Matthew

God is not looking for good people! That seems to surprise many religious people who think that God will accept them for all the good things they try to do ... but it is not true.

Fasting was a normal part of a godly disciplined life in the days of Jesus. It showed the need to repent for sin, and be utterly dependent in prayer (Esther 4:3,16).

There can be a lot of waste in some western countries.

The religious leaders of Israel did not consider themselves friends of Jesus. He was a danger to their authority over the people.

Jesus was on His way to see a twelve year old girl who had just died, with her father who believed Jesus could bring her back to life (Matthew 9:18-19).

The religious leader was confident that Jesus could raise his dead daughter to life (Matthew 9:18). But Jesus was delayed arriving at his home where the girl was laid out on her bed.

Blindness is always a major problem. But in Jesus' day it meant no education, no income (except from begging) and social exclusion.

Jesus had just healed two blind men who asked for mercy (Matthew 9:27-31). Then another man came; he was brought by friends or family, and he could not speak.

Sickness, weakness and diseases of many kinds occur in every society. 2000 years ago, medical care was not well developed and many sick people died.

The disciples had seen many people putting their faith in Jesus.