Matthew 15 & 16 | The Wolfe Notes

Welcome to our 2025 growth journey. This year, we're getting to know Jesus better by walking with Him through the gospels and putting into practice what He tells us to do. Journey with us, fellow disciples, by downloading your February calendar. On it, we pace the reading and suggest daily activities, but this year it also comes with a blank calendar so you can plan your own pace. Find all our notes, from this year and past years, at the Faith Food tab. Welcome, friends, we're so glad you're journeying with us. Let's grow together!

These Wolfe Notes Cover:

1. Matthew 15: Washing of Hands. Canaanite Woman. Feeding Multitudes.
1. Overview: General Topic, Key Themes, and Summary
2. Thoughts, Questions, and Connections
3. Exploration On feeding multitudes.
4. Reflections On storytelling.
2. Matthew 16: Signs for Pharisees. Warnings for Disciples. Peter the Rock.
1. Overview: General Topic, Key Themes, and Summary
2. Thoughts, Questions, and Connections
3. Exploration Of the Keys to the Kingdom.
4. Reflections On letting go of ourselves.
3. Respond to God's instruction and warnings.

Matthew 15

Overview

General Topic

Jesus challenges traditional practices and thought patterns. Encourages fellowship.

Key Themes

Tradition. Faith. Fellowship.

Summary

The Pharisees again try to point out flaws in the practices of Jesus's followers. Jesus turns it around on them. He points out that the traditions the Pharisees hold others accountable to are not the eternal laws of the Father. The disciples worry that Jesus is angering the Pharisees. But, Jesus tells them that God's ways will stand; the rest will not. Jesus then goes into Gentile territory to gather a lost sheep. This Canaanite woman demonstrates profound faith as she intreats Jesus to heal her daughter. The disciples watch Jesus demolish traditional cultural prejudices. Jesus continues on to Galilee where He miraculously heals and feeds multitudes.

Thoughts, Questions, and Connections

? Denotes a question, * a personal thought, and ! a connection. Researched answers are in italics. *R communicates that in-depth research follows.

On God's Law Versus Tradition (Matthew 15:1-20)

1. The Pharisees criticize Jesus' disciples for not washing their hands before a meal, as is the custom.
1. *These Pharisees keep trying to land a "gotcha" on Jesus, don't they?
2. Jesus turns it around on them, asking why they follow their own traditions while refusing God's.
1. ? Where am I guilty of this? What routine or habit do I insist on doing, and perhaps insist others do as well, that I believe is good but is not actually an eternal law, while I blatantly defy a law of God's? Are my routines and habits becoming idols? Are they leading me, and the others I influence, toward or away from God's eternal law?
3. You guide people to dishonor their parents so your own pockets may be lined. (Matthew 15:5)
1. ? How were you to honor your parents? 
1.  As mentioned here, not to curse them. So, to wish them well and not bad-mouth them. Matthew 15:4
2. Through obedience? The struggle for me with obedience toward your parents is if your parents are not God-honoring, in some cases you should honor God's law above your parents' law. So, perhaps the best way you can honor your parents is by living a life that honors God, because indirectly that would also honor them. Ephesians 6:2-3
4. Isaiah had it right! Your words honor me, but your actions do not. You make up your own rules and ignore mine. (Isaiah 29:13 & Matthew 15:8-9)
5. It's what comes out of your mouth that makes you unclean, not what goes in it. (Matthew 15:10-11)
6. The disciples warned Jesus that He angered the Pharisees. But Jesus, unconcerned, explained that only God's ways remain. He warned them to stay way from the Pharisees' teachings because following them would lead to darkness. (Matthew 15:12-14)
1. * This could be an argument for predestination.
1. All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. Matthew 11:27 KJV (See our notes for more references.)
2. And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people. Isaiah 51:16 KJV (See cross references.)
3. ..."The man who planted the good seed in the field is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed are all of God's children who belong to the kingdom. The weeds  are those people who belong to the Evil One. Matthew 13:38 NCV
2. *And/or perhaps it applies to ideas, plans, etc. 
1. If the LORD doesn't build the house, the builders are working for nothing. If the LORD doesn't guard the city, the guards are watching for nothing. Psalm 127:1 NCV (See also Isaiah 2:22 and Proverbs 3:5-6)
2. The grass dies and the flowers fall, but the word of our God will live forever. Isaiah 40:8 NCV (See also Isaiah 46:10)
3. ! For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed. Isaiah 9:16 KJV
7. Failing to participate in traditions won't tarnish you, but what you say and do can. Your words and deeds are an outpouring of what's in your heart.
1. O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. Matthew 12:34 KJV 
2. Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life. Proverbs 4:23 
3. More than anything else, a person's mind is evil and cannot be healed. Who can understand it? Jeremiah 17:9 NCV
4. I hope my words and thoughts please you. LORD, you are my Rock, the one who saves me. Psalm 19:14 NCV
5. Do what God's teaching says; when you only listen and do nothing, you are fooling yourselves. James 1:22 NCV

On the Canaanite Woman (Matthew 15:21-28)

1. Jesus went to a Gentile area and was followed by a woman shouting, begging Him to free her daughter from demonic possession. (Matthew 15:21-22)
1. ! But I tell you, on the Judgment Day it will be better for Tyre and Sidon than for you. Matthew 11:22 NCV *It's interesting that this place, Tyre and Sidon, is exactly where Jesus goes to meet the Canaanite woman. 
2. ? Did He go there specifically for this meeting? To gather a lost sheep? (See Matthew 15:24.)
3. ! This story is one Blaine Eldredge chooses to retell in The Paradise King. 187-192
2. His disciples asked Jesus to tell her to leave. 
3. And He responded by saying that God sent Him only to the lost sheep of Israel. He told the lady it was not fair to give the children's food to the dogs. 
4. But the woman knew that wasn't right and responded by saying that even the dogs receive scraps from the table.
5. Jesus commended her faith and healed her daughter.

On Feeding Multitudes (Matthew 15:29-39)

1. Jesus continued to heal more people. All who witnessed were amazed and praised the God of Israel.
1. ! That Jesus went on a hill has both practical, all can see, and spiritual, closer to Heaven applications. (See research on mountains.)
2. ! He was still on the Gentile side of Lake Galilee. The woman was just the first of many healings. Jesus came to show the disciples that He will save both Jew and Gentile. - Blaine Eldredge, p. 192
2. Jesus had the disciples feed over 4,000 using 7 loaves of bread and a few small fish.
1. ! They stayed for three days listening to Jesus teach. How hungry they were for His message! Also, it's interesting that they stayed for three days given the pattern of importance around three in the Bible: three nights in the belly of a whale, three nights in the tomb, God is three in one, etc.
   
2. *I love that Jesus asked the disciples to do the impossible and they responded as we would: with sarcasm, or bewilderment. (Matthew 15:33)
3. ? Why is this story told and retold? How are the disciples surprised each time? *R

Exploration

On feeding the multitudes.

General Information

• In total, this similar story is told 6 times. 
• The feeding of the 5,000 occurs in every gospel.
• The feeding of the 4,000 occurs in Matthew and Mark.
• The 4,000 were a Gentile audience; the 5,000 were Jews. 
• Numbers hold significance in Jewish understanding.
• At the feeding of the 5,000, people (1,000) of the Torah (x5), aka Jews, were fed with the law of Moses (2) and there were enough leftovers for the (12) tribes of Israel. Let's look at the numerical symbolism:
• 5 = The law, the Torah, or the first five books of the Bible.
• 1,000 = A group of people.
• 5 x 1,000 = People of the Torah, which holds true with the story.
• 2 = The two tablets of Moses, the number of fish in this story.
• 12 = The 12 Tribes of Israel, 12 baskets remained for the 12 tribes.
• At the feeding of the 4,000, pagan (4) people (x1000) received complete (7) satisfaction with enough leftover to feed the (7) pagan nations.
• 4 = The four corners of the earth and also paganism.
• 4 x 1,000 = A group of Gentiles, or pagans. 
• 7 = The seven pagan nations of Canaan (Joshua 3:10), which is how many baskets remained in the second story. 
• 7 = Completeness, perfection, exoneration, healing, fulfillment, the number of loaves in the story.

Why It's Repeated

• To remind us of the banquet awaiting us in heaven. (See Revelation 19:9.)
• To foreshadow the Lord's supper, or communion and anticipates the breaking of the bread. (See Matthew 26:26-28)
• To emphasize the importance of sharing. (See Hebrews 13:16.)
• To prove that Jesus is God. (See John 4:48.)
• *To show that Jesus came to nourish all people.

Ideas to Ponder

• Economic Need. The "sheep without a shepherd" statement makes you think not just of their spiritual need, but also their economic one. These citizens had a king who did not ensure they had comfortable economic standing. Many of them often went hungry.
• Spiritual Need. At the feeding  of the multitudes, they are there because Jesus is teaching. That is what is most important to them: to hear what Jesus has to say. So much so that when Jesus fed the four thousand Gentiles, they stayed for three days without food. (Matthew 15:32)
• Community Need. Jesus had them sit together. It's easy to imagine them discussing what He just taught. Jesus provided an opportunity for fellowship - for both Jews and Gentiles.
• Service Need. Jesus performed the miracle, but the disciples did all the work. Likely they were just as hungry, if not more so, than the crowd. But Jesus had them do the work, and not just any work, impossible work. Having recently returned from ministering to the lost sheep of Israel, the disciples would not have had the money or the food. Though tired, hungry, and poor, Jesus still required the disciples to provide beyond what they believed they could.
• Partnership Need. Bread throughout the Bible symbolizes God's provision which we get through Jesus. (See Matthew 6:11; John 6:35; Isaiah 55:1-2.) Fish represent a vast array of things from men (I will make you fishers of men) to preparation (Jonah waiting in the whale) to judgment (Sorting the fish caught in that day). In every combination of bread and fish, what we see is: Behold! We have a partnership with Jesus. We must work together.

*Thoughts: There are indeed many lessons to be learned from feeding the multitudes. Perhaps too many to recount. And if I list all the lessons I learned, my guess would be that you would have some to add. My overall takeaway from this story, and its obvious importance, is that God cares deeply for all of us. He feeds us both physically and spiritually. His design for us is to work with Him by demonstrating complete faith in Him - even in the face of impossible odds. Then, to use that faith to serve others.

Source: 

• Asking Better Questions of the Bible. Marty Solomon. pp. 24-25
• "Feeding a multitude", by Bob Bowman at Brethren.org
• Matthew 13:52 commentaries at Bible Hub.
• The Paradise King. Blaine Eldredge. pp. 187-192
• "What does the Number 7 Mean in the Bible and Why is it Important?" by Dolores Smyth at Christianity.com

Reflections

Stories stay with you. From the same story, everyone leaves with a unique message. Five people reading the same story will leave with five different messages. What's more, the messages we learn differ every time we read it. If I read a story today, my interpretation will be different than it was five years ago, and both interpretations would differ from one I will have in five years. Moment to moment, even, my interpretation could change.

We miss experiencing the fullness of God if we don't include the perspectives of other people when we seek to understand scripture. We miss the fullness of God if we read scripture once believing we have gathered all it has to offer. Both of these habits limit the Living Word part of scripture. Instead, we plant our feet in "old", rusty understanding and forsake the "new", vibrant way God is working. We miss how Jesus works right now both in our own lives and the lives of those around us.

Take the Canaanite. She was a woman with a need that she was determined to fill. She knew Jesus could meet her need and nothing was going to stop her. So many things could have stopped her, like:

1. Her cultural understanding that she is rejected by Jews and therefore had no right to their Messiah.
2. Jesus ignoring her.
3. The disciples asking Jesus to send her away.
4. Jesus declaring that He was there to save only the lost sheep of Israel.
5. Jesus calling her a dog, metaphorically.

But, she withstood all of these deterrents and kept going. Because of her determination, she learned that persistence pays off, that she is a lost sheep of Israel, that she has a shepherd, and that she was right about who she believed Him to be.

While Jesus' actions were overtly for her good, the disciples, hopefully, learned from her experience, too. If they were ready to understand it, they learned that a Canaanite woman is considered a lost sheep of Israel. If Jesus values her, then they need to learn to value others like her, too.

We have lessons to learn from this story, too:

1. We are all lost sheep. 
2. God rewards persistence. 
3. God is not always gentle in the way He treats us. He knows what we need and how we'll respond to His guidance.
4. Our experiences are not exclusively for us. God can use what we go through to reach others.

The Canaanite woman's story is a primary example of the power of lived experiences, NEW, combined with the eternal laws, OLD, that results in a story with lasting impact. 

Our stories are not our own. They are not meant to be experienced once and forgotten. Our stories are meant to be shared so that our own lives and the lives of others can be continually nourished and nurtured by the Master storyteller.

Matthew 16

Overview

General Topic

The Pharisees ask for a sign. Jesus forewarns His disciples of what is coming.

Key Themes

 Belief. Submission. Prophecy.

Summary

The Pharisees and Sadducees request a sign. Jesus says the only sign they will see is that of Jonah, since they are blinded to what is so obviously happening in front of them. He warns the disciples against listening to the religious people and scolds them for not thinking in terms of the Kingdom. Peter admits that Jesus is the Son of the Living God, but refuses to believe that Jesus will soon die and be resurrected. Jesus scolds Peter for longing for his own desires instead of submitting to the will of the Father. Then, Jesus forewarns the disciples that the coming of the Son of Man in His kingdom will be soon.

Thoughts, Questions, and Connections

? Denotes a question, * a personal thought, and ! a connection. Researched answers are in italics.

On Wanting a Sign (Matthew 16:1-4)

1. The religious people test Jesus again, this time asking that He provides a sign. Frustrated, He tells them that since they cannot see the obvious, they will have to wait for the sign of Jonah
1. ! For just as Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish for three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. Matthew 12:40 NET
2. ! Isaiah implored King Ahaz to ask God for a sign. When the king refused to, God himself gave the king a sign: "Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14 KJV (See our research on this topic.)
   
3. ? If God wanted to give a sign there, why not here? Because the religious leaders were demanding a sign when Jesus was performing them right and left but they refused to see it? Does God want us to ask for signs or not? *My current thinking is that it depends on intent.

On the Warning of Yeast (Matthew 16:5-12)

1. Jesus warned the 12 to be cautious of the leaven of the Pharisees. The disciples, in their guilt, assumed the warning was a scolding that they forgot to bring bread. 
1. * How often do I fall prey to this sin, too. The sin of assumption. Of assuming I know what the meaning of the lesson is, but I'm actually wrongly interpreting it because of my own guilt, shame, or pride.
2. Jesus retorts, reminding them of the feeding of the multitudes. This warning is not about your physical needs, but your spiritual ones.
1. ! ..."The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of flour until all the dough had risen." Matthew 13:33 NET
2. * The parable of the yeast and the warning of the leaven work similarly but with different results. The parable shows how God's kingdom grows quickly and pervasively, the warning shows that wrong teaching can likewise grow.
3. *The disciples are stuck in the physical and cannot see the spiritual. Where am I likewise blinded? Where am I so caught up in worldly concerns, that I miss how God is working spiritually?

On Jesus' Identity (Matthew 16:13-20)

1. Jesus asked who He is known to be. The disciples list who people assume He is, then Jesus asks, "But who do you think I am." Peter says that Jesus is Christ, the Son of the Living God. 
2. Jesus commends Peter's response by saying that God revealed the truth to Peter. 
1. ! Is Peter the son of Jonah? Or what does Jesus mean here? Is there any connection to the sign of Jonah (Matthew 12:40)? (Matthew 16:17)
2. ! "...The gates of Hades will not overpower it." (Matthew 16:18 NET) indicates that the church is advancing against hell and hell will not withstand our attack. (The Voice & Grant Agler. See more in our notes on Isaiah 54.)
3. ? What does it mean that Jesus gave Peter the keys to the kingdom? Is it because he has insight and therefore power to judge? Does it relate in any way to the keys given to Eliakim in Isaiah 22:22? (See notes on Isaiah 22.) *R
3. Then, He tells His disciples not to not tell anyone.
1. ?Why? Is it because Jesus was trying to put off His crucifixion for as long as possible? Or, is it because God will decide who understands the truth of Jesus' identity?

On Foretelling Jesus' Death and Resurrection (Matthew 16:21-28)

1. Jesus foretells of His death and resurrection. Peter denies it. Jesus calls out Satan in Peter because Peter is putting his own desires above God's will.
1. *Jesus is definitely not gentle here with Peter. Perhaps Jesus reacts strongly because He is does not want to die and leave either. But He knows He must be resolved because it is His Father's will so it is going to happen.
2. * How often I, too, want my own way and get mad when I don't get it.
2. Jesus says that any follower of His must die to his own desires and live instead for God. 
3. Each of us will be rewarded for our works.
4. They won't have to wait long before the Son of Man returns.

Exploration

Of the keys to the kingdom. (Matthew 16:19)

Gatekeeper of Faith

Cultural Explanation

• The palace of a great king requires a chief officer or chamberlain to oversee the household. 
• She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.  Proverbs 31:27 KJV (See our notes on Proverbs 31:27.)
• The key of the house of David belongs to Jesus.
• I will place the key to the house of David on his shoulder. When he opens the door, no one can close it; when he closes the door, no one can open it. Isaiah 22:22 NET (See our notes on Isaiah 22.)
• "To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write the following: "This is the solemn pronouncement of the Holy One, the True One, who holds the key of David, who opens doors no one can shut, and shuts doors no one can open: Revelation 3:7 NET

Spiritual Implication

• Peter now is appointed to be a representative of God in this world. Where Peter goes, God opened the door of faith. 
• When [Paul and Barnabas] arrived and gathered the church together, they reported all the things God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith for the Gentiles. Acts 14:27 [19-20] NET 
• After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that some time ago God chose me to preach to the Gentiles so they would hear the message of the gospel and believe. Acts 15:7 NET
• As He does through us:
• Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making his plea through us. We plead with you on Christ's behalf, "Be reconciled to God!" 2 Corinthians 5:20 NET
• But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. I Peter 2:9 KJV

Authority in Divine Wisdom

Cultural Explanation

• Scribes were stewards of the treasure of divine wisdom (Matthew 13:52)
• Received a "Key of Knowledge" at the end of their training. This key admitted them to the treasure chambers of the house of the interpreters.

Spiritual Implication

• Peter's understanding of Jesus' instruction proved he was qualified to be a "scribe" for the kingdom of heaven. He was prepared to bring out of the kingdom's treasure chambers instruction that combined the OLD (eternal law) with the NEW (revealed truths). (Matthew 13:52)
• The "key" was a token of admission to this office as a teacher and interpreter.

Binding and Loosing

Cultural Explanation

• Binding a law, required the Jews to practice it.
• Loosing a law, freed the Jews from it.
• Binding and loosing were under the authority of the scribes.

Spiritual Implication

• Peter is confirmed in his position when Jesus grants him this authority. Note that it is an interpretive and legislative role, NOT a judicial one.
  
• If you forgive anyone's sins, they are forgiven; if you retain anyone's sins, they are retained. John 20:23 NET
• So now why are you putting God to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? Acts 15:10 NET
• Later, this same authority is conferred on all apostles. Matthew 18:18 

*Thoughts: Jesus was commending Peter as an authoritative teacher in Kingdom instruction. What he said we must do, we should (bound), but what he said we are freed from, we don't have to do (loosed). This commendation is not Peter's alone, it was later spread to all the apostles. But, I wonder, how far. I would imagine there would have to be a system of checks and balances. We can't just let someone be the sole authority and not hold them accountable to the eternal law. Which we do see, when Paul questions Peter (Galatians 2:11-13). What is exciting is that this is another example of Behold! - our divine partnership with God. Like God honors John's act of baptizing, He entrusts us with determining what practices honor and don't honor His eternal law. Our choices now are part of eternity. God's kingdom doesn't start when we get to heaven; it's here now, in us. Being entrusted with the keys to the kingdom underscores the weightiness of what we (Peter here, and now us) choose to bind and loose, because it will impact the growth of the whole church - God's kingdom come. 

Sources: 

• Commentaries at Bible Hub
• The Paradise King by Blaine Eldredge (pp. 72-77 explains the concept of Behold!)

Reflections

Jesus is frustrated with the Pharisees and Sadducees because they asked for a sign. What doesn't pan out is that signs are expected. Gideon put out his fleece (Judges 6:36-40), God put a rainbow in the sky (Genesis 9:8-16), and God implored Ahaz to ask for a sign (Isaiah 7:10-14). I think the difference here is intent. 

The Pharisees and Sadducees weren't asking for a sign because they deeply desired to know the truth of who Jesus was, they were asking for a sign to try to disprove Jesus' identity. The problem is, Jesus had been proving Himself in countless ways. He performed signs and wonders all around them constantly; they just refused to see it. What's more, Jesus Himself is a sign - the sign of all signs (Isaiah 7:14) - and still they ask for more. How could He not respond in frustration? 

Then, in frustration, He turns to His chosen - His disciples - and warns them against the leaven of the Pharisees. But they don't understand the correlation. They take it literally. And, again, Jesus responds with frustration. All along He's been teaching them that they don't need to worry about their physical needs; they will be provided for. He asks them to remember the feeding of the 5,000 and the 4,000. He wants them to remember He is here to care for and spiritually nourish all people, but that the Pharisee and Sadducee teachings will destroy that nourishment. 

Jesus refers to the Pharisee and Sadducee teaching as leaven. Leaven connects with the feeding of the multitudes in that it is necessary to make bread, but it also brings to mind the parable about leaven. In that parable, the leaven quickly takes over the full measure of flour. Surely, the parallel here is that the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees would have the same effect. If you incline your ear and allow even a trace amount of their beliefs to become your own, soon it will infect your nourishment (bread) and destroy the soul. The Kingdom of Heaven is good: It brings life, healing, and restoration. But the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees would destroy the loaf: It would bring death, corruption, and division.

Jesus wants us to understand. When Peter shows He does, Jesus commends it. I hope, and believe He does the same for us, which is why wrestling to understand scripture is worth it. It provides us with the good nourishment our soul needs. 

But, alas, how quickly Peter turned from commendation to denial. From good leaven, to poor. Denial is a common affliction of Peter's. How often, I wonder, do I fall into the same trap? I receive a compliment and become prideful. In my pride, I reject the opportunity to honor God's kingdom. I make choices to inflate my own image instead of reflecting His. 

Not my will, Your will. Not what I think should happen, but trust in Your plans.

I must learn to accept compliments with humility by pointing back to the One who made me. 

That's how we follow: we deny our desires and follow His teachings, His will, His way - no matter how hard it is. Even to death.

 

Respond

Matthew 15

Connect

God instructs. He is always trying to guide us to see His truth and uses numerous techniques to do it.

Reflect

• What lesson has God taught me before? What did He use to teach it?
• What is God currently trying to teach me? What evidence of a heart change do I notice by what comes out of my mouth (Matthew 15:18)?
•  How am I responding to His instruction - with audacious hunger for more of Him or in prideful satisfaction of who I am?

Act

Arise! Believe what He is teaching you.

Arise! Do what He is teaching you.

Arise! Share what He is teaching you. 

Matthew 16

Connect

God warns. He warns us against listening to false teaching, against rejecting the will of the Father, and against living selfishly.

Reflect

• What traditions, habits, or wrong beliefs, am I holding tightly to that I need to reject? Remembering, as with the leaven, that allowing even a little bit affects all of me.
• Where do I struggle to accept God's will?
• Provide an example of a time you denied yourself and made a sacrifice to follow Jesus.

Act

Arise! Recognize and reject false teaching by comparing it to the eternal law in scripture.

Arise! Resolve yourself to accept God's will no matter what. Trust that God is faithful, He has a plan, and the end is GOOD.

Arise! Live in obedience to your King. Follow His ways in everything because you trust that His ways are way better than yours.

In Closing

Father God, Holy God, God of Compassion. We don't really understand the fulness of Your love for us. How You must ache when we don't try to understand Your instruction, though You lay it out plainly and meaningfully. Instead, You watch as we eagerly consume the corrupt instruction of this world. How frustrated You must feel when we ignore your warnings. Instead, You see us as we head straight for destruction by choosing our own way above Yours. Oh, Father. Teacher. God. Open our eyes to Your teaching, soften our hearts to Your will, prepare us for service in Your kingdom that we may act here as we would in heaven. Eternity starts now.

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