Down an Unfamiliar Road

YOU MAY BE ONE OF THE CHOSEN

I read this story by a lady named Sharon from New York, I’m sure you will enjoy it and I pray that it will motivate you to increase your spiritual strength and faith.

Have you ever been in a situation where you feel alone, lost, darkness all around and thought God had forgotten you existed? We all experience times like these. I will never forget my own a few years ago while in South Africa visiting my parents. My ten-day vacation was coming to an end and I expected to be home in the States within the three days. Unfortunately, the staff of the airline I was to travel on went on strike, resulting in no flights coming to or leaving South Africa.

Initially, I was not concerned. Surely, I thought, this will resolve itself within the next three days. But no, the demands of the strikers were not met. It went on for weeks. Panic set in because I needed to get back to the States as work and family were waiting for me. I prayed and prayed, begging God to intervene in the strike so that I could fly home. Daily I called the airlines, but nothing changed.

Finally, after two long weeks of striking, a few flights left South Africa. But by this time there was such a backlog of passengers camped out at the airport that it would be weeks longer before I would be able to leave. Still, I could not wait any longer. I had to get home. I presented my problem to the Lord once more. And, in faith, took action on my request to Him.

My parents took me to the airport, which was a good two-hour drive. Not knowing what to expect when I got there, I planned to join those sleeping on the floor hoping to get a flight out. We arrived at the airport and it brought my stomach to my throat. The sight of the throngs was more than I could bear. That’s when my mom said, “Let’s just turn around and return home.” My dad, on the other hand, is one of those old-time believers in God’s amazing work in the worst of situations said, “I think she should just step out in faith and see what happens.”

We parked miles away and fought the crowd to the terminal. People were sleeping, standing, camping out in the terminal. None of the lines were moving. I had no idea where to go to even begin to put my name on a waiting list. And then God intervened, as He always does in such circumstances. There I was standing with my huge suitcase, in the middle of the crowd, totally dazed, not knowing where to turn, when one of the airport attendees suddenly reached for me and asked, “Where are you going?” “New York!” I said. He said quickly, “Come with me.” He picked up my suitcase and escorted me right to the front of the line, leaving everyone else yelling and cursing at me. He waited with me at the counter and helped me get on a flight. The flight had one seat open to New York.

After checking in, I went back to find my parents, who were still in shock at what they had just witnessed. My dad, tears running down his face, smiled and hugged me, saying, “Well? Once again, all you had to do was step out in faith, making your requests known to Almighty God and He answered you. But you had to act on your faith. Why do we doubt God?”

Looking back over the whole situation, my faith in God increased tremendously. What happened? Why was I chosen out of the crowd? I will never know why, but I can only say that God took this situation to prove to me that He knows who I am, that He alone can work out the toughest challenges in our lives. He knew I had to get home to fulfill commitments in the church. I asked and He answered.

Sharon finishes her story by saying, “There are times when we have to take God at His word when He says He will make a way in the wilderness when there is no way. We have to physically move forward, taking up our baggage, trusting that He is who He says He is. Was the gentleman in the airport who took me out of the crowd an angel? I don’t think so. He was looking in the crowd for someone to put on the flight. God helped him to pick me. We miss out on so many blessings when we say, ‘The situation is impossible.’ We must come to the realization that our God is a God who transcends the impossible. We need to step out in faith, knowing He hears our cry.”

So let me add this note: Whatever you may need from God today, start by asking. Then start thinking about what you need to do to act on your faith that He has heard you. Don’t do it just to check it off your list of things to do, but do it with the expectation that the answer is on its way. Like Sharon, you will be surprised at what mighty things your Mighty God can do. – Dr. Robert R Seyda

To all my precious readers, we will soon be starting another thrilling journey through God’s Word. I am excited about sharing with you the insights God has shared with me through His Holy Spirit and those that I have researched and found in the writings of great scholars of the Bible.

But I would like to ask you this question: If given a choice, what book in the New Testament would you like to study? Let me know as soon as you can. It would be of great interest to me so that I can be guided in future studies.

I will let you know soon what book in the New Testament I have chosen because my research is almost complete. God bless you, especially because of your dedication to and love for His holy Word.

Dr. Robert R Seyda

Nineteenth Century French writer, director, and actor Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, who became famous by his stage name, Molière, was also well-known for the satire he wrote into the script for characters in his plays. In one play, a character named Cynthie finishes her lines with these words: “Vivre sans aimer n’est pas proprement vivre,” which translated is: “To live without loving is not really to live.”¹

It is apparent that Molière discovered a secret that many people today still have not uncovered, and that is: We were born to love because loving is what living is all about. There should be nothing in life that gives us more satisfaction than when we exercise our will to love someone as a parent, sibling, friend, neighbor, workmate, especially our spouse, or out of compassion. The reason why love must be an act of the will is because just saying it does not make it real. It must be shown, demonstrated, acted out, in some way so that the person it is intended for can see it, believe, it, accept it, and respond to it.

What bothers me today, is how so many people have allowed cell phones, I-Pads, Tablets, etc., to become a box in which they live, move, and have their being. They don’t make eye contact anymore, they walk into light posts, trip into shopping mall fountains, even have serious and deadly automobile accidents because their eyes were not on the road. I’ve even seen people in church looking more at their cell phones than at the praise and worship team or the minister as he preaches.

It would be nothing short of heartbreak if any person would end their day without having shown love to at least one person while they are awake, at work, out and about doing their errands, and going through their day. These acts of love are not so much about the giver as it is about the recipient. My mind staggers at the thought of what this world would be like if it wasn’t for God’s love. But God didn’t just say it, He demonstrated it on the cross. So as Cynthie rightly says in Molière’s play: “To live without loving is not really to live.” – Dr. Robert R Seyda

Some years ago a lady told this story about her experience as a child. It has a touching lesson that I hope you enjoy. She grew up knowing she was different and hated it. she was born with a cleft palate, and when she started to go to school, her classmates – who constantly teased her – made it clear to her how she looked to others: a little girl with a misshapen lip, crooked nose, lopsided teeth, and hollow and somewhat garbled speech. She couldn’t even blow up a balloon without holding her nose, and when she bent to drink from a fountain, the water spilled out of her nose. When her schoolmates asked, “What happened to your lip?” She’d tell them that when she was a baby she had fallen and cut it on a piece of glass. Somehow it seemed more acceptable to them that she had suffered an accident than that she was born this way.

By age of seven, she was convinced that no one outside her own family loved or even liked her for who she was. Then she entered the second grade where the teacher was Mrs. Leonard. She never learned her first name was because everybody called her, Mrs. Leonard. She was plump and pretty with chubby arms and shining brown hair and warm dark eyes that smiled even on rare occasions when her mouth did not. Everyone adored her. But none of the students came to love her more than this little girl did.

It happened for a special reason. The time came for the annual “hearing tests” that were given at the school. She was barely able to hear anything out of one ear, and she dreaded revealing that she had yet another problem that would single her out as being even more odd. So she decided to cheat. She had learned to watch other children, so during the group testing, she raised her hand when they did. But the “whisper test” required a different kind of deception: Each child would go to the door of the classroom, turn sideways, close one ear with a finger, and the teacher would whisper something from her desk, which the child would repeat. Then the same thing was done for the other ear. She had discovered in kindergarten that nobody checked to see how tightly the untested ear was being covered, so she decided she would merely pretend to block her good ear.

The lady then tells what happened next: “As usual, I was last, but all through the testing I wondered what Mrs. Leonard might say to me. I knew from previous years that she whispered things like ‘The sky is blue’ or ‘Do you have new shoes?’ When my turn came, I turned my bad ear toward her, plugged up the other ear solidly with my finger, then gently backed my finger away enough to be able to hear. I waited and then the words that God surely put into her mouth, seven words that changed my life forever came into my ear. Mrs. Leonard, the pretty, fragrant teacher I adored, said softly, ‘I wish you were my little girl’”

Sometimes we feel like this lady when she was young. We are not proud of what we look like as a Christian. We have so many obvious faults that sometimes we’re embarrassed to even admit that we are a believer. We don’t like what others are saying about us, but we know they are only telling the truth and we can’t dispute them. And when we go to worship, during prayer time we wonder what God thinks about us and don’t know if He’s even listening to us when we pray. But like this little girl, we may find out that God has been whispering this to us all along, “I’m glad you’re my little child.” – Dr. Robert R Seyda

“If you think education is expensive, try ignorance,” is a popular saying that has been seen on items such as T-shirts, buttons, and bumper stickers. This saying has been quoted by various writers since around June 1974. Then, in July 1974, someone credited this saying to comedy writer and speechwriter Robert Orben.

Then in 1978, Derek Bok, the president of Harvard University received credit for coining this phrase. After that, it became known as “Bok’s Law.” However, the lack of earlier evidence to this claim and the lack of a direct denial made by Bok makes it unlikely that Bok had anything to do with originating this saying. Then in 1997, Andy McIntyre was credited for this saying, but that is also unlikely since several people go by that name.

In fact, this aphorism was first cited in 1903 as: “If education is expensive, ignorance is still more costly.” Then, a 1913 newspaper published an editorial titled “The Cost of Education and the Cost of Ignorance,” stating, “Education is ‘expensive’? In a sense, yes. But ignorance is infinitely more expensive.” Furthermore, a 1923 newspaper feature called, “Tom Sims Says” included “Education is expensive, but it isn’t as expensive as ignorance.”¹

There is reason to believe that all of this was taken from an ancient document that had this maxim: “From the errors of others, a wise man corrects his own.”² But the real factor here is that it is a truism whether it is 100 years old or 1,000 years old. One of my great mentors, Dr. J. Herbert Walker, often said, “Ignorance is expensive,” when he saw a mishap caused by inattention or laziness. One saying that has been very effective in my own life comes from John Maxwell who said: “It’s said that a wise person learns from his mistakes. A wiser one learns from others’ mistakes. But the wisest person of all learns from others’ successes.”³ – Dr. Robert R Seyda

WHEN WEAKNESS CAN BE OUR STRENGTH

I read this story about how our biggest weakness can become our biggest strength. There was a 10-year-old boy who decided to study judo despite the fact that he had lost his left arm in a devastating car accident. The boy began lessons with an old Japanese judo master. The boy was doing well so he couldn’t understand why, after three months of training the master had taught him only one move. “Sensei,” the boy finally asked, “Shouldn’t I be learning more moves?” The master answered, “This one move I know very well, and this is the only move you’ll ever need to know.”

Not quite understanding, but believing in his teacher, the boy kept training. Several months later, the Sensei took the boy to his first tournament. Surprising himself, the boy easily won his first two matches. The third match proved to be more difficult, but after some time, his opponent became impatient and charged; the boy deftly used his one move to win the match. Still amazed by his success, the boy advanced to the finals.

This time, his opponent was bigger, stronger, and more experienced. For a while, the boy appeared to be overmatched. Concerned that the boy might get hurt, the referee called a time-out. He was about to stop the match when Sensei intervened. “No,” Sensei insisted, “Let him continue.” Soon after the match resumed, his opponent made a critical mistake: he dropped his guard. Instantly, the boy used the one move he knew to pin him. The boy had won the match and the tournament. He was the champion.

On the way home, the boy and Sensei reviewed every move in each and every match. Then the boy summoned the courage to ask what was really on his mind. “Sensei, how did I win the tournament with only one arm and one move?” “You won for two reasons,” Sensei answered. “First, you’ve almost mastered one of the most difficult throws in all of judo. And second, the only known defense for that move is for your opponent to grab your left arm.” Since he did not have a left arm, the boy realized that his biggest weakness had become his biggest strength.

The same is true of many who utilized their weakness in a positive way for progress instead of in a negative way for pity. Such is the case with Mariusz Kedzierski is a Polish artist from Świdnica. He uses pencil and paper as a medium to create realistic portraits, and calling him amazing is an understatement. His skill makes him amazing in his own right, but when you take into account that he is an armless artist, it elevates his talent to another level!

NEW TESTAMENT CONTEXTUAL COMMENTARY

by Dr. Robert R. Seyda

GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

SUMMARY OF CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

In finishing this 28th Chapter we have completed our study of Matthew’s Gospel. In this last portion, we find the disciples were sadly gone into hiding after Jesus’ crucifixion while two prominent Jews, who were secret believers in Jesus as the waited Messiah, gave Him a proper burial. Then several women, who had been constant helpers in Jesus’ ministry, were not ashamed of being followers of this prophet of Galilee, and on Sunday morning boldly went to the tomb to where He had been laid on Friday evening, to pay their respects.

As Matthew tells it, while they were on their way, the ground began to shake as an angel of the Lord arrived just in time to roll back the stone so they could see that their Lord was no longer there. The Roman sentries guarding the tomb panicked because the angel’s arrival was like a bolt of lightning, so they ran off. By the time the women arrived, the angel was sitting on the rolled-away stone.

As the women approached, the angel told them not to be afraid because he knew they were there to see Jesus who was crucified. That Jesus was no longer in the tomb because He was alive. The angel even invited them to look inside the tomb to make sure the Messiah was no longer there. After the women saw that the tomb was empty, then the angel told them to hurry back to the city and tell the disciples the good news that the Master had risen from the dead. The angel also told them to tell the disciples that Jesus would meet them back in Galilee just as He had promised.

The women were quick to obey the angel’s command. And although they were breathless because of their encounter with an angel, they took off for the city to tell the disciples what they had just seen and heard. But as they hurried away, they were suddenly confronted by an unusual looking man standing in their path who warmly greeted them. There was something about the way He spoke that immediately convinced them that this was their risen Savior. So they ran toward Him, fell on their knees, touched His feet with their foreheads as a sign of reverence and worship.

However, Jesus had another reason for this encounter. He could see both the fright and amazement in their eyes, so He told them not to be afraid. Then He confirmed what the angel had said, and asked them to go tell the disciples to meet Him in Galilee at a place where they had often gathered before. The women did not hesitate, they started running immediately toward Jerusalem with the exciting good news.

But they were not the only group hurrying rapidly toward the city. Some of the Roman sentries who were guarding the tomb had recovered from their frightening encounter with the angel, and they were also on their way with an urgent message. While the women were intent on finding the disciples, the sentries were equally intent on finding the chief priests with their urgent message. We have been told that when the women told the disciples about Jesus being alive, they were skeptical thinking the women were having hallucinations. Oddly enough, when the sentries told the chief priests about Jesus being alive, they believed it and immediately concocted a story about how Jesus’ disciples had come in the middle of the night and stole His body. Then, to cover up their lie they paid the sentries to tell this story to their Roman commander.

There was a law all Roman soldiers who were given charge of prisoners knew about, that if any one of their prisoners escaped from custody they then would then suffer the consequences intended for that prisoner. But the chief priests knew that these Roman officers could be bribed just as easily as these guards were. On that assurance, the sentries hurried off to tell their false story. By the time Matthew’s gospel was published, this story was still going around among the Jews and Romans.

The disciples recovered from their doubt about Jesus’ resurrection and went back Galilee to the place Jesus was supposed to meet them. And sure enough, He showed up just as He said He would. When some of them saw him, in their amazement they ran to Him and did as the women had done. They fell on their knees and touched His feet with their forehead. Yet, Matthew says, others still had their doubts. But Jesus didn’t let this stand in His way. He had a message for them.

Jesus told them without no uncertainty, now that He had risen from the tomb, that His Father had given Him authority over everything in heaven and on earth. So by that authority, He was sending them out into the world to make disciples of all who believe. And as a sign of their confessed faith, He told them to baptize them with the approval of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Then to instruct them on everything they had heard Him teach. But He also told them that He was not sending them out alone, that He would be with them every step of the way until God’s plan of salvation was carried out.

This is where Matthew’s account ends, but we know from others that Jesus told them to first go back to Jerusalem and way until the Holy Spirit would arrive to empower them, comfort them, and guide them on their way to winning the world to Christ. Then after 40 days being with them, He suddenly was taken up into heaven so that He could take His place at God’s right hand as their mediator. And that is where He is to this very day, awaiting His Father’s signal that it is time to go back and gather all those who believed in Him, whether they are dead or alive, and bring them back to the place that He has been preparing for them to live for eternity.

So, none of us were there to experience His first coming, but we will all be there for His second coming. And in the words of a song written by a young man named Jim Hill, who was studying to be a professional opera singer. But after his conversion, he joined a gospel quartet. Then, not too long afterward, his wife’s mother became gravely ill. He went to the hospital to visit her, and on the way home these words came flooding into his mind:

There is coming a day,
When no heart aches shall come,
No more clouds in the sky,
No more tears to dim the eye,
All is peace forever more,
On that happy golden shore,
What a day, glorious day that will be.

What a day that will be,
When my Jesus I shall see,
And I look upon His face,
The One who saved me by His grace;
When He takes me by the hand,
And leads me through the Promised Land,
What a day, glorious day that will be.

There’ll be no sorrow there,
No more burdens to bear,
No more sickness, no pain,
No more parting over there;
And forever I will be,
With the One who died for me,
What a day, glorious day that will be.

What a day that will be,
When my Jesus I shall see,
And I look upon His face,
The One who saved me by His grace;
When He takes me by the hand,
And leads me through the Promised Land,
What a day, glorious day that will be.

God bless all of you for your dedication and love for the Bible. I pray that the seed that has been sown in your hearts and minds during this journey through Matthew will be anointed by the Holy Spirit and help you grow stronger and wise in being the Christian God wants you to be. – Dr. Robert R Seyda

John Locke (1632-1704), an English philosopher and physician who influenced the thinking of American revolutionaries and whose theories are reflected in the US Declaration of Independence, made this statement in one of his writings: “Can another man perceive that I am conscious of anything when I perceive it not myself? No man’s knowledge here can go beyond his experience.”¹

How true that is, especially of those things yet to come. Locke is making the point that we can never really know what might happen in future circumstance unless we’ve been through it before. Not only that, but each person who goes through the same thing will have their own unique thoughts and feelings.

That’s why it is so amazing when you hear others talk about how people should think or feel when they face certain conditions. One thing I tried never to do when counseling young couples who were about to get married, was to tell them what I felt right before and after I got married. To do so would have been to give them certain expectations that might prove entirely different what really happens.

So the next time someone comes to you and tells you what they are facing, be careful in speculating on what thoughts or feelings they should expect to encounter. It might be best to defer from offering any opinion since you will not be in their shoes. But if you have gone through something similar, when you tell them what you thought or felt, it’s only you. As Locke said, we are all limited what we felt and thought at the time. – Dr. Robert R Seyda

“ALMOST” PANCAKES FOR BREAKFAST

I read this story some time ago and thought you would enjoy it. There was a little six-year-old named Brandon, who decided one Saturday morning to fix his parents some pancakes. He found a big bowl in the kitchen cabinet and a large wooden spoon in the drawer. So he pulled a chair up to the counter and opened the heavy flour canister. As he tried to put some in the bowl he spilled a lot of it on the counter and on the floor. He scooped up some of the flour and put it into the bowl with his hands. Then he mixed in all the milk left in the carton, added some sugar, and when he broke the eggs part of their shells fell into the mix. Meanwhile, a floury trail was being made around the house by his kitten.

By now, Brandon was covered with flour and getting frustrated. He wanted this to be something very special for Mom and Dad, but it was getting very messy. He didn’t know what to do next, whether to put it all into the oven or on the stove (and he didn’t know how the stove worked)! Suddenly he saw his kitten licking from the bowl of mix and reached to push her away, knocking the egg carton to the floor. Frantically he tried to clean up this monumental mess but slipped on the eggs, getting his pajamas white and sticky.

Just then he spotted his Dad standing tall in the doorway. Big crocodile tears welled up in Brandon’s eyes. All he’d wanted to do was something good, but he’d made a terrible mess. He was sure a scolding was coming, maybe even a spanking. But his father smiled as he watched him. Then, walking through the mess, he picked up His crying son, hugged him, and kissed him in a loving way while getting his own pajamas white and sticky in the process.

Sometimes that’s how God deals with us. We try to do something good in life, but it turns into a mess. Our relationships get all sticky or we insult a friend or we can’t stand our job or our health goes sour. Sometimes we just lay there in tears because we can’t think of anything else to do. That’s when God picks us up and loves us and forgives us, even though some of our mess gets all over Him. But just because we might mess up, we can’t stop trying to make some pancakes for God or for others. Sooner or later we’ll get it right, and then they’ll be glad we tried. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to pass on our love to others. Remember this, the day will come when you will not wake up at all, but at least all your family and friends will know you loved them.

NEW TESTAMENT CONTEXTUAL COMMENTARY

by Dr. Robert R. Seyda

GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Part VI

NOTE: In Jewish writings, we find an interesting post-resurrection incident where disciples of Jesus were called in for interrogation to see if they too should suffer the same fate of crucifixion. While we recognize the name of Matthew, the others are not mentioned in Scripture. This could be due to their being part of the 72 that Jesus sent out on a mission.¹ This may also have taken place between the resurrection and ascension of our Lord. It reads as follows:

“Our Rabbis taught: Yeshua had five disciples, Matthai, Nakai, Nezer, Buni and Todah. When Matthai was brought [before the court] he [the interrogator] said to them [the judges], ‘Shall Matthai be executed? Is it not written, “Matthai when shall I come and appear before God?”’² Thereupon they retorted; ‘Yes, Matthai shall be executed, since it is written, “When Matthai when shall he die and his name perish.”’³ When Nakai was brought in he said to them, ‘Shall Nakai be executed? It is not written, “Naki [the innocent] and the righteous slay thou not?”’⁴ ‘Yes,’ was the answer, ‘Nakai shall be executed since it is written, “In secret places does Naki [the innocent slay.”’⁵ When Nezer was brought in, he said, ‘Shall Nezer be executed? Is it not written, “And Nezer [a twig] shall grow forth out of his roots.”’⁶ ‘Yes,’ they said, ‘Nezer shall be executed since it is written, “But thou are cast forth away from thy grave like Nezer [an abhorred offshoot].”’⁷ When Buni was brought in, he said, ‘Shall Buni be executed? Is it not written, “Beni [my son], my first born?”’⁸ ‘Yes,’ they said, ‘Buni shall be executed, since it is written, “Behold I will slay thy first born.”’⁹ And when Todah was brought in, he said to them; ‘Shall Todah be executed? Is it not written, “A psalm for Today [thanksgiving]?”’¹⁰ ‘Yes,’ they answered, ‘Todah shall be executed since it is written, “Whoso offers the sacrifice of Todah [thanksgiving] honors me”¹¹. ¹²

We find in the Babylonian Talmud, the name Nakdimon ben Gurion appears some twelve times.¹³ A British scholar believes that this could be the Nicodemus who came to see Jesus.¹⁴ There is much dispute over the other names, and how they apply to the twelve disciples we know from Scripture. Also, these may have been names of those disciples not counted with the twelve. In any case, we do know that most of them suffered martyrdom to the glory of God!

Also, in a Jewish chronicle that covers the period of 586 BC to 70 AD in Jewish history, there is this testimony of Jesus from a Jewish scholar: “There was at that time one Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a Man, for He was a worker of wonderful works, and a teacher of such men as gladly did hear the truth; and had many disciples, both of the Jews, and also of the Gentiles. This man was Christ, who, after He was accused by the chief Rulers of our Nation, and condemned by Pilate to be crucified, was nevertheless much beloved by them, who loved Him even from the beginning. To these He appeared the third day alive, according as the Prophets by Divine inspiration had told before, as well of this, as also of many other things, which should be done by Him. And even to this day the Christian sect, which took their name from Him, continues.”¹⁵

Their mission is simple, teach others everything they learned from Him. But He is not sending them out unaccompanied. He tells them in an unequivocal manner that He will go with them on every day in every way. It is also permissible to highlight the fact that Jesus said I am with you. This is the same promise that Moses received, “God said, ‘You can do it because I will be with you. This will be the proof that the I AM is sending you’.”¹⁶ And the same assurance was given to Joshua, “Just as I was with Moses, I will be with you. No one will be able to stop you all your life. I will not abandon you. I will never leave you.”¹⁷ Later on, the musical family of Korah expressed the same confidence, “The Lord All-Powerful is with us. The God of Jacob is our place of safety.”¹⁸ And the same promise came to God’s people through the prophet Isaiah, “Don’t worry—I with you. Don’t be afraid—I am your God. I will make you strong and help you. I will support you with my right hand that brings victory.”¹⁹

The Aramaic Version ends the Gospel of Matthew with, “Amen,” as does the 1550 Stephanus Greek New Testament Text. However, Luther’s German Bible does not add the “Amen.” And the 1940 version of the Bulgarian Bible, puts the “Amen” in brackets. So it appears that where “Amen” does appear in the text, it was the blessing and confirmation pronounced by the scribe or copier. In any case, we all can say “Amen” to the wonderful Gospel that Matthew shares with us. Of course, the greatest witness to His being alive and in existence as the Son of God, the Messiah, and Redeemer, is that He lives in the hearts of millions who revere and worship Him as their Lord and Savior.

Deeply did He love us, so that we could love Him. Willingly did He suffer for us, so that by His wounds we are healed. Unselfishly did He die for us, so that we can be freed from sin’s slavery. Victoriously did He rise from death to life again, so that we can have eternal life. Urgently did He ascend to His Father in heaven, so that the Holy Spirit could come to spread the Good News throughout the world. Patiently has He waited for all, who will, to come to Him for salvation, so that no one will be lost and die without hope. And suddenly will He return to gather us to Himself so we can be where He is for eternity. No one like Him was ever born on earth before, and no one like Him has ever existed on earth since He left. That’s why we can say with certainly, His is the greatest life ever lived.

AMEN

To all my dedicated readers and students. While there were never any plans to issues tests or quizzes on our study of Matthew, your input and comments are very valuable. Therefore, I ask you to seriously consider helping me to improve this study by offering your thoughts on the follow questions:

What are some of the things you learned about Jesus and His teachings that you did not know before?

Do you feel that you have now become more educated about the life and ministry of Jesus, and has it strengthened your faith in Him?

What suggestions do you have that would help me make this commentary clearer, easier to read, and more understandable for the average Bible reader?

Thank you from the bottom of my heart,

Dr. Robert R Seyda