ( multitudes,KJV) and his disciples. It is a scathing condemnation of the false teaching of the religious leaders. We will look at the : a series of woes in this chapter as the Lord Jesus in the last week of his earthly … Read more
Matthew 2: Yada, Yada, Yada If you ever watched any of the Seinfield television series, a show about nothing, you heard this expression .yada,yada,yada.. This is actually a real Hebrew word that means to know or be known. We began this study of the Gospels at Peters instructions- as he wrote in 2 Peter 3:18, the … Read more
Matthew 19: In todays lesson, I want to concentrate on a young mans encounter with Jesus that took place over 2,000 years ago. All through the gospels we read of conversations that took place between Jesus and real people from all walks of life. In todays lesson we listen in to a conversation that takes … Read more
Matthew 21: What do you think? It was Tozer who said What comes to your mind when you think about God is the most important thing about you. In todays lesson Jesus asks the chief priests and the elders a series of questions- which we will explore as these questions are connected. We are … Read more
Matthew 18B: Life in the Kingdom In todays lesson we will look at how seriously sin is regarded by the Lord among believers. He speaks figuratively of cutting yourself off from that sin which so easily entangles one. The Lord then prescribes, step by step, the proper way to handle church discipline of a … Read more
Matthew 18: Like A Child Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? For almost 3 years now, beginning with John the Baptist, the message had been- repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. The disciples envisioned an earthly kingdom, with Jesus crowned King like David and they would be the … Read more
Matthew 20: The Workers in the Vineyard The kingdom of heaven is like . So the first verse tells us this is a parable which reveals facts about the kingdom of heaven. You might also find yourself agreeing more with the workers in the vineyard than the vineyard owner. So let me set the stage for … Read more
Matthew 11: Need Rest? Come to Jesus! This chapter contains three of my favorite verses at the end with one of the Lords most gracious calls and invitations to all of us who are weary and heavy laden. It is an invitation to a rest – and as we look at this rest, we discover … Read more
Matthew 13D: The Treasure and the Pearl Again we have two short parables which are told together. The parables are commonly known as the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl of Great Price. The first parable compares the kingdom of heaven to a treasure hidden in a field. When a man found the treasure, he hid … Read more
Matthew 13 C: The Seed, The Tree, & The Birds It is important we review what has been revealed to us by the Lord in these first two parables in order to uncover the meaning of the remaining parables. So far we have been told: *The Seed is the Word of God, the Message of … Read more
Matthew 13: The Parable of the Sower This teaching was on the same day as the sermon he preached in Matthew 12. That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea (KJV). The house can be interpreted as the house of Israel and sea represents the gentile nations. These words … Read more