Our Lord Jesus lays it down as a general rule that we ought to forgive others to the uttermost. He does not mean that people should be allowed to steal and assault us without punishment, but that we should have a general attitude of mercy towards others. We are to bear much and to put up with much, rather than

If we have been offended or hurt by a fellow believer the first step to be taken is to visit him alone and tell him what he has done. He may have hurt you unintentionally; he may have an explanation for his behaviour; at any rate, this friendly, faithful, straightforward way of dealing is the most likely way to mend

Without conversion there is no salvation. We all need an entire change of nature: we have neither faith, nor fear, nor love towards God. Of ourselves we are utterly unfit for dwelling in God’s presence. All are born in sin and children of wrath, and all, without exception, need to be born again and made new creatures. If we want

Jesus Christ has perfect knowledge of everything that is said and done in this world. He knows exactly what has been said to Peter as if he had been standing right there. Christ sees all we do. He hears all we say. Concealment is impossible; hypocrisy is useless. We may deceive others, but the Lord sees right through us. We

It is painful enough to see the bodies of those we love racked by disease, how much more painful must it be, for this father, to see body and mind completely under the influence of the devil. But there are many instances of Satan’s spiritual dominion over young people today, which are quite as painful, in their way, as the

The end of the last chapter shows us the cross; here we are graciously allowed to see something of the coming reward. The hearts which have just been saddened by a plain statement of Christ’s sufferings, are at once gladdened by a vision of Christ’s glory.These verses give us a pattern of the glory in which Christ and His people

Like Peter, the other disciples can not bear the idea of the crucifixion; they think that Jesus has come to set up an earthly kingdom; they do not see that He needs to suffer and die. They do not understand that true Christians must be prepared for trouble and self-denial if they follow Christ. The glorious kingdom they are expecting

There can be a lot of spiritual ignorance even in a true disciple of Christ. Peter tries to dissuade Jesus from suffering on the cross. He does not see the full purpose of Christ coming into the world. His eyes are blinded to the necessity of our Lord’s death, and he actually does what he can to prevent that death

What makes Peter’s confession so amazing is that he makes it when few are on Christ’s side and many are against Him. He makes it when the rulers of his own nation, the scribes and Pharisees, are all opposed to his Master, and it requires great faith.Jesus is not saying in this passage that He is building His Church on

Jesus takes the opportunity here to warn His disciples. Even these disciples, the future leaders of the Church, can fall into temptation. He warns them against the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees. He describes their false teaching as leaven. Like leaven it might seem a small thing compared to the whole body of truth; like leaven, once allowed in,