Plant the Seed....Let's Begin

Welcome to the GROW online Bible study!

I can tell you my story and about my faith and the ways that God has been, and is, at work in my life.  I can inspire you and encourage you, and I can pray for you.....but only the Word of God can change and transform your life.  It's not my thoughts and opinions that will matter in your life; it is Jesus thoughts and opinions.

Yes, go to Church, listen to sermons, attend conferences and life groups, meet with others that are more mature in their faith, BUT open the Word for yourself and see what God has to say and THAT is when your life will begin to change. 

We need to see the Bible as a whole collective book not just snippets and bits of verses.  It is when we open the scriptures and see them in context, verse by verse, and how they relate to other areas of the Bible, that we begin to learn and produce fruit in our lives.  When we take in the Word of God, the root of our faith begins to sink and travel beneath the soil, it becomes fully watered and nourishes the entire body. 

"When we take in the Word of God, the root of our faith begins to sink and travel beneath the soil, it becomes fully watered and nourishes the entire body." 

 

Before you begin this study, please read the blog page titled: Sowing the Seed. 

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A 28 Week Study of the Book of Matthew

Let’s first get an understanding of who Matthew was and what he gave up to follow Jesus when called.

He was a Jewish tax collector for the Romans.  During this time period, Israel was under military occupation by the Romans.  The Romans levied oppressive taxes on the Israelites, seeking to transfer the Nation’s wealth and capital to Rome, leaving the Israel colonies impoverished. 

The only people who lived in comfort and ease were the tax collectors who were the Roman’s local collaborators.   Jewish Officials were given the duty of extracting taxes for the Roman handlers.  These officials were despised by their own people (Israel) because they worked for the Romans and exploited their people. 

What would cause a man to take such a job, or to be seduced to betray his family and country? 

Backed by military force, the tax collectors were allowed to demand much more money from their fellow Jews than they had contracted to pay the government, creating a great source of wealth for themselves.  (Extortion)  The tax collectors were the wealthiest in Israel and the most hated.  Like today, money was seductive and addictive and many of these men sacrificed everything else to acquire it. 

Matthew was called by Jesus to follow Him, and he did.  Most likely a non-religious man, he gave up all the wealth and luxury to follow Jesus.  Later he went on to write his gospel to prove that Jesus is the Messiah.

Matthew Chapter One

The first chapter of Matthew will take us to other parts of the Bible so that we can learn something about people that are listed in the genealogy that this book begins with.  Please don't get overwhelmed.  After we get through the genealogy, we will settle in to Matthew and not jump around so much.  Stay with me!

Whose genealogies are you about to read through? Vs1   

Who does this verse say that Jesus was? Vs1   

There are significant characters in this family line.  Who is mentioned in verse 2?   

Let’s look at each one more closely.  

Abraham:  Noah’s grandson

Write down what you learn about Abraham in Genesis 13:14-17?   

How are we declared righteous?   

Write down what you learn about Abraham in Genesis 21:1-3 –  

and in Genesis 22:17-18 -  

What could happen in our lifetime if we “believe God” and “obey” Him?

Isaac: he was the son from God’s covenant with Abraham

Write what you learn about Isaac in Genesis 25:5 -  

and in Genesis 25:11 -  

and in Genesis 25:21 –  

Jacob: 

Write down what you learn about Jacob in Genesis 25:21-27 –  

and in Genesis 27:15-29 –  

and in Genesis 28:10-15 -   

and in Genesis 32:24-28 –  

Judah:

Write what you learn about Judah in Genesis 29:35 –  

and in Genesis 37:26-28 -  

and in Genesis 38:6-19 and 24-28 –  

and in Genesis 38:28-29   

Rahab:

Write what you learn about Rahab in Joshua 2:1-13 and 6:22-23 –  

Boaz:

Write what you learn about Boaz in Ruth 2:1 - 

and in Ruth 2:8-9 –  

and in Ruth 3:9 –

and in Ruth 4:13-14 –    

Who is Obed? 

Matthew 1:6 Who is Jesse's son?  

 

1 Samuel 16:1 – How was David chosen king over Israel?   

Acts 13:22 – what did the Lord call David?   

2 Samuel 7:5-16 – this is the Lord’s promise to David.  What is promised?

Matthew 1:6 – Who is David’s son in this genealogy?   

Who was the mother of this son?   

(2 Samuel 11:1-24 – Here you can read about the events that led to David marrying Bathsheba)

2 Samuel 12:24-25 – How did the Lord feel about Solomon?   

 Write what you learn about Solomon in  1Kings 3:5-14 –

and in 1Kings 4:29-34 –

and in 1 Kings 11:3-6 –  

Ecclesiastes is a book of Solomon’s observations.   

Read Ecclesiastes 1:1-2 and 2:10-11, How much happiness did all the wealth, women, prosperity and wisdom bring Solomon?

 

What were his final conclusions?  Ecclesiastes 12:1 and 12:13

Matthew 1:7 – 15 Many of the people in these verses weren’t known for anything except being part of this genealogy and yet they were included to show us this blood line.  That is why we need to read through it all.  (Although there are still some interesting characters here, King Hezekiah for example – 2 Kings 18). 

Matthew 1:16 – who is Jacob the father of?   

Who is Joseph the husband of?   

Who is Mary the mother of?   

Is Joseph called the father of Jesus?   

Why or why not?

How many generations from Abraham to Jesus?  

 

Who says genealogy is boring!   

 Did you find this scripture boring?  Did you learn anything after taking a closer look at it?

My answers will be posted to the Producing a Crop page on Monday February 1st.

Yes, this is a completely FREE Bible study.  (When was the last time you heard that?)   But there are a few conditions on Copyright: You may use this study for your own use, you may use it in a group form, you may copy and print it out, you may tell others about it.  However, you may not sell any part of it, or use any part of it in literature that is for sale, and you may not claim it as your own.  Reasonable right?  
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