Surprise of the Day 

Tax Collectors were barred from worshiping in synagogues or the temple.  The apostle Matthew was a tax collector.

Matthew 9:9 

Fact of the Day

In the Talmud Nedarim 3:4, it declares rabbis are to excommunicate anyone who becomes a tax collector.  Matthew sacrificed his religion for money.  But Jesus saw great potential in Matthew.  In fact, Matthew wrote the first book in the New Testament of the Bible. And he knew the Old Testament prophecies about Jesus better than most, for he quoted them all through his book.  The Talmud was a Jewish commentary of the Law of Moses.  It contained hundreds of new laws which Jesus called “the traditions of the elders” and which the Jewish leaders honored above the Law of Moses.

 

Oops of the Day 

Jesus called the tax collector Matthew to follow him even though they had just met.

Matthew 9:9  –  Matthew 4:13  –  Matthew 9:1

Fact of the Day

No!  Jesus had come to “his own city” which was Capernaum.  Matthew had his import-export tax booth set up in Capernaum.  Archaeologists believe Capernaum had a population of 1000-1500.  Everyone knew everyone else.  Jesus and Matthew knew each other before.

 

Surprise of the Day 

Jesus was a mind reader!

Matthew 9:4  –  Mark 2:8  –   Luke 5:22

Fact of the Day

• Matthew 9:4 – Jesus knew what they were thinking.
• Mark 2:8 – Instantly, Jesus knew in his spirit that they were thinking like this to themselves. 
• Luke 5:22 – But Jesus knew what they were thinking. 

 

Oops of the Day 

Peter (AKA Cephas) was not married.  Therefore, priests and popes should not marry.

Matthew 8:14-15  –  I Corinthians 9:5

Fact of the Day

No!  Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law – his wife’s mother. Also, he traveled and preached with his wife.

 

Oops of the Day 

The Law of Moses is still in effect today.

Book of Leviticus – Matthew 5:18  –  Colossians 2:14 – Hebrews chap. 8-9 – Hebrews 14:16  –  John 19:28-30  

Fact of the Day

No! There were 600 commandments in the Law of Moses, not just the famous 10.  This old covenant required stoning people to death for adultery, offering blood sacrifices, donating 1/3 of their income to God, etc., etc.  Jesus nailed them to the cross. Jesus said not one dot of the Law of Moses would end until all is fulfilled.  Jesus fulfilled them all.  How?  He actually kept the Law of Moses perfectly and never sin.  And he fulfilled every prophecy about him in the Old Testament.  

When someone is in shock, the worst thing you can give them is a drink; it almost always causes immediate death.  Our creator and savior knew this. His body was in shock on the cross.  The last thing he did was to ask for a drink, then announce “It is finished” – “It is completed” – ‘It is fulfilled”. 

 

Oops of the Day 

Demon possession has always existed and is as common today as it was during Bible times.

Matthew 4:24  –  Matthew 9:32  –   Matthew 10:1  –  Matthew 12:22  –  Matthew 17:18  –  Mark 5:1-20  –  Luke 4:33-36  –  Luke 10:17  –  Acts 6:16-18

Fact of the Day

No! Examine the Bible.  God allowed demons to reveal themselves only during the lifetime of Jesus and his apostles.  Jesus ordered them out to show his power over Satan. 

Notice, he did not do exorcisms and beg them to come out.  They were afraid of him.  He ordered them.  He commanded them.  He never begged them.

There is no mention of demon possession in any writings after the time of the apostles including the “Apostolic Fathers” or “Eusebius’ Ecclesiastical History.”  Demons having access to our world ceased by the end of the New Testament.

 

Surprise of the Day

Why were James and John, two of Jesus’ apostles, his closest friends?

Matthew 4:21-22  –  Matthew 27:56  –  Mark 16:40  –  John 19:25

Fact of the Day

James and John were sons of Zebedee.  At the cross later was the mother of the sons of Zebedee. Her name was Salome, and she was “the sister of Mary”.  James and John had known Jesus all their life.  They were cousins! Mary and Joseph were their aunt and uncle.

 

Oops of the Day

Everyone has to walk through the valley of the shadow of death when they die.

Matthew 4:16  –  Psalm 23:4

Fact of the Day

No!  For the Christian, light has come to the shadow of death.  Zechariah, John the Baptist’s father, said so when he prophesied the soon-coming Messiah – Jesus.

 

Oops of the Day

Jesus just happened to be walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, saw these two strangers – Peter and Andrew – and told them to follow him.  So they dropped everything and did.  Such faith!

Matthew 4:13 & 18-20  –  John 1:44  –   Luke 5:10

Fact of the Day

No! Peter and Andrew lived in Bethsaida.  By then, Jesus had moved from Nazareth to Capernaum, a fishing town just a little way up the coast from Bethsaida.  James and John (who were related to Jesus) were their fishing partners.