Matthew 19:13-15 Jesus Teaches Us About Children

Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, “Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” After laying His hands on them. He departed from there.

In order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, one must have child-like faith. Child-like faith does not depend on one’s own flesh to accomplish righteousness. Instead it is a wholly dependent faith which relies on another’s strength for their very life. Children do not say that they can do for themselves and be independent of another, but instead recognize their need for help and submit to that greater one for all of their needs, both large and small. Therefore to be a child of God, one needs to return to children principles and depend on Him alone for our all in all.

Daily Prayer: Father let me not drift off into a place where I claim credit for any accomplishments. Instead let me be fully conscious that all things, both good and bad are from your hand. Good for times when I receive your blessing and bad for times of discipline. In all things, let me recognize that everything is from you and I need not worry. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

Matthew 19:1-9 Jesus Teaches About Divorce

When Jesus had finished these words, He departed from Galilee and came into the region of Judea beyond the Jordan; and large crowds followed Him, and He healed them there. Some Pharisees came to Jesus, testing Him and asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all?” And He answered and said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE, and said, ‘FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, ANDTHE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together let no man separate.” They said to Him, “Why then did Moses command to GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE AND SEND her AWAY?” He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses permitted you to divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been this way. And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”

If you are indeed a son or daughter of the Most High, divorce is not an alternative to this one. The rite of matrimony is a covenant before God and it is a life-long commitment. One’s commitment to their spouse must be greater than to their father and mother. One’s commitment to God must be still greater than the spouse because this is God’s design for his children and to break this design puts one at odds against God and man. Therefore live holy and submissive lives to each other and under God.

Daily Prayer: Father, it is clear that one’s spouse is chosen by You. To all those who are unmarried, direct their attention and faith to You and You reveal the plans for their life to them so that they may know that You are God. In Your holy name I pray Amen.

Matthew 18:21-35 "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us..."

Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Forgive as many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’ And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt. But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’ But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. Then summoning him, his lord said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’ And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”

Daily Prayer: Lord Jesus, unless we take up our cross and follow you, forgiveness in the flesh is not possible. Everyone thinks mostly for their own good. But if we allow the Holy Spirit to govern our thoughts and deeds, we will be able to forgive and people will know we are Christians by our forgiveness of others. Grant this to me this day. I pray in Your holy name Amen.

Matthew 18:15-18 Discipline and Prayer

“If your brother sins go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERYFACT MAY BE CONFIRMED. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.

It would be a sin for two followers of Christ to take a dispute between two brothers to a earthly judicial court, because this is the way of justice to the heathens. A Christian dispute is mandated to be handled through the Church where Jesus Christ is the Judge. When Jesus commissioned Peter to establish Christ’s Church, he gave him power to bind heaven to just decisions made in the Church. But if any of the Christians fail to follow this charge, then they need to be treated as an outsider to the Church and handed over to the world.

Daily Prayer: Father it is good to know that You have given all authority over to Jesus Christ. This way no one has to fear an unfair judgment because Jesus Christ is just and shows no partiality. In Jesus name I pray Amen.