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Who is Jesus? Matthew 16 brings us to one of the most important questions in the Gospel. The Pharisees and Sadducees demand another sign even though they have already seen abundant evidence of Jesus’ authority. Jesus points them instead to the sign of Jonah—His coming death and resurrection. Glenn and Steve then examine Jesus’ warning about the “leaven” of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Their false teaching came from opposite directions: one side added burdensome rules to Scripture while the other rejected important biblical truths. Jesus warns His disciples not to accept either error simply because it comes from respected religious leaders. The passage then reaches a major turning point when Jesus asks, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter answers, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” That same question still confronts every person today. Matthew 16:1–17 | The Book of Matthew — Session 32 Questions discussed in this session include: What was the false teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees? What do modern people say about Jesus' identity?What happens when the religious leaders try to box in Jesus by demanding evidence?Who do you say that Jesus is? Support the show Thank you for listening!!  Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners.  You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible  May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

Why does Jesus initially seem to turn away a desperate Gentile woman asking Him to heal her daughter? In Matthew 15, Jesus travels toward the region of Tyre and Sidon, where a Canaanite woman repeatedly asks Him for mercy. She calls Him Lord and Son of David, bows before Him, and continues asking even when Jesus initially does not answer. Her remarkable response about receiving even the crumbs from the Master’s table leads Jesus to commend her great faith and heal her daughter immediately. Glenn and Steve discuss what this encounter reveals about Israel, the Gentiles, humility, persistence in prayer, submitting to Jesus as Lord, and continuing to trust Him even when His answer appears to be no. The chapter then closes with Jesus healing multitudes and feeding the 4,000, reminding us once again that Christ sees our needs, has compassion, and can multiply resources that seem completely inadequate. Matthew 15:21–39 | The Book of Matthew — Session 31 Questions discussed in this session include: How should we view ourselves in relation to Jesus?What should we do when God tells us no? What happens when we demand our rights before God? Support the show Thank you for listening!!  Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners.  You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible  May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

What matters more to God—clean hands or a clean heart? In Matthew 15, Pharisees and scribes travel from Jerusalem to confront Jesus because His disciples do not follow the ceremonial handwashing traditions of the elders. But Jesus exposes a far greater problem: their traditions have become so important that they are actually undermining the Word of God. Glenn and Steve examine Jesus’ warning about religious traditions, the command to care for aging parents, hypocrisy that honors God with the lips while the heart remains far away, and why outward religious activity can never substitute for genuine love for God. Jesus then explains that what truly defiles a person does not come from food or unwashed hands. It comes from the heart. The study closes with a warning about spiritually blind leaders and an important question for every believer: are we following Scripture, or simply following religious habits we have never examined? Matthew 15:1–20 | The Book of Matthew — Session 30   Questions discussed in this session include: How important is taking care of our parents and family members?What does Jesus say about the condition of the human heart?What does the Bible teach about foods? Is it possible to be spiritually blind and not know it? Support the show Thank you for listening!!  Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners.  You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible  May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

What can Jesus do with five loaves and two fish? And why would He deliberately send His disciples into a storm? Matthew 14:13–36 contains two remarkable demonstrations of Jesus’ authority. First, He feeds thousands from a small amount of food, showing that resources that seem insignificant in our hands can become more than sufficient when placed in His. Then Jesus sends the disciples across the Sea of Galilee. They obey Him—and sail directly into a storm. Glenn and Steve discuss why being in God’s will does not mean every circumstance will be easy, why Jesus sometimes allows His followers to struggle before He intervenes, and what Peter teaches us when he steps out of the boat and actually walks on water. The study also explores why Peter begins to sink, what happens when we shift our attention from Christ to the storm around us, and why his simple prayer—“Lord, save me!”—remains one of the most powerful prayers a believer can pray. Matthew 14:13–36 | The Book of Matthew — Session 29 Questions discussed in this session include:  ·         Can Jesus use our meager resources? ·         When Jesus gives us things, is it sufficient?  ·         What are we capable of doing when we keep our eyes on Jesus? ·         What should we do if we have a mixture of faith and fear? Support the show Thank you for listening!!  Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners.  You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible  May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

John the Baptist faithfully prepared the way for Jesus, but Matthew 14 records an ending we might not expect for someone Jesus called a great prophet. Herod imprisoned John because John openly confronted his relationship with Herodias. Later, a reckless promise made at Herod’s birthday celebration resulted in John being beheaded. Glenn and Steve examine the contrast between John and Herod. Herod had wealth, political authority, luxury, and the ability to silence his critic, yet his conscience would not leave him alone. John had lost his freedom and eventually his life, but he knew he had faithfully completed the work God had given him. The discussion also explores why suffering does not necessarily mean someone is outside God’s will, why killing the messenger does not silence God’s message, how Christians should speak truth with both clarity and compassion, the danger of rash promises, and what Herod teaches us about weak leadership. Matthew 14:1–12 | The Book of Matthew — Session 28  Questions discussed in this session include: ·         Can bad things happen even if we are in God’s will? ·         Should Christians speak about the moral actions of political leaders?  ·         What should we do if we need to give a difficult message to a powerful person in authority? ·         Does morality change over time?    Support the show Thank you for listening!!  Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners.  You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible  May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

What was Jesus revealing through the mustard seed, the leaven, the hidden treasure, and the pearl of great value? Matthew 13 continues the kingdom parables as Jesus challenges His listeners to rethink their expectations about the messianic kingdom. Glenn and Steve examine why the mustard seed grows into a large plant where birds can nest, why leaven represents something that quietly spreads, and why the treasure and pearl are worth everything required to obtain them. They also discuss why these parables should not be interpreted as though people purchase their own salvation. Salvation is a free gift; Christ is the One who paid the price. The chapter then closes with Jesus returning to Nazareth. The people recognize His wisdom and miraculous power but still cannot get past the fact that He is the man they watched grow up. The discussion ends by asking what Matthew means when it says Jesus did not perform many miracles there because of their unbelief—and why that does not mean faith mechanically produces miracles. Matthew 13:31–58 | The Book of Matthew — Session 27  Questions discussed in this session include: Is it true that there will be resident evil in the church? Does the kingdom have non-believers in it or only saved people? Do non-Christians benefit from Christianity? How much did Jesus give? Support the show Thank you for listening!!  Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners.  You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible  May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

Why does God allow good and evil to continue side by side? In Matthew 13, Jesus tells the parable of the wheat and the weeds and later the parable of the dragnet. Both teach that the world contains those who belong to Christ and those who do not, and that the final separation does not happen immediately. Glenn and Steve work through Jesus’ own explanation of the wheat and weeds, discuss the reality of false believers and false teachers, and consider why Christians must be careful about trying to determine another person’s salvation. The study then moves to the dragnet, where fish of every kind are gathered before the good are separated from the bad. That leads into a larger discussion about the end of the age, the present church age, the future millennial kingdom, the return of Christ, and why the final judgment should make the Gospel urgent today. The central takeaway is simple: the harvest is coming, the net will eventually be full, and today is the day to respond to Christ. Matthew 13:24–52 | The Book of Matthew — Session 26   Questions discussed in this session include:  Why are there a mixture of Christians and non-Christians in our churches? What does the Bible say about the end of the age and end times prophecy?Is there a final judgement day? When will it be? Is the kingdom now or later? Support the show Thank you for listening!!  Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners.  You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible  May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

Why do some people hear the Word of God and grow, while others seem interested for a time and then walk away? Matthew 13 begins Jesus’ great series of kingdom parables with the parable of the sower. A farmer scatters the same seed across four kinds of soil, but each produces a very different result. Glenn and Steve examine what Jesus says about the hard path, shallow rocky soil, thorns, and good soil. They discuss persecution, the need for discipleship and deep biblical roots, the deceitfulness of wealth, the distractions of everyday life, and why new believers need more than a moment of initial enthusiasm. The study also explores why Jesus began teaching publicly in parables after growing rejection from the religious leadership, what the New Testament means by a “mystery,” and why those who genuinely want spiritual truth are given more understanding. Matthew 13:1–23 | The Book of Matthew — Session 25   Questions discussed in this session include:  Has Jesus already told you about how you will react to His message?What is the role of a seed sower today? What types of things might cause the word of God to not be fruitful in someone’s life?Are there people who accept the word of God but do not grow? Why? Support the show Thank you for listening!!  Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners.  You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible  May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

Are the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God the same thing? Matthew uses the phrase “kingdom of heaven” repeatedly, while the other Gospels more commonly speak of the “kingdom of God.” Is that simply a difference in audience and terminology, or does Scripture point to a real distinction between the two? In this topical discussion connected to the Matthew study, Glenn and Steve work through key passages involving the kingdom promised to Israel, the millennial reign of Christ, the church, salvation, the present and future aspects of the kingdom, and the significance of Jesus being the promised Son of David and Messiah. They compare the parable of the talents with the minas, examine passages where kingdom language seems present and future, and consider how Matthew’s kingdom theme helps explain the movement of the Gospel from “the kingdom of heaven is at hand” toward Jesus’ announcement of the cross. Rather than forcing every passage into a system, the goal is to reason through the biblical evidence and let Scripture define the kingdom. Reasoning Through the Bible — Matthew Topical Study Support the show Thank you for listening!!  Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners.  You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible  May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

Is simply cleaning up your life enough? Matthew 12 closes with Jesus describing an unclean spirit that leaves a person, only to return later and find the “house” swept, orderly, and empty. The warning is clear: removing something evil without being filled by God does not produce lasting spiritual change. Glenn and Steve discuss why true transformation requires more than behavior modification, how the Holy Spirit changes the believer from the inside, and why the generation rejecting Jesus was in danger of ending up worse than before. The passage then shifts to Jesus’ mother and brothers standing outside. Jesus responds by pointing to His disciples and saying that those who do the will of His Father are His true family. That leads into a discussion of Mary, later Christian teachings about her, the meaning of Jesus’ brothers and sisters, and why every believer has direct access to Christ without needing another human mediator. Matthew 12:43–50 | The Book of Matthew — Session 24  Questions discussed during this session include: Should people today be afraid of the devil or demons? Can Christians be attacked or possessed by demons? Who is Mary and what is her position in the Bible?Are there people on earth today who are closer to God than Mary? Support the show Thank you for listening!!  Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners.  You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible  May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

Have you ever worried that you may have committed the unpardonable sin? Matthew 12:31–42 contains one of Jesus’ most debated warnings: “Blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.” But what did He mean, and can someone today accidentally place himself beyond God’s forgiveness? Glenn and Steve examine the immediate context of Jesus’ words, where the Pharisees had just attributed the work of the Holy Spirit to Satan. They discuss why this is not simply about saying one terrible sentence and why anyone who genuinely comes to Christ seeking forgiveness can still be forgiven. The study then turns to Jesus’ teaching that the mouth reveals what fills the heart, the certainty of judgment, why salvation is not based on balancing good works against bad, and how the blood of Christ covers the believer’s guilt. Finally, when the Pharisees demand another sign, Jesus points them to the sign of Jonah—His coming death, burial, and resurrection—and declares that something greater than Jonah and Solomon is standing before them. Matthew 12:31–42 | The Book of Matthew — Session 23   Questions discussed in this session include: Is there going to be a judgement day? What will it be like?What is the only way to stand justified before a holy and righteous God?Which prophet is greater than Jonah? If we do more good things than bad, can we get into heaven? Support the show Thank you for listening!!  Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners.  You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible  May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

Matthew 12 reaches a major turning point as the religious leaders move from questioning Jesus to openly rejecting Him. After the Pharisees begin plotting His death, Jesus withdraws and continues healing those who follow Him. Matthew connects His gentle ministry to Isaiah’s prophecy of the Servant who would bring justice and become the hope of the Gentiles. Then Jesus heals a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute. The crowd begins asking the crucial question: “Could this be the Son of David?” The Pharisees cannot deny the miracle, so they claim Jesus is casting out demons by the power of Satan. Glenn and Steve examine why this miracle mattered, how Jesus answers the accusation with the logic of a divided kingdom, why His authority over demons confirms the presence of the King, and what He means when He says, “He who is not with Me is against Me.” Matthew 12:15–30 | The Book of Matthew — Session 22  Questions discussed during this session include: Who is the only person who can know someone’s thoughts?Can someone be neutral regarding Jesus? What about people who merely do not care about Jesus? Has Jesus shown Himself trustworthy, or is faith blind?Support the show Thank you for listening!!  Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners.  You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible  May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

Did Jesus and His disciples break the Sabbath? In Matthew 12:1–14, the Pharisees accuse Jesus’ disciples of doing unlawful work because they plucked grain while walking through a field on the Sabbath. But the Mosaic Law actually permitted what they were doing. Glenn and Steve examine how religious leaders had added layers of tradition around God’s commands and turned the Sabbath—a gift intended for rest—into a burden. Jesus answers their accusation by pointing to David eating the consecrated bread, the priests working in the temple on the Sabbath, and the greater importance of mercy, compassion, and genuine worship. Jesus then makes two remarkable claims: something greater than the temple is here, and the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath. The conflict intensifies when the Pharisees try to trap Jesus over healing a man with a withered hand. Jesus responds simply: “It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” The man is healed, and the Pharisees respond by beginning to plot Jesus’ death. Matthew 12:1–14 | The Book of Matthew — Session 21  Questions discussed in this Session include: We learn the purpose of showbread and the priests’ responsibilitiesCan giving up things result in pleasing God?What is the purpose of the sabbath and how important is it to God?Jesus asks “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath?”Support the show Thank you for listening!!  Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners.  You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible  May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

Why do some people refuse to believe even when the evidence is right in front of them? In Matthew 11:16–30, Jesus compares His generation to children who are impossible to satisfy. John the Baptist lived an austere life and was accused of having a demon. Jesus ate with sinners and was called a glutton and a drunkard. No matter what God did, the critics found a reason to reject it. Jesus then pronounces judgment on Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum—cities that had witnessed His miracles and still refused to repent. Glenn and Steve discuss judgment, human responsibility, God’s knowledge of what people would do under different circumstances, sovereignty and free will, and why theological systems often struggle to explain an infinite God. The passage then turns from warning to invitation. Jesus says, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” The burden of trying to earn righteousness through religion is heavy, but Christ offers rest, grace, and a yoke that is easy and light. Matthew 11:16–30 | The Book of Matthew — Session 20 Questions discussed in this session include: If a skeptic were to see a true miracle, would they then be satisfied?Is there a judgement to come? Does God draw all people to Himself with the same degree of force?What is Molinism and what questions need to be answered by this system? Support the show Thank you for listening!!  Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners.  You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible  May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

Did John the Baptist begin to doubt Jesus while sitting in prison? Matthew 11 opens with John sending his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?” Rather than simply saying yes, Jesus points them to the evidence: the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor hear the gospel. Glenn and Steve consider whether John himself was struggling with doubt or whether he may have been intentionally sending his remaining followers to Jesus. They also discuss why John was imprisoned, whether Christians should speak publicly about moral issues, and how Jesus described John as a bold prophet rather than a reed shaken by the wind. The study then moves into Malachi’s prophecies, John’s connection to Elijah, the deity of Christ, the relationship between the Law and the Prophets and the kingdom, and the meaning of Jesus’ difficult statement that “the kingdom of heaven suffers violence.” Matthew 11:1–15 | The Book of Matthew — Session 19   Questions discussed in this session include: How do I know whether to keep silent on moral issues or speak out and risk persecution?What should we do if we have doubts? Of what value is it being in Christ’s kingdom? Are churches receptive to people asking doubtful questions? Support the show Thank you for listening!!  Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners.  You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible  May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve