Calvary Chapel Pastor's Blog

Matthew 9:11–13 (ESV): "11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" 12 But when he heard it, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I cam...

Matthew 8:25-27 (ESV): 25 And they went and woke him, saying, "Save us, Lord; we are perishing." 26 And he said to them, "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?" Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 And the men marveled, saying, "What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?...

Matthew 7:11 (ESV): "11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!"The goodness of God is displayed in the fact that we can ask, seek, and knock with the expectation of God giving us good things. He will not give us that which i...

Matthew 7:3-5 (ESV): "3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly...

Matthew 6:33 (ESV): "33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." The necessities of life can become our focus but Jesus tells us not to worry about these things. Our focus should be the kingdom of God and His righteousness. When we get this right we will have nothing to worry about. J...

Matthew 6:19–21 (ESV): "19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also...

Matthew 6:14–15 (ESV): "14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." Forgiveness is an important manifestation of the Spirit of God at work in the hearts of believers. To be forgiven by God...

Matthew 5:22–24 (ESV): "23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First, be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift." Reconciliation is an important part of any relationship. It goes hand in hand w...

Matthew 5:19–20 (ESV): "20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." The ticket for entrance into heaven is perfect righteousness. No one will enter without it. Thankfully Jesus is giving out free tickets! Jesus said He didn't come to abolish the law but to...

Matthew 5:10–12 (ESV): "10 "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted t...

Matthew 5:9 (ESV): "9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." Every child in the Lord's family is a middle child. That means we are to be peacemakers! May we do all that we can to bring and live at peace with all men. The seventh Beatitude relates to our commission by God to be peacemakers. What Jesus means by this...

Matthew 5:8 (ESV): "8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." One of the most offensive lifestyles to God is that of a poser. A person who says they have an undivided heart towards God and say they are free from sexual immorality and yet they are living the very opposite. God is most offended by such a one as this (Isa 1:10-17...

Matthew 5:7 (ESV): "7 "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy." God demands that His people be merciful because He is a merciful God. That means we should never desire that people to get what they deserve but to obtain the mercy we have received. A.W. Tozer reminds us "If God had not been merciful there would have been no incar...

Matthew 5:6 (ESV): "6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." Desire is the engine that drives the heart of man. Whatever a person desires most is what he will pursue. May righteousness be the overwhelming desire of our hearts!The fourth Beatitude Jesus speaks about is the blessedness of the pe...

Matthew 5:5 (ESV): "5 "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." The most powerful men in the world can be the most prideful. The godly man ought never to let pride well up as a result of the power they've received. As uncle Ben told the young Peter Parker, "with great power comes great responsibility." The third Beatitude that ...

Matthew 5:4 (ESV): "4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." The only way a person can truly see their need for Jesus is through the lens of Godly sorrow. It is this state of mourning that leads a person to repentance that leads to salvation. It is the only comfort from this state of grief (2 Cor 7:10-14). The second Beati...

Matthew 5:3 (ESV): "3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son (Heb 1:1-2). After Jesus called His disciples to Himself He gave the most extraordinary sermon ever given. The Se...

Matthew 4:18–20 (ESV): "18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him." It's one thing to...

Matthew 4:1;11 (ESV): "1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil…11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him. Success in temptation comes through the Spirit and Word of God. The Spirit strengthens us while the Word of God builds faith in us. Don't rely on yourself t...

Matthew 3:7–10 (ESV): "7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father,' for I tell you, God is able from...