Matthew Sermon Illustrations, Free Preaching Ideas on Matthew

The Fig Tree Jesus Cursed

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 11, 2025

| 632 views

An acted-out parable: most of Israel was like a fig tree out of SEASON. “The early figs, appearing in March or April and ripening in June, are called ‘bikkurah.’ …The early fig was considered a great delicacy by the Hebrews. The late or green figs, which sometimes ripen after the fall of the leaf, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:12-25, Matthew 21:18-22

Tags: Curse, Fig Tree

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Moving Mountains A Figure Of Speech

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 11, 2025

| 529 views

The imagery of a mountain is HYPERBOLE. Zechariah 4:7a, “Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubabel you shall become a plain.” "The Jews used to set out those teachers among them, that were more eminent for the profoundness of their learning, or the splendour of their virtues, by such ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:23, Matthew 17:20-21

Tags: Mountains, Hyperbole, Moving Moutains

Denomination: Independent/Bible

End Times Ignorance

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 22, 2025

| 780 views

A friend says to a seminarian, “What subjects are you studying at school?” The young theologian says, “You know, the usual, Biblical Texts, Church History, Ministry and Systematic Theology.” The friend asks if he has studied anything on eschatology in his Systematic class. The seminarian ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:1-22, Matthew 24:1-51

Tags: End Times, Eschatology, Second Coming, Tribulation, Millennium, Bible Prophecy, Last Things (view more) (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Have To Die To Go To Heaven

Contributed by John Bright on Apr 17, 2025

| 339 views

Remember, all the bodies are going to die. Jesus had a body. What happened on the cross? He died. So will we. Amen – the end. That would be a terrible place to end a sermon but it reminds me of a Sunday School story. The teacher asked the children, “If I sold my house and car and gave all my ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 9:2, Matthew 7:13-14

Tags: Sunday School, Heaven

Denomination: Methodist

The Reason For Evangelism

Contributed by John Bright on May 15, 2025

| 483 views

The Reason for Evangelism The “WHY” might be the most important missing part for choosing to not share a personal testimony and the Good News with other folks. I recently read the book, “Five Little Words to Change a Life,” by Nick and Rozanne Savoca (2022). Nick shares an experience that uses a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20, Luke 15:11-32

Tags: Evangelism, Prodigal Son

Denomination: Methodist

Secret Service Christians

Contributed by David Dunn on Sep 30, 2025

| 455 views

A man was coming out of church one day. The pastor stood at the door to shake hands and gently pulled him aside. “Brother,” he said, “you need to join the Army of the Lord.” The man smiled, “Pastor, I’m already in the Lord’s army.” “Then how come I only see you at Christmas and Easter?” He ...read more

Scripture: John 2:11, Matthew 5:14-16

Tags: Commitment, Discipleship, Kingdom

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

The Medal Didn’t Last

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 16, 2025

| 222 views

A church once gave their pastor a medal: “Most Humble Pastor.” They took it back the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-4, Micah 6:8

Tags: Humility, Pride

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Jumping To Conclusions

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 25, 2025

based on 3 ratings

| 210 views

John was driving home late one night when he picked up a hitchhiker. As they rode along, he began to be suspicious of his passenger. John checked to see if his wallet was safe in the pocket of his coat that was on the seat between them, but it wasn't there! He slammed on the brakes, ordered ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 18:13, Matthew 7:1-2

Tags: Judgment, Assumption

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

A Saint

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 27, 2025

| 385 views

Story: In a small country village in Sicily, there were two brothers, renown members of the local Mafia. They were mean, bad and very rich. No one had a good word to say about them. Indeed, everyone seemed to have a story about how they had either been cheated or maligned by the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-14, Hebrews 12:18-24

Tags: Saint, Mafia

Denomination: Anglican

Forgotten Lifeboat

Contributed by David Dunn on Nov 3, 2025

| 212 views

When the church stops rescuing the lost, it loses its reason to exist. God calls us from comfort back to mission. Years ago, a small village sat along a rocky coastline where shipwrecks often happened. Volunteers built a tiny rescue hut and kept watch, rowing out whenever a distress call came. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:4, Matthew 28:19

Tags: Complacency, Mission

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

The Watchman And His Lamp

Contributed by David Dunn on Nov 16, 2025

| 230 views

A watchman was stationed at a railroad level crossing. His duty was simple yet critical: to wave a lantern armed with a light, warning approaching motorists or engineers about an oncoming train. One tragic night, a fatal accident occurred despite his presence. In court, he was asked ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:14, Colossians 1:27

Tags: Responsibility, Duty, Authentic

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Corrie Ten Boom

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Nov 28, 2025

| 172 views

Corrie Ten Boom was a Jew that worked with the underground resistance against Hilter. 6 million died. Corrie, her dad Caspar and sister, BETSY were arrested. They were taken into captivity by the Germans in the Jewish Death Camps. Corrie and her sister were captives. In her book THE HIDING PLACE, ...read more

Scripture: Job 42:10, Matthew 11:28-30

Tags: Faith, Plan, Trust

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Pennies, Pluto, And The Things That Matter

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Dec 18, 2025

| 167 views

I just got back to my office after a quick stop for a soda and a snack. When the cashier gave me back my change, he rounded it to the nearest nickel. It looks like we're doing away with pennies. For some odd reason, I think that's sad. But it makes sense (pun intended). From what I hear, it ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46, Mark 12:41-44

Tags: Pluto, Pennies, Kingdom, Kindness

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Spurgeon Quote

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 3, 2026

| 104 views

"For us to hate those who are in error, or talk of them with contempt or wish them ill, or do them wrong, is not according to the Spirit of Christ. You cannot cast out Satan by Satan, nor correct error by violence, nor overcome hate ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:12, Matthew 5:43-48

Tags: Love, Enemies

Denomination: Methodist

Light Is Powerful (And Sometimes Annoying)

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Feb 20, 2026

based on 1 rating

| 126 views

I had a teacher in high school who used to do an experiment with a light bulb. He had a static electricity machine and when you put a light bulb near the source of static electricity, the bulb would burn. The only problem was that he was also holding on to the electrical cord attached to the light ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13-16, Isaiah 49:6

Tags: All Nations, Mission, Sent, Evangelism, Light (view more) (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Don’t Hide The Light: The Blackberry Pocket Parable

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Feb 20, 2026

based on 1 rating

| 110 views

When I first got my Blackberry (throwback, anyone?), it had an annoying habit of opening up to the camera and taking literally hundreds of pictures of the inside of my pocket with the flash going. The camera was not intended to take pictures of lint covered peppermints or the amount of change I’ve ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13-16, Isaiah 49:6

Tags: Evangelism, Light, Light To The Nations, Hiding The Light

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Children’s Prayers

Contributed by David Dunn on Feb 24, 2026

| 143 views

A mother was teaching her three-year-old the Lord’s Prayer. Night after night they practiced, and one evening the little girl said, “Mommy, I can do it myself.” So she folded her tiny hands and prayed, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us some e-mail.” Another Sunday a family’s little boy ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:15-25, Matthew 6:9-13

Tags: Sanctification, Temptation

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

I Want To Build A Bridge

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Mar 28, 2026

| 112 views

I WANT TO BUILD A BRIDGE! The parents had died and left the farm to their two sons. The farm was divided by a creek. There was deep, hard feelings between the two brothers. They had not spoken to each other in several years. They went to the same church but they would not talk or even look at each ...read more

Scripture: John 15:14, Matthew 1:23

Tags: Bridge, Build

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Voice Of God

Contributed by Richard L. Brown on Mar 28, 2026

| 111 views

The Voice of God says many important things to us. The main thing and the most reassuring is, “You are never alone”. God will never ever leave you. I am reminded of how God let my wife Becky know that he was with her when she was in a time of trouble. Her father was sick and in dire condition in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:1-9, Exodus 34:1-9

Tags: Faith, Security, Care

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Democracy Vs. The Kingdom Of God

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Mar 29, 2026

| 117 views

It’s a bit difficult for us, living in 21st-century America, to understand and accept the principle of God’s kingship, because we don’t live in a monarchy or a dictatorship, as did the people of Biblical times. We live in a representative democracy, under a Constitution. In our form of government, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:4-5, Revelation 11:15-16

Tags: Kingdom Of God, Democracy, Kingship Of Christ

Denomination: Baptist

In Sermon Illustrations: "Matthew"

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Confident Preaching

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 11, 2025

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