Matthew 12:38-42 - Some of the religious leaders came to Jesus demanding a sign from him, but Jesus refused to give them any sign except for the sign of Jonah. He said that just as Jonah spent three days in the belly of the whale, so would he spend three days buried in the ground before coming back again. He also said that the people of Jonah’s day would come back in judgement because they listened and repented at Jonah’s teaching, but now someone even greater than Jonah was here.Big Idea: Keeping Our Hearts Open To Jesus

Matthew 13:53-58 - Once Jesus went to teach in the synagogue of his hometown, and the people were shocked and offended at what he was saying. They whispered amongst themselves, asking where he could have gotten his wisdom and miraculous powers, since they’ve seen him growing up and knew his whole family. Jesus told them that a prophet is honoured everywhere except in their own hometown, and he went away and didn’t do many miracles due to their lack of faith.

Matthew 4:1-11 - Jesus goes into the wilderness to fast and is tested three times by the Villain. First, he is tempted to turn stones into bread; second, he is tempted to test God’s protection of him by jumping off a high cliff; and third, he is tempted to worship the Villain in order to receive all the kingdoms of the world. Jesus overcomes each one of these temptations by leaning on Scripture and trusting in God.

Luke 8:19-21 - Once when Jesus was teaching, his mother and brothers came to see him, but they couldn’t reach him due to the large crowd surrounding him. Someone informed him that his mother and brothers were looking for him, and he took the opportunity to teach the crowd that anyone who listens to and obeys God’s word are his mother and brothers.

Matthew 11:28-30 - Jesus encourages his followers to come to him when they are tired and weary, and he will give them rest for their souls. The “yoke” or “burden” of Jesus’ teachings is light because he gives us strength in our weakness and helps us to carry them.

Matthew 8:18-22 - Once a religious leader came to Jesus, wanting to follow him wherever he went. Jesus warned him that the path would not be comfortable - "Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." Then another man came and told Jesus that he would follow him, but to let him wait and bury his father first (ie. to wait until his father died). Jesus encouraged him to take the step and follow him now, rather than waiting for the right time. 

John 8:12 - Jesus teaches his followers that he is the light of the world, and that anyone who follows him will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.

Matthew 19:13-15 - Once when Jesus was teaching a large crowd, some people were bringing their children to Jesus so that he could pray for them. However, the disciples rebuked them and tried to keep the children away. Jesus responded by telling his disciples to let the children come to him and not to hinder them, because the kingdom of God is for them too. Then he blessed them and went on his way.

Matthew 2:19-23 - After King Herod died, the angel appeared to Joseph again in a dream to tell him that it was safe to return to Israel with Mary and Jesus. However, Herod's son had become the king of Judea in his place and they were afraid to return there. Instead, Joseph, Mary, and Jesus went to Nazareth in Galilee. This fulfilled the prophesy that the Messiah would be called a Nazarene. 

Matthew 2:13-15 - When the wise men had gone home after visiting Jesus, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream, warning him that King Herod was going to try to kill Jesus, and that they should escape to Egypt. So Joseph, Mary, and Jesus stayed in Egypt until King Herod died. This happened in fulfillment of the prophesy from Hosea, “Out of Egypt I called my Son.”

Matthew 2:1-12 - After Jesus was born, the wise men, also known as Magi, came searching for “the one who has been born king of the Jews.” They had seen a star in the sky which alerted them to his birth, and wanting to find him to worship him. But when King Herod of Judea heard about it, he was disturbed by the news. He found out from the chief priests and religious teachers that the Messiah (anointed one) was to be born in Bethlehem. So Herod sent the Magi to Bethlehem to search for the child, and asked them to bring him news as well. When the Magi found Jesus, they were overjoyed, bowed down and worshipped him, and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. However, they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, but to go by a different route.

Matthew 1:18-25 - In this passage, Matthew recounts the story of how Jesus’ birth came about. A woman named Mary was pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, but before they got married, she was found to be pregnant. Joseph didn’t want Mary to be publicly shamed, so he decided to divorce her quietly. However, an angel appeared to him in a dream telling him not to be afraid and that Mary was pregnant through the Holy Spirit. The angel announced that the child would be named Jesus and that he would be the savior of all people. Jesus would also be called Emmanuel, which means “God with us.”