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Did you pause, blink, and squint at Jesus during his interaction with the Gentile woman in today’s chapter? This conversation can be deeply confusing. At first glance, it can seem like Jesus is distant, dismissive, and even rude. And the metaphor about dogs? Jarring. So what’s happening here? Let’s unpack the context … First, what… Read more
Ah, yes—today we read the famous Jesus walking on water story! For even casual observers of Jesus’ “greatest hits,” we’ve probably heard this passage taught as an invitation to see ourselves in Peter’s shoes. In other words, how are we like Peter, lacking in faith? The common interpretation of this is: “Just doubt less and… Read more
I’ve often heard this passage described as a contrast between two leaders. First, we encounter Herod, a man so caught up in his own wickedness that he has John the Baptist executed. He married his brother’s wife and then his niece, both of whom were condemned in Leviticus. The author of Matthew paints Herod as… Read more
My grandma had an autostereogram hanging on the wall of her basement when I was growing up. If you’re not familiar or didn’t know the name (like I didn’t), an autostereogram is one of those optical illusion images that you hold close to your face and slowly move away until a new image appears. I’d… Read more
