MATTHEW 13: HEART CHECK

 

HEART CHECK

In the Bible, the “Heart” (Leb/Lebab in Hebrew, Kardia in Greek) refers to the center of a person’s inner life.

The heart is where thoughts and decisions are made before they become words or actions (Mark 7:21).

 

Apart from the heart’s importance on having a proper function for our body’s overall health, this is much more vital in our Spiritual life as it is where the Holy Spirit dwells and where God writes His will and test human intentions.

On today’s daily devotion, Matthew 13 discusses many parables, particularly the Parable of the Sower strikes me.

Jesus, we can also say Pastor, Preacher or Man of God preaching His word is the SOWER

God’s teaching is the SEED

Humans heart is the SOIL

 

Jesus describes the 4 types of soil (the heart v4-8) and its condition (v19-23)

Wayside (Hard heart v4)

A roadside stepped by many feet and is hardened against the penetration of any seed.

Condition: Hear God’s word but not understanding so the evil snatches the word away (v19)

     Pride takes over: “I don’t need to study the word, I feel quite satisfied spiritually.

     I come from a long line of church people, so I heard all of it years ago!

     Fear and complacency “I don’t want to hear new thing that will change my way of life that I’m already contented

     I’m no worse than others I know. I will just commit sin when I go to Church and see sinners

     I’m afraid the Word might upset me, so I’d rather not have anything to do with it.

     Spiritual Death - dead in trespasses and sins, life completely detached from God

Stony Ground (Shallow heart v5-6)

Condition: Hear and receive the word with joy but no root, endures only for a while, stumble when struggles and persecutions come (v20-21)

     Unresponsiveness - incapable of feeling true spiritual emotion or conviction, remaining cold and insensible to spiritual reality.

     Attends the service and equipping only when convenient, when there is free time and never commit

     Resistance to God - disobedience, rebellion, and a stubborn refusal to repent.

     Love to hear God’s word, understands God’s will that need to put in action daily but still justify the worldly desires and comforts

     Listening to different resources but never meditating on it, no digging deeper, no reflection, the word just enters the left ear and exits to the right

Thorny Ground (Crowded/distracted heart v7)

Condition: Hears the word, but the cares of the world choked the word and become unfruitful (v22)

     Crowded Heart - Filled with worldly priorities and stresses.

     Equipped to surrender life but due to life and personal priorities such as work, gatherings, lifestyle cannot be submitted to the leaders on task assigned

     Distracted Heart - Focused on material gain, success, or anxiety rather than God.

     God said do not fear and do not be anxious but always afraid of what can happen next and living worried

     Unfruitful Ground - A heart that hears but does not bear maturity.

     Understood tithing as God’s command but with fear of lack cannot obey

 

Good ground (Receptive heart v8)

Condition: Hears, understands, bears fruit in 30, 60 and 100 (v23)

     Committed and consistent to learn more of God’s word even needed to sacrifice

     Open and accepts correction believing that he is already living for God and not in his own self

     Persevere to obey apart from weakness and impurities

     Admits that Man needs God above everything and pursue to be Christ like

     Bears the work and the fruit of the Holy Spirit

     Transformed and continuously growing in Christ, a salt and light to every place and people

The seed in good soil flourishes because it takes deep root, intentionally cultivating and overcoming worldly worries. Just like water or healthy food, or relationship or even work that sustains us, receiving God’s word is intentional so we can be assured eternity in heaven.

We are called to actively listen and apply the message in our daily lives rather than just hearing it passively. Not listening and putting on the side until forgotten and never really encountering the Lord.

The focus is to hear God’s word and bear fruit (Galatians 5:22-23)

God’s word in our lives is consistent, we are so blessed with our Church through daily devotions, equipping’s, Bible studies, discipleship and resources that can access easily. But what is our response to God’s word? Let us check our hearts -

Ø  Do I hear the word like seed sown on wayside soil, rejecting the Word of God?

Ø  Is my heart stony and has not been renewed apart from the constant grace from God?

Ø  Does my heart still with thorns that needs to be cleared to make room for God's word and produce spiritual maturity aligning to God’s will?

Ø  Is my heart humble, open and ready to obey God’s Word. A "good soil" that hears, accepts, and acts upon the truth, bearing spiritual growth and fruitfulness partnering with the Holy Spirit?

Let v12 reminds us “Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.”. Keep the word growing and making it visible in our lives, don’t let the seed taken from us.

Many hear but don’t perceive because their hearts become “calloused”, dull, willfully ignoring the message (v14-15) This is a real danger of separating oneself from God, thus, walking to the path of hell.

Let us pray:

Father God, we praise and thank you for your constant grace, for feeding us with your word daily and for working in our hearts in whichever state it is now. If we have a hard heart, help us to soften it and break it if needed so we may find your real purpose for us. If our heart is shallow, expose to us oh Lord the lukewarmness within us and help us to turn to you completely. If our heart is crowded and distracted, help us to fix our whole being to you and remove the idols in our lives. If our heart is receptive, remind us always that everything is from you and everything is for you.

Lord God, we believed in your word, your word is you and we need you every second. Set our hearts on you alone Lord. All glory is yours Father God, in the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen
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ELDER ERNELYN – JCRC CAMBODIA

Matthew 12: Mercy Over Sacrifice: A Heart Check

 

Mercy Over Sacrifice: A Heart Check

Scripture: Matthew 12:7
“If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.”

In Matthew 12, Jesus is confronted by the Pharisees over two Sabbath incidents:

·       His disciples picking grain while hungry (vv.1-8)

·       A man with a shriveled hand being healed (vv. 9-14)

To the Pharisees, both situations were clear violations of the law. Their focus was clear: rules must be protected, even at the expense of human need.

But Jesus reveals that something deeper is missing in their understanding. He says, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.”

In other words, God is not impressed by outward religious performance when the heart is absent. The Sabbath was meant to bring rest and restoration, not restriction. Yet instead of seeing hunger and brokenness, the Pharisees saw only rule-breaking. Instead of mercy, they chose judgment.

This becomes even clearer when Jesus heals the man with the shriveled hand. He asks a simple question: if it is right to help a sheep on the Sabbath, how much more valuable is a person? Then He tells the man to stretch out his hand, and he is completely restored.

Where Jesus brings healing, legalism brings resistance.

A hurting man receives life, while hardened hearts respond with anger.

The Warning

 

Jesus exposes a sobering truth: a person can be deeply religious and still be distant from the heart of God.

The Pharisees knew Scripture, practiced discipline, and guarded tradition, but they missed mercy. They had sacrifice without compassion.

And this is where the passage confronts us.

We can attend Sunday services, church equipping, activities, Bible study, read the Bible, give our tithes, serve in ministry, and maintain spiritual habits—and still become insensitive to people. We can be “right” in practice, but wrong in heart.

 

A Heart Check

Jesus doesn’t just correct the Pharisees—He invites us to examine ourselves.

1. Do I value mercy over rules? (Matthew 12:1–8)

• Do I notice what people are doing wrong, or who is hurting?
• Do I protect my routine, or interrupt it to help someone?

Truth: People matter more than rules. Mercy matters more than performance.

2. Am I more concerned with being right than with healing? (Matthew 12:9–14)

You can win every theological argument and still miss the heart of God. The Pharisees knew the Scriptures — but when Jesus healed a man with a shriveled hand, they cared more about being correct than seeing a life restored.

• Do I prioritize winning arguments over helping people?
• Does inconvenience stop me from doing good?

Truth: Doing good is always right.

3. Do I recognize God’s work or resist it? (Matthew 12:22–32)

You can be active in ministry and still miss what God is doing. The Pharisees saw a miracle and called it evil — because it didn't fit their religious system.

• Am I quick to criticize what I don’t understand?
• Or do I remain humble and open to how God is working?

Truth: A hard heart explains away what a humble heart receives.

4. What do my words reveal? (Matthew 12:33–37)

You can read your Bible, give your tithes, and serve faithfully — but Jesus says your words will expose what is really inside.

• Are my words critical, harsh, or careless — especially toward other believers or those who disagree with me?
• Or do my words bring life, encouragement, and truth in love?

Truth: A transformed heart produces life-giving speech.

5. Am I waiting for more signs instead of obeying? (Matthew 12:38–42)

You attend services, listen to sermons, Bible studies, or years of spiritual habits. Yet like the Pharisees, you ask God for more proof while ignoring what He has already shown you.

• Am I delaying obedience, waiting for perfect clarity?
• What has God already shown me through His Word or through my circumstances that I have not yet obeyed?

Truth: The issue is rarely a lack of evidence—it is often a lack of surrender.

The Call

Jesus defines His true family simply: Those who do the will of the Father (v.50).

A true follower is not marked by appearance or activity, but by a transformed heart.

 Jesus invites us to cultivate:

• A merciful heart – One that sees needs and responds with compassion rather than judgment.

• A humble heart – One that values people over pride, and restoration over reputation.

• A truthful heart – One that speaks good things because it is filled with good (Matthew 12:35).

Faith is not just what we do for God— it is how we reflect Him to others.

Reflection:

• Am I practicing faith out of love or just habit?
• Am I attentive to the needs of others, or focused mainly on my own spiritual routine?
• Is my faith visible through compassion?

Prayer:

Lord, forgive me for the times I have chosen rules over love, routine over compassion, and outward appearance over a merciful heart. Teach me what it truly means that You desire mercy, not sacrifice.

Open my eyes to see the needs around me—the quiet struggles, the hidden pain, and the opportunities to love. Soften my heart where it has grown hard, and remove any judgment that blinds me to others.

Give me hands that bring healing, words that bring life, and a spirit that reflects Your kindness. Help me not just to know Your truth, but to live it with humility, compassion, and obedience.

Shape my heart to look more like Yours each day.

In Jesus name, Amen.

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ELDER HANNA – JCRC CAMBODIA

Matthew 11: NOT OUR WAY BUT HIS WAY

 Scripture

“and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” Matthew 11:3-6

Observation 

✅ God’s Way 

 ⁃ His ways are higher than ours 

 ⁃ we do not define, we obey

✅ God’s Works

 ⁃ His divine authority evident in His actions and ministry

 ⁃ effective witness is seen not by emotions nor merely words but by proof - actions, behavior, changed life

✅ God’s Will

 ⁃ His timing is never late

 ⁃ waiting time is not wasted but season to trust and grow maturely in faith

Application 

It is easy to doubt when things don’t go our way, but remember God is sovereign. 

Ilang beses na ba tayong binangon ng Lord, ilang healing na ba dinanas natin, ilang favors na ba ang natanggap natin, ilang miracles na ba ang naranasan natin? Countless…

We are one of those 

✨ who received sight from being spiritually blind, 

✨ we are now able to walk not in darkness but in light, 

✨ we are being sanctified to be holy like Him, and 

✨ we are no longer dead for He has given us a new life

That itself is a miracle!

Kung ganun, bakit pa tau magda-doubt?

These are divine evidences that truly, our Lord Jesus is the only Messiah!

And so let us 

✝️ Surrender our expectations

✝️ Focus on Jesus not on our emotions

✝️ Trust in His perfect timing

Watch and see how God works, not our way but His way - for He is mightier than our trials, wiser than any human mind, higher than any ways defined by man.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9

Prayer

Lord, thank you for reminding us of Your word, Your sovereignty. We at times doubt, get disappointed or frustrated when things don’t go our way. Help us Lord that when our prayers go unanswered, help us remember to trust in Your plan and in Your timing. We may learn that waiting is a blessing, strengthening our faith in You. In Jesus name, amen 🙏

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PASTORA RIVA - JCRC RIYADH

Matthew 11: “You Will Find Rest for Your Souls” –

 “You Will Find Rest for Your Souls” – 

(Matthew 11:29)

Hindi lang basta “rest” ang sinasabi dito ni Jesus—rest for your soul. Ibig sabihin, hindi ito surface-level na pahinga tulad ng tulog, bakasyon, o break. Kasi kahit matulog ka ng mahaba o magpahinga ka physically, kung ang loob mo ay magulo—pagod ka pa rin.

Ang “soul” ang pinaka-core ng pagkatao natin—dito nakatira ang emotions, thoughts, desires, at spiritual life natin. Kaya kapag ang kaluluwa ang pagod, kahit okay ang katawan mo, may bigat pa rin.

Ang sinasabi ni Jesus:

May pahinga na umaabot sa pinaka-loob mo.

Hindi ito nakukuha sa mundo—sa Kanya lang.

At pansin mo, ang phrase ay “you will find…”

Hindi automatic, pero may promise—habang lumalapit ka, sumusunod, at natututo sa Kanya, unti-unti mong matatagpuan ang pahinga.

Kapatid, baka hindi mo lang kailangan ng pahinga—kailangan mo ng healing sa soul mo.

Pagod ka na siguro kakaisip,

 kakabuhat ng problema,

 kakahabol ng expectations, o 

kaka prove  ng sarili mo.

At minsan kahit nagpe-pray ka, parang hindi pa rin nawawala yung bigat—

pero hindi ibig sabihin wala si Lord.

He is teaching you to rest in Him, 

not just ask from Him.

Ang tunay na pahinga ay hindi lang kapag sinagot Niya ang prayer mo—

kundi kapag natuto kang maging panatag kahit naghihintay ka pa.

Application :

Kapag restless ang isip mo, stop and sit in God’s presence—even in silence. Hindi laging words, minsan presence lang.

Practice surrender daily: “Lord, hindi ko na kayang i-carry ‘to mag-isa.”

Feed your soul, not just your schedule—magbasa ng Word, makinig sa Kanya, hindi lang puro gawa.

Let go of control—hindi lahat kailangan mong ma-figure out today.

Ang pahinga ng kaluluwa ay hindi nakikita sa pag-alis sa problema—

kundi sa pananatili kay Jesus sa gitna ng problema.

🙏

Lord, salamat dahil Ikaw ang nagbibigay ng tunay na pahinga. Kapag magulo ang isip at mabigat ang aming puso, tulungan Mo kaming  lumapit at manatili sa presensya Mo. Turuan Mo kaming magtiwala kahit hindi pa namin nakikita ang sagot. Ikaw ang kapahingahan namin Panginoon. 🙏 In Jesus Name. Amen. 🙏

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PASTORA SHERLY - JCRC RIYADH

MATTHEW 11: WHICH TOWN ARE YOU?

 

WHICH TOWN ARE YOU?

²⁰ Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. ²¹ “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. ²² But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. ²³ And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.^[e] For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. ²⁴ But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

CHORAZIN, BETHSAIDA AND CAPERNAUM are the towns where Jesus perform the miracles but still did not repent.

 CHORAZIN

• A town near the Sea of Galilee
• Witnessed Jesus’ works
• Yet remained unrepentant

BETHSAIDA was the hometown of apostles Peter, Philip and Andrew. It was also the site of feeding of the 5,000 (Luke 9:10-17) and healing of the blind man (Mark 8:22).

• Home of some disciples
• A place of miracles and teaching
• Still, many hearts were hardened

CAPERNAUM was Jesus’ base and even called his own city (Matthew 9:1). It was also the residence of several disciples like John, James and Matthew the tax collector. Capernaum witnessed notable miracles, such as healing the Roman centurion’s servant, restoring Peter’s mother in-law from fever, healing a paralytic man who was lowered through the roof, raising the daughter of Jairus from the dead. Jesus himself frequently taught in the local synagogue. But they did not repent, they didn’t care. They went on to their wicked ways.

• Jesus’ “base of ministry”
• Saw the most miracles
• Yet became proud and spiritually indifferent

So Jesus, in deep sorrow, mentioned these three gentile communities Tyre, Sidon and Sodom. Jesus says that if cities like Tyre and Sidon had seen these miracles, they would have repented because:

·       The more you know about God

·       The more you experience His presence
➡️ The greater your accountability

These three towns proved that Miracles Don’t Guarantee Repentance

• They saw healing, power, and truth, yet their hearts did not change

Therefore, It’s possible to experience God and still resist Him

HOW ABOUT US?

We have read the bible from Old Testament to New, from cover to cover, have known all the recorded miracles Jesus had done. We know that those are only few or partial of what Jesus had done, as Apostle John said in John 21:25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books. And in John 20:30–31 Now Jesus performed many other miraculous signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not recorded in this book.31 But these are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

The record is partial, the bible is partial, but it should be enough. Enough for us all to believe.

Jesus didn’t just show us His miracles in the bible, but we have witnessed it ourselves- in flesh, with our bare eyes. We have been to city ministries where pains were gone in Jesus name, where deliverances were performed in the power of the name of Jesus. During missions, we did what Jesus did, shared the gospel, healed the sick, cast out demons, raised the dead churches. Was it enough to believe in the power of Jesus?

Let us reflect.

·       Is the partial knowledge of Jesus enough for us to care?

·       Is it enough for us to believe in Him?

·       Is it enough for us to truly repent?

·       Is it enough to fully follow Him?

·       Is it enough to fully surrender?

·       Is the firsthand experience of miracles still not enough for us to truly follow and fully surrender?

Jesus clearly expected us to respond to his message and miracles, with true repentance - which is totally turning from sin and turning to God- with total surrender. Failure to repent and believe in Jesus is greater sin than anything ever done in the three notorious Gentile cities. We have read Jesus’ miracles, we have witnessed it by our own eyes, we have experienced His presence, are those not enough for us to fully surrender? Or should we remain in our state of spiritual obesity (taking all the equipping, listening to all the sermons but never moved to follow) and spiritual indifference – where we do not care to whatever we hear and whatever we witnessed? We go on with our life doing our favorite sin, being Christian on Sundays but have different personality on other days, surrendering some aspect of our lives but never the finances, no, I cannot give my tithes, I am short this month and my budget is tight. Did we forget to put God first? It is better for us not to hear and not know God’s words, than knowing but not following. 2 Peter 2:21 (NIV): "It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. James 1:22, Luke 12:47-48, Matthew 7:26

It is not what you have seen or heard about God that matters most—it is how you respond. The greatest danger is not ignorance, but a heart that refuses to change.

 

Let us pray.

Papa God,

Thank you for the revelation of Your word and for the conviction it brings.

Help us to be not spiritually obese, help us to move, help us to act upon what we believe in your words. Help us to care others, help us to be loving enough to find the lost souls, help us to follow you without hesitation. Help us to be sensitive enough of your presence, help us to see you in everything around us, help us not be spiritually indifferent, help us to care on what you care, help us to appreciate you and your deeds. Help us to follow you in total surrender.

These I ask in the mighty name of Jesus.

Thank you my Lord, my God and my King. Amen.

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ELDER MAYEN – JCRC CAMBODIA

Matthew 11: WALK LIKE AND WITH JESUS

 

WALK LIKE AND WITH JESUS

- How did Jesus walk?

 Matthew 11:4-5 Jesus answered them, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.”

 During his ministry, Jesus confirmed his identity as Christ our Savior through the works he performed on earth…

- He denied himself

- He preached

- He cast out demons

- He healed the sick

- He raised the dead

- He discipled/taught

- He sent

- How can we walk like Jesus?

 By being separated from the yoke of the world and submitting to the yoke of Christ Jesus.

 Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

 In ancient times, a yoke was placed on the necks of two animals that worked together in the fields. When we are united with the world and sin, the yoke is heavy. Jesus is the only one who separates us from the world and redeems us from all sin to enter into union with Him in total submission and dependence.

 In Hebrew, the word yoke represents submission, instruction, or influence. When we submit to Jesus and walk in union with Him, we naturally begin to walk like Him.

Are you under the yoke of Jesus or the yoke of the world?

Are you walking WITH and LIKE JESUS?

Jesus invites us to join him.

Are you tired? Come.

Are you burdened? Come.

Are you lost? Come.

 

CAMINANO COMO Y CON JESÚS

- ¿Cómo camino Jesús?

Mateo 11:4-5 Respondiendo Jesús, les dijo: Id, y haced saber a Juan las cosas que oís y veis. Los ciegos ven, los cojos andan, los leprosos son limpiados, los sordos oyen, los muertos son resucitados, y a los pobres es anunciado el evangelio;

Durante su ministerio, Jesús confirmó su identidad como Cristo nuestro salvador a través de las obras que hizo en la tierra…

-Se negó a si mismo

-Predico

-Hecho fuera demonios

-Sano a los enfermos

-Resucitó a los muertos

-Discípulo/enseño

-Envió

- ¿Cómo podemos caminar como Jesús?

Siendo separados del yugo del mundo y sometiéndonos al yugo de Cristo Jesús.

Mateo 11:28-30 Venid a mí todos los que estáis trabajados y cargados, y yo os haré descansar. Llevad mi yugo sobre vosotros, y aprended de mí, que soy manso y humilde de corazón; y hallaréis descanso para vuestras almas; porque mi yugo es fácil, y ligera mi carga.

Antiguamente, se colocaba un yugo en el cuello de dos animales que trabajaban juntos en el campo. Cuando estamos unidos con el mundo y el pecado, el yugo es pesado. Jesús es el único que nos separa del mundo y nos redime de todo pecado para entrar en unión con Él en sometimiento y dependencia total.

En hebreo, la palabra Yugo representa sumisión, instrucción o influencia. Cuando nos sometemos a Jesús y CAMINAMOS EN UNIÓN CON ÉL naturalmente empezamos a caminar COMO Él.

  ¿Estás bajo el yugo de Jesús o el yugo del mundo?

¿Estás caminando CON Y COMO JESÚS?

Jesús nos invita a unirnos a él

¿Estas cansado? Ven

¿Estas cargado? ven

¿Estas perdido? Ven

 Elder Catalina – Latin Church