Thru the Bible in a Year
Today’s reading, Matthew 18–20, brings us to a pivotal transition in Jesus’ ministry. He is leaving Galilee—the region where so many of His miracles and teachings took place—and setting His face toward Judea, where the cross awaits. Yet before He arrives at Calvary, Jesus gives His followers some of the richest lessons on humility, forgiveness, faithfulness, and service. Each chapter in this section unfolds like a step along the road to Jerusalem, shaping the hearts of those who would follow Him then—and now.
The Humility of the Kingdom (Matthew 18)
Matthew 18 opens with the disciples asking a question that reveals more about their hearts than they realized: “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” (v.1). Pride was still whispering to them, even as they walked beside the King of Glory. Jesus responded not with rebuke but with a living illustration—He placed a child in their midst. This simple act turned their notions of greatness upside down. In the kingdom of heaven, greatness is measured not by power, but by humility; not by status, but by surrender.
Jesus then warned them about the danger of causing one of these “little ones” to stumble. His words were not only about children, but about all who approach God with childlike faith. The measure of our maturity in Christ is not how many people follow us, but how faithfully we protect and encourage those who are learning to follow Him.
Later in the chapter, Jesus addressed another common challenge in relationships—conflict. His instructions for dealing with someone who sins against us (vv.15–20) lay the foundation for Christian community: confrontation with grace, correction with truth, and restoration with love. These principles of church discipline are not about punishment; they are about reconciliation. Christ’s goal is always restoration, not rejection.
Finally, Peter raised the question that still lingers in every human heart: “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother?” (v.21). Jesus’ response—“seventy times seven”—doesn’t set a limit but removes one. Through the parable of the unforgiving servant, He shows that those who have received mercy must live as channels of mercy. Forgiveness is not weakness; it is the highest reflection of divine grace. As Corrie ten Boom once said, “Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hatred.”
Faithfulness in Relationships and Riches (Matthew 19)
As Jesus enters Judea, His teaching becomes more direct, touching on some of life’s most sensitive and personal areas. The Pharisees approached Him with a question about divorce, trying to trap Him in controversy. But Jesus lifted the conversation to a higher moral and spiritual plane. He reminded them that marriage was God’s creation, not man’s convenience. It was designed for permanence and faithfulness, a covenant rooted in divine intention: “What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate” (v.6).
His words remain countercultural even today. In a world that prizes personal freedom and self-fulfillment, Jesus calls us to covenant faithfulness. While Moses permitted divorce because of hardened hearts, Jesus pointed to a better way—the soft heart of reconciliation. He also honored those who remain single for the sake of the kingdom, affirming that devotion to God transcends any earthly status.
Soon after, parents brought their children to Jesus for blessing. The disciples, misunderstanding His priorities, tried to turn them away. But Christ rebuked them and said, “Let the little children come to Me… for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (v.14). What a reminder that the heart most ready for the kingdom is not the proud, the powerful, or the learned—but the trusting and humble.
Then came the rich young ruler—a man who wanted eternal life but on his own terms. He asked Jesus what good deed he must do to inherit life. Jesus, perceiving his heart, challenged him to sell his possessions and give to the poor. The man’s sorrowful departure exposed the true issue: covetousness. Wealth, though not evil, can subtly become a rival god. Jesus warned, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” Yet He followed with hope: “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
This passage reminds us that faith is not about what we keep—it’s about what we’re willing to surrender.
Serving with Grace and Joy (Matthew 20)
The next lesson Jesus gives concerns service and reward. Peter, still wrestling with the cost of discipleship, asked, “We have left everything to follow You! What then will there be for us?” (v.27). Jesus promised eternal reward—thrones, inheritance, and everlasting life—but He also told a parable that reframed their understanding. The laborers in the vineyard (vv.1–16) each received the same wage, no matter how long they worked. This was not about fairness in human terms but grace in divine terms. In God’s kingdom, the first may be last and the last first—not because of merit, but because of mercy.
As the journey continued, Jesus again predicted His death and resurrection. The shadow of the cross grew longer with each step, yet His followers still misunderstood His mission. The mother of James and John approached Him, asking for her sons to sit at His right and left hand in the kingdom. Jesus gently corrected her, teaching that greatness in His kingdom would come not through privilege, but through servanthood: “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.”
The road to glory always passes through humility. Even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve—and to give His life as a ransom for many (v.28). This is the model for every believer. True greatness is found not in authority but in availability, not in position but in compassion.
The chapter closes with a final miracle: two blind men crying out for mercy as Jesus left Jericho. The crowd tried to silence them, but Jesus stopped, touched their eyes, and restored their sight. Their healing serves as a living parable of spiritual vision—the kind of sight the disciples, and we, need to understand the heart of Christ. Those who truly “see” Jesus are those who follow Him on the road, even when that road leads to sacrifice.
Walking the Road with Jesus
These chapters together form a powerful summary of discipleship. Jesus calls us to humility in our relationships, faithfulness in our commitments, generosity with our possessions, and servanthood in our ambitions. He teaches us to see through the illusions of pride, wealth, and status, and to measure our lives by the light of eternity.
Each encounter—from the child to the rich young ruler, from the pleading mother to the blind beggars—reveals a different dimension of the kingdom of God. The disciples were being prepared for a kingdom not of power but of grace, not of position but of compassion. And so are we.
As you read these chapters, let the Holy Spirit speak to your heart about where pride still hides, where forgiveness is needed, where faith must deepen, and where service can shine. Following Jesus is not merely believing in His miracles but walking in His manner. The closer we get to the cross, the clearer we see what it means to belong to Him completely.
Thank you for journeying through God’s Word today. May your heart remain teachable like the child in Jesus’ arms, steadfast like Peter restored by grace, and generous like the servant who trusts his Master’s reward. Remember that God’s Word will not return void—it will accomplish what He desires and achieve the purpose for which He sent it (Isaiah 55:11).
Continue to walk “Thru the Bible in a Year,” knowing that every step taken with Jesus brings you closer to the heart of God and the joy of eternal life.
For further study on humility, service, and discipleship, read “The Upside-Down Kingdom: Learning to Lead Like Jesus” at Bible.org .
FEEL FREE TO COMMENT AND SHARE