Heart of a Shepherd Ministry
Daily Devotional Meditations and a Biblical Perspective on Current Events
A Study Through Matthew
Bless You! (part 2)
Note: Words in brackets are the author’s In Part One, the Creator blessed His creation: the sea and air creatures and mankind. He also blessed Eleazar, Abraham’s servant. Eleazar [a symbol of one who seeks to fulfill God’s mission] responded by offering praise to the...
The Ending was Just the Beginning! (Matthew 28)
Scripture reading – Matthew 28 Our chronological study of the Gospel of Matthew concludes today with the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and the commissioning of the disciples (less Judas who betrayed Him) to “Go…teach all nations” (28:19). The Greatest...
Innocence Betrayed: Jesus Tried and Condemned (Matthew 27)
Scripture reading – Matthew 27 Rich with drama, the passage we are reading today brings us to the spiritual crossroads of human history. This is God’s redemptive plan of salvation for man’s sin, conceived in the heart of our Creator before the foundation of the world...
What Will You Do with Jesus? (Matthew 26)
Scripture reading – Matthew 26 Jesus had been teaching His disciples from the Mount of Olives (24:3), and as He looked east, He gazed upon the glorious Temple on the highest peak in His beloved city of Jerusalem. He had taught them the signs that pointed to His...
The Tribulation and the Signs of Christ’s Coming (Matthew 24, Matthew 25)
Scripture reading – Matthew 24, Matthew 25 Today’s Scripture reading is a parallel passage to our earlier devotional commentary over Mark 13 and Luke 21. The focus of this devotional is Matthew 24. Jesus and His disciples were departing the Temple, when the disciples...
The Gifts of the Rich Paled in Comparison to the Widow’s Offering (Mark 12; Matthew 23)
Scripture reading – Mark 12; Matthew 23 The Synoptic Gospels Continuing our chronological Scripture reading in the Gospels, we notice again the beauty of the Synoptic Gospels. Each writer complemented the others with his own remembrance or understanding of Christ’s...
Supper with a Leper, and a Portrait of Extravagant Love (John 12; Matthew 22)
Scripture reading – John 12; Matthew 22 You will find today’s Scripture reading continues a parallel of events in the Synoptic Gospels, but the Gospel of John (not one of the synoptics) also provided the apostle John’s perspective on events in the final week of our...
The Last Week Before Golgotha (Matthew 21; Luke 19)
Scripture reading – Matthew 21; Luke 19 Our Scripture reading brings us to two pivotal chapters in the week leading up to the Cross. Luke 19 records Christ and His disciples passing through Jericho (Luke 19:1-27), and beginning His final journey to Jerusalem (Luke...
The Parable of the Laborers and a Gracious Master (Matthew 20)
Scripture reading – Matthew 20 The story of the farmer who hired day laborers to work in his vineyard is among my favorite of the parables (20:1-16). Jesus told the parable as He was making His final journey from Galilee to Jerusalem. (19:1; 20:17). Background of...
Popular Devotional Studies
Marriage
“The Dreaded Consequences of Forbidden Lusts” (2 Samuel 13)
Scripture reading - 2 Samuel 13 Click on this link to translate today's Bible study into German, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Spanish, French, or Portuguese. We recall that the prophet Nathan admonished David for his adultery with Bathsheba and warned that his hands...
Prayer
Political Correctness is a Societal Cancer (Psalm 12)
Scripture reading - Psalm 12 Click on this link to translate today's Bible study into German, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, French, Spanish, or Portuguese. An Introduction The musings David expressed in Psalm 12 are familiar to those who follow current events....
Hard Topics
Have you got enemies? Do you feel depressed? (Psalm 13; Psalm 28)
Scripture reading - Psalm 13; Psalm 28 Click on this link to translate this Bible study into German, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, French, or Portuguese. The titles of today’s Scripture reading ascribe David as the author. Psalm 13 was titled “To the Chief...