Calvary Chapel Pastor's Blog

Matthew 22:36–40 (ESV): 36 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" 37 And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On ...

Matthew 22:14 (ESV): "14 For many are called, but few are chosen." Salvation is an invitation given to all people of all nations. Only those who respond are chosen.Our response must be per the invitation.We can't come to God any way we want but we must come through His Son Jesus Christ.Those who do will be given the right attire for the banquet. Th...

Matthew 21:13 (ESV): "13 He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you make it a den of robbers."  God's house is a house of worship, a house of fellowship, a house of learning, but more so than all of that it is to be called a house of prayer. One of the greatest privileges we have as believers is...

Matthew 19:28–30 (ESV): "28 Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for...

Matthew 18:12–14 (ESV): "12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 13 And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. 14 So it ...

Matthew 17:25–27 (ESV): And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?" 26 And when he said, "From others," Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are free. 27 However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and ...

Matthew 17:4–5 (ESV): "4 And Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah." 5 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; l...

Matthew 16:23 (ESV): "23 But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man."  Being rebuked by Jesus is never fun but how grateful we are that He does lest we walk in deception and end up wrecking our lives. Oh, how happy is t...

Matthew 16:13–15 (ESV): "13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" 14 And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"  A relations...

Matthew 16:5–8 (ESV):"5 When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. 6 Jesus said to them, "Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." 7 And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, "We brought no bread." 8 But Jesus, aware of this, said, "O you of little faith,...

Matthew 15:12–14 (ESV): 12 Then the disciples came and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?" 13 He answered, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. 14 Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit."&...

Matthew 14:17–18 (ESV): "17 They said to him, "We have only five loaves here and two fish." 18 And he said, "Bring them here to me." Jesus doesn't need a lot to work but He does need something. If He can take five loaves and two fish imagine what He can do with a little bit of your time and talents. All He needs is your willingness to off...

Matthew 13:23 (ESV): 23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."  Every farmer knows that the condition of the soil will determine the fruit of the seed. That is why they take great care t...

Matthew 12:38–39 (ESV): "38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, "Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you." 39 But he answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah." The world wants to be continually wowed by God through sign...

Matthew 11:28–30 (ESV): "28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."  Religion kills! It places burdens upon the shoulders of man...

Matthew 11:2–3 (ESV): "2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, "Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?" Christians are called to walk by faith, not by sight. That means when we see our world or the one around us falling apart we don't doubt God....

Matthew 10:34 (ESV): "34 "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword." The Gospel message is not a message that brings world peace but personal peace. It is foolishness to the Gentiles and a stumbling block to the Jews (1 Cor 1:23). It will divide families, friends, and nations. Unive...

Matthew 10:16–18 (ESV): "16 "Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Ge...

Matthew 10:1 (ESV): "And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction." Jesus is an equal opportunity employer. He does not discriminate but calls all kinds of people to Himself and then equips them with authority to complete their assignment. Wh...

Matthew 9:36 (ESV): "36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." Jesus sees the world through the lens of compassion. His heart breaks for helpless people who are wandering through life with no hope. This moves Him to act in radical ways to provide a way of esc...