Lesson 5141

 (Lesson 5141)(02-28-26) Matthew 14:14-21 

   “And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick. And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals. But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. He said, Bring them hither to me. And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.” 

 

   In today’s quote, following his withdrawal to a desert place, Jesus is moved with compassion to heal the sick and subsequently performed a massive miracle by multiplying five loaves of bread and two small fishes into enough food to feed the hunger of a multitude exceeding five thousand people. ~ 

Lesson 5140

 (Lesson 5140)(02-27-26) Matthew 14:1-13 

   “At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus, And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him. For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife. For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her. And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod. Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask. And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger. And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her. And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison. And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother. And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus. When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.” 

 

   Today’s quote illustrates the importance of John the Baptist to the coming of Jesus and the moral conflict surrounding his execution by Herod Antipas. John’s death served as a message for Jesus to travel to another place. ~ 

Lesson 5139

(Lesson 5139)(02-26-26) Matthew 13:52-58 

   “Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old. And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence. And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.” 

    In today’s quote, Jesus told his followers that a person who truly understands God’s teachings is like a homeowner who reaches into an old chest and pulls out both valuable old and new things. That means we should continue to value long-standing principles and traditions, so long as they don’t go contrary to God’s will, while being open and receptive to the new law of faith for forgiveness of sin.  

   When Jesus went back to his hometown of Nazareth to teach, the people there couldn’t get past the fact that they knew him as a regular kid. They say, "Isn't this the carpenter’s son? We know his mom and brothers." Because they thought he was "just one of them," they refused to believe he was the Son of God. Because the people in his hometown lacked faith and were offended by him, Jesus didn't perform many miracles there. ~