Devotional Hours Within the Bible

Matthew 26:1-16

We enter now upon the last events of our Lord's life. We are within two days of the Passover. We have a glimpse of the plotting of the priests and elders, and their desire to take Jesus by subtlety to kill Him. They wished, however, to wait until after the feast, fearing excitement and tumult, and had so determined. The culmination of the plot was hastened, however, by the unexpected treachery of...

Matthew 25:31-46

This passage gives us a wonderful picture of the last judgment. It is not a parable - but a prophetic presentation of the great scene. The sheep and goats are used as representing the good and evil. Christ will be the Judge. He will appear as the Son of man, that is, in His humanity. It is a comfort to...

Matthew 25:14-30

"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey."

The particular teaching of this parable is not the same as that of the parable of the virgins. That was the duty of preparation ;...

Matthew 25:1-13

The three parables in this chapter teach great lessons. They are based on the promise of Christ's return. He is surely coming again, but when - no one can know. But we should live always so as to be ready for His most sudden coming any moment.

The ten virgins were alike in some ways. An onlooker in the early evening could not have told which were the wise,...

Matthew 24:32-51

It was Tuesday evening. Jesus had left the temple, to return to it no more. His last words to the people had been spoken. On the way His disciples called His attention to the temple, perhaps suggesting its magnificence and its solidity. It was indeed a wonderful building. But Jesus said, "I tell you the truth - not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down."

The little company moved out...

Matthew 22:15-22 Matthew 22:34-46

The Pharisees, on those last days in the temple, were in continual and bitter controversy with Jesus. They sought to trouble Him, to ensnare or entangle Him in His conversation. We may be glad, however, for the questions they asked, because they drew from Him great...

Matthew 22:1-14

Christ is soon to be condemned by the rulers and put to death - but as He stands now in the holy city, He speaks as the Judge, pronouncing the doom upon the people who are rejecting Him as their Messiah. "The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son." The marriage feast suggests two great thoughts concerning gospel blessings. The figure of a feast pictures...

Matthew 21:33-46

"Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and went away on a journey."

Matthew 21:1-17

The triumphal entry was one of the most remarkable incidents in our Lord's life. Usually Jesus made no public demonstration, did nothing to draw attention to Himself in any way. Indeed, He avoided notoriety and fame; He did not strive nor cry aloud; neither did anyone hear His voice in the streets. He spoke to His disciples confidentially of His Messiahship - but did not publicly proclaim it....

Matthew 20:17-34

Jesus was setting out for Jerusalem on His last journey. Did He not know that He was going straight into danger? He was safe in Perea; why did He not stay there? Why did He leave this shelter - and go straight into the den of lions at Jerusalem? He knew all that awaited Him - but He did not shrink from it; He resolutely set His face to go, because it was the way marked out for Him. The...

Matthew 20:1-16

The key to this parable - is found in what goes just before. A young man came to Jesus eager to follow him and asked what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus said he must give up his riches - and follow Him. The young man found the cost too great - and went away sorrowful. Then Jesus spoke seriously to His disciples about how hard...

Matthew 19:1-2 Matthew 19:13-26

The words, "He departed from Galilee," have significance, when we consider the circumstances, which give them a peculiar sadness. This was our Lords' final departure from Galilee. He had been brought up there. Much of His public ministry had been wrought there. In that part of the country, He had met with the kindliest reception....

Matthew 18:21-35

"Then Peter came to Jesus and asked: Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"

Perhaps no other lesson is harder to learn - than to be forgiving. It never gets easy, to bear injury or wrong. Yet the lesson is essential. We can ask Divine forgiveness for our own sins - only when we are ready to forgive those who sin against...

Matthew 17:1-8; Matthew 17:14-20

Three men, Peter, James and John - were with the Master when He was transfigured. All the disciples belonged to His personal family - but these three were taken into the inner circle and enjoyed closest intimacy with Him. On several occasions we find Him choosing the same...