Month: February 2020

Reading 1, Matthew 11:1-30

John the Baptist Sends Messengers to Jesus

Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities.

² And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he ^[a]sent two of his disciples ³ and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”

⁴ Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: ⁵ The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the good news preached to them. ⁶ And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”

⁷ As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? ⁸ But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.⁹ But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. ¹⁰ For this is he of whom it is written:

‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,
Who will prepare Your way before You.’

¹¹ “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. ¹² And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. ¹³ For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. ¹⁴ And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come.¹⁵ He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

1. Question: How are the least in the kingdom of heaven greater than John the Baptist (Hint, Jesus is comparing things in two different realms, earthly and heavenly)?

¹⁶ “But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, ¹⁷ and saying:

‘We played the flute for you,
And you did not dance;
We mourned to you,
And you did not ^[b]lament.’

¹⁸ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ ¹⁹ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a ^[c]winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her ^[d]children.”

Woe to the Impenitent Cities

²⁰ Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent: ²¹ “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. ²² But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. ²³ And you, Capernaum, who^[e] are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. ²⁴ But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.”

2. Question:  When it says, “He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repe­­nt,” What do you think they did not turn from that earned them this rebuke and kept them from the kingdom of God?

Jesus Gives True Rest

²⁵ At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. ²⁶ Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. ²⁷ All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. ²⁸ Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am^[f]gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Note:  The yoke in this context is the teaching of the rabbi, teacher or master.  To take on their teaching would be to fully believe and put into practice everything the master taught and demonstrated.

3. Question: How can we practice taking on Jesus’ teachings, and what blessing comes from doing this?

Reading 2, Matthew 12:1-30 

Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath

At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. ² And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!”

³ But He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: ⁴ how he entered the house of God and ate the showbread which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? ⁵ Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple ^[g]profane the Sabbath, and are blameless? ⁶ Yet I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple. ⁷ But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. ⁸ For the Son of Man is Lord ^[h]even of the Sabbath.”

Notes: Jesus again references Hosea 6:6 in verse 7.  In the Gospel’s, when Jesus talks about knowing something, He generally means knowing by practice or doing.  On one occasion, Jesus said to the Pharisees, “why call me Lord, Lord and do not do what I say.  If you practice doing what Jesus says, then you “know” Him as Lord.  If you practice turning to God and putting your trust in Him to Supply all that you need, then you know Him as Jehovah Jireh, the Lord your provider.  In our western world influenced by Greek culture, when we speak of knowing something, we are saying that we know about it or have information on it.  Here, when Jesus says to the Pharisees, “if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.” He was saying that they don’t know mercy because they don’t practice mercy. If they had really understood that it was by the sacrifices that their sins were being atoned for and they were receiving mercy from God rather than being “spiritual” and being self-righteous for doing a religious rite, they would have been merciful to others rather than judging them.

4. Question: How can we grow in being merciful to others as God has been merciful to us in the way we think and act?

Healing on the Sabbath

⁹ Now when He had departed from there, He went into their synagogue. ¹⁰ And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—that they might accuse Him.

¹¹ Then He said to them, “What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? ¹² Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” ¹³ Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other. ¹⁴ Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him.

Note: A spirit of religion cares about rules rather than about pleasing God or about people whom God loves and seeks to redeem.  It is also very judgmental and condemning (i.e., woman caught in adultery or the Pharisees condemning Jesus to death).

5. Question: What evidence do you see in verses 9-14 of the spirit of religion at work?

Behold, My Servant

¹⁵ But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew from there. And great ^[i]multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all. ¹⁶ Yet He warned them not to make Him known, ¹⁷ that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:

¹⁸ “Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen,
My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased!
I will put My Spirit upon Him,
And He will declare justice to the Gentiles.
¹⁹ He will not quarrel nor cry out,
Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets.
²⁰ A bruised reed He will not break,
And smoking flax He will not quench,
Till He sends forth justice to victory;
²¹ And in His name Gentiles will trust.”

A House Divided Cannot Stand

²² Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the ^[j]blind and mute man both spoke and saw. ²³ And all the multitudes were amazed and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”

²⁴ Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by ^[k]Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.”

²⁵ But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. ²⁶ If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? ²⁷ And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. ²⁸ But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. ²⁹ Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. ³⁰ He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.

6. Question: Jesus said, “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.”  How can we be with Him?

Reading 3, Matthew 12:1-30

Blasphemy against the Spirit not forgiven

³¹ “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.³² Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.

7. Question: Based on the context of verses 22-30, what is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.

A Tree Known by Its Fruit

³³ “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. ³⁴ Brood^[l] of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. ³⁵ A good man out of the good treasure ^[m]of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. ³⁶ But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. ³⁷ For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

8. Question: If you were to summarize verses 33 – 37 into one sentence, what would it be?

The Scribes and Pharisees Ask for a Sign

³⁸ Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.”

³⁹ But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. ⁴⁰ For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. ⁴¹ The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here. ⁴² The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here.

9. Question: What do you think was the problem them looking for a sign (38-42)?

An Unclean Spirit Returns

⁴³ “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. ⁴⁴ Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. ⁴⁵ Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.”

Jesus’ Mother and Brothers Send for Him

⁴⁶ While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. ⁴⁷ Then one said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.”

⁴⁸ But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” ⁴⁹ And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers!⁵⁰ For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”

Question:  What do you think Jesus was talking about when He said, “For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”  (see also John 1:11-13, John 6:29, John 10:27-28).

Reading 4, Matthew 13:1-30

The Parable of the Sower

On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. ² And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

³ Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. ⁴ And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. ⁵ Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. ⁶ But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. ⁷ And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. ⁸ But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. ⁹ He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

The Purpose of Parables

¹⁰ And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”

¹¹ He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the ^[n]mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. ¹² For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. ¹³ Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. ¹⁴ And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:

‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand,
And seeing you will see and not perceive;
¹⁵ For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed,
Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I ^[o]should heal them.’

¹⁶ But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear;¹⁷ for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

The Parable of the Sower Explained

¹⁸ “Therefore hear the parable of the sower: ¹⁹ When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. ²⁰ But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; ²¹ yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. ²² Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. ²³ But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

10. Question: What do you think Jesus is talking about in verse 23 in the context of verses 18-23?

The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares

²⁴ Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; ²⁵ but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way.²⁶ But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. ²⁷ So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ ²⁸ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ ²⁹ But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. ³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”

Reading 5, Matthew 13:31-58

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

³¹ Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, ³² which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”

The Parable of the Leaven

³³ Another parable He spoke to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three ^[p]measures of meal till it was all leavened.”

Prophecy and the Parables

³⁴ All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, ³⁵ that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:

“I will open My mouth in parables;
I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world.”

The Parable of the Tares Explained

³⁶ Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.”

³⁷ He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. ³⁸ The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. ³⁹ The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. ⁴⁰ Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. ⁴¹ The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, ⁴² and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. ⁴³ Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

11. Question:  Where is the first place we need to concern ourselves with lawlessness and why (see Matthew 23:27-28)?  How do we deal with lawlessness on the inside?

The Parable of the Hidden Treasure

⁴⁴ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price

⁴⁵ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, ⁴⁶ who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

The Parable of the Dragnet

⁴⁷ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, ⁴⁸ which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. ⁴⁹ So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, ⁵⁰ and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”

^51 [q]Jesus said to them, “Have you understood all these things?”

They said to Him, “Yes, ^[r]Lord.”

⁵² Then He said to them, “Therefore every ^[s]scribe instructed^[t]concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.”

Jesus Rejected at Nazareth

⁵³ Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, that He departed from there. ⁵⁴ When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? ⁵⁵ Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, ^[u]Joses, Simon, and Judas? ⁵⁶ And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?” ⁵⁷ So they were offended at Him.

But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.” ⁵⁸ Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

12. Question: Based on what we read in 53-58, why did Jesus not do many mighty works or miracles in His own area?  What can we learn from this?

Reading 1, Mathew 8:1-22

Jesus Cleanses a Leper

When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. ² And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”

³ Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

⁴ And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

1) Question (1-4): What does the leper’s confession say about his level of faith to be healed?

Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant

⁵ Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, ⁶ saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.”

⁷ And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”

⁸ The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. ⁹ For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

¹⁰ When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! ¹¹ And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.¹² But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” ¹³ Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.

2) Question (5-13): What was amazing about the centurion’s faith that was over the top compared to what Jesus and seen in others?

Peter’s Mother-in-Law Healed

¹⁴ Now when Jesus had come into Peter’s house, He saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever. ¹⁵ So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served ^[ba]them.

Many Healed in the Evening

¹⁶ When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, ¹⁷ that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:

“He Himself took our infirmities
And bore our sicknesses.”

3) Question (14-17): Did Jesus always use the same “method” to heal people? If Jesus had a “formula” for healing people, what do you think it was (see John 5:19-20)?

The Cost of Discipleship

¹⁸ And when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side. ¹⁹ Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.”

²⁰ And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”

²¹ Then another of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”

²² But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”

Reading 2, Matthew 8:23 – 9:13

Wind and Wave Obey Jesus

²³ Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. ²⁴ And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. ²⁵ Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”

²⁶ But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. ²⁷ So the men marveled, saying, ^[bb]“Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”

4) Question (18-27): How do you think we can grow in faith in our heavenly Father?

Two Demon-Possessed Men Healed

²⁸ When He had come to the other side, to the country of the ^[bc]Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way. ²⁹ And suddenly they cried out, saying, “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?”

³⁰ Now a good way off from them there was a herd of many swine feeding. ³¹ So the demons begged Him, saying, “If You cast us out, ^[bd]permit us to go away into the herd of swine.”

³² And He said to them, “Go.” So when they had come out, they went into the herd of swine. And suddenly the whole herd of swine ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and perished in the water.

³³ Then those who kept them fled; and they went away into the city and told everything, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. ³⁴ And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus. And when they saw Him, they begged Him to depart from their region.

5) Question (28-34): Why do you think the town begged Jesus to leave?  What do you think that might say about sinful human nature in general?

Matthew 9 

Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralytic

So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city. ² Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.”

³ And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, “This Man blasphemes!”

⁴ But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? ⁵ For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’? ⁶ But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” ⁷ And he arose and departed to his house.

⁸ Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled^[be] and glorified God, who had given such power to men.

6) Question (1-8): Why do you think Jesus said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.”?  How would Jesus know his condition was related to sin rather than something else?

Matthew the Tax Collector

⁹ As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.

¹⁰ Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. ¹¹ And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

¹² When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. ¹³ But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, ^[bf]to repentance.”

Notes: “I desire mercy not sacrifice” comes primarily from Hosea 6:6. God desired His people Israel to really know Him and love Him.  In fact, know and love Him so well that they would know He was a merciful God, and know how much He had given them mercy.  Instead, they did not know Him, they had only come to know a religion about Him, and had become all about religious activities and offering sacrifices so they would be “righteous” for doing so.  However, they would not be merciful to others, because they did not really know their God, and how He was merciful to them.  They were only fulfill­­­­­ing religious rites that left them feeling self-righteous.  Being merciful to others should come out of the overflow of us knowing our God and appreciating how merciful He has and is being toward us, and passing that same mercy along to others.

7) Question (9-13): There is a huge difference between knowing God and knowing about Him.  This could be compared to the difference between a married person knowing their own spouse and knowing their neighbor’s spouse.  How can we grow in knowing God, what He has done for us, and practice sharing what He has done for us with others?

Reading 3, Matthew 9:14-31

Jesus Is Questioned About Fasting

¹⁴ Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast ^[bg]often, but Your disciples do not fast?”

¹⁵ And Jesus said to them, “Can the ^[bh]friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.

¹⁶ No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for ^[bi]the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse. ¹⁷ Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins ^[bj]break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

Notes: Through turning from our rebellion, sin and self-righteousness, and putting our faith in Jesus’ righteousness, we are “born again” (new wine skins) by the Spirit of God (new wine). 

8) Question (14-17): How can we continue to walk in and grow in this new life, being filled with the Holy Spirit rather than the old us?

A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed

¹⁸ While He spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live.” ¹⁹ So Jesus arose and followed him, and so did His disciples.

9) Question (18-19): How did the ruler worship Jesus?

²⁰ And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. ²¹ For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.” ²² But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour.

²³ When Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd wailing, ²⁴ He said to them, “Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him. ²⁵ But when the crowd was put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. ²⁶ And the report of this went out into all that land.

10) Question (20-26): How was the woman made well?

Two Blind Men Healed

²⁷ When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of David, have mercy on us!”

²⁸ And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”

They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.”

²⁹ Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.” ³⁰ And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, saying, “See that no one knows it.” ³¹ But when they had departed, they ^[bk]spread the news about Him in all that ^[bl]country.

11) Question (27-31): What do you observe in this healing of the two blind men?

Reading 4, Matthew 9:32 – 10:15

A Mute Man Speaks

³² As they went out, behold, they brought to Him a man, mute and demon-possessed. ³³ And when the demon was cast out, the mute spoke. And the multitudes marveled, saying, “It was never seen like this in Israel!”

³⁴ But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the ruler of the demons.”

12) Question (32-34): How did Jesus know the man was made mute by demons that needed to be cast out for the man’s healing?

The Compassion of Jesus

³⁵ Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease ^[bm]among the people. ³⁶ But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were ^[bn]weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. ³⁷ Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. ³⁸ Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

13) Question (35-38): Why do you think the people were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd?

Matthew 10 

 The Twelve Apostles, Sent Out

And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. ² Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; ³ Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and ^[bo]Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; ⁴ Simon the ^[bp]Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.

⁵ These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans.⁶ But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. ⁷ And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven ^[bq]is at hand.’ ⁸ Heal the sick,^[br]cleanse the lepers, ^[bs]raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. ⁹ Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, ¹⁰ nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.

¹¹ “Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. ¹² And when you go into a household, greet it.¹³ If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. ¹⁴ And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. ¹⁵ Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!

14) Question (1-15):  What is the connection between telling others (preaching) the good news of the kingdom of God and healing the sick?

Reading 5, Matthew 10:16-45

Persecutions Are Coming

¹⁶ “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless^[bt] as doves. ¹⁷ But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues.¹⁸ You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. ¹⁹ But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; ²⁰ for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

²¹ “Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. ²² And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. ²³ When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

²⁴ “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.²⁵ It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house^[bu]Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!²⁶ Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.

15) Question (16-26):  Why do you think it is normal or common for people following Jesus to be harassed and persecuted?  What do we need to help us when we are in the midst of harassment or persecution for doing what God considers right or for our Faith in Christ?

Jesus Teaches the Fear of God

²⁷ “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. ²⁸ And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in ^[bv]hell. ²⁹ Are not two sparrows sold for a^[bw]copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. ³⁰ But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹ Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

³² “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. ³³ But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

16) Question (27-33):  Why should we fear God more than people?  How can we practice walking in the love and fear of the Lord at the same time?

Christ Brings Division?

³⁴ “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. ³⁵ For I have come to ‘set^[bx] a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; ³⁶ and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ ³⁷ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. ³⁸ And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. ³⁹ He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

17) Question (34-39): Why do you think the impact of Christ in this sin infected world ends up bringing the opposite of peace between family members and others?  Who must we love more?

A Cup of Cold Water

⁴⁰ “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. ⁴¹ He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.⁴² And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”

Week 3, Mathew 6 -7

Reading 1, Matthew 6:1-14

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew+6%3A1-15&version=NKJV

Do Your Good Deeds to Please God and Not People

“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. ² Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. ³ But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴ that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

1. Question (1-4): What is the principle here that can be applied to more than just charitable deeds?

The Model Prayer

⁵ “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. ⁶ But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.⁷ And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

⁸ “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.

2. Question (5-8): How should we not pray, why not?  How should we pray and why (5-8)?

 ⁹ In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
¹⁰ Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹ Give us this day our daily bread.
¹² And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
¹³ And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.

^[an]For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

¹⁴ “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

3. Question (9-15): What stands out to you in the Lord’s prayer?  Why do you think Jesus says what He does about forgiveness (see also Luke 6:37-38)?  How can we practice this?

Reading 2, Matthew 6:16-23

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew+6%3A16-23&version=NKJV

Fasting to Be Seen Only by God

¹⁶ “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. ¹⁷ But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, ¹⁸ so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

4. Question (16-18): What important point do you think Jesus teaches in verses 16-18 that is similar to an important principle He also taught in 1-15 on charity and prayer?

Lay Up Treasures in Heaven

¹⁹ “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; ²⁰ but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

5. Question (19-21): How do we lay up treasures in heaven?

 The Lamp of the Body

²² “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. ²³ But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

6. Question (22-23): Many times Jesus used metaphors to get across a spiritual point.  What do you think Jesus is really teaching about when He talks about the eye, light and darkness in 22-23?  How do we make our “eye” good?

Reading 3, Matthew 6:24 – 7:6

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew+6%3A24-7%3A6&version=NKJV

You Cannot Serve God and Riches, Do Not Worry

²⁴ “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

²⁵ “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?²⁷ Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

²⁸ “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; ²⁹ and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.³⁰ Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

³¹ “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

7. Question (24-34): Why do you think Jesus connects worrying about the things money can buy with serving money (rather than God)?  How can we practice serving God rather than money?

Matthew 7 

Do Not Judge

“Judge not, that you be not judged. ² For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. ³ And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? ⁴ Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? ⁵ Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

8. Question (1-5): What does judging look like?  Why is it bad?  What can we practice to overcome judging?

⁶ “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.

Reading 4, Matthew 7:7-20

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew+7%3A7-20&version=NKJV

Keep Asking, Seeking, Knocking

⁷ “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. ⁹ Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?¹⁰ Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? ¹¹ If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!¹² Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

9. Question (7-12): What is the reason we should not give up asking, seeking, and knocking?  How do you think verse 12 is related to verses 7-11?

The Narrow Way

¹³ “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.¹⁴ Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

10. Question (13-14): What do you think is the narrow way and why there are few that find it?

You Will Know Them by Their Fruits

¹⁵ “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. ¹⁶ You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

11. Question (15-20): What do you think Jesus is talking about here when He said that by their “fruits” you will know them (15-20)?  How does this also apply to us?

Reading 5, Matthew 7:21-29

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew+7%3A21-29&version=NKJV

I Never Knew You

²¹ “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. ²² Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ ²³ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

²⁴ “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: ²⁵ and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

²⁶ “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: ²⁷ and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

²⁸ And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, ²⁹ for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

12. Questions (21-29): What key points and questions do you get from reading verses 21-29?  Why did the people in 21 – 23 think they were going to heaven, but were not?  How does this relate to what Jesus taught in 24 – 29?

Reading 1 and 2 – Matthew 5:1-12

Read verses 1-12 both days.  Answer 4 questions on each day.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=MAtthew+5%3A1-12&version=NKJV

Study Help (Verses 1-12): 

The beatitudes: See 3.5 minute clip on the beatitudes.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGdeCsKRLig

1. Poor in Spirit – see this 2minute clip on what is meant by poor in spirit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAPJUH7PARs 

Definition: Being poor in spirit includes recognizing you have nothing, and know it, and practice your need for God in everything. 

Question: Why do you think Jesus said of the poor in spirit that theirs is the kingdom of heaven?  How can you practice being poor in Spirit?

2. Those that mourn – see 2 minute clip.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xTn1lKNxaE

Definition: Mourning as the response to recognizing our poverty of spirit and how needy we are before God. 

Question: Why do you think Jesus said those that mourn are blessed because they will be comforted?  How can you practice this type of mourning to receive His comfort?

3. Blessed are the meek – see 2 minute clip

Definition: The meek are those who surrender their will and agenda to follow and obey Christ (from the inside out).  As they walk in surrender to His teachings and will, the kingdom and rule of God is produced in them and around them.  Their inheritance is the fruit that comes out of their surrender and obedience to Christ both in this life and the one to come.

Question: How can we practice meekness?

4. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness: See 1.5 min video  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gC7_lNqGQs4

Definition: Hungering and thirsting for righteousness is strongly desiring the will of God inside of you, in your actions, and around you.  As you strongly desire His will and surrender to and do the will of God, you will have a contentment within yourself like a hungry person who has eaten a good meal. 

Question: How can we practice being hungry and thirsty for God’s righteousness?

5. Blessed are the Merciful for they will be shown mercy

Watch 1.5 minute video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfojaehMnaE

Definition: Being merciful is giving others grace instead of what they deserve.  When you follow Christ, you realized that God has been merciful to you because of Christ so you extend that grace to others.

Question: How can you practice being merciful?

6. Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God

See 1.5 minutes video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTv9hFbOzGE

Definition: The pure in heart have turned from their rebellion, sin, and self-righteousness to put their faith in Christ as their righteousness.  They continue in this process of purifying their hearts to follow Christ.  Those who are pure in heart will see God at work in this life, and see Christ in eternity.

Question: How can we practice being pure in heart.

7. Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the sons of God

Watch 1 minute video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pO6PTrRlDw

Definition: Peacemakers are those who have come to peace with God through Jesus Christ, the prince of peace.  Because He has made peace with us, we act as His agents to make peace with others.  Our desire becomes being like Him in being a peace maker and with the desire that others may come to know, or come to know better, the prince of peace as well. See the difference between peace making and peace keeping.  http://refineus.org/peacekeeping-vs-peacemaking/

Question: Where in your life can you begin practicing peace making rather than peace keeping, and what does that look like?

8. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven

Watch 1.5 min video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbHpzhCiwAA

Definition: Being persecuted for righteousness sake is being persecuted for doing God’s will or what is right before God, when it seems wrong to this broken sinful world.  The kingdom of heaven belongs to those who surrender to and do the will of God.  Being persecuted for doing what is right before God reminds us that we belong to His kingdom rather than Satan’s.

Question: How can we change our perspective on this so we are not taken by surprise when it happens?

Reading 3, Matthew 5:13-26 

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A13-26&version=NKJV

9. Question: What enables us to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world (13-16)?  How can we be salt and light to those around us?

10. Question: In verses 19-20, how can we become great in the kingdom of heaven and how do you think our righteousness needs to exceed the Pharisees to enter the kingdom of heaven?  What do we need to practice?

11. Question: What do you get out of verses 21-26 and how can you put this into practice?

Reading 4, Matthew 5:27-27

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A27-37&version=NKJV

12. Question: What do you learn from verses 27-31 and how can you practice doing what pleases God?

13. Question: Why do you think Jesus says that oaths (binding yourself to more than Yes or No) is from the evil one (33-37)?

Reading 5, Matthew 5:36-48

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A36-48&version=NKJV

14. Question: Why love our enemies (36-48)?  How can we practice this?