Man’s Rules are not God’s Law – Matthew 12

Ephesians 4:21-32 calls believers to live transformed lives in Christ. It urges them to put off their old, sinful nature and embrace a new life of righteousness and holiness. Key themes include speaking truthfully, controlling anger, working honestly, and using words to uplift others.

Pastor Chris Parker

Bro. Kade Ritsema

by Pastor Chris Parker

Jesus had been traveling and performing miracles, which gained him widespread attention. This passage is set in Capernaum, a city on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, which became something of a home base for Jesus’ ministry. After performing miracles and teaching in other towns, he returns to Capernaum, possibly to rest or spend time with his close followers. However, word spreads quickly that he is back, and people gather in large numbers, filling the house and even blocking the doorway, all eager to hear him teach.

Salvation in Luke 18:26 emphasizes the impossibility of human efforts to achieve eternal life. The disciples’ question, “Who then can be saved?” reflects the realization that neither wealth nor good deeds can secure salvation. This underscores the need for God’s grace, as what is impossible for humans is possible with God. Human effort, status, or possessions are futile in the pursuit of salvation; it is entirely an act of divine intervention.