Gospel at a Glance

Episode 63 - Matthew 9:35-38 - Compassion and the Harvest

Scripture:
Matthew 9:35–38 (ESV)
35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
Episode Summary
In this episode, we pause with Matthew at a turning point in Jesus’ ministry. After chapters filled with healing, teaching, and restoration, Matthew offers a summary that reveals not just what Jesus does, but why He does it.
Jesus looks at the crowds and responds not with frustration or distance, but with deep compassion. He sees people who are harassed, helpless, and longing for guidance. From that compassion flows His invitation to prayer, partnership, and participation in God’s work. This passage prepares us for what comes next as Jesus sends His disciples out to join Him in the harvest.
Takeaways
Jesus’ ministry addresses the whole person: mind, heart, and body
When Jesus looks at people, His response is compassion, not judgment
Many around us are spiritually hungry and longing for guidance
God invites us to pray for workers and often forms us into those workers
Mission begins with compassion, not pressure or performance
Recommended Reading & Sources
Matthew 9:35–38 (ESV)
Ezekiel 34
Psalm 23
Isaiah 61:1–3
R. T. France, The Gospel of Matthew
D. A. Carson, Matthew
N. T. Wright, Matthew for Everyone, Part 1
Ched Myers, Binding the Strong Man
About the Podcast
Gospel at a Glance walks through the Gospels one short passage at a time, finding depth, challenge, and comfort in just a few verses. Each episode invites you to slow down, look closely at the text, and see how the kingdom of God still breaks into ordinary life.
 
Connect:
gospelataglancepodcast@gmail.com
Instagram: @gospelataglancepod
Substack: Gospel at a Glance
Keywords
Matthew 9, compassion of Jesus, harvest imagery, mission and prayer, sheep without a shepherd, kingdom of God, Gospel of Matthew
Hashtags
#GospelAtAGlance #Matthew9 #Compassion #TheHarvest #BiblePodcast #ScriptureReflection
 

Episode 62 - Matthew 9:27-34 - Mercy and Resistance

Scripture: Matthew 9:27-34 (NIV)
27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”
28 When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”
“Yes, Lord,” they replied.
29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; 30 and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” 31 But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region.
32 While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. 33 And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”
34 But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.”
Episode Summary
In this episode, we walk through two brief but revealing healing stories from Matthew’s Gospel.
Two blind men cry out to Jesus for mercy, boldly naming Him Son of David. A man who cannot speak, oppressed by a demon, is brought to Jesus by others. In both encounters, Jesus responds with compassion, authority, and tenderness.
But Matthew also shows us something else happening at the same time.
As the crowd marvels at what Jesus does, the Pharisees respond with accusation and resistance. The same acts of mercy that restore life also expose fear, insecurity, and hardened hearts.
This passage reminds us that the presence of Jesus always reveals what is already inside us—whether openness to mercy or resistance to it.
Takeaways
Jesus honors both bold cries for mercy and quiet, unspoken faith.
Healing often happens in intimate, personal spaces, and not just public ones.
Faith is simple trust that reaches toward Jesus.
Jesus meets needs we voice and needs we cannot articulate ourselves.
His compassion reveals hearts...some drawn toward mercy, others threatened by it.
Recommended Reading & Sources
NIV Study Bible – Cultural and theological background on healing, messianic titles, and opposition narratives
NRSV / NRSVue – Literary and theological clarity
ESV Study Bible – Notes on faith, authority, and growing Pharisaic resistance
Jewish Annotated New Testament (Amy-Jill Levine & Marc Zvi Brettler) – Insight into messianic expectations, healing traditions, and first-century Jewish responses to Jesus
About the Podcast
Gospel at a Glance walks through the Gospels one short passage at a time, finding depth, challenge, and comfort in just a few verses.
Each episode invites you to slow down, notice what’s easy to miss, and reflect on how the kingdom of God still breaks into ordinary life.
Connect:
gospelataglancepodcast@gmail.com
Substack: gospelataglance.substack.com
Instagram: @gospelataglancepod
Keywords
Matthew 9, Jesus heals the blind, Son of David, mercy in the Gospels, faith and healing, Pharisees and resistance, compassion of Jesus, demon possession in the Bible, Gospel of Matthew commentary
Hashtags
#GospelAtAGlance #MatthewGospel #JesusHeals #Mercy #FaithAndHealing #BiblePodcast #ScriptureReflection #KingdomOfGod
 

Episode 61 - Matthew 9:18-26 - Reaching for Life

Scripture:
Matthew 9:18-26 (ESV)
18 While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” 19 And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples. 20 And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, 21 for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” 22 Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well. 23 And when Jesus came to the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, 24 he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. 25 But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. 26 And the report of this went through all that district.
Episode Summary
In this episode, we walk through Matthew 9:18–26, where two stories of desperation are woven together. A grieving father approaches Jesus publicly, believing He can restore his daughter’s life. Along the way, a woman who has suffered quietly for twelve years reaches out in faith, hoping to be healed without being seen.
Jesus meets both forms of desperation with compassion and power. He honors bold faith and hidden faith, public pleas and silent hope. In each encounter, Jesus restores not only bodies, but dignity, belonging, and life itself.
Takeaways
Jesus moves toward us in moments of deep desperation
He sees both the needs we speak aloud and the ones we carry quietly
Faith can be bold or hidden. Jesus honors both
Jesus’ touch restores dignity, identity, and belonging
He brings life into places we believe are already lost
Recommended Reading & Sources
Matthew 9:18–26 (ESV)
Leviticus 15:19–30
Isaiah 35:4–6
Psalm 30
R. T. France, The Gospel of Matthew
D. A. Carson, Matthew
N. T. Wright, Matthew for Everyone, Part 1
Richard Bauckham, Jesus and the Margins
About the Podcast
Gospel at a Glance walks through the Gospels one short passage at a time, finding depth, challenge, and comfort in just a few verses.
Each episode invites you to slow down, look closely at the text, and see how the kingdom of God still breaks into ordinary life.
Connect:
gospelataglancepodcast@gmail.com
Substack: gospelataglance.substack.com
Instagram: @gospelataglancepod
Keywords
Matthew 9, healing miracles, Jairus’ daughter, woman with the issue of blood, faith and healing, Jesus restores life, Gospel of Matthew, bible study
Hashtags
#GospelAtAGlance #Matthew9 #ReachingForLife #FaithAndHealing #BiblePodcast #ScriptureReflection #biblestudy

Episode 60 - Matthew 9:14-17 - New Wine and New Ways

Scripture:
Matthew 9:14–17 (ESV)
14 Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” 15 And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. 16 No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made. 17 Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.”
Episode Summary
In this episode, we reflect on Matthew 9:14–17, where Jesus responds to questions about fasting with three vivid images: a wedding feast, a patch on old fabric, and new wine in old wineskins. Together, these images reveal the kind of newness Jesus brings.
Rather than offering small adjustments to existing religious systems, Jesus announces a reality so transformative it reshapes spiritual life from the inside out. His presence introduces joy, flexibility, and renewal that cannot be contained by rigid expectations or inherited categories.
Takeaways
Jesus brings joy that reshapes spiritual practice
Faith disciplines have seasons and purposes
Jesus offers new life, not small upgrades to old systems
God’s work often stretches us beyond what feels familiar
New wine requires open, flexible hearts
Recommended Reading & Sources
Matthew 9:14–17 (ESV)
Ecclesiastes 3:1–8
Isaiah 43:18–19
Hosea 6:6
The Gospel of Matthew by R. T. France
Matthew by D. A. Carson
Matthew for Everyone, Part 1 by N. T. Wright
Binding the Strong Man by Ched Myers
Jesus and Judaism by E. P. Sanders
About the Podcast
Gospel at a Glance walks through the Gospels one short passage at a time, finding depth, challenge, and comfort in just a few verses.
Each episode invites you to slow down, look closely at the text, and see how the kingdom of God still breaks into ordinary life.
Connect:
gospelataglancepodcast@gmail.com
Substack: gospelataglance.substack.com
Instagram: @gospelataglancepod
Keywords
Matthew 9, new wine old wineskins, fasting and faith, spiritual practices, transformation, kingdom of God, Gospel of Matthew
Hashtags
#GospelAtAGlance #Matthew9 #NewWine #FaithAndGrowth #BiblePodcast #ScriptureReflection
 

Episode 59 - Matthew 9:9-13 - Mercy, Not Sacrifice

Scripture:
9 As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.
10 And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Episode Summary
In this episode, we explore Matthew 9:9–13, where Jesus calls a tax collector to follow Him and then shares a meal with those religious society had written off. Through this simple but radical act, Jesus reveals the heart of His mission.
Rather than demanding moral perfection first, Jesus offers relationship. He chooses presence over purity boundaries and mercy over religious performance. By quoting Hosea, Jesus reframes holiness itself, showing that God’s desire has always been compassion, not sacrifice without love.
Takeaways
Jesus sees potential where others see failure
In God’s kingdom, belonging comes before behavior
Jesus intentionally shares tables with the excluded
Mercy matters more to God than religious performance
Jesus came for those who know they need grace
Recommended Reading & Sources
Matthew 9:9–13 (ESV)
Hosea 6:6
Micah 6:6–8
N. T. Wright, Matthew for Everyone, Part 1
About the Podcast
Gospel at a Glance walks through the Gospels one short passage at a time, finding depth, challenge, and comfort in just a few verses.
Each episode invites you to slow down, look closely at the text, and see how the kingdom of God still breaks into ordinary life.
Connect:
gospelataglancepodcast@gmail.com
Substack: gospelataglance.substack.com
Instagram: @gospelataglancepod
Keywords
Matthew 9, calling of Matthew, mercy not sacrifice, Jesus and sinners, table fellowship, grace and belonging, Gospel of Matthew, discipleship
Hashtags
#GospelAtAGlance #Matthew9 #MercyNotSacrifice #JesusAndSinners #BiblePodcast #ScriptureReflection #GraceAndBelonging
 

Episode 58 - Matthew 9:1-8 - Authority to Forgive

Scripture Reading (ESV)
And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. 2 And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” 3 And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” 4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” 7 And he rose and went home. 8 When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
Episode Summary
In this episode, we walk through Matthew 9:1–8, where Jesus heals a paralyzed man but not in the way anyone expects. Before restoring the man’s body, Jesus speaks words of forgiveness, revealing what He sees as the deepest human need.
As religious leaders silently question His authority, Jesus responds with both wisdom and power, demonstrating that He holds authority not only to heal but to forgive sins. This passage shows us the heart of Jesus’ ministry: restoration that reaches the body, soul, and community.
Takeaways
Jesus addresses our deepest needs before our visible problems
Forgiveness is the foundation of true healing
Faith can be communal. We are sometimes carried to Jesus by others
Jesus’ authority restores rather than oppresses
God’s kingdom brings complete restoration: spiritual, physical, and relational
Recommended Reading & Sources
Matthew 9:1–8
Daniel 7 (background for the “Son of Man” title)
Isaiah 35:5–6 (healing and restoration imagery)
Craig S. Keener, The Gospel of Matthew: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary
About the Podcast
Gospel at a Glance walks through the Gospels one short passage at a time, finding depth, challenge, and comfort in just a few verses.
Each episode invites you to slow down, look closely at the text, and see how the kingdom of God still breaks into ordinary life.
 
Connect:
gospelataglancepodcast@gmail.com
Substack: gospelataglance.substack.com
Instagram: @gospelataglancepod
Keywords
Matthew 9, forgiveness of sins, authority of Jesus, healing miracles, Son of Man, communal faith, Gospel of Matthew, Jesus heals the paralyzed man
Hashtags
#GospelAtAGlance #Matthew9 #JesusForgives #AuthorityOfJesus #BiblePodcast #ScriptureReflection #FaithAndHealing
 

Episode 57 - Word Study - Restoration and Wholeness

Episode Summary
As we continue walking through Matthew’s Gospel, one theme keeps emerging beneath the surface of Jesus’ healing ministry: restoration. In this special word study episode, we slow down to explore what restoration actually means in the world of the Gospels. Jesus does not simply remove illness or cast out oppression. He restores people to dignity, belonging, relationship, and life. Drawing from scenes like Peter’s mother-in-law and the men living among the tombs, this episode reflects on restoration as wholeness rather than perfection, and as a forward-moving work of grace rather than a return to the past.
Takeaways
In the Gospels, healing and restoration are never separate ideas.
Jesus restores people not only physically, but relationally and communally.
Restoration often looks like a return of capacity, dignity, and participation in life.
Jesus restores people forward, not backward. Scars may remain, but identity is transformed.
Restoration is rooted in wholeness, not perfection, and does not promise a life without struggle.
Recommended Reading & Sources
Study Bibles
HarperCollins Study Bible
Excellent for historical context and careful language around healing and restoration.
NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible
Helpful for understanding illness, purity, and social restoration in the first-century world.
Jewish Annotated New Testament
Essential for grounding restoration in Jewish categories of wholeness and community.
Commentaries and Scholars
N. T. Wright, Matthew for Everyone
Strong on restoration as participation in God’s kingdom, not just individual healing.
Craig Keener, The Gospel of Matthew
Excellent on healing, demon possession, and social reintegration in the ancient world.
Joel B. Green, The Theology of the Gospel of Luke
While Luke-focused, his work on restoration and wholeness is widely respected across traditions.
Theological and Pastoral Works
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together
Deep insight into restoration as communal life, not private spirituality.
Miroslav Volf, Exclusion and Embrace
Especially helpful for thinking about restoration as reentry into community.
About the Podcast
Gospel at a Glance walks through the gospels one short passage at a time, finding depth, challenge, and comfort in just a few verses.
Follow for daily reflections that invite you to see how the kingdom of God still breaks into ordinary life.
Connect:
gospelataglancepodcast@gmail.com
Substack: gospelataglance.substack.com
Instagram: @gospelataglancepod
Keywords
restoration, wholeness, healing in the gospels, Matthew 8, Isaiah 53, dignity, belonging, Jesus restores
Hashtags
#GospelAtAGlance #Restoration #Wholeness #HealingAndHope #BibleReflection #ChristianPodcast #MatthewGospel

Episode 56 - Matthew 8:28-34 - When Freedom Feels Uncomfortable

Scripture:
Matthew 8:28–34 (NIV)
When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way.
“What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?”
Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding.
The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”
He said to them, “Go!”
So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water.
Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men.
Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.
 
Episode Summary
Jesus steps into Gentile territory and brings freedom to two men living in isolation and torment. Yet instead of celebration, the surrounding community responds with fear and resistance. This passage reveals that while Jesus’ presence brings healing and restoration, it can also feel disruptive when it challenges familiar systems and comforts. Episode 56 invites us to consider how we respond when freedom unsettles the structures we have grown used to.
Takeaways
Jesus moves toward the places and people others avoid.
Spiritual oppression recognizes His authority even when people hesitate to do so.
Freedom often disrupts systems we rely on for comfort or security.
Jesus’ presence can feel unsettling before it feels comforting.
Jesus never forces transformation. He honors openness and respects boundaries.
Recommended Reading & Sources
N. T. Wright, Matthew for Everyone
Craig Keener, The Gospel of Matthew
Amy Jill Levine and Marc Zvi Brettler, The Jewish Annotated New Testament
Joel Green, The Theology of the Gospel of Luke
HarperCollins Study Bible
About the Podcast
Gospel at a Glance walks through the gospels one short passage at a time, finding depth, challenge, and comfort in just a few verses.
Follow for daily reflections that invite you to see how the kingdom of God still breaks into ordinary life.
 
Connect:
gospelataglancepodcast@gmail.com
Substack: gospelataglance.substack.com
Instagram: @gospelataglancepod
Keywords
Matthew 8, Jesus frees the oppressed, spiritual authority, freedom and disruption, gospel reflection, healing and restoration
Hashtags
#GospelAtAGlance #Matthew8 #FreedomInChrist #JesusDelivers #BibleReflection #ChristianPodcast #FaithAndTransformation
 

Episode 55 - Matthew 8:23-27 - Peace in the Storm

Scripture:
Matthew 8:23–27 (NIV)
Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him.
Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.
The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us. We’re going to drown.”
He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?”
Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him.”
Episode Summary
In this episode, Jesus and His disciples are caught in a sudden, violent storm on the Sea of Galilee. While the disciples panic, Jesus sleeps, revealing a peace rooted in trust and authority. When awakened, Jesus calms both the storm and their fear, inviting them to see who He truly is. This passage shows us that faith is not the absence of fear, but the decision to turn toward Jesus in the middle of it. It reminds us that His presence remains steady, even when everything around us feels out of control.
Takeaways
Storms often come suddenly, even for faithful disciples.
Jesus remains steady in moments where we feel overwhelmed.
Honest, fearful prayers are still faithful prayers.
Jesus has authority over the chaos we fear most deeply.
His presence brings calm that begins within us, even before it shows up around us.
Recommended Reading & Sources
N. T. Wright, Matthew for Everyone
Craig Keener, The Gospel of Matthew
Amy Jill Levine and Marc Zvi Brettler, The Jewish Annotated New Testament
Psalm 107:23–32
HarperCollins Study Bible
About the Podcast
Gospel at a Glance walks through the gospels one short passage at a time, finding depth, challenge, and comfort in just a few verses.
Follow for daily reflections that invite you to see how the kingdom of God still breaks into ordinary life.
Connect:
gospelataglancepodcast@gmail.com
Substack: gospelataglance.substack.com
Instagram: @gospelataglancepod
Keywords
Matthew 8, Jesus calms the storm, faith and fear, peace in chaos, authority of Jesus, gospel reflection
Hashtags
#GospelAtAGlance #Matthew8 #PeaceInTheStorm #FaithAndFear #ChristianPodcast #BibleReflection #JesusCalms
 

Episode 54 - Matthew 8:18-22 - The Cost of Following Jesus

Scripture Reading
Matthew 8:18–22 (NIV)
When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake.
Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”
Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”
Episode Summary
In this episode, Jesus responds to two would-be followers with striking honesty. One approaches with enthusiasm but little awareness of what discipleship requires. The other hesitates, asking for delay before fully committing. Jesus does not shame either person. Instead, He clarifies what it means to follow Him with intention, trust, and openness. This passage invites us to examine the places where we may cling to comfort or postpone obedience, and to consider what a wholehearted yes to Jesus truly looks like.
Takeaways
Discipleship is beautiful, but it is not always comfortable.
Jesus is honest about the cost because He cares about our expectations.
Both comfort and delay can keep us from following fully.
Jesus invites us to trust Him with our security, timing, and priorities.
Following Jesus is not a one-time decision, but a daily, intentional yes.
Recommended Reading & Sources
N. T. Wright, Matthew for Everyone
Craig Keener, The Gospel of Matthew
Amy Jill Levine and Marc Zvi Brettler, The Jewish Annotated New Testament
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship
HarperCollins Study Bible
About the Podcast
Gospel at a Glance walks through the gospels one short passage at a time, finding depth, challenge, and comfort in just a few verses.
Follow for daily reflections that invite you to see how the kingdom of God still breaks into ordinary life.
 
Connect:
gospelataglancepodcast@gmail.com
Substack: gospelataglance.substack.com
Instagram: @gospelataglancepod
Keywords
Matthew 8, cost of discipleship, following Jesus, Christian commitment, trust and obedience, gospel reflection
Hashtags
#GospelAtAGlance #Matthew8 #Discipleship #FollowingJesus #ChristianPodcast #BibleReflection #FaithAndTrust