Matthew 13:53-14:12 Dear RTB’ers, Today, two very personal narratives from Jesus’ earthly life. First is His homecoming at Nazareth: And they took offense at Him. (v. 13:57a) The previous verses highlight the city’s knowledge of His family and His background. No doubt the Nazarenes had heard of the mighty works that Jesus had done throughout …
Author Archives: Fred
February 6 / Matthew 13:24-52
Matthew 13:24-52 Dear RTB’ers, Today, six more parables, all “kingdom of heaven” parables. I find three major conclusions in these six parables. First, in this world the good and the bad exist together (the wheat and the tares; the net of mixed fish). It is not our business to deal with the bad or judge …
February 5 / Matthew 13:1-23
Matthew 13:1-23 Dear RTB’ers, Today, the first of many parables in Matthew’s gospel. My Study Bible notes that Jesus spoke approximately 30 parables in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, but none in John’s gospel. An AI response said that there were 23 in Matthew’s gospel alone, including seven in chapter 13, the first of which we …
February 4 / Matthew 12:22-50
Matthew 12:22-50 Dear RTB’ers, I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. (vv. 36-37) I have heard these verses referred to as “tape-recorder verses”. When we come before God …
February 3 / Matthew 11:25-12:21
Matthew 11:25-12:21 Dear RTB’ers, Today, two Sabbath issues – the disciples plucking grain and Jesus healing. In both cases Jesus answers His critics, in the first with citations from the Old Testament and in the second with a common sense response. It is interesting to me that Jesus did not quote Scripture in the second …
February 2 / Matthew 11:1-24
Matthew 11:1-24 Dear RTB’ers, Matthew spends 19 of our 24 verses today with Jesus relating to John the Baptist. I often wonder how much interaction those two cousins had with each other while they were growing up. Very likely they met regularly when they were younger when their families went to Jerusalem for regularly-scheduled (triannual) …
February 1 / Matthew 10:24-42
Matthew 10:24-42 Dear RTB’ers, It’s February! Already…? I’m thankful to say goodbye to January. We’ve been in one of the worst cold, snow conditions that I can remember in the past many years. Praying for a better February and an early Spring!! Anxiety. It’s not only in the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus talks …
February 2026 Readings
Date Readings Verses 01-Feb Matthew 10:24-42 19 02-Feb Matthew 11:1-24 24 03-Feb Matthew 11:25-12:21 27 04-Feb Matthew 12:22-50 29 05-Feb Matthew 13:1-23 23 06-Feb Matthew 13:24-52 29 07-Feb Matthew 13:53-14:12 18 08-Feb Matthew 14:13-36 24 09-Feb Matthew 15:1-20 20 10-Feb Matthew 15:21-39 19 11-Feb Matthew 16:1-20 20 12-Feb Matthew 16:21-17:13 21 13-Feb Matthew 17:14-27 14 …
January 31 / Matthew 9:35-10:23
Matthew 9:35-10:23 Dear RTB’ers, Jesus now leaves Capernaum and travels throughout Galilee, sending the Twelve to do the same after giving them instructions. He also predicts trouble for them: Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves… Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog …
January 30 / Matthew 9:9-34
Matthew 9:9-34 Dear RTB’ers, Today, Jesus’ calling of Matthew (Levi) and another three healing miracles. Two of these healings were prophesied by Isaiah: Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing …