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Home›Scriptures›Matthew›Historical Examples

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Matthew Historical Examples

160 illustrations — Lessons from history, biography, and world events

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See all Matthew illustrations →See all Historical Examples →

Shaking Dust: The Apostle's Witness Against Rejection

Exell's *Biblical Illustrator* (1887), the sin of those rejecting the apostles encompassed five grave transgressions: infidelity, disobedience, ingratitude, inhospitality, and rebellion against God—defiance contrary to both natural law and divine grace.

Matthew 10:14Universalwitness and rejectionapostolic responsibility

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Also from Matthew

⛪ LensLines™ (1026)📖 Stories & Illustrations (429)🎬 Movie Analogies (159)🙏 Devotionals (153)🎯 Application Points (102)🔍 Biblical Insights (93)💭 Theological Reflections (84)📜 Theological Quotes (75)📝 Commentary (74)🧘 Spiritual Disciplines (48)

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Historical

The Woman's Touch: Faith Discovers Christ in the Crowd

This narrative reveals the desperate calculus of faith.

Matthew 9:20-22Universaldesperation leading to faithChrist's power over affliction

When All the Disciples Forsook Him and Fled

The Biblical Illustrator identifies four root causes of such backsliding: opposition and fear from religion's enemies; worldly conformity that erodes conviction; self-confidence in spiritual attainments; and neglect of private devotional duties.

Matthew 26:56Universalapostasy and restorationshallow versus committed faith

What Shall I Do Then with Jesus? The Question Every Soul Must Answer

Pilate acted with limited knowledge; we possess the full light of Christian revelation streaming upon that Divine face across two millennia.

Matthew 27:22Universalpersonal decision for Christlordship versus compromise

The Nature of Doubt: Philosophical, Rationalistic, and Spiritual

Joseph Exell's *Biblical Illustrator* identifies three categories of doubt worthy of pastoral attention.

Matthew 27:17Universaldoubt and certaintyreason and revelation

The Healing Power of Contact With Christ

First, the antecedents of healing: the diseased recognized their condition, felt genuine anxiety for restoration, and positioned themselves in the right place—near the Lord.

Matthew 14:36Universaldivine healing poweraccessibility of grace

New Wine in Old Bottles: The Law of Congruity

Both old cloth and new cloth share the nature of cloth; similarly, old wine and new wine share the nature of wine.

Matthew 9:17Universaltransformationspiritual readiness

Fear Not: The Angel's Word to Seeking Hearts

Why should not the seekers of Jesus fear?

Matthew 27:6UniversalGod's comfort in fearthe power of seeking Christ

The Permanence of Christ's Word Against All Transience

Canon Liddon identified three marks of our Lord's words: the divine authority that speaks through them, their elevation above earthly discourse, and their awful depth that pierces the soul.

Matthew 24:35Universalpermanence of God's wordtransience of earthly things

Christians as Light: The World's Moral Darkness Dispelled

Jesus Christ proclaimed these words knowing the world's deepest moral condition.

Matthew 5:14Universallight versus darknessChristian witness

Christ's Compassion for the Spiritually Scattered and Leaderless

His gaze pierced beyond mere physical suffering to discern spiritual disease—the scattered, fainting condition of sheep without a shepherd.

Matthew 9:36Universalspiritual vision versus partial sightChrist as the Good Shepherd

The Corrective Test of True Discipleship

Christ did not encourage this impetuous declaration but instead checked it—exposing the man's resolution as that of an unreflecting emotionalist and ambitious worldling.

Matthew 6:19-22Universaltesting of motivescost of following Christ

The Gadarenes' Rejection of Christ's Presence

Here stands a paradox of human nature: those nearest to salvation often reject it most vehemently.

Matthew 6:34Universalrejection of graceimperfect knowledge limiting faith

Confessing Christ Before Men: Duty and Divine Recognition

The Nature of Christian Confession requires four elements: an open avowal of Jesus as Messiah; conscious adherence to fundamental Christian doctrine; declaration of benefits received through His Person; and zealous promotion of Christian truth in the world.

Matthew 10:32Universalconfession of faithpublic witness

The Single Eye: Singleness of Purpose in Eternal Perspective

This is not optical biology but moral vision.

Matthew 6:22Universalsingle-minded devotionmoral clarity

The Righteous Shall Shine Forth as the Sun

The parable of the wheat and tares reveals a profound truth: the beauty of the righteous man remains hidden in the present age.

Matthew 10:43Universalhidden righteousness revealedtrial as spiritual formation

Follow Me: The Master's Call to Imitation and Service

The Victorian expositor understood this command as operating on five essential dimensions.

Matthew 4:19Universalfollowing Christ as Teacher and Exampleimitation of Jesus's sacrificial purpose

The Perilous Harmfulness of Little Sins

Little sins are peculiarly offensive to God precisely because they are little—we risk offending Him for what we ourselves care very little about and expect insignificant return from.

Matthew 5:19Universalmoral law and divine authorityhidden spiritual danger

The Darkness at Calvary: Shadow and Redemption

This supernatural eclipse during the crucifixion carries five profound theological meanings, as exposited by Dean Stanley and W.

Matthew 27:45Universaldivine judgmenttriumph through apparent defeat

Christ's Division: When Faith Separates Families

Because all members share identical stakes in eternity.

Matthew 10:35Universalcost of faithdivided households

Winter Evenings: Testing Ground for Moral Character

The Victorian preacher recognized winter as uniquely perilous—not merely because of physical suffering, but because lengthy evenings create moral vulnerability.

Matthew 24:20Universalmoral testingtemptation and resistance

Preach the Kingdom as You Go: Five Essential Questions

Matthew 10:7 presents five critical dimensions of apostolic proclamation, restored from Joseph S. Exell's Victorian exposition: First, *Who* preaches? The disciples Christ commissioned. Second, *What* do they announce? "The kingdom of heaven"—speak of the King in His threefold majesty: King...

Matthew 10:7Universalthe missionary mandategrace received and shared

Contrary Winds: Divine Providence in the Disciples' Trial

On the night of Matthew 14:24, wind descended with such fury that experienced fishermen-apostles, after nine hours of *ponos* (toiling), had advanced merely three miles against it.

Matthew 14:24Universalprovidencespiritual perseverance

Childish Resistance: Why Men Reject Christ's Varied Mercies

The Jews employed the pipe (*aulos*) for both marriages and funerals—music for joy and mourning alike.

Matthew 10:16Universalspiritual resistanceGod's varied mercies