Pip: Motivation E-Books — where you come for productivity hacks and occasionally find yourself deep in a New Testament sermon series about saving your marriage. No complaints here.
Mara: Lorna and Tony are working through all 260 chapters of the New Testament, one sermon at a time, and today we're looking at what Matthew 1 has to say about how a husband sees his wife. Let's start with that story.
Matthew 1: Seeing Your Wife Differently
Pip: The central question this sermon puts on the table is whether a marriage can turn around not because both people become different people, but because one person begins to see the other differently — and whether that kind of shift is even possible.
Mara: The sermon sets it up through Joseph's story, and the framing is direct: "Sometimes a marriage can be saved without either partner becoming a different person. Sometimes the turning point comes when one person begins to see the other differently."
Pip: That's a real reframe. The usual marriage-in-crisis script is about behavior change — someone has to do something differently. This sermon is asking whether perception is the more urgent problem.
Mara: Joseph is the case study. He discovers Mary is pregnant, concludes the relationship is over, and begins planning a quiet divorce. The sermon notes he wasn't cruel — he was trying to do right by her in a situation that, from where he stood, looked straightforward.
Pip: And then the dream. An angel tells him the child is from the Holy Spirit, and Matthew 1:24 records that "when Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary as his wife." Same circumstances, completely different decision.
Mara: The sermon draws the application carefully. It isn't claiming every husband will get a dream, or that every troubled marriage will be restored the same way. The point is that Joseph acted on incomplete information, received new understanding, and changed course — and that the possibility of incomplete understanding applies broadly.
Pip: There's a quietly devastating line buried in here about husbands who have "collected their evidence, formed their opinions, and reached their conclusions" — still living in the same house, but the marriage already over in their minds.
Mara: The sermon calls that out as a place to pause. It suggests a husband might pray specifically to see his wife as God sees her — not to change her, but to discover what he's missed about her. The prayer it offers is explicitly not a demand that a wife conform to wishes; it's a request to change one's own attitude first.
Pip: Which is, as marriage advice goes, considerably harder than it sounds.
Mara: The sermon closes by asking whether the first step toward saving a marriage might be shifting the question — from "how can my wife change?" to "what do you want me to see that I cannot see yet?" That's where it lands.
Pip: A sermon about perception as the hinge point of a relationship — and it's part of a 260-chapter journey through the New Testament.
Mara: One chapter at a time. There's more ahead — we'll see what the next one surfaces.
Faith in Every Chapter — New Testament Sermon Series
This sermon is part of a journey through all 260 chapters of the New Testament, exploring the message of faith in each one.
Introduction: A Sermon That Keeps Going
Matthew chapter 5 begins what is commonly called the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus goes up a mountain, sits down, and begins to teach His disciples, with crowds listening nearby. His sermon continues through Matthew chapters 6 and 7.
That makes it a sermon that keeps going for three chapters. But in another sense, it is a never-ending sermon, because generation after generation continues to read it, discuss it, and discover new ways to apply it to life.
Jesus covers an extraordinary range of subjects. He talks about our attitudes, our behaviour, our relationships, our words, our thoughts, our enemies, our religious practices, and our understanding of God’s requirements.
One way to understand this chapter is to put its teachings into lists.
Today, we will make three lists:
The behaviour areas Jesus mentioned.
The punishments or consequences Jesus mentioned.
The rewards and blessings Jesus mentioned.
These lists will help us see just how much Jesus covered in a single chapter.
We should remember that some of Jesus’ statements are direct promises, some are warnings, and some use vivid language to make a point. We must read them in their context rather than assuming that every statement describes an automatic consequence in every situation.
List One: What Behaviour Areas Did Jesus Mention?
Matthew 5 contains teachings about many different areas of human behaviour. Here is a list of the main ones.
1. Our attitudes towards life
Jesus begins with the Beatitudes, describing the people who are blessed in God’s eyes.
He mentions:
The poor in spirit.
Those who mourn.
The meek.
Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
The merciful.
The pure in heart.
The peacemakers.
Those persecuted for righteousness.
These descriptions challenge the world’s usual idea of success. The world often celebrates power, wealth, popularity, and self-confidence. Jesus begins by speaking about humility, mercy, righteousness, peace, and dependence on God.
The behaviour area: Our attitudes, values, and inner character.
2. How we respond to persecution
Jesus tells His followers that they may be insulted, persecuted, and falsely accused because of Him.
He does not tell them that faithful people will always be popular. Instead, He teaches them to remain faithful even when doing what is right comes at a cost.
The behaviour area: How we respond when people oppose us for our faith or our commitment to what is right.
3. Our influence on other people
Jesus says His followers are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.
Salt and light are useful because they make a difference. Jesus expects His followers to live in a way that benefits others and points them towards God.
He says that people should see their good works and glorify their Father in heaven.
The behaviour area: Our example, influence, and responsibility to others.
4. Our attitude towards God’s commandments
Jesus says He has not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets but to fulfil them.
He warns against treating God’s commandments as unimportant and teaches that righteousness must go deeper than merely appearing religious.
The behaviour area: Our obedience to God and our understanding of what righteousness means.
5. Anger and insults
Jesus moves beyond the outward act of murder and examines the anger and contempt that can lie behind destructive behaviour.
He warns against insulting others and says that reconciliation should be taken seriously. If we remember that someone has something against us, we should seek reconciliation rather than simply continuing with religious activity as if nothing is wrong.
The behaviour area: Anger, contempt, insults, and unresolved conflict.
6. Sexual desire and adultery
Jesus moves beyond the outward act of adultery to the intentions of the heart. He warns against looking at another person lustfully.
He then uses strong, figurative language about removing an eye or cutting off a hand if it causes someone to sin. His point is the seriousness of sin and the need to take decisive action against temptation, not that people should physically injure themselves.
The behaviour area: Sexual desire, faithfulness, and the choices we make to avoid temptation.
7. Marriage and divorce
Jesus teaches about the seriousness of marriage and warns against treating divorce casually.
His teaching belongs in a wider biblical discussion about marriage, divorce, and human responsibility. It should not be used to tell someone to remain in an abusive or dangerous situation.
The behaviour area: Marriage, faithfulness, and the responsibilities involved in relationships.
8. Keeping our promises
Jesus teaches about oaths and says that our ordinary speech should be trustworthy.
He tells His listeners to let their “Yes” mean yes and their “No” mean no.
In other words, we should not need elaborate promises to persuade people that we are telling the truth.
The behaviour area: Honesty, reliability, and the way we use our words.
9. Retaliation
Jesus challenges the desire to get even.
He mentions turning the other cheek, giving more than what is demanded, going the extra mile, and being willing to give to someone who asks.
These examples challenge the instinct to respond to every injury with another injury. They call for generosity and a refusal to let revenge control our lives.
The behaviour area: Retaliation, generosity, and how we respond when someone takes advantage of us.
10. Loving our enemies
Jesus tells His followers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them.
This is one of the most demanding teachings in the chapter. Loving an enemy does not mean pretending that wrongdoing is acceptable or abandoning appropriate boundaries. It means refusing to make hatred and revenge our guiding principles.
The behaviour area: Our treatment of enemies and people who mistreat us.
The first list in summary
Jesus has already covered a remarkable number of subjects:
Attitudes and character.
Persecution.
Influence on others.
Obedience to God.
Anger and insults.
Sexual desire and adultery.
Marriage and divorce.
Honesty and promises.
Retaliation.
Loving our enemies.
And that is only the first chapter of His three-chapter sermon!
Jesus is not content with changing a person’s public appearance. He wants to change the heart from which behaviour comes.
List Two: What Punishments or Consequences Did Jesus Mention?
Our second list looks at the warnings in Matthew 5.
This list needs a little care. Jesus uses different kinds of warnings: some refer to human courts, some to God’s judgment, and some to the seriousness of spiritual consequences. We should not treat them all as identical or assume that Jesus is giving a precise timetable of punishments.
1. Being in danger of judgment
In Matthew 5:21–22, Jesus refers to judgment in connection with murder and then warns about anger, insults, and contempt.
He mentions judgment, the council, and the fire of hell.
His warning is that the sin beneath outward behaviour matters to God. A person cannot claim to be righteous merely because they have avoided the most extreme outward offence while continuing to despise other people.
2. Being answerable to a court
Jesus mentions a person being liable to judgment and being brought before a council.
These references connect with the legal and religious institutions familiar to His listeners. They show that wrongdoing can have consequences within human society as well as before God.
Jesus’ larger point is that we should take anger and contempt seriously before they grow into more destructive behaviour.
3. The danger of hell
Jesus refers to hell in Matthew 5:22 and again in verse 29, using the warning of being thrown into hell.
In verse 29, He connects the warning with the need to take sin seriously and avoid what leads us into it.
This is a warning about the gravity of sin and divine judgment. The dramatic language about the eye and hand is intended to communicate urgency, not to instruct people to mutilate themselves.
4. Being thrown into prison
In Matthew 5:25–26, Jesus tells His listeners to settle matters with an opponent quickly, before the dispute reaches the judge.
He describes the possibility of being handed over to a judge, then an officer, and being put in prison. He adds that the person will not get out until the last penny has been paid.
The immediate illustration concerns the danger of allowing a dispute to escalate. It also reinforces the urgency of resolving matters before the consequences become more severe.
5. The danger of adultery
Jesus warns that looking at someone lustfully is adultery in the heart.
The consequence He emphasizes is the seriousness of sin and its connection with judgment. He follows this with the warning about hell and the need to remove sources of temptation from one’s life.
He is teaching that private intentions matter, even when other people cannot see them.
6. The danger of an unfaithful marriage
In Matthew 5:31–32, Jesus discusses divorce and adultery.
He warns that divorce can have serious moral consequences and that a careless approach to marriage can affect other people deeply.
This teaching must be considered alongside the wider New Testament discussion of marriage and divorce. It should not be used to blame victims of abuse or prevent people from seeking safety.
7. The consequences of false or unreliable speech
Jesus warns against making oaths to guarantee that we are telling the truth.
He teaches that our words should be reliable without needing to invoke heaven, earth, Jerusalem, or our own heads as guarantees.
The consequence is not expressed as a specific sentence or punishment in this passage. Instead, Jesus exposes the danger of a way of speaking that tries to make unreliable words sound trustworthy.
8. The consequences of retaliation
Jesus challenges the principle of repaying injury with injury.
He does not list a particular punishment for retaliation in this section. Instead, He shows that the desire to get even is not the standard His followers should live by.
The warning is implicit: revenge can perpetuate conflict rather than resolve it.
9. The consequences of failing to love others
Jesus contrasts loving our neighbours with the familiar attitude of loving one’s friends while hating one’s enemies.
He calls His followers to a higher standard: to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them.
Again, He does not give a separate sentence for failing to do this. His teaching shows that hatred and partiality fall short of the character of the Father.
The second list in summary
The warnings and consequences in Matthew 5 include:
Judgment for wrongdoing.
Accountability before human courts or councils.
The danger of hell.
Prison and the need to settle disputes.
The seriousness of sin in the heart.
The consequences associated with adultery and divorce.
The danger of dishonest or unreliable speech.
The destructive potential of retaliation.
The failure to reflect God’s love in our treatment of enemies.
Notice something important: Jesus does not spend the entire chapter threatening people. His warnings are part of a much larger teaching about the kind of people we should become.
He warns because behaviour matters. Our choices affect our relationships, our communities, and our standing before God.
List Three: What Rewards and Blessings Did Jesus Mention?
Now we come to the third list.
Matthew 5 begins with a series of blessings. Jesus also speaks about rewards for faithfulness and uses images of light, salt, and righteousness to describe the good that can come from a life lived for God.
1. The kingdom of heaven
Jesus says the poor in spirit are blessed because theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
He also gives the same promise to those persecuted for righteousness.
The kingdom of heaven is not merely a prize to be collected at the end of life. It is central to Jesus’ message about God’s reign and the life of those who belong to Him.
2. Comfort for those who mourn
Jesus says those who mourn will be comforted.
This is a promise of God’s care and future restoration. It does not mean that faithful people will never grieve or that every sorrow will disappear immediately.
It means grief does not have the final word in God’s purposes.
3. Inheriting the earth
Jesus says the meek will inherit the earth.
Meekness is not the same as weakness. It describes a posture that does not depend on arrogance, aggression, or the need to dominate others.
Jesus turns ordinary ideas of power upside down: the meek, rather than the ruthless, are promised an inheritance.
4. Being filled with righteousness
Jesus says those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled.
He describes people who deeply desire what is right and who long for God’s justice and goodness to prevail.
The reward is not simply material success. It is the satisfaction of a desire for righteousness that God promises to fulfil.
5. Receiving mercy
Jesus says the merciful will receive mercy.
Mercy means responding to the needs and failures of others with compassion rather than simply looking for an opportunity to condemn them.
This blessing fits naturally with Jesus’ later teaching about loving enemies. He calls His followers to show the kind of mercy they themselves need.
6. Seeing God
Jesus says the pure in heart will see God.
This points to a life marked by sincerity and inner integrity rather than a merely religious appearance.
Jesus is interested not only in what other people see but also in the motives and desires that shape our actions.
7. Being called children of God
Jesus says peacemakers will be called children of God.
Peacemaking is more than avoiding arguments. It involves working towards reconciliation, seeking what is right, and refusing to make hostility worse.
Jesus presents peacemakers as people who reflect the character of their heavenly Father.
8. A great reward in heaven
Jesus tells those who are persecuted for righteousness that they should rejoice because their reward in heaven is great.
He connects their experience with the prophets who were persecuted before them.
This does not mean persecution is pleasant or that suffering should be sought out. It means that suffering for faithfulness does not make a person’s life worthless in God’s eyes.
9. The reward of being salt and light
Jesus describes His followers as the salt of the earth and the light of the world.
He does not attach a specific payment to these images. Rather, He shows the value of a life that preserves what is good, brings light into darkness, and points others towards God.
When people see good works and glorify the Father, the influence of that life has served a purpose beyond personal recognition.
10. Greatness in the kingdom
In Matthew 5:19, Jesus speaks about those who practise and teach God’s commandments being called great in the kingdom of heaven.
His point is that what we teach and how we live should agree. We should not encourage others to obey while treating obedience as unimportant ourselves.
The third list in summary
The blessings and rewards Jesus mentions include:
The kingdom of heaven.
Comfort for those who mourn.
Inheriting the earth.
Being filled with righteousness.
Receiving mercy.
Seeing God.
Being called children of God.
A great reward in heaven for faithfulness under persecution.
The opportunity to influence others as salt and light.
Greatness in the kingdom through practising and teaching God’s commandments.
These rewards are not all the same kind. Some describe God’s promised future, some describe a relationship with Him, and others describe the purpose and influence of a faithful life.
Jesus is showing His listeners that the values of God’s kingdom are very different from the values that often dominate human society.
What Do the Three Lists Teach Us?
Let us bring the lists together.
The first list shows us the areas of behaviour Jesus addresses.
The second list shows us the warnings and consequences He associates with wrongdoing.
The third list shows us the blessings and rewards associated with God’s kingdom and a life of faithfulness.
Together, they give us a useful way to examine our lives.
We can ask three questions:
First: What needs to change?
Do we need to become more merciful? Do we need to control our anger? Do we need to be more honest? Do we need to stop seeking revenge? Do we need to take our thoughts and intentions more seriously?
Second: What should we take seriously?
Jesus warns us that our behaviour is not insignificant. Anger can damage relationships. Lust can distort the way we view people. Dishonesty undermines trust. Revenge can perpetuate conflict. Religious appearance cannot replace a changed heart.
Third: What kind of life should we pursue?
Jesus points us towards humility, mercy, purity of heart, peacemaking, righteousness, faithfulness, and love.
These are not simply items on a religious checklist. They describe the kind of character Jesus wants His followers to develop.
Is Jesus Giving Us a List of Rules to Earn Heaven?
There is a question we should ask before we finish.
If Jesus has given us so many instructions, are we supposed to obey every one perfectly in order to earn our place in heaven?
Matthew 5 does not present righteousness as a matter of outward rule-keeping alone. Jesus repeatedly moves from outward actions to the heart. He wants more than people who avoid certain acts while harbouring hatred, dishonesty, lust, or contempt within themselves.
The chapter should also be read within the larger story of the Gospel. Jesus is announcing God’s kingdom and calling people to a transformed life. Christian faith understands obedience as a response to God, not merely a way of earning His love by accumulating good behaviour.
That does not make Jesus’ instructions unimportant. It makes them more searching. We cannot simply ask, “Have I avoided breaking the obvious rules?” We must also ask, “What is happening in my heart, and what kind of person am I becoming?”
The three lists are not a way to reduce Jesus’ sermon to a simple formula. They are a way to help us see its breadth and take its message seriously.
Conclusion: A Sermon That Never Stops Speaking
Matthew 5 is full of subjects. Jesus speaks about attitudes, persecution, influence, commandments, anger, insults, sexual desire, marriage, promises, retaliation, and love for enemies.
He warns about judgment, hell, prison, and the seriousness of wrongdoing. He also promises the kingdom of heaven, comfort, an inheritance, mercy, the sight of God, and a great reward in heaven.
And this is only Matthew chapter 5.
The Sermon on the Mount continues through chapters 6 and 7. Jesus will go on to discuss giving, prayer, forgiveness, possessions, worry, judging others, and the importance of putting His words into practice.
Perhaps that is why Matthew 5 can be called “The Never Ending Sermon.” We can read it in a few minutes, but applying it to our lives is a lifelong task.
Every time we face a difficult relationship, we can remember Jesus’ teaching about reconciliation. Every time we are tempted to retaliate, we can remember His call to love our enemies. Every time we are tempted to care more about appearances than character, we can remember that Jesus looks at the heart.
The challenge is not simply to admire the sermon. It is to allow it to examine us.
So let us keep the three lists in mind:
Behaviour: What does Jesus want us to change?
Consequences: What does Jesus warn us to take seriously?
Rewards: What blessings and values does Jesus place before us?
The more carefully we read this chapter, the more we discover that Jesus is not merely giving us information. He is calling us to a different way of life.
And the sermon keeps going.
Continue the journey
The next chapter is Matthew 6, where Jesus continues His sermon by teaching about giving, prayer, forgiveness, treasures in heaven, and worry.
Our journey through the 260 chapters of the New Testament continues, one chapter at a time, exploring the message of faith in every chapter.
Faith in Every Chapter — New Testament Sermon Series
This sermon is part of a journey through all 260 chapters of the New Testament, exploring the message of faith in each one.
What made Jesus an effective preacher?
If you wanted to become a good preacher, where would you begin?
Would you study public speaking? Would you learn how to hold an audience’s attention, prepare interesting stories, or develop a powerful speaking voice? Would you find a suitable location, advertise your meetings, and try to attract a crowd?
Those things might help. But Matthew 4 shows us that Jesus began his ministry with something much deeper.
Before he began preaching publicly, Jesus spent time fasting in the wilderness. He faced temptation and remained faithful to his Father. When he began his ministry, he moved to a different location, proclaimed a message about the kingdom of heaven, called people to repent, invited disciples to follow him, and healed those who were suffering.
Jesus did not simply stand before people and deliver a speech. He prepared himself, proclaimed a message, called people to follow him, and demonstrated God’s compassion through his actions.
Matthew 4 gives us a picture of what made his ministry so powerful.
I want to explore nine lessons from this chapter, especially for anyone who wants to communicate a spiritual message, teach the Bible, or help other people discover what faith means in their lives.
1. Jesus prepared himself before beginning his ministry
Matthew 4 begins with Jesus being led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
This happened after Jesus had been baptised in Matthew 3. Before his public ministry developed, he entered a period of testing.
Matthew 4:2 tells us that Jesus fasted for forty days and forty nights and was hungry.
Imagine the physical experience of that period. Jesus was alone in the wilderness, without the ordinary comforts of daily life. He was hungry, and he faced a direct challenge to his obedience to God.
We sometimes imagine that a person becomes ready for ministry simply by deciding to begin. But Matthew’s account shows Jesus entering a period of preparation and testing before the ministry described later in the chapter.
Fasting was part of that experience.
Fasting appears throughout the Bible as a practice associated with seeking God, prayer, repentance, and particular spiritual purposes. It can help people set aside ordinary distractions and give focused attention to God.
However, we should be careful not to turn Jesus’ forty-day fast into a requirement that every preacher must imitate. Matthew does not say that every person entering ministry must fast for forty days. Jesus’ experience was unique, and prolonged fasting can be medically dangerous.
The broader lesson is that spiritual work deserves serious preparation.
If you want to teach the Bible, take time to study it. If you want to write a Christian book, do the research. If you want to preach, think carefully about the message you are going to deliver. Pray for wisdom and examine your own motives.
Do not assume that enthusiasm alone is enough.
A person may have a genuine desire to help others but still need time to develop their understanding, strengthen their character, and learn how to communicate responsibly.
Jesus’ preparation reminds us that what happens before the public work matters.
A good spiritual message is not simply something we produce when we stand in front of an audience. It is something we prepare ourselves to communicate faithfully.
2. Jesus spent time alone and faced temptation
Jesus’ time in the wilderness was not merely a period of physical preparation. It was also a time of spiritual testing.
Matthew 4 describes three temptations.
First, the devil challenged Jesus to turn stones into bread. Jesus responded by quoting Scripture: people do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
Second, the devil tempted Jesus to throw himself down from the temple, using Scripture to suggest that God would protect him. Jesus refused to put God to the test.
Third, the devil offered Jesus the kingdoms of the world in exchange for worshipping him. Jesus rejected the offer and declared that God alone was to be worshipped and served.
These temptations challenged Jesus in different ways. They involved physical need, the misuse of religious claims, and the temptation to gain power through disobedience.
Jesus resisted them.
Notice that Jesus did not answer by trying to impress the devil with his speaking ability. He answered by remaining faithful to God’s word and refusing to abandon his mission.
This has an important application for anyone who wants to become a good preacher or spiritual teacher.
There are temptations associated with ministry that have little to do with the content of a sermon.
A preacher may be tempted to say whatever makes people applaud. A writer may be tempted to exaggerate a claim because it will attract more readers. A teacher may be tempted to use a Bible verse out of context because it supports an argument. Someone who begins with a desire to serve others may gradually become more concerned with money, recognition, or personal influence.
These temptations can be subtle.
We might tell ourselves that we are simply being practical or that a small compromise will help us reach a larger audience.
But Jesus’ example reminds us that the way we pursue a spiritual goal matters just as much as the goal itself.
We should not abandon truth to become popular. We should not misuse Scripture to make our arguments sound more powerful. And we should not sacrifice our integrity in pursuit of success.
Jesus also shows us the value of knowing Scripture well enough to use it faithfully. His answers came from God’s word, and he did not allow the devil to manipulate that word into something contrary to God’s purposes.
Before we try to influence other people spiritually, we need to pay attention to the temptations that could influence us.
3. Jesus was willing to move to a new location
Matthew 4:12 tells us that when Jesus heard John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee.
Verse 13 says that he left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum, by the Sea of Galilee.
Matthew connects this move with Isaiah’s prophecy concerning the people living in darkness who would see a great light.
This is an interesting part of the chapter because Jesus’ ministry did not begin with him remaining permanently in the place where he had grown up.
He moved.
The Bible does not give us every practical consideration behind his choice of location, but Matthew shows that his move was significant to the unfolding of his ministry.
Capernaum became an important base for much of Jesus’ work in Galilee.
There is a lesson here for anyone who wants to communicate a message.
Sometimes we need to reconsider where we are working and how we are reaching people.
Perhaps the place where we began is no longer the best place for the next stage of our work. Perhaps a different community needs to hear our message. Perhaps we need to change our approach, explore a new opportunity, or make our work more accessible to the people we hope to serve.
Moving does not always mean changing countries or towns. It can mean changing the platform we use, the audience we reach, or the way we organise our work.
For example, a person who has been teaching a small group may begin writing articles so that more people can benefit. Someone who has been preaching in person may begin recording messages for people who cannot attend. A writer may discover that publishing online allows their work to reach people in different parts of the world.
The principle is not that we should continually move in search of success. Jesus’ move had a particular place in his mission.
Rather, we should be willing to consider whether our current circumstances are suitable for the work we believe we are called to do.
Sometimes we become so attached to the place where we started that we fail to recognise the possibilities available elsewhere.
A good ministry needs a message, but it also needs to consider where and how that message can reach people.
4. Jesus preached the kingdom of heaven
Matthew 4:17 gives us a concise description of Jesus’ central message:
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
This is the first summary of Jesus’ preaching in Matthew’s Gospel.
Notice that Jesus was not simply offering general advice about how to live a happier life. He was announcing the arrival of God’s kingdom.
The kingdom of heaven is a major theme in Matthew. It refers to God’s reign and authority, and to the way his purposes are being brought about through Jesus.
Jesus’ message invited people to recognise that God was doing something significant and that they needed to respond.
This is an important distinction for anyone who wants to communicate a spiritual message.
There is nothing wrong with offering practical advice. People need help with relationships, money, work, family life, and personal difficulties. A sermon can address those matters in a useful and meaningful way.
But Christian preaching should connect practical life with the larger story of God, his purposes, and the teachings of Jesus.
If we only offer advice, our message can become indistinguishable from ordinary self-help.
A Christian message can certainly help people live better lives, but it also asks deeper questions.
What does it mean to live under God’s authority? What does Jesus teach us about the way we should treat other people? How should we respond to God’s invitation? What kind of life is consistent with the kingdom he proclaimed?
Jesus’ message had a clear centre. He announced God’s kingdom and called people to respond.
This gives us a useful test when preparing a sermon.
Ask yourself: am I simply offering my own opinions, or am I helping people understand what the Bible says about God and how they should respond?
A sermon may contain stories, illustrations, practical advice, and personal observations. But those elements should support the biblical message rather than replace it.
Jesus did not merely give people something interesting to think about. He announced what God was doing and called them to respond.
5. Jesus preached repentance
Jesus’ message in Matthew 4:17 included a direct call to repentance.
Repentance means more than feeling sorry about something we have done. It involves a change of mind and direction, turning away from sin and towards God.
This was consistent with the message John the Baptist had preached in Matthew 3. John had prepared people for the coming of Jesus by calling them to repentance.
Now Jesus continued that call.
Why was repentance important?
Because Jesus was not asking people simply to agree with an idea. He was calling them into a different relationship with God and a different way of living.
A person may hear a sermon about forgiveness and agree that forgiveness is important. But the message becomes personally significant when they begin to consider whom they need to forgive.
Someone may hear a sermon about honesty and agree with every word. But repentance begins when they recognise a dishonest practice in their own life and decide to change it.
Someone may hear about loving their neighbour and admire the principle. But the real question is whether they begin treating the people around them differently.
Jesus’ preaching called for a response.
This also challenges those of us who write or preach.
It is possible to prepare a sermon that is interesting, well organised, and full of useful information without helping the reader consider what they should do differently.
We should not try to control people’s responses, and we should not assume that every listener needs the same application. But we can ask thoughtful questions that help people examine their lives.
For example:
What is this passage asking me to reconsider?
Is there a habit or attitude I need to change?
Is there someone I need to treat differently?
What would it look like to put this teaching into practice?
These questions help connect the message with everyday life.
Jesus’ call to repentance reminds us that a spiritual message should not remain an abstract idea. It should invite people to consider their own response to God.
A good sermon does not merely explain a truth. It helps people consider what that truth means for the way they live.
6. Jesus called disciples, not just an audience
Matthew 4:18–22 tells us that Jesus called Simon Peter and his brother Andrew while they were casting a net into the sea. He invited them to follow him, promising to make them fishers of people.
Then he called James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were working with their father in a boat.
Matthew tells us that they left their nets and followed Jesus.
This is a remarkable development in the chapter.
Jesus was not interested only in gathering people to hear him speak. He began forming a group of people who would follow him, learn from him, and participate in his mission.
There is a difference between having an audience and making disciples.
An audience listens to a message. A disciple learns to live according to the teachings and example of a teacher.
Of course, listening can be an important first step. But Jesus’ ministry involved more than delivering speeches to crowds. He invited people into an ongoing relationship of learning and following.
This has important implications for Christian ministry today.
If you write sermons, you might ask whether your articles simply give readers information or also help them grow in their understanding of Jesus.
If you teach a Bible study, you might ask whether the group is learning how to put the teaching into practice.
If you share your faith with a friend, you might consider how you can encourage their questions, help them understand Scripture, and support them as they learn.
The aim is not to make people dependent on us. Jesus called people to follow him, not to build their lives around the personality of a human preacher.
That is an important safeguard for anyone in ministry.
A good spiritual teacher points people towards Jesus and helps them develop their own understanding of his teaching.
Jesus also called ordinary working people. Peter, Andrew, James, and John were fishermen. Matthew does not introduce them as famous religious scholars or powerful public figures.
Their lives were changed through their response to Jesus’ call.
This reminds us that spiritual growth is not limited to people with impressive qualifications or public reputations.
People can learn, grow, and serve God from many different backgrounds.
The purpose of Christian teaching is not simply to gather listeners. It is to help people become followers of Jesus.
7. Jesus taught in synagogues and proclaimed the good news
Matthew 4:23 summarises Jesus’ activity throughout Galilee. He taught in the synagogues, proclaimed the good news of the kingdom, and healed every disease and sickness among the people.
Teaching was an important part of his ministry.
Jesus did not simply announce that the kingdom of heaven had come near and leave people to work out what that meant. He explained, taught, and helped people understand.
This is an essential lesson for anyone who wants to become a good preacher.
A sermon needs more than a title and an interesting opening. It needs to explain the biblical passage and help people understand its meaning.
A preacher may have a wonderful idea, but the audience still needs to see how that idea arises from Scripture.
That means reading the passage carefully, explaining the context, identifying the central message, and showing how it relates to life today.
Jesus taught in synagogues, places where Jewish people gathered for worship and instruction. His ministry was rooted in the world of Scripture and the religious life of his people, even as his message announced the arrival of God’s kingdom through him.
He also proclaimed good news.
The phrase matters. Jesus’ message was not simply a list of demands or a warning about what people were doing wrong. It was an announcement of what God was doing.
The kingdom of heaven had come near. God’s purposes were being revealed through Jesus, and people were being invited to respond.
This is a useful balance for Christian preaching.
We need to explain what people should change, but we should also explain the hope and good news that give those changes their meaning.
We need to teach what Scripture says, but we should also help people see why it matters.
A good sermon should leave readers with a clearer understanding of the passage and a better sense of how to respond to it.
Teach the Bible clearly, explain why it matters, and help people understand the good news at the heart of the message.
8. Jesus healed people and demonstrated compassion
Matthew 4:23–24 tells us that Jesus healed people suffering from various diseases and pains, including those described as demon-possessed, having seizures, and being paralysed.
People brought the sick to him, and Matthew reports that he healed them.
His ministry was not limited to words.
Jesus proclaimed the kingdom, taught people, called disciples, and responded to human suffering.
The healings demonstrated his authority and compassion and formed an important part of his ministry in Matthew’s Gospel.
This is significant because people are not simply minds waiting to receive information. They are human beings with physical needs, emotional struggles, family responsibilities, and painful circumstances.
A spiritual message should not treat those realities as unimportant.
If we are teaching about love, we should consider how love is demonstrated in practice. If we are teaching about compassion, we should think about how we respond to people who are struggling. If we are teaching about serving others, we should ask what service might look like in our own communities.
We should also be careful not to promise that everyone who has faith will be physically healed. Matthew describes the healings associated with Jesus’ ministry; the chapter does not give us grounds to guarantee that every sick person today will receive the same outcome.
But we can learn from the way Jesus’ ministry combined proclamation with action.
He did not treat human suffering as an irrelevant distraction from spiritual matters.
For Christians today, practical care might involve visiting someone who is lonely, supporting a family in difficulty, helping a person find appropriate assistance, listening to someone who is grieving, or contributing to the work of organisations that care for people in need.
These actions do not replace preaching or teaching. They show that spiritual concerns should influence the way we treat people.
Jesus’ ministry reminds us that the message of God’s kingdom has implications for the whole of life.
A good spiritual message should not make us less attentive to human suffering. It should help us respond to people with greater compassion.
9. Jesus attracted a crowd, but he also had a purpose
Matthew 4:25 tells us that large crowds followed Jesus from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and the region beyond the Jordan.
The chapter ends with a picture of people coming from a wide area to follow him.
It would be easy to conclude that Jesus was a successful preacher simply because he attracted large crowds.
But the chapter has shown us much more than that.
Jesus prepared for ministry. He resisted temptation. He moved to a new location. He proclaimed the kingdom of heaven. He called people to repent. He invited disciples to follow him. He taught in synagogues, proclaimed good news, and healed the sick.
The crowd was part of a much larger ministry.
This is an important lesson for those who want to communicate a spiritual message today.
It is natural to want people to read our articles, attend our meetings, or listen to our sermons. If we believe a message can help people, we want it to reach them.
But numbers alone do not tell us whether our work is faithful or valuable.
A large audience does not automatically prove that a preacher is teaching the truth. A small audience does not automatically mean that the message lacks value.
Jesus’ example encourages us to consider what we are trying to achieve.
Are we simply trying to attract attention, or are we helping people understand God’s word?
Are we collecting followers for ourselves, or are we pointing people towards Jesus?
Are we concerned only with delivering a message, or are we also concerned with how that message affects the way people live?
We should make sensible efforts to communicate well. We can improve our writing, organise our sermons, use suitable technology, and make our work easier to find.
But these things should support the purpose of our ministry.
The goal is not merely to become popular. It is to communicate faithfully and help people respond to the message.
Do not measure the value of a spiritual message only by how many people hear it. Consider what it teaches them and where it points them.
A prayer for anyone preparing to share a spiritual message
If you want to teach the Bible, preach a sermon, write a Christian book, or help others understand their faith, you might begin with this prayer.
“God, help me prepare myself before I try to teach other people.
“Give me the discipline to study your word, the patience to learn, and the humility to recognise what I do not yet understand.
“Help me resist the temptation to seek popularity at the expense of truth. Keep me from using Scripture carelessly or making promises that your word does not make.
“Give me wisdom to recognise when I need to change my approach, my methods, or the way I communicate.
“Help me keep the message of Jesus at the centre of my work. Teach me to explain Scripture clearly, proclaim the good news faithfully, and invite people to consider how they should respond.
“Help me remember that people are more than an audience. They have needs, struggles, questions, and hopes. Give me compassion for them and show me practical ways to serve.
“Keep me from making my own reputation the purpose of my ministry. Help me point people towards Jesus rather than towards myself.
“Whether I speak to a crowd or write for one reader, help me be faithful to the work in front of me.
“Amen.”
Conclusion: Prepare yourself, proclaim the message, and serve people
Matthew 4 gives us a remarkable introduction to the public ministry of Jesus.
Before his ministry developed, Jesus fasted in the wilderness and faced temptation. He remained faithful to his Father. He moved to Galilee and made Capernaum an important base for his work.
He proclaimed that the kingdom of heaven had come near and called people to repent. He invited fishermen to become his disciples. He taught in synagogues, proclaimed the good news, and healed those who were suffering.
These were not separate activities without a common purpose. Together, they show us the character of his ministry.
Jesus was prepared for the work. He remained faithful under pressure. He had a clear message. He called people to follow him. He taught them, and he responded to human suffering.
For anyone who wants to communicate a spiritual message, Matthew 4 offers a pattern worth considering.
First, prepare yourself. Study Scripture, pray for wisdom, and take your own spiritual character seriously.
Second, resist the temptation to compromise your integrity for popularity, money, or recognition.
Third, be willing to reconsider where and how you work so that your message can reach the people you hope to serve.
Fourth, keep the message clear. Explain what Scripture teaches, proclaim the good news of God’s kingdom, and invite people to consider their response.
Fifth, remember that teaching is not simply about delivering information. Help people grow as followers of Jesus, and allow the message to shape the way you treat others.
Finally, do not forget compassion. The people who hear your message are human beings with real needs. Spiritual teaching should encourage us to care about them, not merely to speak to them.
We may never preach to crowds like the ones described at the end of Matthew 4. We may never have the influence or authority that Jesus had.
But we can learn from the way he prepared, the message he proclaimed, the disciples he called, and the compassion he demonstrated.
Jesus shows us that good preaching involves more than speaking well. It involves preparation, faithfulness, a clear message, a willingness to teach, and a genuine concern for people.
If you want to become a better preacher, teacher, or Christian writer, begin there.
Prepare yourself. Remain faithful to Scripture. Keep Jesus at the centre. Help people understand the message. And remember that the purpose is not simply to have something to say.
It is to communicate something worth hearing, something grounded in God’s word, and something that can help people follow Jesus.
