Michael Hewat
Michael Hewat is currently serving as the Senior Minister at West Hamilton Community Church, New Zealand
The wisdom from above is not intellectual but practical. It transforms the heart, making it lowly. The lowly heart directs the tongue, the whole person, to behave in ways that are pure, peaceable, gentle, reasonable, merciful, impartial and sincere....
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.
This final section of Jesus’ sermon comprises teaching on trusting God for material provision and a series of warnings. Both blocks of teaching are strongly polemical, with Jesus contrasting...
And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him (13)
The healings and exorcisms Luke has narrated so far have demonstrated Jesus’ authority. He delivers and heals by rebuking (4.35, 39, 41).
With the cleansing of a leper, the emphasis...
James casts the tongue as an entirely malevolent force. James identifies the fire of the tongue with the fire of Gehenna, synonymous with hell.
If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man.
James is one...
And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Jesus’ words in this chapter continue to fall under the caveat registered in 5.20, “Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom...
And leaving everything, they/he rose and followed him (11, 28)
Luke includes just these two call narratives.
While the first concludes with Peter, James and John leaving their nets to follow Jesus, the focus is on Peter alone.
Fishing was a...
James asserts that the one who claims faith without works can produce no evidence of his faith, whereas the person who has works can boast a faith to which his works testify.
Faith by itself, if it does not...
Matthew reminds the readers that a higher standard will be required in the Kingdom. The citizens must be pure in word and deed as well as in heart and mind too. The requirement to be perfect is important as...
Luke reminds the readers to take time out to pray and work according to the Father’s timetable and to apply God-given authority for God-given work.
They were astonished at His teaching, for His word possessed authority (4.32)
There is no...
James reminds the readers that they have been saved from the punishment of the law by God’s grace (through Jesus Christ.) To now “become judges with evil thoughts” is to risk all.
Show no partiality as you hold the...
