Matthew

Matthew 5: Sermon On The Mount (Part 1) Collin Leong.  February 17, 2025  v1-11  The Beatitudes The crowds came to see and listen to Jesus. He went up on a mountainside and started to teach. He started to called these beatitudes "blessed":  The poor in spirit will receive the kingdom of heaven (v3). It means acknowledging that we are spiritually impoverished and cannot achieve righteousness or salvation on our own. This humility and awareness of our need for God's grace and mercy is the foundation for receiving salvation.  Those who mourn will be comforted (v4). Mourning can be for physical loss, or spiritual mourning. This spiritual mourning refers to grieving over one's sins and the brokenness of the world. It reflects a sorrow for the separation from God caused by sin and a longing for righteousness and restoration. The meek will inherit the earth (v5). This teaching contrasts with worldly values that often prioritize power, dominance, and asserti...

Matthew 4: Temptation of Jesus Collin Leong. Feb 1, 2025  v1-11: Temptation of Jesus  (Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13) (v1) Jesus was led to the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. The devil tempted Jesus in three distinct ways: 1. (v2-4) Physical Temptation: After Jesus had fasted for forty days and nights, the devil tempted Him to turn stones into bread to satisfy His hunger. Jesus responded by quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, saying, "Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." Sometimes, we have a real need in order to survive, like food, clothes and shelter. But that doesn't excuse us from stealing or robbing others. Instead we should pray that God will provide for us.  We must trust that God is the God the Provider - "Yahweh Yireh" or "Jehovah Jireh". This name is derived from Genesis 22:14, where Abraham names the place where God provided a ram for the sacrifice instead of his son Isaac. 2. (v5-7) Spiritual Te...