Matthew   One ….(verses 1-25)

1. Verses  1-6                                                                                               

a.  What patriarch does this list of names start with?     (verse 1)

It starts with Abraham.

b.  Whose ancestors are being listed?      (verse 1)

Jesus Christ.

c.   Whose son is He said to be here?        (verse 1; Matthew 21:9)

He is portrayed as the Son of David.

d.   We have a different set of genealogical names given in Luke 3:23-38,  how does this list start off?   

It starts off the other way round, by saying that Jesus was (supposed as) the son of Joseph.

e.   Where does this list become the same set of names as the one in Matthew?    (verses 2-6;  Luke 3:31-34)

It is the same from David back to Abraham.

f.  Which son of David is shown in Luke? Which son in Matthew?       (verse 6; Luke 3:31)

The list of names in Luke goes through Nathan the son of David, and the list in Matthew goes through King Solomon, son of David.

g. What conclusion do we come to with these two obvious different genealogies both seeming to belong to  Christ ?       (verse 16; Luke 3: 23)

One is obviously Joseph’s (so and so BEGAT so and so ending with Jacob BEGAT Joseph the husband of Mary) and the Luke one says Joseph was the SON OF Heli, so it must mean the son-in-law of Heli which makes this Mary’s line.

h. How many women’s names are mentioned in this passage?             (verses 3, 5, 6)

There are four  names mentioned…Tamar, Rachab (Rahab), and Ruth with Bathsheba mentioned as David’s stolen wife.

i. If we follow these stories through, we see that that the first three are all foreign women who came into Israel….what was their common goal?            (Genesis 38:6-30; Joshua 2:1-15; Ruth 1:16-17)

They all had the desire to know God and wanted to do what was right before Him….Tamar had been denied the right to bear a child for the line of Judah so she took the matter into her own hands; Rahab had the knowledge that the God of Israel was all powerful and Ruth had the desire to know this God of Israel…..all three were absorbed into the nation of Israel in spite of their backgrounds and all are included in the genealogy of Christ, the Saviour of the world.

1. Verses  7-17  

a.  These names are all slightly different to the ones in the Old Testament due to the fact of being written in Greek rather than Hebrew…..what are the names  a list of, from verses 7-11? When?(1 Chronicles 3:10-17)       

These are the kings of Judah from Solomon through to the captivity.

b.  What did Zorobabel do?      (verse 12; Ezra 3:2 )

He was one of the builders who repaired the temple and walls at Jerusalem.

c.    What is said about Joseph? What does it NOT say?      (verse 16)

It says he was the husband of Mary who was the mother of Jesus….it does NOT say he was the father of Jesus.

d.   What interesting observation is made about this genealogy?    (verse 17)

That it is in three sections of fourteen generations.

3.    Verses 18-25   

a.   How do you think Joseph felt when he found that Mary was pregnant before their marriage? (verses 18-19)

He was so upset that he considered parting from her.

b.  What changed his mind?    (verses 21-22)

God’s angel spoke to him in a dream telling him this was a supernatural conception, and this was a special child.

c.    What did the angel remind Joseph of?              (verses 22-23; Isaiah 7:14)

Of the Old Testament Scriptures that had prophesied this.

d.   What was Joseph’s reaction after all this?        (verses 24-25)

He obeyed God and took Mary to himself, looking after and protecting her until the birth of her Son. She remained a virgin until after the baby’s birth.

e.   What does the name “Jesus” mean?             (verse 21)

It means Saviour.

f.  What does the name “Emmanuel” mean?        (verse 23)

It means “God with us”.

g.   In what way did Christ incorporate these two names?             (John  3:17; 12:44-46, 49-50)

He came into the world to reveal God’s love to mankind and to do something about it…die on the cross as payment for man’s sin.

h.   What did Christ say about Himself revealing God to the people?             (John  10: 27-30)

He said that He and His Father were one….those who were looking at Him, were seeing all the Father’s attributes in Him.

 

Matthew   Two ….(verses 1-23)

1.    Verses  1-12                                                                                             

a.  How many wise men are mentioned in this story?      (verse 2)

The number is not given.

b.  Why do you think it is popularly supposed there were three?      (verse 11b)

Because there were three sorts of gifts.

c.   Where did the Old Testament say the Messiah would be born?        (verse 5; Micah 5:2)

The small town of Bethlehem was specifically named.

d.   What were the wise men following on their trip to find this king?       (verses 2, 7, 9)

They were following a star that moved along leading them.

e.   What happened to their view of the star as they got near Jerusalem?    (verse 2)

They lost sight of it because they thought they knew best where to find this new king.

f.  What lesson is there in this for us today?                (Proverbs 3:5-6)

When we take our eyes off God’s leading and His Word and follow our own reasoning, we will get into trouble.

g. How did the wise men get back on track?                       (verse 9)

When they left the king and the glitter of the palace, the star shone again for them and took them right to where the young child was!

h. What does this tell us?             (Psalm 23:2-3; 119:105)

That we will never go  wrong when we follow God’s Word….. once we leave our own ideas and the glitter of the world behind, we will see God’s leading once more.

i. What sort of gifts did the men give to the baby Jesus?       (verse 11)

Gold, frankincense and myrrh…all ver expensive and with a good resale value.

2.    Verses  13-18

a.  What three reasons can you find why Joseph took his family to Egypt?      (verses 13,15)

Because he saw an angel in a dream which told him to go; because Herod the king was going to try to destroy the Child, and it was also to fulfil Old Testament prophecy.

b.  How was Joseph able to afford to stay there?      (verse 15a)

By selling the gifts the wise men had given them.

c.   Why did Herod slaughter all those young male children?        (verse 13b, 16)

He wanted to destroy the threat to his position as king.

d.   What else did this action of his do?       (verses 17-18)

It fulfilled another Old Testament prophecy that God gave…..God knew exactly what Herod would do all those hundreds of years earlier.

3.    Verses  19-23

a.  How did Joseph know when it was safe to leave Egypt?      (verses 19-20)

The angel spoke to him in another dream and told him it was time to leave….. Herod was dead and the threat to the child was gone.

b.  Where did the family settle, and why there?      (verses 22-23; Luke 1:26-27)

They went to Nazareth….this was the home town of Mary and Joseph, and the Old Testament prophecies had said the Messiah would come from Nazareth..

c.   In this one chapter, we have three prophecies concerning the coming Messiah which all say He came from three different places….what are these places?      (verses 6, 15, 23)

Bethlehem, Egypt and Nazareth.

d   If you had lived in BC times and been familiar with the Old Testament Scriptures and these three prophecies in particular, could you have reconciled these three prophecies to the one person? Or would it have seemed like they were totally unrelated?       

It is hard to say….much prophecy is veiled in mystery and only becomes clear when it is fulfilled.

e   What light do these three prophecies throw on yet unfulfilled prophecy today?

Many prophecies that seem unrelated may in fact be different angles of one and the same event.

f.  What are we told about the childhood of Jesus?    (Luke 2:51-52)

Very little…He grew in favour with God and man….He was a totally obedient, helpful and likeable child!

 

Matthew   Three ….(verses 1-17)

1.    Verses  1-6                                                                                               

a.  Enter John the Baptist….who was he?      (verse 1; Luke 1: 5-6, 13, 66, 80)

He was the son of Zachariah the priest and his wife Elisabeth…his birth was foretold to them as they were old and had no family.

b.  What was John’s job to be?      (verse 1b-2; Matthew 11:9-10, 13-14)

It was his job to prepare the people for the coming Messiah and His teaching, and to introduce Him to Israel.

c.   Where did John live once he was old enough to leave home?  What was his manner of life?      (verse 4;  Luke 1:80)

He lived out in the wilderness…he was a plain man living simply and off the land, dressing in  a cloak made of rough camel hair tied with a leather belt, and eating locusts and wild honey.

d.   What did he preach about?       (verses 2-3, 5-9; John 1:6-8, 15-18)

He preached repentance from sin and told of the One who would shortly appear to the people.

e.   What sort of results did he have from his preaching?    (verses 5-6)

Many followed him listening to his preaching and being baptised.

2.    Verses  7-12

a.  How did John speak to the religious leaders?      (verses 7-8)

Very straight…he didn’t give them soft words but the truth. He pointed out that they too needed to repent from their sins and show it by changed lives.

b.  Who (or what) did the religious leaders have their trust in?      (verse 9)

They had their trust in the fact that Abraham was their ancestor.

c.   What did John say about that theory?      (verses 9c-10)

That Abraham was no more important than any other person as far as sin was concerned….each person was judged on their own merits. God could bring children to Abraham from even the stones if he wanted to!

d.   Who DID God bring into the family of Abraham (which was unthinkable to the religious leaders)?       (Galatians 3:25-29)

He brought in the Gentile peoples through their faith in Jesus Christ.

e.   What did John say was different between his baptism and Christ’s baptism?    (verse 11)

John could only point them to repentance and water baptism to show this, whereas Christ  would baptise people who turned to Him with the Holy Spirit of God which would give total forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

f.  How do we know this difference in the baptisms?        (Acts 10: 44-48; 18:24-26; 19:1-7)

By what we read in the book of Acts….we are clearly shown that there waas a big difference in the two baptisms…John’s baptism showed that the people had repented of their sins, whereas the baptism of  the Holy Spirit came with belief in Christ for salvation. It did not have to be asked for, it came instantly upon people’s acceptance of the Gospel message, and the ability to speak in other languages that followed in those days proved that it was real. Water baptism comes AFTER the baptism of the Holy Spirit as an outward picture of  what has happened inwardly.

g. Does our heritage (e.g. being born into a Christian family or certain ethnic group) make any difference in being baptised with the Holy Spirit?    (Acts 11: 13-17;  Romans 8:8-9, 14-17)

If a person does not have the Holy Spirit in his life, he is not a born-again Christian. It is God Who gives His Holy Spirit  who brings the person into God’s family and gives eternal life.

3.    Verses  13-17

a.  Why did John not want to baptise Jesus?      (verses 13-14; Luke 3:15-16, 21-22; John 1:29-36)

Because he knew that Jesus had no sin to repent of….he knew He was the Lamb of God who would die for the sins of the world.

b.  Why did Jesus want to be baptised then?      (verses 14-17; John 1:33)

To identify Himself with the people and to prove to John Who He really was.

c.   How DID this prove anything to John?        (verse 17; John 1:33)

Because he heard God’s voice proclaiming Jesus as His Son, and he saw the Holy Spirit descending and remaining on Him.

d.   How did John describe this as happening?       (John 1:32)

He saw the Holy Spirit coming down as a dove comes down, flying around in circles as it descends, and he heard God’s voice saying this was His beloved Son Who pleased Him very much.

4.   Verses  13-17

a.  What happened to John the Baptist in the end?      (Matthew 14:1-12)

He was put into prison and beheaded.

b.  When does it seem that John was imprisoned?      (Luke 3:15-20)

Almost straight after the baptism of Jesus.

c.   Why do you think this was so?        (verses 2-3, 11, 17)

Because his work of paving the way for the Son of God was now done….God Himself had introduced Jesus to the nation, and He  would pick up the baton as it were from there and continue His own ministry.

 

Matthew Four ….(verses 1-25)

1.    Verses  1-3               

a.  What experience had Jesus just been through?      (ch.3:16-17)

He had just been baptised by John in the water, and had received the Holy Spirit in a bodily form with His Father proclaiming that He was His beloved Son in an audible voice.

b.  This would have been an uplifting experience…what happened now immediately after that? (verses1-2)

He was about to embark on His public ministry of revealing God to the people, but now He was about to be  severely tested by Satan.

c.   Where did this happen? For how long?      (Luke 4:1-2)

He was led out into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit  where he remained for forty days without food.

d.  The number of forty is generally regarded as a time of testing….what other times of forty (days or years) do we know of?   (Genesis 7:4; Numbers 14:33-34; Jonah 3:4)

The flood began with forty days of rain; Israel wandered in the wilderness for forty years; Nineveh had forty days to repent.

e.   In what ways was Jesus tried (tested, tempted) in these forty days?    (verses 2-3)

He had had no food and was very hungry and possibly physically weak, and Satan came to attack Him in the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of life.

2.    Verses  3-11

a.  What area of Christ’s life did Satan attack Him on first?      (verse 3)

His physical need of food.

b.  What did Satan suggest doing this would prove?      (verse 3)

That He really was the Son of God.

c.   How did Jesus reply to him?      (verse 4; Deuteronomy 8:3)

He quoted Scripture to him where it says that bread alone does not give true life.     

e.   What was Jesus showing here that is more important in life than bread (food) ?    (John 6:31-35)

To obey God’s Word is the most important thing there is.

f.  What was the second area that Satan tempted Jesus on?         (verses 5-6)

The mental area…the accolation  of men in doing the spectacular, to prove He was the Son of God.

g. What argument did Satan use for his suggestion?                  (verse 6; Psalm 91:11-12)

He used Scripture himself this time!

h.  How did Christ answer him?      (verse 7; Deuteronomy 6:16)

Again from the Scriptures.

i.  What did Christ’s answer suggest to Satan (and us)?      (John 10:29-30; 17:21-23 )

That He is God….One with the Father.

j.   What area did Satan appeal to in his third argument?      (verse 8-9; 1 John 2:15-16)

Man’s vanity and love of power…but there was no response from our Saviour in this, or in the spiritual aspect he cunningly brought in (worship)

k.   What was Christ’s answer this time ?    (verse 10; Mark 12:29-30)

He ordered him to leave…. “Begone!”  He quoted Scripture again, the first commandment, “Thou shalt worship the Lord they God and Him only shalt thou serve!”  There is only One to worship

l  How did Jesus feel when Satan left Him?                             (verse 11)

He was physically drained and very weak in his humanity….the angels came and ministered to Him….but He was strong spiritually not having bowed to Satan’s suggestions.

3.    Verse  11   

a.  What can we expect when we have just publicly obeyed the Lord in some way? Or had a great spiritual experience?                                   (John 15:20; 16:33)

We can expect an attack and a testing from Satan.

b.  What can we remember that will help us in a time like this?      (John 17:15-16, 20)

That our Lord prayed for us specifically that we would not be swamped by the Evil One….we are not of the world any more or under Satan’s control and God  has given us the weapons to defeat him.

c.   What is our safeguard in this battle?      (Ephesians 6:10-17; Hebrews 4:12)

Our salvation is our protective armour, faith in God is our shield and the Word of God is our attacking weapon like a sword.

e.   How are we to take this testing ?    (James 4:7)

By standing firm in our faith using the Word of God to envelopb our mind, and resist Satan in every way and he will leave you alone until the nest time!

f.  What was Christ able to say about Satan?        (John 14:30)

That even though he was the prince of the power of the air, He (Christ) had no response to what Satan offered…there was no answering chord in Him.

g. How can we become like this?                  (1 Corinthians 16:13;  Colossians 3:1-10)

By not being involved in the old way of life, by putting off the “old man” and cultivating the “new man” by reading God’s Word daily and living in His ways, then standing firm when temptation does come.

4.    Verses  12-17

a.  Whereabouts did Jesus start His ministry with people?                 (verses 12–13)

He left Nazareth and went to Capernaum on the edge of  the Sea of Galilee.

b.  Why do you think Jesus left his home town of Nazareth?      (ch. 13:54-58)

They didn’t want His teaching and made that obvious….they wouldn’t listen.

c.   What did the people of Nazareth generally think of Him?      (Luke 4:16, 28-30)

As nobody special or different to themselves; they actually got angry at His teaching and tried to kill Him.

e.   What was the Lord’s comment about their attitude?    (Mark 6:1-6)

A prophet doesn’t have any respect or honour from his own relatives or locals.

f.  What can we expect then if we try something new?      (John 15:20)

That just as the people then wouldn’t listen to Jesus, so they won’t listen to us…we can only expect a half hearted response until we prove our worth and even then some will remain sceptical!

g. What was this “great light” that Isaiah spoke of?                  (Isaiah 9:2, 6-7)

He was prophesying of the birth and life of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

h.  What principle is there for us today in this passage?         

That we must prove ourselves at home first  before we move out into the community or wider field.  If we can’t make it in the face of the difficulties at home, we won’t make it further afield.

5.    Verses  18-22

a.  What is Jesus doing in this passage?                 (verses 18-19, 21-22)

He began to call His disciples together.

b.  What trade did these ones have?     

They were all fishermen.

c.   Was this the first time that Peter and Andrew had met Jesus?  Who was Andrew with the first time?     (John 1:35-42)

No. Andrew had been with John the Baptist when he made the statement concerning Jesus being the Lamb of God, and then went and took Peter to meet Him.

e.   How did Philip and Nathanael come to be two more of Christ’s disciples?    (John 1:43-48)

Philip lived in the same town as Peter and Andrew and Jesus saw him one day and asked him to follow Him. He knew Nathanael and told him that he had met the Man who was the Messiah….Nathanael was a bit sceptical and said nothing good could come from Nazareth, so Philip took him to meet Him.

f.  What  comment did Jesus make that clinched it for Nathanael?           (John 1: 48-50)

“You are a sincere honest man……. I saw you sitting under the fig tree”….one wonders what Nathanael had been pondering on while sitting there!

g. What was Matthew’s trade?                  (ch. 9:9)

He was a tax collector for the Romans, and despised by the people for doing this job.

h.  Was there any hesitation in any of these men when Jesus called them to follow Him?        (verse 20)

No, they all left what they were doing and went with Him.

i.  How many special disciples did Jesus call? Was there any significance in this number?    (Revelation 21:10-14)

When the heavenly city is described in Revelation, it mentions the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles who were the twelve gates and the twelve foundations of the city. So the city is made up of people from both the Old Testament times as well as the New Testament times.

6.    Verses  23-25

a.  Did Jesus call His disciples BEFORE His healing ministry began?        (Luke 5:1-11)

It seems that He had already started preaching  when He called Peter and his mates.

b.  Had Jesus known Peter before He called him?      (Luke 5:2)

It seems like it.

c.   What else do we know about Peter?     (Luke 4:37-39; 5:2-3a)

He had his own business and fishing boat;  he was married and had his own home and with his mother-in-law living (or staying) with them.

e.   What made Jesus famous among the people….His teaching or His healing?      (verses 23-24)

It was His healing of the people.

f.  Did Jesus ever turn anyone away from being healed?              (verses 23c, 24c)

No, He healed them all whether good or bad.

g. Where was the ministry of Jesus concentrated on at this time?                  (verse 23)

In the province of Galilee….people came there from all over the place.

h.  What lesson can we learn from this?           (Acts 1:8b)

That we must start at HOME before moving out further afield; that when we are shown something  to do we are to it immediately. God enables those He calls.

 

Matthew Five ….(verses 1-48)

This chapter begins what is commonly called the  “Beatitudes”. We see in the Beatitudes a natural progression  which we each one have in our own spiritual life…..

1.    Verses  1-12

a.     Who was Jesus talking to when He gave these sayings?      (verses 1-2)

It seems as though it was just His disciples.

b.  What are these beatitudes to do with?                      (verses3-9)

They are to do with our spiritual condition and  “attitude” to others.

c.   What do these attitudes predominantly show?      (Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:12)

Love and humility.

d.  Who is our prime example for these attitudes?   (ch 11:29; Philippians 2:5-8)

Jesus Christ had every reason to be exalted, but He was just the opposite….He left all His glory behind when He came to earth.

e.   Do these attitudes come naturally for us?           (Romans 12:3, 10, 16)

No, they have to be cultivated and worked at.

f.  What promise is there given to these attitudes?           (verses 3-7)

Those who obey will be blessed (happy)  in their mind and spirit

g. How does God view a humble spirit?                  (1 Peter 3:4)

As something of great price and value…..He appreciates it very much.

2.    Verses  3-4               

a.  What does “poor in spirit” mean?      (verse 3; Psalm 34:18; Micah 6:8)

It means someone who is humbles themselves before God with a contrite heart, and who depends on Him.

b.  What do these people inherit?      (verse 3: 1 Peter 5:4-7)

The kingdom of heaven and a crown of glory….they GET to heaven!

c.   Why can a proud person not become a Christian?      (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5)

Because they won’t admit they are sinners and need saving!

d.  Who and where can look to for comfort?              (verse 4; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

The Triune God will comfort those who mourn…

Hebrews 4:14-16                 The Son, our Lord Jesus Christ  who bore our  sins and sorrows at the cross.

John 14:18, 26       The Holy Spirit of God who is called the “Comforter” is with us at all times.

Psalm 103:13          The Father  pities His children and extends His grace to them.

e.   What progression do we see in these first two Beatitudes in our own life?  

That as we have humbled ourselves to come to God for salvation, we will then begin to mourn for and confess the sinful life we have lived, but are comforted by God as we realise that is all behind us now.

3.    Verses  5-9               

a.  In what way can the meek “inherit the earth” ?      (verse 53; Psalm 37:11; 1 Timothy 6:11)

Being meek means someone who is content with the things of the Lord,  not a stirrer or one who makes trouble or gossips…meekness is one of the fruits of the Spirit and as we grow in the things of the Lord and obey His Word,  this shows itself in our character.

b.  How can those who hunger and thirst after righteousness be filled?      (verse 6: Psalm 119:97, 103; John 4:14-15; 6:51, 58)

As we read God’s word and meditate on it, our soul is satisfied…everything we need for  spiritual growth is found in it. No Word, no growth, as simple as that! God’s Word is sweeter than honey to our soul and as we assimilate it into our character, we are “eating of Him” and will grow.

c.   What common saying does verse 7 illustrate?      (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5)

Do to others what you would have them do to you!

d.  Why should we be  merciful?              (Luke 6:36; James 3:17; 5:11)

Because God has been merciful to us when we didn’t deserve it….it is one of the characteristics of God and the more we follow Him the more we should show this

e.   What is the next “Blessed” thing?  How does this follow all the other things we have learned? (verse  8; 1 Corinthians 3:17; 6:19; 1 Peter 1:15-16)

We are to be holy because God is holy….the more we grow in Him, the more we become like Him.

f.  What helps us to keep ourselves pure before God?      (verse 8; Psalm 101:2-3; Proverbs 23:7a; Philippians 4:8)

The thought of all that God has done for us and of our present position before Him because of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice. This will help us to BE what we ARE! We are to watch our thought life  because we ARE  what we think about,  watch and read, so we are to be very selective in these areas.

g.  What is the promise for those who are pure in heart, mind and thoughts?      (verse 8b)

They will see God, not only in the time to come, but here and now….they will see His hand in creation as well as in circumstances in their life.

h.  Why should Christians be peaceful citizens?                      (verse 9; Romans 5:1; Galatians 5:22)

As a testimony to others, it is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. If we have peace WITH
God we should show the peace OF God in our life. We can’t be of any help to others if we are at loggerheads with them.

4.    Verses  10-12

a.  If we have been poor in spirit, mourned for our sin, doing  what is right, living merciful and pure lives seeking peace, what can we expect?      (verses 10-11; John 16:33b)

We can expect to be persecuted for our faith…not necessarily in being put into prison as Paul was, but even in little things by those we work with (or maybe our families) whose consciences are being pricked by what they see in us.

b.  Why would persecuted ones inherit the kingdom of God?      (verse 11)

They are only being persecuted because they are Christians and already belong to God’s kingdom.

c.   What can a believer be glad about when they are being niggled at and have nasty things said about them?      (verse 12; 1 Peter 1:6-7;  2:12, 19-21)

They know they are upholding the  truth of Jesus Christ and won’t need to feel ashamed when they see Him. Christ suffered for us and we can expect to suffer for Him.

d.  What can we rejoice in, in the midst of persecution?  

The fact that no-one can take away our salvation or our peace with God…we are safe in Him.

e.   What did Jesus tell his disciples?           (John 15: 18-20; Hebrews 4:15)

That those in the world were persecuting Him and that they in  turn could expect persecution; He knew what it was like, and He empathises with us as we go through these times.

f.  How did Paul feel about being persecuted?     (Romans 8:17-18; 2 Corinthians 4:8-11)

Paul looked past the present discomfort and focussed on the future; he felt that he was honoured to be counted worthy to suffer for Christ who had suffered for him.

5.    Verses  13-16

a.  What two things are Christians likened to here?      (verses 13-14)

Salt and light.

b.  When are these things useless?      (verses 13, 15)

When the salt is saltless and the light is covered up.

c.   What is that telling us about a believer’s life?      (Mark 9:50)

That if they don’t stand out as being different…different attitudes and speech…they are no use to others or to God.

d.  What things does salt do? Think about this one…..  

It flavours, creates a thirst, stings a cut but heals.

e.   How can we as Christians do these things?                      (Philippians 2:15; Colossians 4:6)

We can stand up for what is right….enhance our community.

We can cause others to want what we have.

We can give advice that is right….it may hurt but it will heal.

We can practice what we preach.

f.  Why are we to shine as lights?             (verse 16; Luke 8:6; 1 Corinthians 10:31)

So others can see by our example the right things to do; so that it will ultimately bring glory to God

to God.

g.  Generally speaking, what is the atmosphere of the world?     (John 3:19; 2 Corinthians 4:6; Ephesians 5:8,11)

It is in spiritual darkness and we must show by our words and deeds the right things to do and the right places to go.

h.   What is the ultimate purpose of man?                      (Isaiah 43:7; Philippians 2:11; 1 Corinthians 1:31)

To bring glory to God and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord of all.; to glorify God,  not man

6.    Verses  17-20

a.  What period of time was the law valid from?      (Luke 16:16-17; Acts 13:39)

From Moses, through the prophets  until John the Baptist.

b.  Did the law fail mankind? How do we know this?      (verse 17; Romans 3:23; Hebrews 4:15)

Not at all….Christ totally fulfilled it by being sinless

c.   Why was the law so hard to keep?      (James 2:10-11)

If only one point was broken during a person’s whole life, then that person is guilty of breaking the law.

d.  What law is valid today?       (Romans 13:8-10)  

The law of love….love for God fulfils the first four commandments and love for others fulfils the rest.

e.   What did Christ think of the righteousness of the Pharisees who prided themselves on keeping the law in its entirety?                      (Matthew 23:27-29)

It wasn’t good enough….it was only outward and not inward….their hearts were not right before God.

f.  What sort of righteousness does the believer rest in and claim?    (Philippians 3:9)

The righteousness of Christ covers us when we confess our sin and put our faith in Him.

7.    Verses  21-30

a.  What were the Pharisees doing to the law?      (verses 21-22)

They were changing it to suit themselves

b.  What was Christ’s criteria for worship?      (verses 23-25; 2 Timothy 2:22)

To have a clear conscience before God with no known unforgiven grudge against someone else.

c.   Is the act worse than the thought in God’s eyes?      (verses 22-24)

No, dwelling on the act is as bad as actually doing it!

d.  What is the cure for such thoughts?       (verses 27-30; 1 Timothy 6:11; 1 John 1:7,9)  

To flee from them, put them out of one’s mind and replace them with godly thoughts and Scripture verses….confession ensures forgiveness.

8.    Verses  31-32

a.  What is the only reason a man was able to put away his wife?      (verse 32)

If she was unfaithful to him.

b.  What is God’s criteria for marriage?      (Mark 10:6-9; Romans 7:2-3)

Marriage is a joining together by God, and as such must not be separated by man….the only separation is God’s separation by death.

c.   What does divorce do if remarriage is considered?      (Luke 16:18)

It causes an adulterous situation

d.  In a Christian situation, what is the husband to do?       (1 Corinthians 6:7)  

He is not to take her to court to divorce her, but he is to forgive her and try again with God’s help

e.   What is the wife to do if the relationship breaks down?    (1 Corinthians 7:10-11, 13-16)

She is not to take the initiative and leave, but if he leaves her, she should remain unmarried.

9.    Verses  33-37

a.  What is this passage telling us?      (verse 37; James 5:12)

To keep our  speech straight and to the point….say what you mean and mean what you say.

b.  Why are we not swear by anything?      (verse 34)

It doesn’t achieve or mean a thing, and we usually don’t keep our oaths anyway. It is usually derogatory to the Lord in some way and we are told specifically to NOT do it in any way.

c.   What was God’s criteria for one who blasphemed His name?      (Leviticus 24:16)

Back in Moses’ time, the person had to be put to death.

d.  Since God never changes (Malachi 6:3a) why does He not strike people dead who say without thinking “Oh my God!”?       (Romans 5:19-21)  

Because God is a God of mercy and He wants people to repent of their sins so He can save them. But if they don’t,  then they will have to face Him in a day to come and bear the consequences of their refusal to come to Him.

10.    Verses  38-48

a.  What was the law’s requirement for any wrong done?      (verse 38; Exodus 21:23-25)

That full restitution be made…people were to suffer the same wrong they had done to another.

b.  What new teaching was Jesus now giving?      (verses 39-42)

To take a wrong cheerfully; to do good to those who don’t like you and to LOVE your enemies.

c.   Why are we to love our enemies?      (verses 44-45; Romans 5:6-10; Colossians 1:21-22)

Because God loved us when we were His enemies and we are to likewise show love to those who hate us.

d.  How does Paul amplify this thought?    (Romans 12:20-21; 1 Corinthians 6:6-8)  

It heaps coals of fire on their heads….in other words it may make them ashamed of themselves for being so mean…a Christian should be prepared to take any wrong that is done to him without retaliation.

e.   What does it show when a person is able to do this?             (verse 48; Ephesians 4:12-27)

That they are different to non-Christians….their aim is to be mature (perfect) in Christ , with a renewed mind able to overlook slights and get past things that offend.

f.  How is it possible to be like this?        (Psalm119:165; Ephesians  4:23-24)

To think like Jesus Christ , to renew one’s mind, and to steep oneself in God’s Word, following His way. If one has been deeply hurt, one has to overlook it and tell the Lord about it and ask for strength to overcome. Being able to quote a verse every time it comes to mind (because Satan will see to it that it comes back frequently) helps.

g.  What does verse 45 mean?    

That although God DOES look after His own, there are times of prosperity or hardship that ALL people benefit from or suffer from. His people  have to show by their attitudes that they have something to fall back on that others don’t have….in other words, don’t moan about the weather, the disaster or whatever, get into it and do what has to be done! Help others who are less fortunate.

h.  Is there some area of your life that has been spoken to by this chapter?    

There is much practical living shown here and if one achieved it all, one would indeed be perfect!! Every area…attitudes, speech, witness, lack of true love is touched and challenged by this chapter.

 

Matthew Six ….(verses 1-34)

1.    Verses  1-6               

a.     How did the Pharisees conduct their giving and good deeds?      (verse 2)

By blowing a trumpet for all to stop and watch what they were doing!

b.  How does God want us to do our giving?                      (verses 1, 3)

Quietly and privately…between Him and us and the person concerned.

c.   What is different in the two ways of giving?    (The gift is the same)     

The givers’ attitudes are different….one is blowing his own trumpet and wanting the praise of men, while the other is doing it for the Lord’s sake.

d.  What about praying then?                         (verses 5-6)

The same principle applies….the Pharisees were doing it for public applause (virtually praying to the people!) while when it is done privately, it is a genuine prayer to God.

2.    Verses  7-18

a.     Does prayer need to be repetitious to be heard by God?              (verses7 -8)

No, He knows what our need will be before it ever occurs.

b.  In verses 9-13 we are given a pattern prayer by the Lord himself….what does it start with?                      (verses 9-10)

It starts with God….Who He is (our Father),  where He lives (Heaven), the holiness of His Name, His kingdom and His will.

c.   What does it move onto next?            (verse 11)

Our daily physical needs…acknowledging God as the giver of these things.

d.  What follows then?                         (verses 12-13a)

Our spiritual needs….requests for protection from evil and the ability to forgive others because God has forgiven us.

e.   How does it finish up?           (verse 13b)

By giving glory to God and acknowledging His greatness and power.

f.  What is the criteria for being heard by God?                (verses 14-15; Psalm 66:18)

To forgive others and not hold grudges or have bitterness towards anyone, or to have any known sin in one’s life..

g.    Why do we not get what we ask for sometimes?                  (James 4:3)

Because we are asking from the wrong reasons or motives; we are in the wrong frame of mind; or it is that God knows what is best for us and we are asking for the wrong thing.

h.  What sort of person does verse 16 show us?                        

Someone who is showing off so men can see how “good” they are and praise them up.

i.   Will God reward this sort of thing in the future?           (verse 16c)

No! They are having their reward now in this life.

j.  Is there any good in fasting if there are wrongs in one’s life that need righting?    (verses 17-18)

No, it’s a waste of time! For fasting to be effective, one’s life must be put in order first, and the fasting to be done privately, for God’s eyes alone.

k.    What would God sooner see done than fasting?                  (Isaiah 58:2-11)

He would sooner see wrongs righted rather than someone going without food….the people back then were fasting and wondering why God wasn’t answering their prayers, but they were condoning evil habits and neglecting to do what was right; not helping the disadvantaged.

l.    What is the principle we have seen so far in this chapter?                          (Matthew 10:39-42)       

To do what you are going to do for the Lord quietly and privately without any fanfare, and God will reward this in a time to come….nothing done for Him will be overlooked.

3.    Verses  19-24

a.     What happens to treasures on earth?              (verse 19)

They deteriorate in time and are likely to be stolen.

b.  Treasures on earth may give pleasure to those who own them, but what good are they after you die?                      (Psalm 49:17; Galatians 6:8-9)

You can’t take any of your possessions with you when you die….all you take is what you ARE.

c.   One translation reads… “Don’t treasure the treasures of earth, but rather treasure the treasures of heaven” … how can we put that into our daily living?            (Colossians 3:1-2, 16-17)

By not allowing the things of earth to take up all our thinking and time, but by fixing our minds on the things of the Lord and having a cheerful and thoughtful attitude.

d.  How do we know where our “treasure” is?                        

By the amount of time we give to it….what our hearts and minds are involved in, IS our treasure.

e.   What do we see about the rich young ruler who came to Jesus?           (Mark 10:17-23)

He wasn’t prepared to use his wealth for the benefit of others, and so he missed out spiritually.

f.  How would you explain verses 22-23?              (Philippians 4:8-9)

What you watch and read is what you think about….if you spend too much time watching sport and unhealthy TV programmes, that is how your thinking will be influenced, whereas if you watch and read what is good and wholesome, that too will impact your life.

g.    What does it mean by the light in us being darkness?                  (verse 23)

God is light, and if we don’t know God, then we have no true light on any subject! Our thinking is real darkness, and our heart and soul have no spiritual enlightenment at all..

h.  What does give a person light in their soul?                (Psalm 119:129-130; 1 Corinthians 2:11-14)        

When God’s Word comes into a person’s mind and soul, it floods with light and understanding.

i.   What is tied up with this business of having “treasures”? Can you think of some examples? (1 John 2 15-17)

Time! The amount of time that we devote to the treasure…think of a collection of something, whether it be music, books, ornaments or model vehicles. They have to be collected, looked after and then time spent looking at them and/or using them.. Any competitive sport or interest takes time to be good at, and what for in the end? It just contributes to one’s pride!

j.  How does the John passage illustrate this and the previous passage we have looked at?    (1 John 2:15-17)

The world and its things are only for time (transient) while the things of God are for eternity and last for ever; the world’s things are subject to deterioration, while God’s things never lose their value; the world’s things puff up with pride in possessing them and create jealousy in others while the things of God efface self and build up others; the world’s things cost money to own (insurance and maintenance etc) while the things of God only cost time devoted to the Word and others; the world’s things glorify man while the things of God glorify Him.

k.     We have heard it said that “so and so is so heavenly minded, he’s no earthly use”….how do we keep a right balance in these things?              (verse 24; 1 Timothy  6:17-19)

We are to hold our possessions lightly, keeping them in good order, neat and tidy, and enjoy what God has given us, sharing them with others.

4.    Verses  25-34

a.     What takes most of our time and energies?              (verse 25)

Day to day living…food, clothes and shelter.

b.  What is used as an example of being carefree from these worries? Who looks after them?                      (verses 26-30)

The birds and flowers are looked after by God, and they get by….how much more will God look after people?

c.   Why do we not need to worry about these things?             (verses 30-32; Philippians 4:19)

Because God knows our needs and will supply them if we trust in Him.

d.  What is the main principle which God has put in place for mankind’s needs?      (Genesis 2:15; Psalm 104:23; Ecclesiastes 2:24)

God has given man work to do to earn money (or to grow food) to supply his daily needs.

e.  How does Paul amplify this thought?           (Acts 28:1-3;  2 Thessalonians  3:8-12)

A person is not to be too lazy to work or else he will get into mischief….Paul showed a good example in this, working as he went around to supply his needs.

f.  We see that a person is meant to work….in doing this what are we to not neglect?      (verses 33-34)

We are not to neglect the things of God, but to give God the first part of our day, and then go out cheerfully to do our daily tasks.

g.    What bit of good advice are we told in verse 34?         (Philippians 4:6)        

To not worry about what might happen tomorrow, but to commit it all to the Lord.

h.  What common saying illustrates this thought?                       

Don’t cross your bridges until you come to them!

 

Matthew Seven ….(verses 1-29)

1.    Verses  1-5               

a.     What are we NOT to do?                   (verse 1)

We are not to judge others because we may find it backfires on us!

b.  If we do, what are we actually doing, and why?                      (verses 1-2)

We are actually judging ourselves because we do the same things or even worse!

c.   When are we able to judge others?       

When we are perfect! Or have perhaps been through the same experience and can give constructive advice.

d.  What are we to remember if we DO judge others?                         (Romans 14:10-12)

That we will ALL stand one day before the judgment seat of Christ and give an account of ourselves before God ….not an account of the next person!

e.   What ARE we to do judge?           (1 Corinthians 11:28a, 31-32)

We are to examine ourselves and judge ourselves…we are to make sure we aren’t causing others to stumble.

f.  What is going to judge us in the day to come?            (John 12:48; Romans 3:23)

The words of Christ….even the words that we have just been looking at! We must ask ourselves how we measure up against God’s Word and God’s glory…we will find that we come far short of it all.

g.    We can all justify what WE (or our family) do when we can’t justify the next person’s actions….how did David evaluate his actions?    Are we willing to do this?              (Psalm 139:23-24)

David asked God to search his heart and try his thoughts….everything that is in our being resists this idea and our pride gets in the way of it.

2.    Verses  6-12

a.     What does verse 6 seem to be saying?             

That it is a waste of time to give some people advice because their minds are made up anyway to continue in their evil way.

b.  What are such people referred to as?                      (Psalm 14:1;  Proverbs 23:9)

Anyone says God doesn’t exist and who doesn’t take heed to God’s Word, is a FOOL!

c.   What is verse 7 saying? What is its anagram?           

This is a definite promise with no conditions attached….we are to ASK…..A (ask), S (seek) and K (Knock)

d.  We have all probably asked in prayer for things that we haven’t got, so what is this promise referring to that is an absolute guarantee?                         (John 14:13-14)

If we ask God for our spiritual needs, God will grant these if we apply the principle of ASK. We must ask (pray about our shortcomings); we must seek (study God’s Word) and we must knock (keep on, persist) until the answer is clear and plain.

e.   What is the criteria for getting what we ask for?           (John 14:14;15:7; 16:23-24)

We must ask in His Name (that which God desires for us) and we must abide in Him (be obedient to His Word).

f.  Put verse 12 into your own words…

Do the things to others that you would want them to do to you and you will be fulfilling the law!

g.    What law is this fulfilling?                 (Matthew 22:36-40)   

This is fulfilling the law of love….loving God and loving people.

3.    Verses  13-14

a.     What do the widths of the gates suggest to you?                   (verse 13)

The wide gate sweeps all in and carries them along with no effort, while the narrow gate has to be searched for and an effort made to get into it.

b.  What do the two ways mean and where do they lead?                      (verses 13-14)

They are the roads of life….we are all born into the wide road and if we stay on it we will end in destruction, while the narrow road is the road to life eternal and can only be entered by the second birth.

c.   Can we just “happen” to get on the narrow road?            (John 3:3-7)     

No, we have to make a conscious effort to look for it.

d.  What is the door to this narrow way that is hard to find?                         (John 10:9; 14:6)

The door is Christ Himself…we CANNOT get on the narrow road without going through Him.

4.    Verses  15-20

a.     What is the warning here?                   (verse 15)

To beware of false teachers which seem OK but are really not teaching the truth.

b.  How can we tell (or test) who is a false teacher or not?                      (verses 16-17; 1 John 4:1-3)

By their fruits or manner of life…we look for them to exhibit the fruit of the Holy Spirit (love, joy and peace) and ask if they acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the Son of God

c.   What is a preacher or minister called who does not admit that Jesus Christ is the Son of God?  (1 John 2:18-19, 22)     

He is “anti Christ”….against Christ.

d.  Do you think there are “anti Christs”  here on earth now?                         (1 John 2:22)

Yes, the world is full of them….there are far more people who are “anti” Christ than those who are for Him.

e. What was our Lord telling the people to beware of?           (verse 15)

He was warning them to be watchful against false teachers….they might look and sound OK but to be careful of their teaching.

f.  How can we tell if a person is genuine or not?             (1 John 4:1-3)

By their fruits….what they are really like out of the limelight and what they REALLY believe….does it measure up to the Word of God?

g.    We cannot see a person’s heart…what is the only thing we have to go by?    (James 1:5)

Their outward appearance and manner of life…..we can ask the Lord for a discerning spirit to not be taken in by a charismatic personality….if we still feel uneasy, beware!

5.    Verses  21-29

a.     What is the criteria for entering the Kingdom of Heaven?                   (verse 21)

Doing the will of God.

b.  What IS the will of God?                      (2 Peter 3:9b)

That all  people  should come to God through Christ and have eternal life.

c.   What is the contrast between those who do the will of God and those who don’t? (John 3:36; 1 John 2:17)     

Those who do the will of God have eternal life while those who don’t, haven’t!

d.  Does the fact of being able to send demons out from a person prove that you are doing the will of God?                         (verse 22; Matthew 12:24-28)

Not necessarily because demons can be sent out by the power of Satan too.

e. Stop and think about verses 22-23….who is being spoken to and what does He say?          

Those who had done many miracles and much preaching in the name of the Lord are standing before the gate of heaven wanting to go in and telling God all the great things they had done, but God says He never knew them

f. What is the warning in this?           (Psalm 139:23-24; 2 Corinthians 13:5)

We are to examine ourselves and make sure we know God and that He knows us…we must examine our motives and reasons for what we do and ask God to search our hearts.

g. We have next the story of two houses being built….was there any difference in the outward appearance of each of them?         

Not necessarily….they both looked the same and built of the same materials.

h.  What was the difference between them?          (verses 24c, 26c)

The foundations were different….one was built with a rock foundation and the other was built on a sand foundation.

i.    What do each of these houses speak of?              (1 Corinthians 3:9-10)

A person’s life…..what each person builds their life on.

j.     What is the rock that we can build on?                   (Psalm 62:2, 6-7)

Jesus Christ is the only Rock  Foundation that is worth building on.

k.  What is this parable telling us?                      (verses 24-27)

That if we go through life without Jesus Christ, we have built on a foundation of sand and our life will count for nothing before God….it will all come crashing down around us and we will be lost for ever.

l.   Why were the people astonished at Christ’s teaching?                (verses 28-29)      

They had never heard anything like it before! Jesus spoke with all the authority of heaven and they could tell the difference between what He said and what the Pharisees taught them.

m.  How was the teaching of the Lord described?                         (verse 29; Luke 4:22, 32)

As being with power and authority, yet presented in a gracious manner.

n. Is this an example for us to follow?         

Yes, we have the authority of God’s Word but we must never be harsh or bumptious in presenting it, nor be apologetic…remember it is God’s Word, not ours!

 

Matthew Eight….(verses 1-34)

1.    Verses  1-4                                                                                               

a.     What had Jesus been doing up this mountain?                   (verse 1; Matthew 5:1-2)

He was teaching His disciples (and others) the things in these last three chapters.

b.  What did Jesus often do up in the mountains?                      (Matthew 14:23; Luke 6:12)

He often went out alone to pray and commune with His Father.

c.   What happened when He came down from the mountain?        (verse 1b)

People came from everywhere to throng Him.

d.  What particular sort of person is mentioned here?                         (verse 2)

It was a man who had leprosy badly.

e.   Remembering that leprosy is a picture of sin, what does this passage remind us of?   (Ephesians 2:1-5)

It reminds us how we were once dead in sins, but through faith in Christ, we are now healed by Him.

f.  What did Jesus tell this man to do now that he was healed?                (John 12:48; Romans 3:23)

This man was told to tell no-one what had happened but to go to the priest and get the clearance from him that he was now free from leprosy.

g.   What did Paul tell us to do when we believe in Jesus Christ ?              (Romans 10:9)

We are to confess with our mouth….in other words tell some-one else what we have done.

h.   What does James tell us a person needs to do besides believing and confessing ?    (James 2:17-18)

We are to show by our lives that we are different and that we mean what we say.

2.    Verses  5-13

a.     What is this story about? What do you notice about the man who came to Jesus?      (verses 5-6)       

He was a Roman man (not a Jew), but he was not afraid to go to Jesus on behalf of his servant.

b.  What do you think this man is a picture of?                      (Acts 13:46-48)

Being a Roman, he is a picture of the wider Gentile community that would respond positively to the Gospel.

c.   Why did this man feel unworthy for the Lord to go to his house ?     (verses 8-9)

Because he was not only a Roman, but also a man with other people under him…..he must have had a great understanding of Who Jesus really was.

d.  What was it that caused Jesus to be able to heal his servant?         (verses 10, 13)

It was his faith in Christ…. “Just say the word and he will be healed!”

e.   What is the promise made  in this passage that is being fulfilled?        (verse 11; John 10:16; Galations 3:28-29)

That many others will join the Jewish people in God’s kingdom….all as one people.

f.  Was the Centurion’s servant healed?                       (verse 13b)

Yes, totally.

3.    Verses  14-18

a.     Did Jesus just heal those who He knew?      (Mark 1:32-34)       

No, He healed ALL who came to Him.

b.  Does He only heal from sin, those who are good enough today?           (Romans 3:23)

No, because ALL have sinned; He heals those who come to Him and confess their sin.

c.   What does this business of sick people being healed suggest to you ?     (verse 16)

That those who needed to be healed had to come individually to Him for healing (or an agent had to come if they were too sick). It is the same today….those who want to be healed of their sin have to come personally to Him to confess their sins before they can be healed and be saved.

d.  Could Jesus have waved a wand and healed all sickness regardless?        (John 3:16-18, 36)               

Yes, He could have, but this was not His way. His death on the cross covers ALL mankind’s sin, but only those who come and confess this have the advantage of having sin forgiven.

e.   What does Isaiah say in connection  with Jesus taking man’s sin?        (Isaiah 53:4-5)

That the Coming One would bear our grief and carry our sorrow; He was bruised for our sins and we are healed by what He went through for us.

4.    Verses  19-22

a.     What did Jesus tell each of His prospective followers?      (verses 20,22)       

He warned them of the hardships involved and the dedication needed,

b.  What should that tell us?                      (John 15:20-21)

That just as people in the world wouldn’t listen to Jesus, so they won’t listen to us; they will treqat us the same way that they treated Him.

c.   What must we be prepared to do if we would follow Christ  ?     (Luke 9:23-24)

We must be prepared to put Christ first and deny self, to practice self control  in the matter of daily living, especially in the matter of spiritual exercise.

d.  Is this a once in a lifetime decision….how often must we deny ourselves?    (Luke 9:23)               

We certainly have to make up our minds to do this initially, but then it is a daily putting into practice…step by step every day, a constant battle.

e.   This sounds difficult and harsh….is it worth it?        (Romans 8:17-18; Philippians 3:7-8; 1 Peter 4:13)

Yes, a hundred times yes, say those who have done it! Nothing else is worth taking its place!

5.    Verses  23-27

a.     What situation did the disciples now find themselves in?      (verses 23-24; Luke 8:22-23)       

They were crossing the lake in a boat when  a tremendous storm got up and caught them.

b.  How did these experienced fishermen feel in this situation?                      (verses 24-26a)

Things were totally out of their control and they were starting to panic.

c.   Could they do anything to help themselves? Who did they turn to ?     (verse 25)

They couldn’t do anything about the storm, so they woke Jesus up and turned the situation over to Him.

d.  How can we relate this experience to what we go through at times?                       

There are times in our lives when we face experiences that we have no control over at all, times when we panic…we can only turn to the Lord and leave it all with Him.

e.   Write a brief account of this miracle….        (verse 26)

Horrendous storm with waves coming into the boat…there was noise, wind, movement, wet and terror. When they woke Jesus and handed it over to Him, He rebuked the wind and there was instant calm, quiet and peace. This was an impossibility naturally.

f.   How did the disciples react to this miracle ?     (verse 27)

They realised all over again that this was no ordinary Man, they were amazed and afraid at the same time.

g.  The disciples knew Jesus personally as a man, and now they held Him in awe…what does this teach US?           (Hebrews 12:28-29)

That we should never take our position in Christ for granted, but to praise and thank Him continually with reverence and godly fear (the fear of failing and disappointing Him)

h.   When we find ourselves in life’s storms, what are we to remember?       (Philippians 4:6-7)                    

To take it all to the Lord in prayer, giving Him thanks for the answer (whatever it may be) BEFORE we get it and then His peace will flood our soul

6.    Verses  28-34

a.     We read this account again in Luke 8:26-39, but Luke majors on one of the men rather than there being two….what was wrong with these men?      (verses 23-24; Luke 8: 27, 29-30)       

They were demon possessed with many demons….people thought they were lunatics…. they wore no clothes and lived among the tombs and were exceedingly strong, being able to break chains they had put on them.

b.  What statement did they make that showed their problem was spiritual and not merely physical?                      (verses 29,31;Luke 8:28, 30-31)

They addressed Jesus as being the Son of God and having the power to control them; one man said his name was Legion due to the large number of demons in him.

c.   Where did the demons ask to be sent ?     (verse 31)

Into the herd of pigs feeding nearby.

d.  Could the pigs handle this amount of demons?                        (verse 32)

No, they immediately ran down to the sea and were all drowned.

e.   What does a person have to do to remain free of evil spirits if they have been freed from them?        (Matthew 12:43-45)

Not to leave his spiritual life empty, but to fill it with Christ….He is the only answer to this problem.

f.   How did this man do this?     (Luke 8:35-36)

He sat at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, listening to what He had to say.

g.  What did Jesus then tell him to do?  How can we relate that to a similar case today?         (Luke 8:38-39; Romans 10:9)

Jesus told him to go home and tell his friends and relations what God had done for him; people today are to believe in their heart that God raised Jesus from the dead and then go and tell others about it.

h.   Do these two accounts contradict each other?                           

No, they complement each other, what one leaves out, the other fills in.

 

Matthew Nine….(verses 1-38)

1.    Verses  1-8               

a.     What town was called “His own city” and where was it situated?    (verse 1; Matthew 4:13)

It was Capernaum, by the Sea of Galilee.

b.  What was wrong with the man they brought to Jesus?                      (verse 2)

He was paralysed and couldn’t move.

c.   What does Mark tell us that Matthew misses out?        (Mark 2:2-4)

That the house was so full of people that no-one else could get in, so the men went up onto the flat roof and made a hole to let their friend down through it in front of Jesus.

d.  Why did the scribes say that Jesus blasphemed?                         (verses 2c-3)

Because He had told the sick man that his sins were forgiven and they said that no-one but God could forgive sin.

e.   Why do you think Jesus forgave this man his sins?

Because this particular man must have had the matter of his sin heavy on his heart, and Jesus would have known this, and being the Son of God  He WAS able to forgive them

f.  Are we told that every person who Jesus healed was automatically forgiven of their sins? What does this indicate?               

No, we aren’t told this….this indicates that only some people recognised that they had a spiritual problem as well as a physical one.

g.   What did the crowd do when they saw this miracle of the man getting up and walking ?  (verses 7-8)

They were absolutely amazed and gave the glory to God.

2.    Verses  5-13

a.     What other name was Matthew referred to as ? What can we assume from the names given in Matthew 10:2-4?      (verse 9; Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27-32 )       

Matthew was also referred to as Levi the son of Alphaeus…..it seems that he and the other James could have been brothers.

b.  What was Matthew’s occupation?                      (verse 9)

He was a tax collector for the Romans.

c.   What were tax collectors equated with in people’s minds?     (verses 10-1)

People thought they were real sinners….in many cases they took more than they should have and pocketed the extras.

d.  Who was a classic case of this and what are we told about him?                         (Luke 19:2-8)

Zacchaeus was the chief of the publicans (tax collectors), and he badly wanted to see Jesus for himself so he climbed up into a tree over the road He would travel. Jesus knew this and asked to come to his house. After being with Jesus for that hour or two, Zacchaeus was never the same again, and to show he was different he gave back fourfold what he had taken illegally and half of the rest to the poor.

e.   What could the Pharisees NOT understand in the case of Matthew?        (verse 11)

How Jesus, a recognised teacher of God, could associate with such people and eat with them.

f.  What did Jesus mean in His reply to their criticism?                        (verses 12-13)

He knew they thought they were OK so they didn’t need His teaching any more than a well person needs a doctor. The tax collectors knew they were sinners and wanted to know how to get right with God. Christ came to cure the sick (sinners), not to heal the self righteous people who thought they were OK.

g.  How does this apply today?                        (Micah 6:8; Romans 3:23)

It is still the same….ALL have sinned but only some people realise it (the rest think they are OK, better than the next person!). God cannot do anything for the self righteous, only for those who come to Him conscious of their need, and who will walk humbly before Him.

3.    Verses  14-17

a.     What was puzzling the disciples of John?                      (verse 14)       

They thought Christ’s disciples should fast like they did,  to look religious.

b.  What was the answer to this query?                      (verse 15)

There was no reason to fast while their Master was with them…..later on they would be fasting.

c.   What does this tell us for today?     (chapter 6:16-18)

Not to fast to show off….there will be a right time and a right reason, and then it is to be done privately.

d.  What do you think these stories of mending an old garment and using the old wineskins (NOT glass or plastic bottles!) mean?        (verses 16-17; 2 Corinthians 5:17)

A person who tries turning over a new leaf won’t last…..it is only as a person comes to the Lord in repentance that he can be made a new person in Christ and all things then become new.

e.   How does this relate to fasting?        (chapter 6:16-18)

The religious leaders made a great show of fasting so people would think they were really religious, but it didn’t mean a thing to God because it was done for the wrong reason. It is only as a person does it with a right motive for God alone, that it has any benefit. You can’t have God’s praise AND the world’s praise any more than you can put new wine into old wineskins!

4.    Verses  18-22

a.     Read these  passages both  right through….what is the situation?           (Luke 8:41-56)       

It was about two people who were past any doctor’s help…..a twelve year old girl and a very sick woman.

b.  What does Luke tell us that Matthew doesn’t?                     

The man’s name (Jairus); that he was a leader in the synagogue and that he had only one daughter; that she was twelve years old and that the people were pushing Jesus around.

c.   What does Matthew tell us that Luke doesn’t?     

He thought she was already dead, and he said to come and touch her and she would live.

d.  What does Jairus’ request show?                         (verse 18)

His confidence and faith in what Jesus could do.

e.   What do you notice about the length of time this woman had this disease and the age of Jairus’ daughter?        (verse 20; Luke 8:42)

They were the same….twelve years!

f.  What had this woman done about her disease?                   (Luke 8:43)

She had been to every doctor in the land trying to get better and it had cost her all her living.

g.  What did she think about Jesus as a healer?                       (verse 21)

She thought that if she could ONLY just touch Him, she would be healed….she had great faith in Him.

h.  How did Jesus know she had touched Him?                         (Luke 8:44-46)

He knows all things, and besides, He felt something go from Him.

i.   Why did He ask that question when He would have known all the time who she was and why she did it?        (Luke 8:45, 47)

It was for her benefit…to give her an opportunity to confess her need and show her healing to the crowd.

j.  How did she feel about doing this?              (Luke 8:47)

She was very nervous and afraid.

k.  What else do we read about her confession?                       (Mark 5:33; Luke 8:47)

She told the whole truth and hid nothing …she confessed with her mouth in front of all the crowd.

l.  Why is it important to confess with our speech?                  (Romans 10:9-10, 13)

So others know how we feel; so others hear us make this as a public commitment.

m.  What did Jesus say had healed her?  What heals us from our disease of sin?       (verse 22; Romans 5:1; Ephesians 2:8)

It was her faith in Jesus Christ , and it is faith in Him that heals us from sin….the faith is not generated by ourselves, it is a gift from God! How much we have to be thankful for!!

5.    Verses  23-26

a.     What did Jesus tell Jairus when the messengers arrived telling him not to bother the Master?           (Luke 8:49-50)       

He told him to not be afraid, just to believe in Him and everything would turn out OK.

b.  What does the Lord tell us when troubles overwhelm us?     (Psalm 50:15; 91:15; Philippians 4:6-7)                

To call on Him and He will deliver us….He will give us His peace and we will be able to glorify Him in the midst of it all.

c.   What was Job’s attitude to God in the midst of all his troubles?     (Job 13:15)

Even if He kills me, I will still trust Him!

d.  What did the people think of Jesus when He arrived at the house?     (verses 23-24)

They thought He didn’t know what He was talking about!

e.   Who did Jesus allow in the room with the dead girl?  Who had faith in Him?        ( Luke 8:51)

Her parents and Peter, James and John…..all the others were put out.

f.  Were any others allowed to witness this miracle?                (verse 25; Luke 8:51, 54)

No, they were all sent out of the room.

g.  What does this tell us?                    (Matthew 6:1-4)

That Jesus did not heal or do good for sensationalism, and neither should we…..we are to do good privately with only God as witness.

h.  What did He tell them to do when the girl revived?                         (Luke 8:55-56)

To feed her and tell no-one what had happened.

i.  What happened in spite of that?                         (verse 26)

The story went far and wide, probably spread by the mourners who had been there.

6.    Verses  27-34

a.     Why did the two blind men call Jesus “the son of David”?           (Isaiah 11:1-2; Jeremiah 23:5-6)       

They must have known the Old Testament Scriptures which foretold of the coming Messiah who would be from the family  line of King David.

b.   Were they right?     (Matthew 22:41-46)                

Yes! Jesus testified to this Himself.

c.   What else did these men believe?     (verses 28-29)

That Jesus could heal them.

d.  What else do you notice about them in this account?                         (verses 27-28)

They were persistent, and followed Him to the house He was going to.

e.   How did Jesus heal these two men’s blindness?        ( verse 29)

He touched their eyes and said they would be healed according to their faith.

f.  What happened then?                      (verses 30-31)

They were healed and told everyone they saw what had happened (in spite of Jesus saying to keep it quiet!)

g.  What happened as they left the house?                   (verse 32)

Another man was brought to Jesus who couldn’t speak and who had a demon.

h.  How did the demon in this man affect him?                         (verses 32-33)

It made him unable to speak…..when he was healed, he could talk like everyone else.

i.  What did the surrounding crowd  say? What did the Pharisees say?          (verses 33-34; Mark 3: 22)

The crowd marvelled and said they had never seen anything like it before! The Pharisees grumbled and said Jesus was doing these miracles by the power of Satan.

j.  What was the Lord’s reply to this accusation?          ( Mark 3: 23-27)

That it was impossible….Satan could do some great things, but he couldn’t send himself out of a person.

k.  What can we infer  about the miracles that Jesus did? By whose power were they done? ( Mark 3: 29)

They were done by the power of God’s  Holy Spirit.

l.  What happens to those who try to explain the Holy Spirit away?          ( Mark 3: 28-29)

God  regards it as blasphemy and as committing the unforgivable sin….it is the only sin that can never be forgiven, and people who do this will suffer eternal damnation.  A person CANNOT be saved without the influence of the Holy Spirit.

7.    Verses  35-38

a.     What do we see that Jesus preached as He went around?           (verse 35b; chapter 4:23)       

He preached the Gospel everywhere He went.

b.   What do you think the “Gospel” is?     (1 Timothy 1:15)                

It is the good news that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners to make up the Kingdom of God.

c.   Where did Christ teach that the Kingdom of God was (is)?     (verse 35;Luke 17:21)

It was (is) within those who followed Him.

d.  What did Jesus say that people should do about the “Gospel”?      (Mark 1:14-15)

They should repent of their sins and believe in Him, and then they would belong to the Kingdom of God.

e.   What sort of people belong to the Kingdom of God?        (
John 3:5-7)

Those who have been born again by the Spirit of God, the second birth.

f.  What did Paul say about the “Gospel”?                   (1 Timothy 1:11-12; 2 Timothy 1:10)

It is a glorious Gospel  that gives light and immortality to those who believe it and was given to him (Paul) to preach wherever he went.

g.  What does Satan do for the Gospel?        (2 Corinthians 4:3-4)

He blinds the minds of people so they won’t believe it; they think it is of no consequence; they’ll take their chance.

h.  What did Jesus do for the people besides healing their souls?          (verse 35c)

He healed their bodies.

i.  How did Jesus feel when He looked at the crowds following Him?          (verse 36)

He saw past their bodies and felt the utmost compassion for their lost and straying souls.

j.  What did He see the people as?          ( verses 36-38)

He saw them as sheep without a shepherd, each going their own way, and also saw them as a harvest ready to reap.

k.  Who have been sent out to labour in the harvest?            ( verse 36; John 4: 35-38; 1 Corinthians 9:16)

Christ’s followers have been sent out to GO and SOW; they are to speak and reap.

l.  What help do they have in doing this?          ( Matthew  28:18-20; John 14:26)

Christ Himself is with those who preach His word, and the Holy Spirit is within them to bring things to their memory of what to say.

 

Matthew Ten….(verses 1-42)

1.    Verses  1-4               

a.     How many disciples did Jesus have and what did He do with them?    (verse 1)

He had twelve close ones and He sent them out to do healing too, even to giving them power over the bad spirits in people.

b.     Compare the lists of the disciples’ name and put them in groups of four…     (verse 1; Luke 6:13-19)

Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John

Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew

James (son of Alphaeus) Simon Zelotes (or the Canaanite) Lebbaeus Thaddeus (Judas, brother of James) and Judas Iscariot

c.   As we compare the lists of the names of the twelve disciples, there seem to be some discrepancies…. what conclusion do we come to?            (Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19; Luke 6:14-16; Acts 1:13)

Sometimes they are mentioned by their surname, others seem to have more than one name.

d.  Why do you think Judas, brother of James, may have changed his name to Thaddeus?   (Mark 1:16-20)

Perhaps it was because he didn’t want to be associated with Judas Iscariot after he betrayed the Lord.

e.   What do you notice about Matthew’s name?     (Matthew 9:9; Mark 2:14)

Matthew calls himself  Matthew, but Mark calls him Levi in his account, but this is the only time we see this name attached to him.

f.  Who else can you think of who changed his name after his conversion?     (Acts 13:9)   

Saul of Tarsus is more widely known as the Apostle Paul.

g.   What previous instruction had Andrew received ?                  (John 1:35-37, 40-41)

He had been a disciple of John the Baptist, and when he heard how John spoke of Jesus he went and stayed with Him a night, then told Peter that he had found the Messiah.

h.   What sort of job did the first four disciples have ?                            (Mark 1:16-20)

They  all did fishing for a living.

2.    Verses  5-6               

a.     What assignment did Jesus give these twelve men to do?       (verses 5-7)

To go into the country round about (not to the Gentiles or Samaria) and preach that the kingdom of Heaven was at hand.

b.     Who else preached that same message?     (Matthew 3:1-2; 4:17)

John the Baptist and Jesus  Himself.

c.   What was Israel described as?            (verse 6; Isaiah 53:6a;  Matthew 15:24)

They were described as lost sheep that had gone astray.

d.  Where did Jesus tell His disciples just before He left them,  to start preaching?        (Acts 1:8)

To start right where they were at Jerusalem  and in Judea, then Samaria and then to the whole world.

e.   Who did Paul start preaching to first and why did he then go to the Gentiles?     (Acts 13:3-5, 45-48)

He always went to the Jewish synagogues first to preach but when they didn’t want  to hear him, he then preached to the Gentiles.

3.    Verses  7-8               

a.     What were the disciples to preach about?       (verse 7)

That the kingdom of Heaven was at hand (near)

b.  We sometimes read about the “kingdom of heaven” and then we see the “Kingdom of God”….is there any difference?             (Mark 1:14-15)

No, they are the same thing.

c.   Get a concordance, or if you are using the online Bible, put in “Kingdom of heaven” into the search window, and see which  writer uses that term?    (make sure you use the inverted commas)      

Matthew is the only one who uses that term, the others use “Kingdom of God”

d.  Matthew also uses the term “Kingdom of God”….how many times do we see that?       

Five times….6:33; 12:28;  19:24;  21:31, 43

e.   Look at the references to the kingdom of Heaven….what does it seem to be concerned about?  (verse 7)

About the fact that it was then at hand, right there, but people had to be called into it….all the references  to do with it, are to do with  preaching it and gathering people into it.

f.  Do you think this has any relevance to today at all?                     (Romans 10:12-14)   

Yes it has….it is still the same, people must be told the Gospel so they can respond to it.

g.   What is one of the characteristics of this kingdom ?         (2 Peter 1:11)

It is an everlasting kingdom, there will never be any end to it.

h.     What else did the disciples do besides preach?           (verse 8a)

They were to heal the sick of every sort of disease there was, even to cleansing people of demon spirits.

i.     What were they to do with what they had freely received? How does this compare this with healers today?          (verse 8b)

They were to give back freely to others….there was to be no talk of payment for the healing like there is today.

j.   What did the disciples seem to count as their crowning achievement when they got back to Jesus?    (Luke 10:17)      

The fact that the demons left people when they commanded them to.

k.  What was Christ’s reply to that comment?    (Luke 10: 20)           

Not to rejoice (or glory) in that fact, but to rejoice that their names were written in heaven.

l.   What must we never lose sight of in our service for God?                (Ephesians 2: 8-10)

The fact that we are sinners saved by the grace of God, and to always give Him praise and glory for this.

4.    Verses  9-25

a.     How were the disciples to travel and conduct themselves where they stayed?          (verses 9-10)

They were to travel as lightly as possible and to expect to be put up freely wherever they went….they were not to take money with them.

b.     What are the advantages of travelling like this?          

There are no bags to worry about and nothing to be robbed of.

c.   How were they to exist then?        (verse 11)      

They were to work their way around, staying in the same place in each city until they were finished.

d.  What is our attitude to be to itinerant preachers?        (1 Corinthians 9:9, 14)

It is an Old Testament principle that the cattle which do the work can eat of the corn while they are working, and it is the same for preachers to receive something while they are visiting and preaching. So for those who are benefiting it is right that they contribute this.

e.   What were the disciples to do when their message was not well received?              (verses 14-15)

Not to waste time there or worry about it, but carry on to the next place.

f.  What is the lesson in this for us today?               (Matthew 7:6)   

To leave those who won’t listen and find someone who will! There’s no point in preaching to those who keep mocking and resisting.

g.   What does verse 15 teach us about man’s responsibility ?       (Jeremiah 17:10)                    

That every person is responsible for their own attitudes and actions….God sees and knows it all and will judge them accordingly. Those who have heard and refused the message will by judged accordingly.

h. We read of four creatures next….what are they and what do you think they represent?                          (verse 16)

John 10:27                   Sheep, one of God’s children.

Acts 20:29-30                Wolves, these are those who try to consume them

2 Corinthians 11:3        Serpent, Satan promoting the world’s wisdom with some truth but mostly lies

Song of Solomon:1:15; Mark 1:10         Doves, symbol of purity and love; symbol of the Holy Spirit

i.  What were the disciples told that would happen?          (verses 16-25)

They would be persecuted and taken before the courts, and they would be hated….just as they treated Jesus Himself, so they would treat the disciples.

j.   What was the promise they were given for these times?    (verses 19-20)      

To not worry ahead about what to say because the Holy Spirit would give them the right things to say at the right time.

k.  What were they to remember in times like these?    (verse 22; Hebrews 3:6; 10:23)          

To stand firm for the truth and not waver

5.    Verses  26-37

a.     Jesus told them to not be afraid to preach the whole truth, but what WERE they to afraid of?          (verse 28)

Not the ones who could kill the body, but those who could destroy their faith and rob them of their joy in the Lord, and the one who could destroy the soul in hell.

b.     How much does God value His people?         (verses 29-31; Psalm 139:1-18)   

God knows when every sparrow dies, and we are of much more value than a sparrow; He knows all about us, even down to the number of hairs on our head!

c.   What warning were they given?        (verse 33; Mark 8:38)      

To not be ashamed of the Lord or to deny Him in any way, or they would be denied by the Lord in heaven.

d.  What about Peter when he denied the Lord three times?  What are we to do if we slip up as we do at times?       (Luke 24:34; John 21:15-17; 1 John 1:9)

Peter had the opportunity to see the Lord and put things right before any of the other disciples, then he was given the chance to publicly affirm his love three times in front of the others. We are to immediately confess our shortcoming to the Lord, and we will be forgiven.

e.   What is often a sad fact of the Gospel?              (verses 34-36)

That it will often split families….those who resist it will draw away from those who follow it; it will cause arguments and dissension between families and friends.

f.  What does verse 37 teach us?                      

If we love a member of our family to the extent of refusing Christ, we are not worthy of Him. Sometimes it can be in service for Him versus staying at home with family.

6.    Verses  39-42

a.     Put verse 39 into your own words…         

Those who live their lives to please themselves won’t be really happy deep down, while those who live their lives to please God and others will really live to the full….one will gain eternal life and the other receive damnation.

b.    Why is it important to receive God’s  people into your home willingly?           (verse 40)   

Because God has received us and in receiving one of God’s people, we are receiving Christ and God.

c.   Should we do these things for a reward?        (verse 41)      

No, that is the wrong attitude…we should do it to please the Lord and in so doing we will be rewarded.

d.  Does God only notice the great things we do?       (verse 42)

No, even just a drink of cold water will be noticed.

 

Matthew Eleven….(verses 1-30)

1.    Verses  1-6               

a.     Jesus had sent the twelve disciples off on their preaching tour….who heard about it and where was he?      (verses 1-2)

John the Baptist heard about it from prison.

b.     Why was John in prison?                    ( Luke 3:19-20)

Herod had put him in prison because John had reproved him for taking his brother’s wife and Herod didn’t like it!

c.   What was another deeper reason for John being removed?            (John 1:19-27)

John’s preaching work was only to introduce Jesus (the Christ)  to the people….he had done that and his work was finished

d.  What sign had John been given that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ, the Lamb of God?  (Matthew 3:13-17; John 1: 32-34)

He knew He would see the Holy Spirit of God descending on the right person, and he saw this when Jesus was baptised, so he knew for sure He had come.

e.   Why do you think John was asking what he did?     (verse 3)

He was probably feeling down and wondering why God had allowed him to end up in prison in the midst of his work, and if his work was really finished….was Jesus really the Messiah?

f.  What  did Jesus offer as proof that His ministry was from God?      (verses 4-5)   

The miracles of healing that no-one else could do, AND the fact that the Gospel was being preached.

g.   What was His final advice to John?                            (verse 6)

Those who are not offended by Me and My teachings will be blessed by God.

h.   How can we today remain NOT offended by Christ and His teachings?    (Psalm 119:165)

By loving God’s Word and reading it daily….we will not only not be offended by Him, but will have great peace.

2.    Verses  7-14

a.     The crowds around Jesus had probably heard what John was wondering about…. what did Jesus go on to say about him?                          (verses 9-11a)

That John was  the greatest man ever born….he was more than a prophet, he was God’s messenger to prepare the way of the Lord.

b.     What was John like to look at?                    ( verse 8; Mark 1:6)

He was dressed in rough clothes, and not a fancy looking person at all.

c.   What was John’s vocation, his purpose in life?            (Mark 1:1-3; John 1:6-8)

He fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy of introducing  the Messiah to the people.

d.  What sort of a boy and young person had John been?    (Luke 1:13-17, 66,, 80)

The angel told his father that he would be filled with the Holy Spirit right from the day of his birth, so he would have been a happy contented child, and one who hungered for the things of God. He was also different to the other boys around the place and was a loner as he liked going off on his own.

e.   How did John see himself?     (John 1:23)

He felt he was a voice crying in the wilderness, on his own in presenting God’s  message to the people.

f.  How did Jesus see John?    (verse 9)   

As greater than any prophet that had been.

3.    Verses   15-24

a.     How did Jesus Christ see the people of His day?              (verses 16-17)

As children playing together, all noise with no point in what they were doing, seeking no meaning to life and with nothing pleasing them.

b.     What was the complaint of the people against John and Himself?    ( verses 18-19)

Neither pleased them….John was austere in his personal habits and they said he had a demon; Jesus came and ate and socialised with people the rulers didn’t approve of  and they said He was a glutton!

c.   Which three specific local cities did Jesus name? What did  have to say about them?      (verses 21-24)

They were Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum, and they had all seen His mighty works of healing in them and yet had not repented of their sins. They were more stubborn and rebellious than the wicked cities of old that were judged.

d.   What was their attitude and future?     (verses 21-24)

They didn’t want God’s message, or want the miracles that Jesus could do because it proved His Deity. They had no future apart from destruction in hell.

e.  What example in the Old Testament do we have of an ancient city that completely repented  and were spared ?    (Jonah 3:1-10)

It was the city of Nineveh that God had said He would destroy if they didn’t turn from their wicked ways. When they heard Jonah’s preaching, they all repented, from the king to the housemaid and God spared the city.

f.   What does verse 24 indicate?   

It indicates that there are varying degrees of punishment….those who know more and refuse will have a more severe punishment than those who didn’t.

3.    Verses   25-27

a.     What is the contrast between the wise and babies?                          (verse 25)

People who educate themselves and get diplomas and degrees consider themselves far wiser than young children, and yet a child who trusts God is far wiser than educated people who don’t.

b.     What constitutes men’s “wisdom”?                    ( Romans 1:21-22)

People had broken away from the “narrowness” of God’s laws by not acknowledging Him in creation, and by educating themselves “beyond” His Word…..what people want to “think” is what they say is truth!

c.   Where does this sort of wisdom lead them to?      (Romans 1: 26,, 28)

To the point where God gives them up! With no more boundaries, everyone does what is right in his own eyes, and lawlessness and anarchy takes over.

d.   How  can a person know God? Is it possible?     (verse 27; 1 John 2:22-23)

It IS possible but we must come  in God’s way, not ours….He makes the rules that we must abide by, and it is not how we “feel” that constitutes these rules. People must come in a trusting manner just as a little child trusts its parents, and there is only one way and that is through Jesus Christ showing God to men. If we can’t acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, we can never know God the Father….the two are one!

e.   How do we find the way to God?    (John 14:6; 17:3)

Only through believing on Jesus Christ….He is the Way, the truth and the life….to know Him is to know the Father and to  have eternal life.

4.    Verses   28-30

a.     What is the heavy load that mankind carries in his natural state?              (verse 28a)

It is the load of sin whether they are aware of it or not….sin controls every human being from birth. (you never have to teach a child to say “No!” to authority). Sinful people have bad habits, friends and attitudes.

b.     What is Christ’s promise to those who come to Him?    ( verse 28b; John 14:27)

That they will have the burden lifted and experience rest.

c.   What does mankind need to learn?      (verse 29; Philippians 2:5-8)

To be humble as Christ was…. He didn’t claim His rights but put them aside to do God’s work. He was humble, meek and lowly while here on earth….what an example to us!!

d.   What is a yoke on animals?        (verse 29; Psalm 37:4)

A yoke means one is tied to the other to help in pulling the load….the two go together as one. We cannot manage the loads of life without the help of the Lord, and to walk with Him is a delight and easy.

e.   Why is this described as a yoke?         

To the natural man it seems like throwing one’s rights out the window….the natural man’s reaction is “I’m not having anyone tell ME what to do!”

f.   How do we take this yoke on ourselves?         (Colossians 3:1-3)

We can only learn this with Christ’s help….He is willing to be yoked to us to teach us. In farming terms, it is the older wiser animal that is yoked to a younger more ignorant animal that needs to learn from the older one. We can do it by setting our minds on the things of the Lord.

g.   How does this yoke feel to those who seek to put it on?         (verse 30)

It is light and easy to wear….it is NOT burdensome. We do these things because we WANT to, not because we HAVE to!

h.   What IS the yoke of Christ ?               (1 John 5:3)

It is the yoke of love….love for God and love for others….it is NOT the love of self or self’s rights!

Verse 30 is a PARADOX….it doesn’t make sense to the natural man!

 

Matthew Twelve….(verses 1-50)

1.    Verses  1-14

a.     What happened in this incident?   Which day of the week was it?            (verse 1)

It was a Sabbath day and Jesus and His disciples went through a cornfield. The disciples were hungry so they picked some of the corn and ate it as they went.

b.     How did this affect the Pharisees?                    ( verse 2)

They were very cross about it and complained that they were breaking the law.

c.   What law did the Pharisees base their complaint on?            (Exodus 20:8-11)

The fourth commandment in Moses’ law…you shall keep the seventh day as a rest day.

d.  What reason did Jesus give for the actions of the disciples?       (verses 3-5; Numbers 28:9-10)

Necessary tasks such as hunger and worship were not bound that strictly by the law.

e.   What was the final reason?     (verse 8; Genesis 2:2-3)

The Son of Man (Himself) is the Lord of the Sabbath day because He had instituted it in the first place.

f.  Where were Jesus and his disciples going when they were accused by the Pharisees?       (verse 9)   

They were going to the local synagogue.

g.   Why did the Pharisees ask Him if it was lawful to heal on the Sabbath day?             (verse 10)

So they had some reason to accuse Him if He said it was OK.

h.   What reason did Jesus give?               (verses 11-12)

He said that humanitarian reasons over-rule the Sabbath day restrictions.

i.   How did the incident end?               (verses 13-14)

The man was healed and the Pharisees were very angry.

j.   What were the attitudes of those who were at the synagogue that day?               (verse 14)

The sick man was hopeful, Jesus was grieved at the Pharisees and they were accusing and hard towards Him, and plotted how they could kill Him.

2.    Verses  15-24

a.     Did Jesus stay around where the Pharisees were?            (verse 15a)

No, He had given them their opportunity and now He went away.

b.     Who followed Him?                    ( verse 15b)

Crowds of people followed Him….those who were sick and wanted to be healed, and those who were curious to see what happened.

c.   What were some of the serious specific diseases that Christ healed?            (Matthew 4:24)

Those who were paralysed and blind, those who were demon possessed and not in their right mind.

d.  What did the people say about Him?                  (verse 23)

They were absolutely amazed and said that He was surely the Son of David, the coming One.

e.   What did the Pharisees say about Him?               (verse 24)

They said He was getting rid of the demons by the power of Satan.

f.  What did God think of Jesus?          (verse 18)   

He was His beloved Son who He was very pleased with, and God’s Holy Spirit was with Him.

g.   Who had prophesied that this One would come?             (verse 17; Isaiah 42:1-3, 6-7)

Isaiah had foretold that One would come who would  have the Spirit of God with Him and that He would not only preach to the Jews but also to the Gentiles.

h.   What sort of person in particular did Jesus heal, and what did everyone say about it?    (verses 22-24)

This particular man was blind and not able to speak (deaf?) and was also demon possessed. The people said only the coming  One (the son of David) could do this, but the Pharisees said He did it by Satan.

2.    Verses  25-32

a.     What did Jesus say to the Pharisee’s accusation?            (verses 25-27)

He said that no kingdom that is divided can stand, and that Satan cannot and will not, cast himself out!

b.     How did He say He was able to cast out the demons?                    ( verse 28)

By the Holy Spirit of God, and this proved that God’s kingdom was at hand.

c.   What did this prove?            (verse 28)

That He was indeed who He said He was,  the Son of God.

d.  What is the unforgivable sin?                  (verses 31-32)

Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit…that is resisting  and refusing to listen to His voice. God can do nothing with someone who takes this stand.

e.   What is part of the Holy Spirit’s work?               (John 16:7-11)

Convicting men’s hearts of sin,  their lack of righteousness and of judgement to come.

f.  What does swearing using the terms “blood”. “Christ”, “Jesus”. “God” show? Is there forgiveness for this?            (verse 32a)   

This shows total disrespect and disobedience to God, His Son and His work, but there is forgiveness for this upon  repentance and confession.

g.   What about continued resistance to the Holy Spirit’s  promptings?             (verse 31)

There is no forgiveness because there is no repentance…..just saying “sorry” does not constitute repentance. Repentance is a complete turn around of the whole person…mind, attitude,  actions and words.

h.   If we do not seek God’s forgiveness in this world, can we seek it in a time to come?    (verse 32b)

No, never!

3.    Verses  33-37

a.     In what way do we assess a person?            (verse 37)

We assess them  by what they say and what they do….just as we know the sort of tree by the fruit it bears.

b.     How does a person’s speech show what they really are? ( verse 35; Proverbs 23:7a)

Because the tongue speaks what a person thinks, and how they think is their core.

c.   Who is going to judge people before God in a day to come?            (verses 36-37)

Each person will judge themselves before God….they will finally see themselves as God sees them and will give an account of himself (not the next person or the one who wronged him) but of every idle word (or untruthful or wicked word) they have ever spoken!

d.  Put Luke 12:2-3 into your own words….what thoughts come from this and verse 37?          

Nothing that has ever been spoken remains secret….all will be brought to light one day…one’s words will both justify and condemn one.

4.    Verses  38-45

a.     What did the Pharisees want to see? Why?            (verse 38)

They wanted to see some sort of sign out of sheer curiosity and sensationalism….they didn’t really think He could these things.

b.     What sign did Jesus say He would show them?                    ( verses 39-40)

He said He would show them the sign of Jonah….just as Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights, so He (Jesus) would be in the grave for three days and three nights.

c.   Who would condemn the Jewish leaders? Why?            (verses 41-42)

The men of Nineveh who Jonah eventually preached to would judge them because they repented at Jonah’s message. The Queen of Sheba would  also judge them because she travelled a long way to hear Solomon’s sayings, and He (Christ) was right with them and greater than both Jonah and Solomon!

d.  What does the fact that Jesus quoted Jonah to these people prove?    (verses 39-40)

That Jonah was a real person who really lived and had those experiences. He was no myth.

e.   What is the point of verses 43-45?              

If a person merely tries to turn over a new life it won’t last long, but if  he/she takes Christ into his/her life the gap is filled and the change is permanent.

f.  What about people who once preached the truth and then backslide?                  (2 Peter 2:1, 21-22)   

Peter deals at length in this whole chapter about false teachers… there is always room for forgiveness, no matter how far a person slides, but .if they continue in their backslidden state, they were never true believers in the first place and their last state will be worse than their first.

g.   What about continued resistance to the Holy Spirit’s  promptings?             (verse 31)

There is no forgiveness because there is no repentance…..just saying “sorry” does not constitute repentance. Repentance is a complete turn around of the whole person…mind, attitude,  actions and words.

5.    Verses  46-50

a.     What happened in this passage?            (verses 46-50)

While Jesus was busy talking to the crowd of people someone came and told Him that His mother and brothers had  come and wanted to speak to Him.

b.     What did Jesus say to those who told Him this?                    ( verses 49-50)

He said that His disciples (and subsequently those who came to Him) were His family, His brothers and mother.

c.   Why do you think that Jesus said this?            (Galatians 3:26; 1 John 3:1-2)

Because all those who follow Him are part of His spiritual family and as such are just as important as His earthly family.

d.  Jesus had made His point about His family….does it say that He refused to see them?                 

No, it doesn’t say that at all….He probably did, after all He honoured His mother.

e.   How do we become part of His family?               (verse 50)

By doing God’s will in accepting Christ into one’s life.

h.   What lesson do we learn from Galatians 3:28?   

That all  believers are equal in God’s sight, we are not to discriminate against anyone who is a believer.

 

Matthew Thirteen….(verses 1-58)

1.    Verses  1-9; 18-23  

a.     Where did Jesus speak to the crowds of people who were following Him to listen?      (verses 1-2)

He was at the beach, and as more people gathered, He got into a boat there,  pushed out a little and spoke to them there.

b.    Think about verse 2….how would you describe the scene?                    ( verse 2)

It would have been very still and as sounds carry over water, the people would have been able to hear every word. Jesus standing in the boat, telling these stories with the crowds of  people sitting on the beach and foreshore listening intently.

c.   What sort of stories did Jesus tell them? What IS a  parable?    (verse 34)

Jesus taught the people by using parables which are earthly stories with a heavenly meaning….the story starts with the known and leads on to explain the unknown.

d.  What was this first parable about?                  (verses 3-8)

It was about a farmer sowing seed in his field.

e.   What did the seed represent in this story?          (Luke 8:11)

It represents  the Word of God that people read and hear.

f.   How many different sorts of ground did the seed fall into?      (verses 4,5,7,8)

There were four different types of soil, and they represent four different attitudes of the  people who hear it

g.   Explain the different types of soil that this seed fell into and what they  meant…    (verses 5-8, 18-23)

i.    The seed that fell onto the side of the road where it was hard and stony with the birds eating it all up,  is like Satan snatching away the Word of God before it has a chance to root.

ii.  The seed that fell onto the stony ground around the edge of the field where it springs up and then withers, is like those who gladly hear the Word but give up in the hard times of life.

iii.  The seed  in the thorny ground is like those who make a start on their Christian walk but then give up because they haven’t got the time, other things (business or pleasure) crowd in and choke and stunt the growth.

iv.   The seed on the good ground which grows and yields a crop is like those who listen, learn and respond, and grow in the knowledge of the Lord.

h.   Why do you think that Jesus said “Those who have ears to hear, let him hear” ?        (verse 9)

We all have ears and can hear, but we don’t always want to listen, and will shut our ears and minds to what we have heard! Jesus meant that we should listen, understand and act on what He said.

i.   Why do you think Jesus used parable so much?              

Because a story is easier to listen to and remember, and  catches people’s attention.

2.    Verses  10-17

a.     What did the disciples ask Jesus and what was His reply?      (verses 10-11)

They wanted to know why He always used parables, and He said it was because only those who really wanted to know would get the point….the rest would only hear the story line.

b.   The disciples felt that most people weren’t getting the point….what did Jesus say to this?      (verses 13-17)

He knew that, and this fulfilled the Old Testament prophecy by Isaiah, but those who really wanted to know the meaning would ask (as the disciples had). The more a person gets to know, the more they realise there is to know. Those who don’t want to know just shrug it off and will NEVER know the truth, and what they have heard they will forget.

c.   What does understanding bring?    (Psalm 119:13; 2 Corinthians  4:4)

It brings conversion and healing of spirit with the light of the glorious Gospel into a person’s life.

d.  Who wanted to know and understand these things, but weren’t able to?    (verse 17; Ephesians 3:3-6)

The prophets and godly men of the Old Testament times didn’t have the truth of the gospel revealed to them as Jesus Christ was now showing the disciples.

e.   What is do those who hear now receive? What is the fate of those who refuse to listen?     (Luke 12:48b; Matthew 25:28-30)

Those who receive God’s Word will continue to get more and more out of it, while those who refuse it will end up in a lost eternity.

f.   Thought to ponder…..what am I going to do about it all?              

We must NEVER put it to one side, but must continue to read it, learn it, feed upon it and look to it always.

3.    Verses  24-33

a.     What was this parable about?      (verses 24-30)

It was about a farmer sowing his crop and seeing the weeds come up thickly amongst it….he left the crop until harvest and then pulled the weeds out before gathering the crop in.

b.   What would the wheat and tares represent?            (verse 38)

They represent those who are heart believers in contrast with those who are only head believers; some church congregations have both sorts attending….those who are genuine and those who are not.

c.   Why do you think God allows trouble makers and false teachers to come into a church group?    (Deuteronomy 13: 1-3 ;Acts 20:28-30)

God allows it to prove the leaders of His people to see if they will deal with the problem correctly, also to prove His people in situations like this. It seems to be a fact of life that wherever things are going smoothly, troublemakers will rise up…these people have never been true believers in the first place.

d.  Who is the cause of these problems? Who is the “enemy”?          (verses 38-39)

Satan and his cohorts are the root cause, and are the enemies of God’s people.

e.   How does one overcome these problems?     (James 4:6-8)

By resisting Satan in one’s own life, and come humbly to God for cleansing and asking His help in the situation.

f.   What is the next parable about?                  (verses 31-32)

Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that grew into a huge herb and a sizeable tree.

g.   How would you explain this in spiritual terms?                  (Matthew 28:18-20)

The kingdom of Heaven started off with just twelve men  (a small seed) who went out to preach and filled the whole known world with the Word of God, and many people (the birds) came to know the Lord as a result

h.   What was the final parable in this lot?        (verse 33)

How yeast (leaven)  fills a lump of dough with rising….it spreads through the dough.

i.   What is the good meaning of this parable?              

The fact that the Gospel has spread through the whole word with its message of hope and cleansing.

j.  What is the bad meaning of this parable?

Things that are bad can spread like wildfire if they aren’t checked in the beginning.

4.    Verses  34-46

a.     We have seen these different parables that Jesus used to explain heavenly truths to the people…what was another reason he used parables?      (verses 34-35; Psalm 78:1-2)

Because it was foretold in the Scriptures that He would do this.

b.   What did the disciples ask Him that evening in the house, and what explanation did He give them?            (verses 36-39)

They asked Him what the REAL meaning of the parable of the tares and wheat was, and He told them that the field represented the world, the wheat those who believed and the tares those who refused the message. The enemy who sowed the tares is the Devil, with the harvest being the end of the age, and the angels the reapers.

c.   What is the end of those who do not believe?    (verses 40-4; Isaiah 57:20-21)

Jesus makes it very clear that their end is a place of weeping, wailing and eternal pain and regrets. There is never any rest for them.

d.  What is the warning here?          (verses 42-43)

Compare the ends of the righteous and the wicked and take it to heart…which are you?

e.   What does Jesus liken the kingdom of heaven to next?     (verse 44)

A field with a gold mine in it…a person will give everything he has to own it!

f.   What is the next parable about?                  (verses 45-46)

Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for valuable pearls, and when he finds one, he sells everything he has to buy it.

g.   How would you explain these in spiritual terms?                  (Psalm 19:10; 119:72, 97)

God’s kingdom (and Word) is the most valuable thing a person can have, and nothing else is worth having…it is worth all the time and energy we can give it.

h.   What did Paul say about God’s kingdom and knowing Christ?        (Philippians 3:7-8)

He counted his whole career and education as nothing compared to the things of God and preaching the Gospel.

5.    Verses  47-52

a.     What picture did the Lord use next to describe the end of the age?      (verses 47-48)

As pulling in a net and then sorting out the fish from the rubbish.

b.   Who does the sorting out in the time to come?            (verse 49)

It is the angels who do the sorting out and throwing away.

c.  Think about this term of wailing and gnashing of teeth….what exactly is it and how long does it last?    (verse 50; Luke 16:23-24; Revelation 14:10-11)

Jesus makes it very clear that this is  weeping, wailing and eternal pain with regrets, and it lasts for ever and ever with no end. It is not just an initial torment, it goes on for ever with NO rest!

d.  Did the disciples understand all this?          (verse 51)

They thought they did.

e.   How did Jesus describe those who know the Scriptures and follow them?     (verse 52)

As one who has a vast treasure to draw on, and is continually discovering new things.

f.   What does a person’s heart and  mind concentrate on?                  (Luke 12:33-34)

It is centred on his treasure…that which is most dear to him

6.    Verses  53-58

a.     Jesus had finished teaching these parables…what did He do next?      (verses 53-54a)

He left that place and went back home to Nazareth.

b.   What did He do there, and what reaction was there from those who heard Him?            (verse 54b)

He preached in the synagogue there, and the people were  astonished and offended at what He said.

c.  What exactly did they say?    (verses 55-56)

Who does He think He is? He’s just the carpenter’s son from down the road and we know all His family!

d.  How many brothers and sisters did He have?          (verses 55-56)

He had four brothers…James, Joses, Simon and Judas (Jude) and at least two sisters, maybe more.

e.   What does Paul say about one of them? What else do we know about him? (Acts 1:14; Galatians 1:18-19)

Mary and her sons were in Jerusalem with the other disciples after the crucifixion, and James was recognised as one of the elders of the early church there. Paul refers to him as one of the apostles, that is, someone who had seen physically and spoken with Jesus Christ.

f.   What did the locals think about Jesus at this time?             (verse 57a)

They were offended by His message and refused to listen….they didn’t like it!

g.   What was the comment that Jesus made about this?                  (verse 58b)

A prophet is without honour in his own community….nobody takes any notice.

h.   What was Jesus able to do for them?                  (verse 59; Mark 6:2-6)

Not much because of their unbelief, and because not many people came to be healed.

i.   Can God do much with people who don’t believe today?         (Hebrews 11:6)     

People have to have faith before they can receive a spiritual blessing from God.

j.  How do people receive this faith?                (Ephesians 2:8)

They have to cry out to God and He freely gives them the gift of faith.

 

Matthew Fourteen….(verses 1-36)

1.    Verses  1-13a                                                                          

a.     This is a sad story that  both Matthew and Mark record in detail…why did Herod put John in prison?  (verses 3-4; Mark 6:18-19)

Because John reproved him for having taken his brother’s wife and married her; the lady then had a quarrel against John.

b.    What does Herod’s comment about Jesus show?                    ( verse 2)

That he had a guilty conscience about having beheaded John…perhaps he was hoping that John HAD come back to life!

c.   What did the people think about John?    (verse 5)

They  thought he was one of the prophets (he was the actually the last one).

d.  How did John’s death come about?                                     (verses 6-11)

It was a scheme of Herod’s wife to have her pretty daughter dance in front of Herod so well that he would promise to give anything she asked for. She asked for John’s head in a basin.

e.   What was the end of the story?                (verse 12)

John’s disciples buried his body and went to tell Jesus.

f.   What did Jesus do after he had been told about this happening?                (verse 13a)

He went across the lake and up into a mountain to pray.

2.    Verses  13b-23

a.     Why did Jesus go off  into the mountains alone at times?        (verse 23)

He would go off in solitude to pray to His Heavenly Father.

b.    Who followed Him into this deserted place?                    ( verses 13b-14)

Crowds of people who wanted to be healed.

c.   About how many would have been there?    (verse 21)

About fifteen thousand…five thousand men , and double that again for the women and children.

d.  How did Jesus view all these people?                                     (Mark 6:33-34)

He saw them as sheep without a shepherd and needing to be taught….He saw their spiritual need rather than their physical need of bodily healing.

e.   What does John tell us in his account that Matthew doesn’t and vice versa?                (John 6:1-14)

Matthew tells us that they had been there all day and it was now evening when this miracle happened. John tells us  that it was Philip who Jesus spoke to about feeding them all and that it was Andrew who brought the young lad with his food to Jesus. John tells us of the people’s reaction after this miracle and how they were going to forcibly make Him a king.

2.    Verses  24-33

a.     Why did the disciples go off ahead of Jesus?        (verse 22)

Because He told them to….He urged to go while He sent the crowds away.

b.    What did Jesus do after the people left?                    ( verse 23)

He then went up the hill further to pray.

c.   What lesson is there in this for us today?                (Luke 18:1)

If it was necessary for Jesus to pray to His Father, how much more it is necessary for us to pray continually! We MUST take time out to talk to Him.

d.  Do you think that Jesus knew what was going to happen to the disciples when He sent them off?  (verse 24)                                  

Yes, because He knows ALL things.

e.   Did He leave them alone after the storm got up?                (verse 25)

No, He went to them.

f.   What does Mark 6:48 (last phrase) suggest to you?             (verse 13a)

They were so worried and working so hard in their time of trouble that they almost failed to see Him.

g.   What about us when we are in the middle of the storms of life?             (Hebrews 13:5b)

We can be so concerned with our problems that we fail to remember that God will never leave us, and He is with us in our problems.

h.   What did Peter do in his impulsiveness?        (verses 28-31)

He got out of the boat to walk to Jesus and while he was keeping his eyes on the Lord  he was OK, but when he looked at the huge waves he became afraid and began to sink.

i.   What lesson is there in this for us?           (Psalm 28:7,  46:1)   

While we look to the Lord we can be an over-comer in our mind, but when we allow the problem to take our mind over it will get the better of us and we will sink. In other words we must have faith in God.

j.   What happened when Peter and Jesus got back into the boat?             (verse 32)

The wind stopped immediately.

k.   What else does John tell us that the others don’t?        (John 6:21)

That the ship was immediately in port!

l.   What was the disciples’ attitude to Jesus now?           (verse 33; Mark 6:51)   

They were absolutely amazed  as they had become used to “ordinary” miracles. This showed His power over nature and it brought them to worship Him as God and confess that He was the Son of God.

m.   Sometimes when we make a decision and things go wrong does this mean we have made a mistake? Why do you think we have to go through trials at times?             (Romans 8:28; 1 Peter 1:6-7)

Sometimes God has to bring us back to Himself and He does this by allowing things to go wrong for us. Our trials drive us to our knees in prayer and we have to rely on God to get us through ….going through trials is like metal going through a fire and being refined with all the rubbish being burned off. If we come through these things with the right attitude, we are the better for them.

3.    Verses  34-36

a.     Where did the boat land at?        (verse 34)

At an area called Gennesaret.

b.    What did the people of the place do when they heard that Jesus was there?     ( verse 35; Mark 6:53-56)

They brought all their sick folk and asked for healing.

c.   What did they have to do to be healed?                (verse 36)

Just touch the hem of His coat and they would be healed.

d.  What sort of healing was it?                     (verse 36b)                                  

Perfect healing, not partial.

e.   What lesson is there in this for us?                (Mark 2:17)

The Lord is more interested in giving spiritual healing today than He is in bodily healing (although He does this at  times). We all need this and when we come to Him, He will make us perfectly whole.

 

Matthew Fifteen….(verses 1-38)

1.    Verses  1-9               

a.     What were the Pharisees finding fault with?                   (verses 1-2)

The fact that the disciples hadn’t washed their hands before eating.

b.    What was the tradition of the Pharisees in this respect?                    ( verse 2)

They were extremely particular about this, probably more so than the law required.

c.   What had the Pharisees done with these traditions that had evolved?    (verse 3)

They were teaching that these were God’s laws and God’s Word.

d.  What had their traditions effectively done?                                     (verse 6)

They were making their rules over-ride the commandments of God.

e.   Which traditions or laws did they now consider the most important?       (verses7-9)

Their own traditions gave them a loophole to get out of God’s laws

f.   What does God consider most important…our heart attitudes or the things we teach?       (Isaiah 29:13)

It is the heart that counts….our attitude to God and to others.

g.   What must we be careful of today?                (1 Corinthians 14:37; 2 Timothy 3:16)

We must be careful that we acknowledge that the whole Bible is relevant for today and is God’s Word. Once we start to say this or that doesn’t apply to today to suit ourselves,  the message of the Scriptures is being cast in doubt.

2.    Verses  10-20

a.     What statement offended the Pharisees?                   (verses 10-12)

It isn’t what goes into a person that does harm, it is what comes out!

b.    Jesus likened these religious traditions to plants…what two different sorts are there?  ( verses 13-14)

Those that have been put in place by God and those that have been instituted by man.

c.   What do we have to be careful about?        (verses 15-16)

Understanding which are God’s traditions and which are man’s…then keeping God’s and discarding man’s.

d.  Are Paul’s teachings traditions that we should follow? Can we take the ones that suit us and ignore those that don’t?   (1 Corinthians 14:37; Colossians 2:6-8; 2 Thessalonians 2:15)

Paul makes it very clear that what he taught was from God and not from man, and that it is very important to hold fast to them….once we start cutting out bits, we cannot be sure what is right and what isn’t.

e.   What comes out of a person that defiles them and others?                (verses17-19)

It’s not what goes in the mouth and out again that defiles a person, it is what comes out of their heart through their mouth, the wicked thoughts that lead to evil deeds that defiles a person and those with them.

f.   What was wrong with the Pharisees’ rule of washing hands before eating?            (verse 20; Mark 7:14-16)

They looked on it as a ritual that made one holy…they were only worrying about looking good..

g.   What was Christ more concerned about?                (verse 18)

He was more concerned about a person’s heart condition, their spiritual state.

3.    Verses  21-28

a.     Why did Jesus seem to ignore this woman who followed them calling out?            (verses 21-24)

She was not a Jew, but from a heathen nation.

b.    What did the disciples want to do with her?                    ( verse 23)

They wanted to send her off out of it.

c.   How did Jesus view the people of Israel?                          (verse 24)

He saw them as lost sheep and gave them the first chance of salvation.

d.  What  did this woman call Jesus?                                     (verse 22)

As “Lord, Son of David”.

e.   Was it her amount of pleading that granted her request?               

No, although she did not give up.

f.   What attitude of hers did the Lord commend?         (verses 24-28)

Her worshipful attitude and her humility, classing herself as a dog only deserving the crumbs, and her faith.

g.   Did she worship the Lord before or after her request was granted?                (verse 25)

She worshipped Him BEFORE she got what she wanted.

h.   What can we learn from this? What does Paul tell us?       (Philippians 4:6)

To make our requests to God and thank Him for the answer BEFORE we get it.

i.   What does this ensure?                (Philippians 4:7)

That whatever happens, we will have God’s peace that passes all understanding in the matter.

j.   What other lessons can we learn from this woman?               

i      To come to the Lord recognising our needs…she had a desperate need.

ii.    To address Him correctly with great reverence, recognising His sovereignty.

iii.   To not give up until an answer is given.

iv.   To have an attitude of humility.

v.    To worship BEFORE we make our request, and to be happy with the answer we get.

4.    Verses  29-39

a.     Where did Jesus go for the next session? Why?            (verse 29)

He went up to a high point near the sea (maybe behind the beach) where there was plenty of space for the great crowds to come to Him.

b.    What sort of people came to Him to that deserted and high spot?      ( verse 30)

Sick and handicapped people struggled up to where He was and went away whole and cured.

c.   What does that tell us about these people? For us today?                         

They knew they had a need and although it required effort to get to Him, they did this. In the same way we have to recognise our need of salvation and soul healing, and humble ourselves to come to the Lord.

d.  What results from this healing, both physical and spiritual?                      (verse 31)

Glory and praise given to God.

e.   How long were the people up the mountain?  What did Jesus say to His disciples?          (verses 32-33)

They had been with Him for three days, and Jesus told His disciples to give them food as they were getting very hungry.

f.   What was the attitude of the disciples?                 (verse 33)

They couldn’t see how they could possibly feed such a large crowd when all they had was seven buns and a few small fish.

g.   What are the similarities and contrasts between this miracle of feeding and the previous one?                (Mark 6:35-44; John 6:8-13)

Similarities…..There were great crowds of people who needed feeding; Jesus took the bread and few fish, broke it into pieces and gave it to the disciples to pass around.

Contrasts…. A young lad gave his food to Jesus the first time (five buns and two fish), and seven buns and a few little fish the second time; there were five thousand men the first time and four this time; twelve baskets of left overs were picked up the first time and seven the second time.

h.   What do we see about this meal?     (verse 37)

Thanks was given for the food and the people had more than enough to eat.

i.   How did Jesus feel about this crowd? What did He do after the meal?   (verses 32, 39)

He had compassion on them….he felt sorry for them and did something about it before sending them home.

j.   What parallel can we see in this  for ourselves?                (Galations 2:20)

We could say the same thing…He has compassion for people today, and did something about it in giving Himself for us. He died for me and lives within me and I can go home rejoicing!

 

Matthew Sixteen….(verses 1-28)

1.    Verses  1-4               

a.     What did the Pharisees and Sadducees want from Jesus?        (verse 1)

They knew about the miracles He was doing and wanted to see some special sign from Him themselves.

b.    What sign did Jesus point to them?       ( verses 2-3)

He told them the obvious thing….they could read the weather signs in the sky, and why couldn’t they accept the signs of healing that He was doing under their noses?

c.   What was the Scriptural sign that Jesus reminded them of?    (verse 4; Luke 29:32)

He reminded them of Jonah, and said that was the only sign they would be given.

d.  Did He explain this sign to them at this time?        (chapter 12:39-41)

No, He had already done that at a previous time.

e.   What was the parallel between Jonah and Christ?                (chapter 12:39-41)

Just as Jonah was three days in the belly of the fish, so in the same way He would be in the grave for three days; he told them that Nineveh would judge them in a time to come because they repented at Jonah’s preaching whereas they were ignoring His teaching.

2.    Verses  5-12

a.     Jesus and the disciples apparently went back across the lake….what had the disciples forgotten to take?                   (verse 5)

They had forgotten to take any food or bread with them.

b.    What comment did Jesus make and what did they think He meant?      ( verses 6-7)

He was still thinking about the Pharisees and told them to beware of the leaven of their teaching. They thought He was meaning they had forgotten to bring bread with them.

c.   What did Jesus really mean?  Did they get the point in the end?     (verses 8-12)

He reminded them that ordinary bread was a mere item…He could have produced that for them, but He was meaning to beware of the doctrine and hypocrisy of the Pharisees which was saying one thing and doing another, trying to impress people. They finally got the point.

d.  What lesson is there in this for us?                                    

To look for spiritual parallels in the stories of the Bible …to not be like the disciples who were more concerned with their stomachs than their soul’s welfare.

e.   What leaven does Paul warn us to beware of?                (1 Corinthians 5:6-8)

We are to clean out the leaven of fleshly attitudes of malice and immoral thinking and actions as the slightest bit of these sorts of things will spread in our lives.

f.   How can we do this?             (Romans 12:1-2; Philippians 4:8; Colossians 3:1-2)

The slightest compromise with wrong will gradually permeate our lives until it chokes our spiritual appreciation. We have to keep our minds on the things of God and be careful what we watch and read….there is so much  filth in the world and its productions and it sticks if we dabble with it.

3.    Verses  13-23

a.    Who did the people think He was?                    ( verses 13-14)

They thought He was John the Baptist or one of the ancient prophets come back to life.

b. What did Jesus want to hear what His disciples thought of Him? Did He not already know?                   (verses 13-15; John 21:17; Romans 10:9-10)

He already knew what they thought, but He wanted to hear them confess verbally Who He  was….not just an ordinary man, but the Lord of glory, the Son of God. When we confess with our mouth and believe in our heart who Jesus is, we are saved!

c.   How did Peter have this knowledge?                     (verse 17)

God opened his understanding and gave it to him.

d.  Some people take the next statement that Peter is the foundation of the church, but if you look it up in a reference Bible (Amplified or even the Living Bible), the difference is clear to see….what is it?   (verse 18)                          

Peter’s name came from a Greek word  “petros” meaning a stone or little rock, while the word translated “rock” here is a different Greek word…. “petra”, a huge rock meaning Himself.

e.   Which rock then. is the church built on?                (1 Corinthians 3:11)

The huge Rock, Jesus Christ and His teachings are the foundation of the church, nothing else takes the place of His Word, no-one else’s writings equal it or can be trusted fully.

f.   What is the “key” to the kingdom of heaven?          (verse 19a; 7: 21; 19:14)

Coming to the Lord in meekness and trust like a little child; it must be from the heart and not mere words, not everyone who does good works will be part of it.

g.   What is this “binding” and “loosing” on earth to do with?          (verse 19b)

Believers have the authority to tell others that the spiritual values they hold here will also stand in a time to to come….what they do with Christ in their years on earth will seal their ultimate fate before God. People cannot consign others to hell or heaven, that is God’s prerogative.

h.  While the disciples may have thought  that Jesus was the Christ,  now He had come out in the open about it….what were they now having to hear?                                     (verse 21)

That He would be arrested, tried and whipped, then be killed. However, He would rise again the third day.

i.   Who immediately spoke up again? What did he say?                (verse 22)

Peter blurted out, “No! It won’t happen to you Lord!”

j.   What made Peter talk like this?                   (verse 23)

It was Satan inspired fear.

k.   What is the contrast between this speech of Peter’s and his first one?    (verses 16-17, 23)

The first one was God inspired and the second one came from Satan.

l.   What do we have to be careful of?                (James 3:8-10)

Doing the same thing….talking spiritual one minute and then speaking in anger the next; quoting Scripture and then expressing doubts and fears the next.

m.   When we are tempted to do this, what are we to do?   (James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8-9)

Resist Satan’s ideas and put them behind us, then he will run away (until next time!)

4.    Verses  24-28

a.    Who was Jesus talking to in the next section? Does this have any bearing on us today?   ( verse 24a)

He was speaking to His disciples, and indirectly to all those who seek to follow Him.

b.     What is a cross? What is this “cross” that Jesus is talking about?            (verse 24b; Romans 15:1-3)

A cross is something unpleasant that has to be carried….it could be ill health or worries of some sort or unpleasant circumstances. Our Lord was referring here to the cross of self and ego, wanting to please ourselves rather than others, and this is what has to be denied, this is the cross we are to carry.

c.   When are we to do this?                     (Luke 9:23)

Every day…..it is a continual thing.

d.  Why are we not to live just to please ourselves?       (verse 25)                          

Because those who do, find they end up unhappy old people with no friends. A person who lives for themselves eventually loses their life and all that matters in this world.

e.   Who is our prime example of doing this?                (Philippians 2:5-8)

Our Lord Jesus left everything (position, and glory) behind Him when He came to earth… He denied Himself while here living as a poor  man, and eventually suffering on the cross for us.

f.   How would you put verse 26 into your own words?           

What good does it do to be the richest man in the world and yet miss out on what really matters? Money doesn’t buy the things that really matter, peace of mind and a place in heaven.

g.   What does verse 27 say?          (Galatians 6:7-8 )

One day Jesus Christ will come back again and every person will reap what they have sown in their lives.

h.  What were some of the those standing there going to see in their lifetime?  (verse 28; Luke 17:20-21)

They would see the Lord’s  kingdom., and the change it brought to people when they accepted His message. God’s kingdom is not a physical thing, but something spiritual  within people’s hearts.

i.   Have you experienced this? How does Paul describe this change?  (Romans 14:17; 2 Corinthians 5:17)

It is a spiritual change that gives a whole new outlook on life with a new aim and desires…a totally new person!

 

Matthew Seventeen….(verses 1-27)

1.    Verses  1-9               

a.   Jesus often went up into the mountains alone to pray, but  who did He take with Him this time?                   (verse 1)

He took Peter, James and John with Him this time.

b.    We often find that He singled these three out…why do you think this was?     ( Mark 14:33; Luke 8:51)

They seemed to be closest to Him, and were always linked together….the same way that we have friends and then best friends.

c.   Why did He take them this time?           (verses 2-3)

To give them the experience of a lifetime….so they could see His glory and also see Moses and Elijah talking with Him.

d.  What were Moses and Elijah talking with Him about?      (Luke 9:28-32)

They were talking of  the death He would suffer and what it meant.

e.   How would you describe the scene in your own words?         (verses 2-3; Mark 9:2-4; Luke 9:28-32)

As these four were at the top of the mountain, Jesus was praying to His Father. The other three were tired out and fell asleep, then woke with a start as the place filled with a very bright light. They saw Jesus as they had never seen Him before, the light was coming from Him, and His clothes were sparkling and glistening white. There were two others with Him and they instinctively knew that they were Moses and Elijah.

f.   The three disciples saw with their eyes Christ’s heavenly glory….what did it look like? How did Peter describe it at a later time?            ( Mark 9:3; 2 Peter 1:16c-18)

He became full of light…His face shone with it, His clothes glittered with whiteness, He was surrounded by it…..Peter said  that they saw His majesty, honour and  the glory of heaven.

g.   What did John add to this description when he saw Him in Revelation?          (Revelation 1:14-17)

His hair was white as white, His eyes were piercing and bright (like fire), His feet were like glittering brass….He was altogether brighter than the sun.

h.  Moses and Elijah each represented a particular  phase of God’s dealings with mankind just as Christ himself did….what were they?        (Romans 3:21)

Jesus Christ is the righteousness of God in bodily form quite apart from the law, while Moses represented the law and Elijah the prophets.

i.   What were these three talking together about?  (verse 3; Luke 9:30-31)

They were talking of the great sacrifice of Christ’s death which was going to happen at Jerusalem.

j.  This was the opportunity of a lifetime for the disciples…how did they feel? Were they full of curiosity and questions?                           (Mark 9:6)

No, they were afraid and filled with awe.

k.   What is so typical of  Peter in what he said?                      (verse 4; Mark 9:6; Luke 9:23)

He was always blurting his mouth without really knowing what he was saying.

l.   What else did they see, hear and experience?                   (verse 5 )

A bright cloud came down around them and they heard God’s voice saying “This is My  beloved Son Who I am very pleased with, listen to Him”.

m.   How did they react to this? How do men react when they see God’s glory?     (Daniel 10:7-11)

When the disciples  heard this they collapsed onto the ground face first with fear until  it all disappeared ….Daniel fell down with his face to the ground before getting up on his hands and knees…he eventually stood up shaking all over with fear.

n.   How did the disciples come out of their fear?  What did Jesus tell them?   (verses 7-9)

Jesus came over and touched them on their shoulders and told them to not be afraid but to get up. He told them to say nothing about this until after He had risen from the dead.

n.   What can we learn from this experience that the disciples went through?   (1 Timothy 6:15-16)

We can see something of the glory of Christ; of Who He is, and to realise that He IS the King of Glory, who always was and always will be; to not take Him for granted bouncing into His presence, but to approach Him in prayer with awe and reverence.

2. Verses  10-13

a.   What did the disciples want to know next?                   (verse 10)

They wanted to know  why  the scribes said that Elijah must come first before the Messiah.

b.    Why should they have known the answer to this before they asked?     ( Malachi 4:5-6; Matthew 11:12-15)

Because it was foretold in their Scriptures, and Jesus had already told them once before that John the Baptist was the “Elijah” that was prophesied about.

c.   What had happened to John, and what was going to happen to Jesus?  (verses 12-13)

They had got rid of John the Baptist and they were trying to get rid of Jesus too.

3. Verses  14-27

a.   A man came to Jesus to have his son healed….how was this son described?           (verse 15)

As a lunatic, taking fits and falling into the fire or  water.

b.    What could the disciples NOT do?  Why not?                   ( verses 16, 20-21)

They couldn’t cure the lad or throw the demon out of him because they weren’t really relying on God to do it….they were just relying on the mechanical thing of talking to it.

c.   What happened as Jesus approached the lad to heal him?           (Luke 9:38-42)

The demon gave him another fit and he went into a convulsion before Jesus told it to go and leave him.

d.  What does this teach us?         (verse 21)

To not play around with this sort of thing, but to pray and fast before attempting it, and to rely on the power of the Lord to do it.

e.  What did Jesus tell His disciples about again?    Did it sink into their minds?        (verses 22-23)

His forthcoming death and resurrection….it seemed to sink in somewhat as they were sorry to hear it.

f.   What issue came up next?            ( verse 24)

Whether to pay tax or not….after all, it was going to the Romans.

g.   What did Jesus say?          (verse 27)

Go and catch a fish (Peter’s normal form of income) and take the money you will find in its mouth and pay it.

h.   What do we learn from this? What is the Scriptural attitude to paying tax?          (Romans 13: 6-7)

We are all bound by the laws of the land in this matter and are to pay up cheerfully, no matter what form of tax it is.

h.  What point does Paul enlarge on in this theme?        (Romans 13:1)

That the powers that be in government are ordained by God and as such we are subject to them.

 

Matthew Eighteen….(verses 1-35)

1.    Verses  1-6               

a.   What was concerning the disciples next?        (verse 1)

They wanted to know who was going to be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

b.    Who asked for the top places at another time?       ( Mark 10:35-37)

James and John wanted to be at the top!

c.   What did Jesus use as an illustration this time?           (verse 2)

He called a small child to Him and used him as an illustration.

d.  What does a small child do that an adult finds hard to do?      (Luke 18:17)

They are very trusting and believe anything they are told.

e.   What does the word “convert” mean here?         (verse 3)

It means to turn around and start afresh with a trusting heart.

f.   What does a child NOT have?            ( verse 4)

A child doesn’t have the pride that stops him from believing, but is trusting..

g.   What must an adult do to be great in the kingdom of heaven?          (verse 4; Luke 18:10-14)

He must come to God in humility just as a little child trusts its parents; a humble person realises and admits that he/she  is a sinner needing God’s salvation.

h.  What does verse 5 tell us?        (Luke 9:48)

That whenever we receive a child in Christ’s name, we are receiving Him.

i.  What happens when an adult rubbishes what a child believes about God?  How serious is it?     (verse 6)

It would be better for that person to lose their life.

2.    Verses  7-9               

a.   What does Jesus say about those who tempt others to do wrong or to disbelieve?           (verse 7)

Woe to them! Their judgement is sure!

b.    What did Jesus say about being tempted?                               (verses 8-9)

That it is inevitable and that whatever causes the temptation must be done away with.

c.   What does Paul tell us to do about temptation?           (1 Corinthians 10:12-14)

He says we are to keep away from situations where temptation abounds….flee from it! We CANNOT handle these sorts of situations.

d.  What have you found personally about temptation?                         

It pays to keep away altogether from doubtful situations where you have a weakness.

e.   What about situations you think you can handle?         (1 Corinthians 10:12)

If we think we are OK. we usually aren’t! One is halfway there to even go into such a situation in the first place unless it can’t be avoided and then one must be covered in prayer.

3.    Verses  10-14

a.   What warning do we have here?           (verse 10a)

Not to despise or make fun of what a child believes about God.

b.    What do we learn about angels here?       (verse 10b; Psalm 34:7, 91:11)

Each child (and believer)  has a guardian  angel to look after them.

c.   What else are we told about the angels?           (Luke 15:10)

They rejoice greatly whenever a person repents from their sin and comes to Jesus Christ.

d.  What was  the primary reason for Jesus Christ coming into the world ?     (verse 11; Luke 19:10)                    

To seek (look for) and to save those who are lost in sin.

e.   We have a story here of the lost sheep…what other things does Luke tell us were lost?  (Luke 15:4-10, 24)

There was the woman who lost the coin from her headdress, and the lost son who returned home.

f.   If the lost sheep represents lost people, what do you think the remaining 99 represent?       ( verse 4; Luke 15:7)

Those who are too self righteous to come to the Lord, and do not repent. Each believer has to come to the point of knowing they are lost before they can come to Him.

g.   What happens when a sinner is found?          (verse 13; Luke 15:10)

All of heaven rejoices when  sinners repent of their sin.

h.  Why does God appear to turn a blind eye to the state of the world now?        (2 Peter 3:9)

Because He is not willing that any should perish…He is still giving mankind an opportunity to repent.

4.    Verses  15-20

a.   What is the right way to deal with someone who upsets you or has done you wrong?    (Luke 17:3-4)

Go to them privately and try to talk it out.

b.    What if they won’t listen?       (verse 16)

Take a couple others who can arbitrate or who are there to hear what is being said.

c.   What if that does no good?           (verse 17)

Take it to the church group and if that doesn’t work, have nothing  more to do with the person.

d.  How many times is a person to forgive a wrong?                 (verses 21-22; Luke 17:4)                    

As many times as an apology is given….we are always to forgive and not harbour a grudge.

e.  What does Jesus go on to talk about?                    (verse 18)

Binding and loosing things on earth that will go through to heaven.

f.   Remembering what He was just saying, what do you think this is to do with?       (Galatians 6:7-8)

That if we don’t forgive on earth, this will have to be dealt with in heaven whereas if we do, all will be clear there. We will be answerable for everything we do on earth when we get to heaven….there will be no unresolved wrongs there.

g.  What is the criteria of binding things on earth that will be recognised in heaven?  (Numbers 30:2; Ecclesiastes 5:4-5; Matthew 6:14-15)

i.    It must be according to God’s Word.

ii.   We must keep the vows that we make…it’s better to not make any than to break them.

iii.  We must not have an unforgiving spirit as it will go with us through the grave.

h.  What do we read in John 3:36 that shows things bound or loosed on earth are the same as in heaven?       

Whatever we do with Christ on earth, follows us through into eternity….if we believe we will not perish, but have everlasting life; if we do not believe in and follow Him, God’s great anger will remain upon us.

i.  What is the primary criteria for answered prayer here?     (verses 19-20)

For two  to agree on a certain matter and pray for this.

j.  What is the promise here if this is done?                 (verse 19b)

Their request will be granted and the Lord is with them when they meet in  His Name.

k.   What does James add to this?                      (James 5:16)

To confess our faults before each other and pray for each other.

l.   What attitude does this show?                  

It shows a humble attitude, one of relying on the Lord.

m.   How is a request to be presented to God?                  (John 16:23-24; Philippians 4:6)

It is to be in the name of Jesus Christ and in a trusting spirit…we are not be worried or anxious about the outcome.

5.    Verses  21-35

a.   Read this passage through….what is it about?    (verses 21-22)

Forgiveness and forgiving one another.

b.    What is this story all about?                         (verses 23-34)

It is about a king who forgave one of his servants who owed him money and couldn’t pay. Then this same servant went out and found another one who owed him money and he got him sent to prison….he showed an unforgiving spirit, and ended up being thrown to the tormentors.

c.    What does an unforgiving spirit do?       (Ephesians 4:30-32; Colossians 3:13; Hebrews 12:15)

It grieves the Holy Spirit, and creates bitterness which drags a person down….we have been forgiven by God so we CANNOT refuse to forgive a person who has wronged us.

d.   Have we any right to not forgive and harbour a grudge?           (Matthew 7:1-2)

No, because if we do, we are judging that person. We have no right to do this because we could be very well doing something else equally as bad.

e.  What does true forgiveness (God’s sort of forgiveness)  include?    (Hebrews 8:12; 10:17)                    

Totally forgetting the offence, putting it behind you forever and never dragging it up again, no matter how many years later!

f.   What is the end result of those who refuse to forgive others?             (verse 35)

It is a very serious matter to not forgive, and God will deal with each one whether a believer or an unbeliever in a time to come.

 

Matthew Nineteen….(verses 1-30)

1.    Verses  1-6               

a. We see in verse 1 that Jesus went from Galilee to the area of Judea…..look at a map…where is Galilee in relation to Judea? What is one town in Galilee?                  

Galilee is to the north of the country and that is where Nazareth is, while Judea is to the south where Jerusalem is.

b.    About how far are the two areas apart? What separates them?                             

It is about 60 miles in a straight line from Nazareth to Jerusalem with Samaria in the middle which the Jews never went through, so they would skirt around its borders making the journey longer.

c.   What did the Pharisees ask Jesus this time? Why did they ask it?           (verse 3)

They were hoping to catch Him out by asking if  divorce was OK.

d.  What did Jesus answer them from?                          (verses 4-6; Genesis 2: 23-24)

He took them back to the Scriptures to see what God said in the first place…He pointed out that a man and his wife are one flesh, joined by God, and are not be separated.

e.   What is marriage a picture of?         (Ephesians 5: 23-25)

It is a picture of the relationship between Christ and His church….just as it is for ever, so a marriage must be.

f.   How can one ensure a happy marriage for life?            ( Ephesians 5:23-33)

By following God’s order…God first, husband next and wife to follow both. A husband is to love his wife as himself, even prepared to give his life for her,  but a wife is not to take advantage of this, but is to respect and reverence his decisions and him. If a girl can’t respect her man, she should not marry him!

2.    Verses  7-12

a. What was the Pharisee’s next attack on His reply?                   (verse7)

They wanted to know why Moses’ law allowed them to divorce seeing that was not in God’s order.

b.    What was Christ’s reply to this question?            (verse 8)                      

It was because of people’s stubbornness, but it is not God’s way.

c.   What was the allowable reason to divorce a wife?           (verse 9a)

If she had an affair outside of marriage, then she could be divorced.

d.  What is committed when a divorced person remarries?           (verse 9b)

If a divorced person remarries, they have committed adultery.

e.   What rule is given in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians?         (1 Corinthians 7:10-11, 39)

A man is not to put away his wife and a woman is not to leave her husband….a person is bound to their partner as long as they are alive.

f.   What were the disciples worrying about next?            ( verse 10)

If this is the case, it is better to not marry!

g.   What did Jesus point out to this comment?          (verses 11-12)

That some people never worry about getting married, and others choose not to deliberately to further their work for the Lord. People who can cope with being single are perfectly OK….it is not for everyone.

h.  What did Paul point out about this subject?        (1 Corinthians 7:7-9,27-28)

God calls some to be single and others to be married. If a person can’t face a life of singleness, there is nothing wrong in getting married. However, a single person can devote themselves whole heartedly to God’s work.

3.    Verses  13-15

a. What is the picture here?                   (verse13)

That of Jesus being surrounded by mothers with toddlers and infants wanting to touch Him, and the disciples were trying to keep them away as not being important.

b.    How did Jesus feel about this situation?            (verse 14)                      

He rebuked the disciples for their attitude, and welcomed the children to come to Him.

c.   What have we already seen about Jesus’ manner with little ones?           (Matthew 18:2-4)

He used a small child as an object lesson of how people must come to Him….with trust and confidence.

d.  What does Mark tell us that Matthew doesn’t?           (Mark 10:13-16)

He picked them up in His arms and blessed them.

4.    Verses  16-22

a. What is this next section about?                   (verse16)

It is about this person who came to Jesus wanting to know how to get to heaven.

b.    What do we know about this person?            (verses 20, 22,; Luke 18:18, 23)                      

He was a wealthy young man in a high position (a ruler)

c.   What was the young man’s question?           (verse 16)

What must I DO to have eternal life? He thought he had to do something to earn it.

d.  What did Jesus refer him to?           (verse 17b)

He told him to keep the ten commandments.

e.  The young man felt he had always done this….what did his next question show?   (verse 20)

He still felt a lack of something in his life…he had no certainty that he WAS good enough.

f.   Which commandments do you notice that the Lord’s reply to him consisted of? ( verses 18-19; Exodus20:1-17)

They were the commandments that concerned his relationship with other people…they were the last six commandments.

g.   What did the Lord’s next statement show up?          (verse 21)

Where the young man’s heart really was….he thought more of his money, possessions and position than of following Jesus.

h.  What choice did the young man make? Did this decision make him happy?        (verse 22)

He chose to stay as he was with his possessions and riches, and no certainty of eternal life. He was not happy at all.

i.  What commands did he break when he made this choice?     (Mark 12:29-31)

He wasn’t loving his neighbours as himself, and he wasn’t putting God first in his life.

j.  He THOUGHT he was keeping all the commandments…what lesson is there in this for us today?  (Psalm 139:23-24)             

We are never as good as we think we are! We are not able to keep God’s requirements to the full….it is very hard to lay aside our prized possessions or relationships for the Lord’s sake.

5.    Verses  23-26

a. What was Christ’s comment about this incident?                   (verses 23-24)

It is very hard for a rich man to enter into heaven because his riches get in the way!

b.    What was the disciple’s reaction to this comment?            (verse 25)                      

They were astonished at this statement and felt that no one could get eternal life then.

c.   The “eye of the needle” was a very narrow gate in Jerusalem which a loaded camel couldn’t get through….what did Jesus’ comment indicate?           (verse 24)

That no-one could get eternal life then.

d.  How does Mark qualify that statement?           (Mark 10:23-25)

One who trusts in his wealth to get him to heaven will miss out. Money CANNOT buy salvation!

e.  What does Job say that trusting riches rather than God show?     (Job 31:23-25, 28)

It is a denial of all that God has given and done for us….we are trusting our wealth rather than God.

f.   What does Paul tell wealthy Christians  to beware of?           ( 1 Timothy 6:17-18)

To not trust in their riches, but to keep their minds on God and share what they have with others.

g.   What are well off people to remember?          (Ecclesiastes 5:19)

That it all comes from God in the first place.

5.    Verses  27-30

a. What did Peter think of at this turn in the conversation?                   (verse  28)

He wanted to know what about them….they had left everything to follow Christ ion His life of poverty!

b.    What did Jesus say was the place of all those who have done this?            (verses 28-29)                      

That they would have a place judging those who reject God and his teaching, and not only that, but they would receive a hundred times more than they had ever given up.

c.   How does Paul enlarge on this?           (1 Corinthians 6:2-3)

He also says that the saints (believers) will judge others in a time to come, even the angels.

d.  What is the main consideration for those who have left all for Christ’s sake?  How did Paul feel about it?  (verse 29c; Philippians 3:7-8)

Things won’t matter…it is the fact they have eternal life that matters most! Paul counted his career and material prospects as nothing compared with knowing the Lord.

e.  What does the last verse tell us?                (verse 30)

To remain humble before God and He will give you a higher place if you deserve it

f.   What does Peter tell us on this subject?           ( 1 Peter 5:6)

To humble ourselves before God and He will lift us up in due course.

g.   What is the lesson in this for us today?        

To stay humble before God and be content to be little in the world’s eyes (and in other believer’s eyes) ; to not be pushy always wanting the limelight, but to remain in the background for the Lord’s sake. We may feel we are not good enough at a certain task….if the opportunity is there, take it and use it for Him…He will enable.

 

Matthew Twenty….(verses 1-36)

1.    Verses  1-16

a. What is the kingdom of heaven likened to?        (verse 1)          

A grapegrower who was ready to harvest his grapes and he goes out to find someone to do the job for him.

b.    How many time did he go out to find workers?       (verses 1,3,5,6)                           

Right throughout the day….five times mentioned in all.

c.   How much pay did the last ones receive compared to the first ones?           (verse 3)

Exactly the same.

d.  Who does the call of God go out to, today?                          (verses 4-6; Genesis 2: 23-24)

Everyone is called, and all  who respond receive eternal life.

e.   What can we learn about from this?         (2 Corinthians 6:2)

That the Gospel message has gone out from the apostle’s time until now and is still going out….TODAY is the time to accept it.

 f.   What sort of attitude did the first ones have?            ( verses 11-12)

They had a complaining attitude and weren’t grateful for what they had received.

g.   What does this warn us of?          (1 Corinthians 10:1-5, 10-11)

We are not to complain about our circumstances like the ancient people of Israel did, but to be thankful  and praise God for our salvation. Even those who are saved late in life receive the same salvation that those who accept Christ in their younger years.

2.    Verses  17-19

a. Where were they travelling to when Jesus told them of /His death?                   (verse 17)

They were on their way to Jerusalem.

b.    How did the disciples feel when they heard Jesus talking like this?            (Luke 18:34)                      

They didn’t understand what He was talking about, and didn’t have a clue what He meant.

c.   What does Luke tell us that Matthew doesn’t about what Jesus said?           (Luke 18:31-33)

Jesus told them that everything that the prophets said about Him, would be fulfilled this time in Jerusalem.

d.    What can we learn from this?     

To come to God’s Word with an open mind and not take other people’s ideas as being what it means. God has given us ears to listen with and a mind to use, and we must use them to hear what HE is saying.

3.    Verses  20-28

a. What is this passage about?                   (verses 20-24)

James and John wanted to be the first in the kingdom of heaven, and got their mother to ask for it.

b.    How did the other disciples feel when they heard this?            (verse 24)                      

They were very annoyed with James and John.

c. Was this the first time this subject had come up?           (Mark 9:33-34)

No, they had bickered about it among themselves earlier.

d.    What does Matthew tell us that Mark doesn’t?      (verses 21-22; Mark 10:35)

That it was their mother who approached Jesus with this request….Mark doesn’t mention this.

e.   What was wrong with all their attitudes?                           (verses 22, 24)

James and John were showing pride, and the others were showing resentment..

f.   What was Jesus telling James and John indirectly in His reply?            ( verses 22-23; Acts 12:2)

What they would have to suffer for Him and what sort of death they would have.

g.   What was the real answer Jesus gave to their request?          (verse 23b)

That He couldn’t give the position they wanted, it was God the Father Who would give this.

h.  What did  Jesus go on to explain to the disciples after this episode?        (verses 25-28)

That those who wanted to be counted great in heaven must show a humble spirit, serving others.

i.  What did Jesus say about Himself in this respect?     (verse 28)

That He had come to serve others and to give His  life to pay for people’s sins.

j.  What was one episode when Jesus demonstrated this serving spirit to His disciples?  (John 13:3-5)             

When He got down on the floor before them and washed their feet.

4.    Verses  29-34

a. What is the scenario in this passage?                   (verses 29-30)

Jesus and the disciples were leaving Jericho continuing their journey to Jerusalem  and two blind beggars on the roadside called out to Him.

b.    What was the difference between this occasion and the other one where blind men were healed?            (verse 30; Matthew 9:27-30)                      

These were beggars on the side of the road, whereas the other time they followed the crowd to the house where Jesus was going.

c. What did both lots of blind men call Jesus?           (verse 31; Matthew9:27)

They called Him “You Son of David”.

d.    What does this refer to, and how would they have known this?      (Isaiah 9:6-7)

Isaiah had prophesied that the coming Messiah would be on the throne of /David….this was generally known by all Jews of that time, and these  men recognised that Jesus was no ordinary man.

e.   What did they believe He could do?                           (verses 32-33)

They knew He was able to make them see.

f.   How did Jesus give them their sight?            ( verse 34)

He touched their eyes and they could see.

g.   What did they do then?          (verse 34b)

They followed Him.

h.  In what way can we be touched by Jesus and receive sight?        (

We can be touched by the truths He taught, and see the wisdom of following Him.

 

Matthew Twenty-one….(verses 1-46)

1.    Verses  1-17

a.      Why did Jesus ask for a donkey to ride into Jerusalem on?        (verses 1-2; Zechariah 9:9)          

To fulfil the Old Testament Scriptures..

b.    What sort of animal would a king normally ride?                                 

A well bred horse, not a common donkey!

c.   What attitude did this show to the world?           (verse 5)

A meek and humble attitude.

d.  What are the miracles in this incident?                          (verses 3, 5; Mark 11:2-7)

The fact that the owners let the animals go without comment; that Jesus was able to sit on an unbroken animal quietly.

e.   How did the crowd of people respond to this?         (verses 8-11)

They gave Him a tumultuous welcome as He went into the city of Jerusalem, calling out “Hosanna to the Son of David, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord”.

 f.   Compare Matthew’s account with what Mark tells us….what differences are there?    ( verses 10-20; Mark 11:7-21)

Matthew’s account reads as though Jesus overthrew the traders’ tables in the temple as soon as He arrived there, whereas Mark says He looked around and went out to Bethany for the night; Matthew and Mark both mention the fig tree incident the next morning, then Mark says that Jesus threw out the traders that day..

g.   What explanation can you give for this?         

We aren’t told, but it could have been that it happened both days.

h.   What else happened while He was in the temple?          (verse 14-15b)

Crowds of sick people followed Him in there and He healed them. The children were all calling out, “Hosanna to the Son of David”.

i.   What did the Pharisees think of all this? Why?          (verses 15-16)

They didn’t like it and began to mutter among themselves….they were jealous of all the attention He was getting from the people, and especially the children.

j.  What comment did Jesus make to them?     (verse 16b)

He asked them if they didn’t remember the Old Testament Scripture that said that children would praise God.

k.  Why do you think that it was the children who were praising Him?                                

Because they were more trusting and had no resentments or bitterness  like the adults had….God had ordained that it would happen and this was the fulfilment of it.

l.  Where did Jesus take His disciples for that night?       (verse 17)                        

They went out of Jerusalem to Bethany for the night.

2.  Verses  18-22

a.   What incident occurred in the morning as they were returning to Jerusalem?   (verses 18-20; Mark 10:12-14, 20)          

Jesus felt hungry and looked for figs on a tree as He passed by, but when there were none He said that it would never bear fruit again….it was shrivelled up by the next morning.

b.    What did the disciples think of this and what comment did they make?        (verse 20)                         

They were amazed that the fig tree had shrivelled up so quickly!

c.   What topic did Jesus introduce next that is relevant to us today?           (verses 21-22)

Having faith when praying that the answer will come.

d.  What sort of mountains do we have that need to be removed,  that if we pray about definitely will be removed?               (Colossians 3:8-9)          

Our bad attitudes such as pride, resentment and bitterness, laziness in the things of God.

e.   What does John tell us in his letter about these things?         (1 John 1:9)

That if we confess these things as sin, God will forgive us and cleanse us.

 f.   Does this promise in verse 22 give us a blank cheque to ask for anything we want?     (Psalm 37:4-5;  John 15:7)

No, we must be abiding in Him (living to please Him), and delighting in Him, then our desires become His desires for us.

g.   What are some things we can ask for with confidence and know we will get them?   (Colossians 1:9-10)

The knowledge of God’s will, and wisdom and spiritual understanding.

h.   God desires this more than anything for His people, but it doesn’t just happen…how do we find it?          (Psalm 119:97-103)

We have to spend time with Him in His word daily and get to know it, and in knowing it, we will know Him.

3.   Other thoughts about Praying…….

a.   What are the main reasons for ungranted requests?          (Psalm 66:18; James 4:3; 1 Peter 3:7c; Psalm 106:15)          

Known and unconfessed sin in one’s life; asking for the wrong reasons; quarrelling and unforgiveness (especially between spouses)

b.    What is a common misunderstanding about asking God for something?  What is the danger in doing this?    (Psalm 106: 15)                              

That we have to pray hard and long and keep it up. We may be asking for something that God knows is not good for us, but because of our persistence He will grant.

c.  Is “no” any less an answer than “yes” ?          

A “no” answer is still an answer!

d.  Why should we pray anyway, seeing that God knows our needs and all about us?   (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18)          

Because God wants us to pray continually….this is having communion with Him. To have our friends, we WANT to be with them and talk with them, otherwise it’s not a friendship!

e.   What do we have to present with our requests to God? What sort of attitude do we have to have when praying?         (Philippians 4:6)

We have to have a thankful spirit for whatever answer we receive from God….we have to realise that He knows what is best for us.

 f.   What does this thankful spirit guarantee we will receive? Does it just happen?    (Philippians 4:7)

God’s wonderful peace that the world knows nothing about…..we must actively leave our worries with God as worry and peace cannot live together!

g.   What happens when we really don’t know what to pray for?   (Romans 8:26-27)

God’s Holy Spirit helps us and makes intercession for us before God the Father.

h.   What is the bonus that we have when we pray in sincerity and truth?          (Psalm 145:18-19)

God will be near us….He is near to all who call upon Him.

i.  What sort of things can we pray for other Christians that is more specific than just a “Bless So and So” ?     (Ephesians 1:16-19; Colossians 1:9-12; 1 Thessalonians 3:9-10)

That they will get to know the Lord better and closer; that they may be able to spread the Word unhindered; for physical and spiritual safety.

j.  What about praying for those who are deliberately shutting God out of their lives?   (Jeremiah 11:12, 14)                           

We cannot really pray for them as God will not hear,  nor is He able to do anything with or for them.

k.   What must we have faith in when we ask for something in prayer?   (verse 22;Psalm 84:11b; Jeremiah 29:11-13 )

That God HAS heard us, and that the answer we receive will be that which is best for us at the time.

l.   What must we still do even when it seems that our prayer has been answered with a “no”?  (Philippians 4:6)

Give God thanks, recognising that our prayer HAS been answered.

4.   Verses 23-32

a.   When Jesus was teaching in the temple, what did the chief priests ask Him?             (verse 23)          

By what authority are you teaching these things? Who gave you authority to teach anyway?

b.    How did Jesus answer their question?    (verses 24-25a)                              

He answered it with another question…. “Was the baptism of John from God or from men?”

c.  This question put them on the spot….why did they answer it as they did ?      (verses 25-27a)      

They didn’t want to acknowledge that John’s baptism was from God because if they did Jesus would then have asked why they didn’t believe him, and they didn’t want to say it was from men because the people would have turned on them as they believed he was a prophet from God.

d.  What was their answer and what was the response of Jesus?               (verse 27)          

They said they didn’t know, so He said He wasn’t going to tell them where His authority came from…He knew they wouldn’t believe Him anyway!

e.   What did Jesus go on to tell them?         (verses 28-30)

He told them a story of a man with two sons who he told to go to work in the family vineyard….one said he wouldn’t then changed his mind and did, the other said he would go and didn’t at all.

 f.   What did Jesus ask His listeners about this story? What did He go on to say about this story?   (verses 31-32)

He asked which son did what the father wanted, and they correctly answered that it was the first one who had said he wouldn’t go but did in the end. Jesus pointed out that John had come preaching the gospel of repentance and it was the so-called sinners (the son who refused to go at first) who responded while they (the priests) wouldn’t…..they said they were God followers but weren’t in their hearts.

g.   Who did God’s message of salvation come to first, and what did they do with it?   (Acts 13:26, 44-48)

It came to the Jews first, and when they refused it it was then preached  to the Gentiles who received it.

h.   Who does the message go to these days?          (Matthew 28:19-20)

All people on earth everywhere who will accept it.

5.   Verses 33-41

a.   What is this next parable about?             (verse 33)          

It is about another vineyard grower….this time he established his vineyard, put a manager and staff in charge of it and left to go overseas.

b.    What happened when it was the time of harvest?                 (verse 34)                              

He sent servants to bring the proceeds of the crop to him.

c.  What did the staff do to these servants ?      (verses 35-36)      

They treated them shamefully, beating and killing them.

d.  Who did this grower send to them in the end, hoping to get some satisfaction from them? What did they do to him?               (verses 37-39)          

He sent his son to get his proceeds, and the staff  killed him so they could keep the money for themselves.

e.   What question did Jesus ask at the end of this story? How did they answer it?        (verses 40-41)

He asked what the owner of the vineyard would do to his staff for their treatment of his son, and they said that he would go and punish them and replace them with better men.

 f.   What was this story a picture of? Did the priests and Pharisees recognise this?   (verse 45)

It was a picture of how God had looked for years for fruit from His people Israel, and they had ignored His instructions and killed His prophets. In the end He sent His beloved Son, and now they were plotting to kill Him.

g.   What does the end of the story depict?   (verse 41b)

Because the first staff refused to obey, they were sent off and others brought in to take their place. This shows how the Jews turned their backs on Christ and refused His message, so others (everyone else in the world) now  have the opportunity to come to God and serve Him.

6.   Verses 42-46

a.   What did Jesus carry on to talk about? What was He referring to?       (verse 42; Psalm 118:22-23)          

He quoted from a passage in the Psalms which these men would have known,  about a stone which the builders refused becoming the headstone of the corner.

b.    What did He add to this?                 (verse 43)                              

How God’s kingdom would be taken from them  (the Jews) and opened up to the Gentiles who would bring fruit for Him.

c.  What is the “stone” that is referred to here? What does Peter go on to say?      (verse 42; 1 Peter 2:6-8)  

The “stone” is the Lord Jesus Christ  who was sent to the Jewish nation which refused Him and killed Him. Now the Gospel is for ALL people everywhere and those who accept Him, find Him  precious and they have become His people.

d.  “This is the Lord’s doing” (Psalm 118)….when did God plan all this?               (Ephesians 1:4)          

From BEFORE the world was ever created! Our minds can’t comprehend this.

e.   Going back to the parables….what people was the kingdom of God taken from?   (Matthew 8:10-12; Acts 13:45-48; John 3:16)

It was taken from the nation of Israel and given to the Gentiles, to whoever would accept it.

 f.   Why did the Jews stumble at the person of Jesus Christ?    (Romans 9:30-33)

They couldn’t (and wouldn’t) accept Him as their Messiah, the Sent One from God…it wasn’t happening as they expected so they rejected Him. He wasn’t coming from the law’s point of view and they were offended by Him.

g.   What do you think it means when it says that “whoever falls on this stone shall be broken”?   (verse 44a; Psalm 51:17)

Those who come to God must do so in a humble manner with a broken and contrite heart.

h.   In what way will those be ground to powder that have this “stone” fall on them?  (verse 44b; John 3:36)

They will suffer God’s wrath and eternal damnation for not believing in Jesus Christ .

i.  How do God’s people regard this “Stone” ?     (1 Peter 2: 6-8)

He is the chief corner stone to them and very precious.

j.  Why didn’t the Pharisees arrest Jesus then and there?   (verses 45-46)                           

Because they were afraid of the public’s reaction.

k.  What did the people then regard Jesus as ?     (verse 46c)

They thought He was a prophet.

l.  What do YOU regard Jesus as?   (Matthew 16:15-16; John 4:42)               

Can you say He is Christ, the Messiah, my Saviour and my Lord? We cannot KNOW God without acknowledging this; we cannot be one of God’s children without this.

 

Matthew Twenty-two….(verses 1-46)

1.    Verses  1-14

a.      What theme has this next parable that Jesus told?        (verses 2, 5, 14)          

A similar theme of an offer that was refused, so others were given the opportunity.

b.    We can guess that the king represents God with the offer of a feast, but who would the original guests have been?      (Psalm 81:10-11; John 1:10-11)                           

Christ Jesus came to the Jewish nation,  being born as a Jew but  the leaders didn’t want Him and killed Him.

c.   When was the city of Jerusalem destroyed and burned?           (verse 7)

In AD 70 by the Roman armies.

d.  Who have been called since to make up the wedding guests?        (verses 8-10; John 3:16)

ALL are called, but not all respond….whoever believes on Him will not perish but have everlasting life.

e.   What sort of people came to the wedding feast?         (verse 10)

Both good and bad were there.

 f.   It was the custom for the host to give a wedding garment to each guest…what had one man done with his?    ( verse 11)

He hadn’t bothered to put it on, he thought his own clothes were better.

g.   What did the king say and do to him?         (verses 12-13)  

The king asked why he wasn’t wearing what he had been given and the man was speechless. He then ordered for the man to be thrown out into outer darkness and an eternity of hell.

h.   What is this a picture of?         

It is a picture of a person trying to get to heaven in their own goodness

i.   What are our good deeds like in God’s sight?          (Isaiah 64:6)

They are just like filthy rags before God’s holiness.

j.  What sort of clothes must we wear to be acceptable before God?     (Colossians 3:9-16; Revelation 3: 5; 19:14)

We must wear the clothes of the new man in Christ , first putting off the old filthy rags of our own righteousness…we can only do this by coming to Christ. He has provided these clean and white clothes for us by dying on the cross for our sins.

2.    Verses  15-22

a.      What was the question the Pharisees asked Jesus in this passage?        (verse 17)          

They wanted to know what He thought about paying tax to the Romans.

b.    Why did they ask this question?  Did they really want to know?      (verses 15, 18)                           

They  didn’t really want to know at all, they just wanted to catch Him out..

c.   What did Jesus call them? What sort of people did they get to ask these things?     (verse 18; Luke 20: 20-26)

He called them hypocrites….they made out they really wanted to know when all they were doing was to try to trip Him up. Not only that, but they employed others (religious men and politicians, the best they could find)  to spy on Him and try to catch Him out.

d.  How could you put verse 17 into your own words?       

What do YOU think? Should we pay taxes to the Romans?

e.   Was Jesus fooled by their question? How do we know this?         (verse 18a; John 2:24-25; 6:64)

He was never fooled by any man. Because He knows ALL things and could read their hearts like a book.

 f.   What was His answer to them?                                   ( verses19-21)

Give what is due to Caesar, and don’t forget to give God His due either! Pay your taxes and your tithes!

g.   What does God expect his people to do today?         (Romans 13:1-7)  

Obey the laws of the land and respect those in authority because they have been ordained by God (not just elected by the people)….pay taxes and rates cheerfully and completely.

h.   What was the reaction of those questioning  to His answer?           (verse 22)     

They were amazed at the way He had dealt with the situation, and went away.

3.    Verses  23-40

a.      Which group of people tried to catch Him out next? What did they ask Him ?  (verses 23-28)          

The Sadducees came to Him next and told him a story about a woman who was supposed to have had seven husbands, and they wanted to know whose wife she would be in the resurrection.

b.    What did the Sadducees believe?      (verse 23)                           

They didn’t believe there was any resurrection.

c.   What points did Jesus touch on in His answer?     (verses 29-32)

He showed up their ignorance of the heavenly state (there are no sexes in heaven), and the fact that God is the God of life…Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (plus all His other people) are still alive with Him!

d.  What do we know about the state of the body in time of resurrection?  (1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 53-54a) 

A mortal human body cannot live in the atmosphere of heaven, so each person will have an immortal eternal  body that  will never know disease, deterioration of age or the restrictions of the atmosphere.

e.   How did the people feel when they heard His answer to this question?         (verse 33)

The crowd was absolutely astonished.

 f.   The Pharisees were not finished yet….where did the next attack come from?         ( verses19-21)

They employed the best lawyer they could find with the smartest mind.

g.   What was the question this time?         (verse 36)  

They wanted to know which  the greatest commandment in the law was.

h.   What was the reply of Jesus?  What did they not expect?         (verses 37-39)     

They didn’t expect such a simple answer….LOVE! Love for God and loving each other as themselves.

i.   How did the Lord finish His answer?          (verse 40)

If you obey these two laws, all the rest will fall into place…the whole law hangs on these two commands.

j.  In which order does this law of love come?     (verse 37-38)

Loving God with all one’s heart comes first…..He must come first in a person’s life before one can love others in the right way (not just loving one’s favourites either!)

k.  Why is love so important?                  (1 John 4:7-11)             

Because God is LOVE! And when we know Him, His love is in our hearts also, but we must cultivate it before He can make it can grow.

l.  What is the only way we can cultivate it?       (Luke 9:33)                         

By making time (denying one’s own desires) and taking up the cross of daily reading God’s word, the Bible , and praying. It takes a conscious effort.

4.    Verses  41-46

a.      The Jewish leaders had been asking Jesus all these things hoping to catch Him out…what happened next?  (verses 41-42a)          

Jesus now asked them a question .

b.    What did it concern?      (verse 42a)                           

It was about whose Son the Messiah would be.

c.   What answer did they give?     (verse 42b)

They said He would be the Son of David (meaning only a human)

d.  How did Jesus tie them up in this answer?              (Psalm 110:1) 

He took a quotation from the Psalms and asked them why David would refer to the Messiah as “My Lord” if He was only a mere man.

e.   How do these other verses from the Psalms (which the Pharisees should have known) expand on this thought?         (Psalm 2:7, 12)

These verses speak of God having  a Son…in both cases the word Son has a capital “S” showing His deity. The Messiah was more than just David’s son, He was also David’s Lord, the Son of God.

 f.   Why would the Pharisees not reply to His question?         ( verse 46a)

Because He knew the Scriptures better than they did, and had just proved that He was who He said He was!

g.   We have seen that the Pharisees didn’t like His teachings, but what did the crowds of other people think about it?         (verses 22,33, 46b)  

They were  amazed and astonished at the way He unfolded things to them, and were finally silenced..

h.   What happens when man pits himself against God’s wisdom?      (Proverbs 8:14, 23-30, 35-36; 21:30)     

Man’s wisdom is no match against  God’s wisdom…He is the One in whom is hid all wisdom and knowledge. The very thought of man pitting himself against the Almighty God of heaven’s wisdom is utter foolishness!!.

i.   Where does man’s wisdom lead him to?          (Romans 1: 21-25)

It shows up his foolishness and leads to death and destruction, both now in  moral decay, and in the future in eternal separation from God and everything good.

 

Matthew Twenty-three….(verses 1-39)

1.    Verses  1-12

a.      Jesus describes the Scribes and Pharisees here….what does He say about them?  (verses 1-3)          

He said they were expositors of the law…they had it and knew it and preached it to the people,; people were to do as they said, but not to do as they did because although they preached it, they didn’t obey it.

b.    What  did He say about their treatment of their people?      (verses 4-7)                           

They oppressed them and did everything for show.

c.   What is one word to describe them?           (verse 13)

Hypocrites!

d.  What did they like to be called?        (verse 7)

Rabbi, Master.

e.   What did this show and what is a similar equivalent today?         (verse 12)

They took pride in their education and qualifications  and wanted to have this recognised by everyone. Degrees, diplomas, titles and honours are similar to this today.

 f.   Why did Jesus say that His people should not put themselves above others?    ( verses 8,10)

Because we are all equal in the same family, and Christ is our head with God as our Father.

g.   What proves true greatness?         (verse 11)  

One who knows how to serve others.

h.   What happens to those who exalt themselves?          (verse 12)

He will be humbled….pride comes before a fall.

2.    Verses  13-22

a.      What three things did Jesus say against the Pharisees in verses 13-15?            

i. They made the rules and the law so hard that no-one could keep them, and stopped others from listening to Christ’s teaching.

ii.  They were greedy and heartless and made a show of greatness by praying long prayers.

iii. They did everything they could to make others think like they did.

b.    Can you think of one classic example of one of their students?      (Philippians 3: 4b-6)                           

The Apostle Paul had been trained by them and felt he had been blameless in their law and rules.

c.   What must we be aware of in our Christian life?           (Isaiah 29:13)

That we don’t say one thing and do another, or act in a way that the world calls hypocrisy…we must live our faith. God knows whether we are sincere in what we say or not.

d.  What does God look for in His people?        (Micah 6:8; Mark 12:30)

Consistancy and faith….kindness and goodness to all  people. To walk humbly with God,  obeying and loving God with all one’s heart, soul and mind, which will  produce love for others.

e.   What is the third commandment, and what had the Pharisees done with it? (verses 16-18; Exodus 20:7)

The third commandment is that God’s people are not to take His name in vain or use it as a swear word, but the Pharisees had twisted it to mean they were not to swear by the gold of temple or the offering upon the altar….it was OK to swear by the temple itself or the altar! God didn’t come into it.

 f.   What were the Pharisees doing by their rules about swearing?    ( verses 16-18)

They were splitting hairs and contradicting God’s laws in doing so, and making their rules of more importance than God’s.

g.   What did our Lord say about swearing? Why are we not to swear?  (verses 20-22; Matthew 5:34-36)  

He said that swearing by the altar included what was on it; swearing by the
temple, included the One whose temple it was, and swearing by heaven included God himself. Even saying “Oh, heavens!” should be avoided because of the greater implications of it. We are not to swear  at all because God says not to, and that should be enough reason to refrain from it.

3.    Verses  23-36

a.      How many time does Jesus pronounce woes on the Pharisees in this passage?            

Four times He says “Woe” to them.

b.    What is the general picture of the Pharisees here?      (verses 23-28)                           

Not a pretty picture of the whole man…they cleaned up the outside but left out the inner man which was filthy likie a grave full of bones.

c.   What must we be aware of in our Christian life?(Psalm 139:23-24; Jeremiah 17:9;1 Corinthians 11:28)

How deceitful our heart is and how easily we fool ourselves…we know what we should be, and what we would like to be, but are we really like that? We must ask God to search our heart and show us the wrong things in it.

d.  What does God take the greatest delight in?        (1 Samuel 15:22-23; Proverbs 15:8)

The Lord takes great delight in His people’s obedience, and in their prayer and praise…having communion with Him.

e.   What did Jesus call this?               (John 15:4-5)

He called it abiding in Him just as a branch is attached to the vine, so His people must remain attached to Him by their obedience in the small things as well as the greater things.

 f.   What did the Pharisees pride themselves on?    ( verse 30)

That they were better than their fathers who had killed the prophets, that THEY would never do that!

g.   What did Jesus say to that idea?                        (verses  32)  

That they were no different, they were just the same! Their hearts were no better than their ancestors.

h.   What did Jesus say they would do in the future to His prophets and preachers?      (verses 34-36)

They would continue to persecute and kill His people.

i.   What Pharisee was a classic example of this?          (Acts 26:1, 5, 10-11)

Saul of Tarsus was one of the worst at this. (After his conversion, he became the Apostle Paul.)

j.  Which killing would be the worst one of the lot that was committed by that generation?     (Matthew 27:27-28, 31)

The crucifying of Christ Himself.

4.    Verses  37-39

a.      What picture did the Lord use here of Himself towards His people?         (verse 37b)   

That of a mother hen protecting its chicks.

b.    What was the attitude of the Pharisees here?      (verse 37c)                           

They refused Him and would not accept that He had come from God.

c.   What hope did they have for the future then?                          (verse 38)

They had no hope whatsoever….their house (nation, lineage, heritage) would be made desolate.

d.    Where can God’s  people go for spiritual protection and what can they hide under?   (Psalm 91:4 )

They can go to God and know that He will protect them in His feathers as it were, under His wings.

e.   When will Israel acknowledge Jesus as Lord?               (Zechariah 12:10; Philippians 2:9-11)

There will come a time when the nation of Israel will recognise what they did to their Messiah and will mourn over it; they will also be part of that great “ALL” who will bow the knee before Him and proclaim Him Lord.

 f.   Why have the Jews missed out on knowing God all these years since then?    ( Romans 10:1-4, 8-10)

Because they have refused to acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God, and to come to Him for salvation.

g.   What must we do today, to be saved?                        (Romans 10:9)  

To believe on Him in sincerity and truth and to confess that He is alive today and that we are accountable to Him….we have to DO, SAY and BE!

 

Matthew Twenty-four….(verses 1-51)

1.    Verses  1-13

a.      What were the disciples proud of and wanted to show Jesus?                       (verse 1)          

They wanted to show how great the temple buildings were.

b.    What was He able to tell them about this wonderful building?      (verse 2)                           

That one day it would be rased to the ground with not two stones left standing.

c.   When did the disciples think this might happen?   What else did they ask?        (verse 3)

They thought this would happen at the end of the world, and they wanted to know when this would be.

d.  What sort of things did Jesus say would happen before the “end of the world”?        (verses 4-8)

He said there would be people saying they were Christ and many would follow them; there would be many wars and rumours of war; there would be droughts with famines, and earthquakes all over the world.

e.   What would happen to followers of the Lord during these times?         (verses 9-12)

They would be hated by the authorities,  persecuted and martyred; others would be offended and betray their fellows, and many false prophets and preachers would rise up to deceive them.

 f.   What else does Peter tell us that people would be saying? Do we see these things happening today?   ( 2 Peter 3:3-4)

People would scoff at the idea of Christ’s second coming, and say things are just the same as they’ve always been! These things are all happening around us today.

g.   What encouraging words does Christ give for these times?         (verse 13; John 16:33)  

He said He has overcome the world, and it we remain faithful to Him we  will be saved.

2.    Verses  14-28

a.      What will happen before the end of time?                       (verse 14)          

The Gospel (Good News of Jesus Christ) will be preached to all nations.

b.    Who were to do this?      (Matthew 28:19-20)                           

The disciples initially, and then all those who are followers of the Lord.

c.   We know that the temple was destroyed by the Romans in AD 70, but what is Jesus referring to in verse 15?        (Daniel 7:25; 11:36)

That at the end of time a  mighty leader will  rise up who will stand against God and His people.

d.  What are people to do when they see this happen?        (verses 16-18)

They are to flee to the hills for safety, and not even go home to get anything.

e.   What two things would be the worst for them?         (verses 19-20)

Those who had young children and the cold weather if it was in the winter.

 f.   What do we know for certain is going to happen before time ends?               ( verses 21-22)

There are going to be tough times ahead, worse than anything that has ever happened before.

g.   What topic does Jesus bring up again? What does He warn His people of?         (verses 23-26)  

That there will be false Christs preaching false Gospels…..His people are not to take any notice of them and not be misled by them even if they do great miracles….it is not Him!

h.   How will we know for sure that these men are false Christs?      (verses 27-28)

Because we will still be here to see it…at the coming of the real Christ, no believers will be left on earth!

i.  How quick will Christ’s coming be?                  (verse 27)             

As quick and as unexpected as a flash of lightning! Things will be going along as usual, and then boom! and things will never be the same again!!

3.    Verses  29-31

a.  What else can we expect to see before the coming of the Lord in judgement?  (verse 29; Joel 2:30-31)          

After all the trials and hard times, then the heavens will be shaken up…the sun, moon and stars will  be darkened and not give their light.

b.    How does Peter describe this time?      (2 Peter 3:10-12)                           

The sky will be rolled up like a scroll of paper, and the earth will melt with tremendous heat and be dissolved.

c.   If this is the case, where will people be?        (verse 30)

They won’t be annihilated, but will be somewhere where they can see Christ coming in all His glory with great power and will have to face Him.

d.  There will be no escaping this sight…what will they do when they see Him ?        (Philippians 2:10-11)

They will bow before Him and confess that He is indeed the Lord of all.

e.   Why will they mourn at this time?         (verse  30 )

Not only will they mourn in fear of the sight, but they will realise  then what they have done to Him down through the years…first in crucifying Him and then in ignoring and refusing His offer of salvation. They will realise how they used His name in blasphemy and will now acknowledge Him by His full title of LORD JESUS CHRIST as they bow before Him.

 f.   Does the Bible say anywhere that this acknowledgement causes them to repent of their sins?   ( Revelation 6:15-17)

No, it tells us that people will try to hide from God, not that they will repent and throw themselves on His mercy.

g.   What will happen to them? How does Jesus describe their end?  (Matthew 25:41, 46; Mark 9:43b-44)  

They will be sent to hell, a place filled with unrest and remorse for what they should have done….a place of torment that was prepared for the devil and his angels.

h.   What about believers, those who have trusted Christ?      (verse 31; 25:31-34)

The angels will gather them all together from the four corners of the heavens to also stand before God…all of creation will be gathered together at this time, and there will be a great sorting out.

i.  What will people hear at that time?                  (verse 31a)             

There will be a great sound of a trumpet blowing

j.  Who is the supreme Ruler over this last gathering together? (verse 31a; Revelation 11:15; 19:11-16)             

The Almighty Tri-une God…the Father,  Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

4.    Verses  32-51

a.  What does Jesus Christ use as an illustration of  recognising this time to come?      (verses 32-33)          

He uses a fig tree getting ready to send out its new leaves after winter.

b.    What things can we see happening already in the world?      ()                           

Wars, famines, natural disasters (earthquakes, floods, droughts) are escalating and happening more often.

c.   What will never pass away or be destroyed?        (verse 35)

God’s Word is everlasting…..it will NEVER be destroyed!

d.  Can we ever know for sure the time that Christ will return?        (verse 36)

No, no-one and nothing knows, only God.

e.   What era is the Lord’s coming likened to?         (verses 37-39 )

It is like the time of Noah when people took no notice of Noah’s preaching until the rain began to fall, and it was too late then.

 f.   What will life be like when the Lord returns?   ( verses 40-41)

It will be  life as usual with no presentiment of anything big going to happen…people will be going about their daily tasks.

g.   What are God’s people to do as this time draws closer?  (1 Corinthians 16:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:6)  

They are to be alert…watching and waiting for this time to come; living life full of expectation.

h.   What will we be like if we are in this expectant state?      (verses 42-47)

We will be like a faithful servant with all his books and work up to date.

i.  What is the end of those who take no notice of this warning?                  (verses 48-51)             

Utter destruction.

j.  What impressions are we left with as we come to the close this chapter?              

Not to be too concerned about the order of events, but to be concerned with remembering it
WILL all happen, and how we are living in the light of it all!

 

Matthew Twenty-five….(verses 1-46)

1.    Verses  1-13

a.      Jesus now told another story about what the kingdom of heaven is like…what is it about?   (verse 1)          

The story is about ten bridesmaids  who were waiting for the bridegroom to come.

b.    What did each of these girls have as they waited?      (verse 1b)                           

They each had a lamp as the wedding was at night.

c.   How are these girls described? Why?        (verses 2-4)

Five were wise girls and were fully prepared, and the other five were foolish, only thinking of the moment.

d.  What did lamps signify in Revelation?  What can we assume from this?      (Revelation 1:20b)

They signified seven different churches; that these girls with lamps represented people who attend church.

e.   What did five of these girls have that the others didn’t?         (verses 3-4)

Five had spare oil with them, and the others only had what was in their lamps.

 f.   Oil in the Scriptures speaks of the Holy Spirit of God…so what can we see about these two groups of girls?   ( Romans 8:9)

The ones who were prepared, were born again by the Spirit of God and had Him living within them, while the ones who were unprepared did not have the Holy Spirit living in them….they were just church goers. Head professors and not heart professors.

g.   When did the foolish girls realise that they needed oil?                      (verses 6-8)  

When the Bridegroom came to take  the wedding party  with Him…it was too late then.

h.   Who does the Bridegroom represent?      (verse 13)

He represents the Son of Man, Jesus Christ.

i.  Could the foolish girls sneak in behind the wise ones?                  (verses 8-9)             

No, they had to go and get  the oil  for themselves.

j.  What does this parable tell us for today?              

That we all have to be prepared by accepting what the Lord is offering us while there is still time…it is no use waiting until He returns because it will be too late then. If we are ready, we will go with Him, otherwise it will be too late.

2.    Verses  14-30

a.      What is the kingdom of heaven likened to in this next story?   (verses 14-15)          

It’s likened to a king giving each of his servants a sum of money to trade with for him while he is away for a long while.

b.    What happened in the story?      (verses 16-19)                           

Two of the servants traded well and made a profit for their master, while the third went and hid his money and gave it back as it was on the accounting day.

c.   What did the king think of them when he came back?

He commended the two who had made a profit, and sacked the one who had done nothing with his money.

d.  What parallel can you see from this story? What has God given each person on earth?

God has given each person on earth the gift of life (we are all alive!) and He expects us  to follow Him and use our time here wisely for His glory.

e.   How did the first two servants use what they were given?         (verses 16-17)

They traded and doubled their money.

 f.   What did they receive for their trouble?   ( verses 19-23)

They received the commendation of the King and the reward of joy for ever.

g.   What did the third man produce for the king?                      (verses 18, 24-25)  

He produced nothing….he gave back the same that he had received.

h.   What happened to him?      (verses 26-30)

He lost what he had, the gift of life that he had done nothing with.

i.  What do we learn about those who do nothing with what God has given them? Is it worth gaining the things of this world and leaving God out?            (verse 29b; Mark 8:35-37)             

They lose what they have gained in this world, and lose their own souls in the end as well…a poor exchange!

j.  Did the man with the five talents receive any better commendation than the one with two? (verses 21,23)             

No, because those who are more talented and have more gifts are expected to produce more. God expects us to use what we have been given, no matter how humble it may be.

k.   What has every believer been given when they come to know the Lord?      (Ephesians 4:7)

Each person receives the grace of God and we are expected to be gracious and kind in turn to others.

l.  What else are we expected to give to God?            (Romans 12:1-21)             

Our whole selves including our body, mind and spirit….this whole chapter tells us how to live and what to do with what God has given us.

3.    Verses  31-46

a.      What is this passage about?   (verses 31-46)          

It is about the time at the end when all peoples stand before God at the Great White Throne judgement and are judged for what they have done with Jesus Christ.

b.    Who is going to come with God at that time?      (verse 31)                           

All the holy angels will be there witnessing this event.

c.   Who will be standing before the Great White Throne?   (verse 32; Revelation 20:11-13)

All humans who have ever lived.

d.  What will they be judged by? What will determine their destiny?         (Revelation 20:12, 15)

God’s books will be opened where every deed a person has ever done is written and they will be judged by that.

e.   What is the crucial book to be opened?  When was this book written up? (Revelation 17:8b; 20:12a,15)

The Book of Life has the names of ALL believers in it, and it was written up BEFORE the foundation of the world

 f.   Does this suggest that there is no point in preaching the Gospel?   ( Mark 16:15)

No, Jesus Christ commanded it before He went back to heaven….the main point is that God’s great  knowledge of what was going to happen in the future came into play. Man has free will to CHOOSE to follow God, and God knew before the world began who was going to and who would refuse and wrote up the Book of Life then.

g.   What else do we read of that was prepared BEFORE the foundation of the world?  (verse 34)  

God’s kingdom was prepared for His people before the world was even made!

h.   What is the scenario here?      (verses 32-33)

The Lord will have a great sorting out to do…those who have followed Him will be put on His right hand and those who didn’t will be on the left.

i.  What will happen to those whose names are NOT in the Book of Life?    (verse 41)             

They will be sent into the lake of fire that burns for ever.

j.  What was hell prepared for?       (verse 41c)             

It was never prepared for people, but for the devil and his wicked angels.

k.   What sort of things will believers be doing in their lifetime?      (verses 35-36)

They will be kind, caring for others.

l.  When these things are being done, who are they really being done for?            (verses 40,45 )             

If  they are being done for the Lord’s sake, they are being done for Him.

m.  So therefore how should we as Christians behave?            (Micah 6:8 )             

Honestly, justly and kindly to everyone, in a caring manner.

 

Matthew Twenty-Six….(verses 1-75)

1.    Verses  1-5

a.      What did Jesus tell His disciples yet again?   (verses 1-2)           

That He would be arrested and condemned to death.

b.    What were the leaders of the Jews doing right at that time?      (verses 3-4)                           

They were meeting together plotting how they could take Him by trickery and have Him killed.

c.   When did the Pharisees NOT want to kill Him and why not then?        (verse 5)

They didn’t want it to be on the feast day because it would cause an uproar from the common people.

2.    Verses  6-13

a.      Where did Jesus and the disciples go and why?   (verse 6; Mark 14:3)          

They went to Bethany to  the house of Simon who had been a leper and had a meal at his house with others.

b.    Which family also attended this feast?      (John 12:1-3a)                           

Lazarus, Martha and Mary.

c.   What did  each of these family members do at this feast?        (John 12:3-7)

Lazarus sat at the table with the men, Martha was busy helping with the food, and Mary was the one who brought the box of lotion and poured it on Jesus’ head.

d.  Matthew and Mark both mention this incident, but what does John tell us that the others don’t?   (verse 7; Mark 14:3; John 12:3-7)

He gives the name of the woman, and says that she poured the lotion on His feet as well as His head, and then got down on the floor and wiped His feet with her long hair. John also comments that the perfume of the lotion filled the room.

e.   Did anyone understand why Mary had done this thing? What were the comments made about it and who was the most outspoken about it?         (verses 8-9; John 12:4-6)

No-one knew why she had done it and the disciples were quite angry about the stupid waste of such expensive lotion, and said so. Judas Iscariot was particularly vocal.

 f.   What other comment does John make about Judas Iscariot?               ( John 12:4-6)

He said he was a thief and carried the money bag for the group, and that he didn’t care about the poor people anyway.

g.   Did Jesus understand why she had done this? What did He say about Mary’s real reason?                      (verses 10-13; Mark 14:8-9)  

Jesus knew the real reason behind what Mary did was that she was the only one who understood that He was going to die soon, and she had done this in sorrow at the thought of His death. He appreciated it so much that He said this action of hers would go down in history for a memorial of her love and faithfulness.

3.    Verses  14-16

a.      What inspired Judas Iscariot to go to the chief priests?   (verse 14; John 12:6; 13:3-6)          

He allowed Satan to tempt him to do this dastardly deed for money….he was obsessed with money.

b.    How much did they agree to give him for doing this?      (verse 15)                           

Thirty pieces of silver.

c.   Did Jesus know what was going on?        (verse 21)

Yes, He did and said so several times

d.  What was this a fulfilment of?      (Zechariah 11:12-13)

Zechariah had prophesied that thirty pieces of silver was all that the people valued him at. In the long term view, it was what the priests valued Jesus at.

e.   In Moses’ time, what was thirty pieces of silver the value of?         (Exodus 21:32)

It was classed as the value of a servant or slave.

4.    Verses  17-29

a.      What is this section about?                          (verse 17)          

About Jesus and His disciples keeping the Passover feast.

b.    How did the disciples know who to approach for the use of this particular room?       (verse 17; Mark 14:12-16)                           

Jesus told   them to go into the town and follow a man who was carrying a pitcher of water into the house he was going to, and then ask the owner for the use of a room.

c.   What part of the house was this room? What was it like?       (Mark 14:15)

It was upstairs, it was large and it was already furnished.

d.  Who was present at this Passover feast?      (verse 20)

The twelve disciples were all there with Jesus.

e.   What did Jesus tell them during the course of the meal?         (verse 20)

That one of them was going to betray Him to the chief priests

 f.   Who was the last to ask “Is it I?” and what was the reply?               ( verses 22-25; Mark 14:20-21)

The others all asked one by one, and Judas Iscariot was the last to ask…Jesus said,  “You have said so, and it is the one who dips into the dish with Me. ”

g. The Passover feast continued with its ritual, with all taking part (Matthew’s account is fairly brief) , and what does he tell us  happened while they were still eating it?   (verse 26)  

Jesus took a piece of bread and broke it into pieces which He passed to around to the disciples to eat, and told them that it represented His body which was going to be broken for them.

h.   Mark gives the same account as Matthew, but what does Luke add to it?      (Luke 22:17-21)

Luke mentions the Passover cup first, then how Jesus broke the bread and gave thanks for it and passed it around. Then he says AFTER that part was finished, He took the cup again and passed it to them saying that it represented His blood  which was going to be shed for them.

i.  What do we see about Judas Iscariot being at this part of the ceremony?    (Luke 22:21; John 13:26-27)             

He was still there for that part, then he left after Jesus had shown he was the one who would betray Him by giving him the “sop”.

j.  What  does John tell us that none of the others record?          (John 13:2-20)    

How Jesus washed the disciples’ feet after the supper was over, and then told them again that one of them would betray Him…He then gave Judas the sop and he left abruptly and went to the chief priests to say that this was it.

k.  What else does John tell us that that was said at this time after Judas left them?          (John 14-17)    

Those beautiful chapters of comfort and teaching about the Holy Spirit finishing up with His prayer to His Father for them

5.    Verses  30-36

a.      What happened after Jesus had prayed for the disciples and finished talking?   (verse 30; Luke 22:39)          

They sung a hymn together and left the room to go to the Mount of Olives where they often went.

b.    What was the next bit of conversation that seems to have taken place while they went?   (verses 31-32)                           

Jesus told them that they would all  be offended because of Him this very night, and would leave Him. Peter said that he would NEVER do that, and all the others said the same. Jesus told him that before the rooster crowed, he was going to deny three times that he knew Him,  but Peter wouldn’t hear of it!

c.   What lesson is there in this for us?     

To not say what we will or won’t do in case we aren’t able to do it.

d.  Where did they go to, once they were on the mountain?      (verse 36)

To a garden called Gethsemane where they often went….Judas was pretty sure he would find them there.

e.   What did Jesus do when He came to this place?         (verses 36-37)

He told the disciples to sit down and wait there while He went a bit further to pray taking Peter, James and John with Him.

 f.   Why did He want these three with Him while He prayed? What did they do?        ( verses 40, 43)

He wanted them to be with Him for support and comfort, and also to witness the agony He was going through at the prospect of paying sin’s penalty in a few hours’ time. The disciples were so tired they fell asleep while they waited.

g. What does Luke tell us that none of the others do? (verses 37-45; Mark 14:33-42; Luke 22:43-44; John 18:1-2)  

He tells us of the agony that our Lord went through, sweating great drops of sweat like blood at the thought of what was going to happen. It wasn’t so much the thought of the physical sufferings, as the spiritual sufferings He would be going through. With His foreknowledge, He was suffering it already at that time. It was so bad and took so much out of Him that an angel came and strengthened Him.

h.   What did Jesus say the disciples should have done for Him?      (verses 38-41)

They should have stayed awake and been praying for themselves as well as for Him.

i.  What did Jesus ask His Father to do for Him?  How many times did He ask this?  (verses 39, 42, 44)             

He asked that this cup (job) be taken away from Him, but if that were not possible, that God’s will would be done.

j.   Why was it not possible for Him to be excused?         (2 Corinthians 5:18-21)

Because there was no-one else who was able to take the sins of mankind  and pay the penalty for them by the sacrifice of Himself, because He was the only human who had never sinned. If you find this hard to take in (which we all do) read the book of Hebrews right through…it is explained there in detail.

k.   What was God’s answer to His request?        (Matthew 1:21)

His request wasn’t granted, as it was not possible for anyone else to do it. God’s time had come for sin to be paid for by a sinless person, and He was the One to do it….this was why He had come to earth.

l. What DID He receive in regard to His request?  What does that tell us in regard to ourselves?     (Luke 22:43; 2 Corinthians 1:3-5)  

He received strength to go through with it, and we also can receive strength to bear whatever comes our way.

6.    Verses  47-56

a.      There are four accounts of the arrest of Jesus…they all tell how Judas led the group of soldiers and priests to the garden….how did these men approach Jesus? What happened?  (verse 47;  John 18:3-6)          

They didn’t….He went out to meet them and asked who they wanted. They said His name and He said “I AM HE” and they fell over backwards.

b.    What was significant about those words that Jesus said?   (Exodus 3:13-14)                           

This was the name of Jehovah God, and it was as though a blast from heaven had struck those men when Jesus uttered that Name.

c.   Each account tells of the man’s ear being cut off…what do Luke and John tell us in addition to that?  (verses 51-54; Luke 22:49-51; John 18:10-11)

Luke tells us that Jesus put the man’s ear back and it was instantly healed (there was no proof that it had been done), and John tells us that it was Peter who did this (he also names the injured man).

d.  What did Jesus call Judas as he kissed Him? What did this show?  David had the same experience…how did he put it?    (verses 49-50; Psalm 41:9)

Jesus called him “Friend”…one can’t get lower than that, to betray a friend with a kiss. David said that his own familiar friend who he had trusted and fed, had lifted up his heel against him, and this is exactly what Judas did.

e.   Could Jesus have got away from the soldiers even after His arrest if He had wanted to? Why didn’t He?         (verses 53-54)

Yes, He could have called for hundreds of angels to rescue Him but He didn’t because it was God’s will that He go through with this for the salvation of the world. There was no other way.

7.    Verses  57-75

a.      What did all the disciples do when Jesus was arrested? How did they get away without being arrested too?                (verse 56b;  John 18:7-8)          

They all left Jesus and got out of it as quickly as they could….Jesus had said to His captors to let them go.

b.    What did Peter and John do?   (verse 58; John 18:15-16)                           

Peter followed at a distance, but John knew the High Priest and went in with Jesus to see what went on.

c.   How did Jesus answer His accusers?   Why not?                   (verses 59-63a; Isaiah 53:7)

Because none of it was true and also to fulfil the prophecy of Isaiah in the Old Testament.

d.  What did the priests take as confirmation of His guilt?    (verses 63-66)

They asked Him if He were the Son of God and when He affirmed this, they felt they had the evidence they needed.

e.   What did they class this as?        ( verse  65)

They didn’t recognise it as the truth and said that it was blasphemy of the highest order. He was declared guilty of death.

f.  What shameful thing did those present do then?          (verses 67-68)

They spat on His face and pushed Him around and made fun of Him.

g. What were Peter and John doing in the meantime?            (verses 69-75; John 18:15-16)  

John had gone into the room where the trial took place to listen, but Peter stayed outside the door. John went out to bring Peter in as it was so cold outside, and he stood before the fire to get warm.

h.   How did Peter’s denial of Jesus come about?      (verses 38-41)

A couple of maids saw him at different times and said he was one of the disciples, but he said he didn’t, then one of the servants recognised him from being with Jesus in the garden, and said he WAS one of the disciples. This time Peter denied it with cursing, saying he didn’t know Him.

i.  What happened then? What had Jesus told Peter?          (verses 33-35;  Mark 18:29-31)              

Jesus had told Peter that before the rooster crowed twice, he would have denied Him three times. Peter had no sooner got the words out of his mouth the last time than he heard the rooster crow for the second time.

 

Matthew Twenty-Seven….(verses 1-66)

1.    Verses  1-10

a.      What does John tell us about the movements of the trial?   (John 18:13,24, 28-29)          

That He was taken before Annas first who was father-in-law to the high priest, and then after that to Caiaphas who was the high priest. It was there that He was condemned and then He was taken to the judgement hall which Pilate presided over.

b.    How was Judas feeling now that he saw that Jesus was actually condemned to death and taken to Pilate for the order to be given?   (verse 3)          

He felt his money was tainted with Cbrist’s blood, and he was filled with absolute remorse, but it was too late. He had never expected that Jesus would allow Himself to be taken like this, as he had seen His power other times.

c.   What might Judas have thought about Jesus being taken to His death this time?        (Luke 4:29-30; John 8:59; 10:39)

Even though he had heard Jesus say so many times that He would be killed by the priests, he might have remembered these other times when Jesus managed to escape out of their hands, and thought it would happen this time too, and he could keep the money!

d.  What did Judas do in his remorse?  What happened in the process?           (verses 3-5; Acts 1:16-18)

He took the money back to the priests, but they wouldn’t take it so he threw it down in the temple and then went and hung himself. It seems he hung himself on the edge of a cliff and fell to the bottom with his body all smashed up.

e.   What did the priests do with the money? What did this prove?         (verses 6-10; Zechariah 11:12-13)

They took it and bought a field from a potter as a cemetery for strangers….this proved the accuracy of the prophecies told by Jeremiah and Zechariah all those years before.

f.   What lesson is there in this for us today?              

We can’t deliberately play with sin and get away with it….there is always a price to pay.

2. Verses  11-14

a.      Why was Jesus  now taken before Pilate for His sentence?                  (John 18:29-32)          

Even though the priests had condemned Jesus, they didn’t have the authority to put a man to death…that had to be pronounced by the Roman governor.

b.    What accusations did the priests put on Jesus?      (Verses 12-14; Luke 23:2-3;  John 18:29-30)                           

That He told the people not to pay their taxes, and had said He was a king;  that He was a criminal.

c.   Why do you think that the priests stressed the point to Pilate  that Jesus had said He was “the king of the Jews”?        (verse 11)

So Pilate would feel his job was being threatened if he did nothing about it.

d. King Herod was over the Galilee area, and happened to be in Jerusalem at that time…why do you think that Pilate sent Jesus to Herod?        (Luke 23: 6-12)

Because Jesus was from Galilee, and Pilate couldn’t be bothered with these Jews and their religious squabbles.

e.   Why was Herod glad to see Jesus?         (Luke 23:8)

Because he had heard a lot about His miracles and hoped to see one for himself.

 f.   How did Jesus answer His accusers there? What did this prove?          ( Luke 23:9; Isaiah 53:7)

Jesus said nothing to the accusations, just as Isaiah had prophesied all those years before…this proved the accuracy of those prophecies.

g. How did Herod and his men react to this?                      (Luke 23:10-11)  

The priests were there accusing Him vehemently, and Herod and his men started to mock Him when He didn’t say anything,  and they put a fancy robe on Him and sent Him back to Pilate.

h.   What questions did Pilate ask Jesus?         (verse 11, 13; John 18: 37-38)

Are You king of the Jews? Don’t You hear what they are saying about You? Are You a king at all?  What is truth?

i.   What sort of kingdom did Jesus say that He had?        (John 18:36-37)

His request wasn’t granted, as it was not possible for anyone else to do it. God’s time had come for sin to be paid for by a sinless person, and He was the One to do it….this was why He had come to earth.

j. What was Pilate’s conclusion then?     (Luke 23:14-16)  

“Both Herod and I have examined this Man and have found nothing wrong with Him. I’ll flog Him and let Him go!”

k.   Matthew mentions one incident that none of the others do…what was it?        (verse 19)

Pilate’s wife sent him a message saying to have nothing to do with sentencing  this prisoner…He was a just man and she had been having bad dreams because of Him.

3. Verses  15-25

a.    What custom did the court system have at that time?                        (verse 15)

If there were several criminals, they would let one go free.

b. What character comes into the picture now? What had he done?  (verses 20-21; Mark 15:6-7; John 18:40)                                      

Barabbas was in prison waiting for sentence…he had caused civil unrest, murder and robbery.

c.   Who did the people call for to be released The priests stirred them up to call for Barabbas to go free.

d. What did they want to do with Jesus?        (verses 22-23)

They wanted Him to die… “Crucify Him!” they shouted out.

e.   How did Pilate think he could be free of the responsibility of sending an innocent man to his death?         (verse 24)

He thought by washing his hands before the crowd and saying he was innocent of the blood of this just person, that this put the responsibility onto them… “it’s your decision, not mine”,  he was saying.

 f.   What did the crowd roar back? How has this come back onto their own heads?  (verse 25)

They said His blood would be on them and their children. We have seen how down through the ensuing years the Jews have been a despised people, and in many cases hounded from their homes and sent to their deaths.

g. What statements made Pilate more afraid than ever?     (Luke 23:2; John 18:37; 19:7-8, 10-12)  

The priests said that Jesus had said He was king of the Jews, and Pilate knew that if this got to the ears of the authorities in Rome, he would lose his job; Jesus said  that He had a kingdom not of this world and that He had come to tell the truth to people; Jesus told him that he had no power over Him at all apart from what God was allowing; the priests had said that He said He was the Son of God, and then said that if he let Jesus go, he would not be Caesar’s friend.

4.   Verses  26-34

a.    What happened to Jesus after Pilate gave the sentence?                        (verses 26-30)

Pilate handed Him over to the soldiers who flogged Him and then made fun of Him being a king. They got   a red and purple robe from somewhere and put it on Him, then someone had the bright idea of making a crown out of thorns and jamming that on His head; they pushed and shoved Him around, whacking Him on the face and ;pulling his whiskers out; they got down on their knees before Him mocking the idea that he was a king, and they spat in His face.

b. How badly hurt was He at this stage? What else are we told about His sufferings that we haven’t already seen?                                     (Psalm 129:3; Isaiah 50:6; 52:14)                                      

His back was a pulpy mess and like a furrowed field; His face was unrecgonisable, and He was more damaged than any other man ever was.

c.   What did they do with His clothing before they took Him out to be crucified?        (verse 31)

They took the fancy robe off Him and put His own back on Him.

d. Did Jesus know ahead of time that all this was going to happen to Him? How do we know? (Mark 10:32-34)

Yes He did, because He told His disciples several times what was going to happen, and was especially specific on their journey to Jerusalem.

e.   Why did they make Simon carry His cross for Him?         (verse 32)

Because Jesus was physically too weak to do it after the way He had been flogged and lost so much blood.

 f.   What can we assume from John’s account?                 (John 19:16-17)

That He started off carrying it Himself but couldn’t continue with it.

g. Who was Jesus concerned about as He walked out to the hill of Golgotha?     (Luke 23:27-31)  

For the women who were following Him weeping and wailing as they went.

h.   Try to imagine the scene as the crucifixion began….what are we NOT told?       

The noise of the soldiers, the digging of the holes, the screams and/or curses of the criminals that were nailed to the poles, the grunts and thuds as the crosses were lifted up and put into place.

i.   Why did Jesus refuse to drink the vinegar mixture?        (verse 34)

Because it was given to Him to dull the pain….He was there willingly, not because He was forced to be; bearing pain was part of paying sin’s price.

j. What was the greatest pain of the lot for Him?        (Psalm 69:1-2; Isaiah 53:4-6)

It was the spiritual pain rather than the physical pain, the pain of bearing all man’s sins, of having His Father turn away from Him; the feeling of sinking in the mire and filth of sin and wickedness.

k. What did Jesus pray as He was being nailed to the cross?        (Luke 23:34)

Father  forgive them,  for they don’t know what they are doing.

5. Verses  35-50

a. What did the soldiers do once the crosses were in place?  Why did they do this?    (verses 35-36; Psalm 22:18; John 19:23-24)                                      

They took His clothes which had been stripped off Him, and divided them into four parts and then tossed up for the coat which was woven in one piece.  This was a direct fulfilment of what was written in Psalm 22. Then they sat down and watched Him while He suffered.

b.    What was written on the sign over the cross of Jesus, and in which languages?      (Luke 23:38)

This is the King of the Jews, and it was written in Greek (the commercial language), Hebrew (the local and religious language) and Latin (the language of the Roman conquerors)

c.   Who was standing by His cross, and what did Jesus say to them?        (John 19:25-27)

John was there, and also the three Marys….His mother, aunt and Mary Magdalene. Jesus told John that Mary was now His mother to look after, and to Mary He said to accept him as a son.

d. What did these women do after this?         (verses 55-56;  Mark 15:40-41)

It seems that they moved further back to where other women were watching…quite a few had gone from Galilee to the temple at Jerusalem  for the Passover feast, and they were standing at a distance

e.   What did this conversation with John and Mary show about Jesus?        

That He was still thinking about others rather than Himself and making provision for His mother.

 f.   Who else was He thinking about at this time?                 (Luke 23:39-43)

The two thieves crucified with Him were mocking Him too, until one had a change of heart and told the other one to keep quiet because they deserved what they were getting, but Jesus had done nothing wrong. He then acknowledged Jesus as “Lord”, asking to be remembered when He was in His kingdom. Jesus replied that he would be with Him in paradise that very day.

g. What does this incident prove?     

That it is possible to have a death bed forgiveness of sins; it also shows Christ’s compassion  for lost souls.

h.  Who did Jesus speak to while He was hanging on the cross? What did He say?

Luke 23:34        to His Father….forgive them.  they don’t know what they are doing.

John 19:26-27   to John and His mother….Look after each other

Luke 23:43        to the repentant thief…today you will be with Me in paradise.

Mark 19:34        to God as Judge….why have You forsaken Me?

John 19:28       to the soldiers….I’m thirsty.

John 19:30       to the world and to the hosts of Heaven…It is finished!

Luke 23:46        to God as His Father….I commend My spirit to You!

i.    What time of the day did the crucifixion start? How long did it last for Jesus?  (Mark 15:25, 34-37)

It started at 9 a.m., and continued through until 3 p.m…..it lasted for six hours.

j.  What was the weather like?  (Luke 23:44-45)             

It was dark and lowering, very dark for three hours and possibly eerily silent as there was an earthquake as He died.

k.   What are we told about His actual death?        (verse 50; John 10:17-18)

That Jesus gave up His life willingly to make salvation possible….He gave up His spirit, it was not taken from Him.

6.  Verses  51-66

a. What happened at the same moment that Christ gave up His spirit and died?             (verses 51-53)                                      

The veil (curtain)  in the temple between the most holy place and the next department was torn from the top to the bottom (it was very high and a very thick heavy fabric), and there was a tremendous earthquake that opened graves and many of the godly people came back to life and went into the city and appeared to others.

b.    What is the significance of the curtain  tearing from the top to the bottom?      (Hebrews 9:7-14, 22-28)

It was supernatural…it was impossible for a person to have done it while it was hanging in place.

c.   What is the significance for us today of the torn veil?    (Hebrews 9:7-14, 22-28;  10:19-20)

There is no more a holy place on earth….the old order has been done away with and Christ’s blood and sacrifice supersedes the old way of animal sacrifices.

d. How did the Roman centurion and his mates feel after seeing the day’s happenings?         (verse 54)

They were full of awe and fear and acknowledged that Jesus was indeed the Son of God.

e.   What  miracle does John record? What is significant about that?      (John 19:30-33; Psalm 34:20)

John tells how the soldiers broke the legs of the others on the crosses, but left the legs of Jesus intact because He had already died….this was foretold in the Psalms.

f.   What else did they do to Jesus that was fulfilment of prophecy?     (John 19:34; Zechariah 12:10)

They pierced His side with a spear.

g. Who went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus? How does this fulfil Isaiah 53:9?   (verses 57-58)  

Joseph of Arimathea did; he was a rich man and had a new tomb ready for his own death, and Isaiah says that He was with the rich in His death.

h.  What else do we know about this tomb where they put Jesus?  (verses 59-60; John 19:41-42)

It had a large stone rolled across the front of it, and it was in a garden near where the crucifixion was held.

i.    What did the Pharisees remember that the disciples seemed to have forgotten?  (verses 62-63; Mark 8:31)

That Jesus had said more than once that He would rise again after three days.

j.  People today only celebrate Easter from Friday to Sunday….what explanation can we give from comparing the accounts in the gospels?  (verse 62; Matthew 26:17;  Mark 15:42; John 19:31, 42 )             

The feast of unleavened bread lasted for a week, and they had already eaten the Passover feast at the last supper; this particular Sabbath day coming up was a special one. The day before was classed as the preparation day. The Jews classed each day as starting at 6 pm the night before, so the preparation day started on the Thursday evening, went through Friday, the Sabbath was the Saturday.

k.   What did the Pharisees ask Pilate to do?        (verses 64-62)

To put soldiers to watch the tomb in case the disciples took the body away and then said He had come back to life!

 

Matthew Twenty-Eight….(verses 1-20)

1.    Verses  1-15

a.      We have four different accounts of the events on the morning of the resurrection, so we are going to try to sort them out…..What time did the women leave to go to the tomb and why were they going?   (verse 1; Mark 16:1-2; John 20:1)          

They left before daylight and took the burial anointing spices with them to finish doing what they couldn’t do when He was first put there on account of the Sabbath day starting.

b.    What was their main concern as they hurried along the way? What time was it when they got there?   (Mark 16:2-3)          

They were wondering how they would get the stone that covered the opening of the tomb pushed away….they  got there as the sun was rising.

c.   What had happened? What did they see when they got there?        (verse 2)

There had been another large aftershock when an angel came and rolled the stone away and then sat on it….this was the first thing they saw.

d.  What  happened to the guards that were there to keep it safe?           (verses 4, 11-15)

They were powerless to do anything and collapsed in fear, then went into the city and reported it to the chief priests, who then bribed them to say the disciples took the body away.

e.   What did the women do now?         (verses 5-8; Mark 16:5;Luke 24:4-8)

They went inside the tomb and saw an angel sitting where the body had been but no body there, only the graveclothes. Then there were two angels there and they told them that Jesus had risen from the dead and that they were to go and tell the disciples what they had seen.

f.    What did the women do? What happened while they were doing it?   (verses 8-10)  

They headed back to tell the others what had happened and as they went Jesus appeared to them and said to tell His disciples to go back to Galilee and He would see them there.

g.   What did Mary Magdalene do?    (John 20:2)  

She immediately ran back ahead of the others to find Peter and John and tell them what they had seen,  and then she went back again to the tomb.

h. What did Peter and John do when she told them?        (John 20:3-10)

They ran to see for themselves, and went into the tomb to find it empty as Mary had said. They then believed and went back to Galilee.

i.   What did Mary Magdalene do when she got back to the tomb?      (John 20:11-18)

She stooped down and looked in and saw two angels sitting in there who told he Jesus had risen but it didn’t seem to have sunk in. she stayed there bewildered and weeping when Jesus himself approached her and asked why she was crying. She thought He was the gardener and asked where he had taken the body. He said her name, and she recognised Who He was and said “Master!” then she went back and told the others what she had seen.

j.  Who else did Jesus appear to that morning?  (verses 9-10)             

The rest of the women as they went back…they fell before Him and worshipped Him and then went back to tell the others who still didn’t believe it was true.

k.  Who else did Jesus appear to later that day?  (Luke 24:13-33)             

Two people who were walking home to Emmaus, and He joined them and explained why Christ had to suffer these things. They didn’t recognise Him until He prayed before the evening meal and then He disappeared out of their sight. They immediately set off back to Jerusalem to tell the others what had happened.

l.  What did they find when they got back to them?  (Luke 24:34-36)             

That Jesus had appeared to Peter and spoken with  him, but the others still weren’t convinced.

m.  What finally convinced them?  (Luke 24:36-40)             

While the two who had come back from Emmaus were talking, Jesus appeared in the middle of them. They were terrified, positive they were seeing a ghost, but He calmed them down and showed them His hands and feet.

2.    Verses  16-20

a.  Reading Matthew’s account makes it sound as though that was the end of their encounters with Him, but read John chapters 20-21 to get a fuller picture of things that happened some of the time….what does John say at the end of his book?              (John 20:25)

That there were many other things that Jesus did and said during those days of silence,  too many to write down.

b.  How long was the period of time that Jesus remained on earth after the resurrection?  (Acts 1:1-3)             

He remained on earth for forty days before going back to heaven.

c.  Each of the Gospel writers gives different accounts of this time….who gives the fullest account and what happened?              (work this out for yourself)             

Matthew just says they went back to Galilee; John tells of what happened there, how they went back fishing and met Him on the beach. Mark  and Luke tell us nothing of these days apart from what Luke says in Acts 1:1-12 where it is obvious they were all back in the Jerusalem area.

d.  What instructions did Jesus give them as He was leaving ?    verses 18-20; Acts 1:4, 8)

He told them they were to stay in Jerusalem until they received the Holy Spirit and then they were to start preaching there and go out into all  the world from there telling of the Good News of the Gospel.

e.  How does Matthew finish off his Gospel?                  (verses 16b-20)

He tells of how the eleven disciples were in a mountain where the Lord had told them to go and how He told them to go out and tell His Word everywhere.