Matthew Chapter Seventeen

We have really worked our way through this book.  We are in the meat of Jesus Ministry now.  As we left chapter sixteen Jesus had predicted His death and told Peter that he would be the "rock" or foundation for His Church.  Now let's see what Jesus reveals to His disciples.

Where did Jesus go after six days passed? Vs1   

Who did he take with Him?   

What happened there? Vs2   

What details are given?   

Who suddenly appeared and were talking with Jesus? Vs3   

Who spoke up? Vs4   

What did he say?   

While Peter was speaking, what took place? Vs5   

What did the three disciples do at the sound of this? Vs6   

What did Jesus do? vs7   

When they lifted their eyes, what did they see? vs8   

What instructions did Jesus give as they left the Mountain? Vs9   

What did the disciples ask? Vs10   

Read Luke 1:15-17.

What did the Lord tell Zechariah in the temple before Elizabeth’s conception?   

Who was the prophet that had already come that was “like Elijah”?   

Back to Matthew 17.

What sobering details did Jesus give them? Vs11-12   

Who did the disciples recognize that Jesus had been calling Elijah?  

What happened when they came upon a crowd again? Vs14   

What was asked of Jesus? Vs15   

What was happening?   

What action had the man taken earlier that didn’t help? Vs16  

What did Jesus say to that? Vs17   

Who do you think Jesus is talking to in this verse?     

Who did Jesus rebuke in order to heal the boy? Vs18   

What happened when Jesus gave His rebuke?   

In private, the disciples asked Jesus something; what was it? Vs19   

What was Jesus answer? Vs20   

What did Jesus say about a mustard seed?   

According to this statement; how much faith did the disciples have?   

They traveled with Jesus, watched miracle after miracle, had left their own lives to follow Him and yet had very little faith.    How is this possible? 

Do you see this type of faith in our churches and among us today?

Read Mark 9:28-29.

This is the same event as in Matthew.  How is this type of demon driven out?   

Read Romans 10:17, look at it along with Mark 9:29 and write in your words, how our faith is increased.    

(Some of the manuscripts include similar words to mark 9:29 here so that would be verse 21.  But this book leaves out a verse 21)

They came together in Galilee.  What did Jesus tell His disciples would happen? Vs22   

When this happens, what will take place next? Vs23   

How did the disciples feel about this news?   

Where did Jesus and His disciples arrive next? Vs24   

Who approached Peter?   

What did they ask Peter?   

What was Peter’s answer? Vs25   

Peter went back into the house and Jesus asked him something.  What did He ask Peter?   

How did Peter answer? Vs26   

What did Jesus say about their own children?   

If kings of the earth do not pay tax or charge their own children tax, then Jesus, being a king, should not have to pay tax nor should His children (the disciples).   

But what instruction did Jesus give regarding paying the tax? Vs27   

For what reason will they pay the tax that they should be exempt from?   

Why do you think that Jesus chose this way to provide the money for the tax? 

Matthew Chapter Sixteen

There are 28 verses in this chapter.

I will remind you here that we have to keep context in mind as we study.  When/if you get confused, go back and see who Jesus is talking to and what subject He is working through.  Keep asking questions of the scripture text; this will often bring clarity for some of Jesus statements that don’t seem to fit. 

Matthew Chapter Sixteen

Who came to Jesus? Vs1   

For what purpose or motivation? 

What did they ask for?   

What did Jesus tell them? Vs2-3   

Who looks for a new, updated sign? Vs4   

Will they get it?   

Read Jonah 1:1-6.

When Jonah turned his back on the Lord and ran, what did he end up in?   

Read Jonah 1:14-17.  How long was Jonah in the fish?   

Do you remember what Jesus did in the same amount of time that fulfilled scripture?   

Jesus left with His disciples to cross the lake again.  What did the disciples not bring with them?  Vs5   

What did Jesus say to them? Vs6   

During discussion; why did the disciples think Jesus had said that? Vs7   

Jesus heard their discussion; what did He say to them in verse 8?   

What did Jesus remind them of? Vs9-10   

What did Jesus repeat? Vs11   

What did they understand then? Vs12   

What region did they arrive at next? Vs13   

What did Jesus ask the disciples?   

How do they answer? Vs14   

Jesus asks a question that identifies that He is the Son of Man.  What is the question and how do we know He is the Son of Man? Vs15   

Who answers, and what was his answer? Vs16   

What was Jesus response to him? vs17    

What did Jesus say to him next? Vs18   

What do you think this means?   

What will Jesus give Peter? Vs19   

What do the keys do?   

Look back at verses 15-16.  What had Peter confessed?   

In verse 17 Peter is blessed for confessing this.  He will be the Rock (foundation) of Jesus Church.  What is the Church about? – What is it designed to do?   

Read Isaiah 22:22.

What is the key to?    

What can be done with this key?   

In light of this, what would the keys be for?   

Read Job 12:13-15.

What belongs to God?   

What is God capable of?   

What did Jesus warn the disciples about? Vs20   

This marked a turning point in Jesus’ teachings.  What did he explain to the disciples from that day on? Vs21A   

How did Jesus say it was going to turn out? Vs21B   

What did Peter do? vs22     

What was Jesus response to Peter? Vs23   

What is something in  your life right now that you are fighting against, or that you may see as bad, that may be part of God’s purpose?

What did Jesus say to His disciples? Vs24   

Once again, as in Matthew 10:38, this is a peculiar thing for Jesus to say to His disciples at this point. What had NOT happened yet?   

What happens to someone that values their life over God? Vs25   

And if one accepts Jesus, what happens if the worst takes place and someone loses their life on account of Jesus?   

What did Jesus say about gaining the whole world? Vs26   

Who will come in his Father’s glory? Vs27   

Who will he come with?   

What will he do when he comes?   

Jesus told them that some standing there would not taste death before seeing what?  Vs28   

Matthew Chapter Fifteen

Matthew Chapter Fifteen

In the past few chapters we have seen that Jesus’ miracles are reaching far and wide.  People are scrambling to come see and hear Him in person.  They bring their sick, lame, and demon possessed and all are being healed. 

Who comes to Jesus with a concern? Vs1   

What was the concern?   

What did Jesus ask in response? Vs3   

What command does Jesus refer to? Vs4   

How is this explained; how have they broken the command? Vs5   

What were they doing to the word of God in this practice? Vs6  

What did Jesus call them because of it? Vs7  

Who did Jesus say had prophesied about them?   

What did the prophet say about them? Vs8   

Put into your own words, what this means.

Read Matthew 7:21-23.  What does this say about lip service?

What did Jesus say about their worship? Vs9   

What does that mean?   

Jesus calls the people to Himself.  What did He tell them to do? vs10   

Now He answers the Pharisees questions from verse 2.  What do they need to understand? Vs11   

What did the disciples come to tell Jesus? Vs12  

Does Jesus panic, or feel bad? Vs13   

How does He answer?   

What did that mean? Vs14   

Explain this in your words:

What did Peter want Jesus to do? vs15   

What did Jesus tell Peter?   

At the beginning of the chapter, what was the Pharisees concern? Vs2   

What did Jesus say about what enters the mouth? Vs17   

What about what exits the mouth? Vs18   

What comes out of the human heart? Vs19   

Jesus sums up the teaching; explain here: vs20   

What did Jesus do after He finished this teaching? Vs21 

Who came to Him? vs22   

What did she cry out?   .

Even though she was a Canaanite, not an Israelite, who did she know Jesus was? 

What did Jesus do for her? vs23 

What did the disciples want Him to do and why? 

What did Jesus tell the disciples? Vs24   

How do you feel about what He said?

What did the woman do? vs25 

What did Jesus tell the woman? Vs26 

Did she get offended and storm off? Vs27 

Have you ever felt ignored or discarded by God?  How did you respond?

What did Jesus say to her? vs28   

What happened at that moment? 

Jesus left the region of Tyre and Sidon to go where? Vs29   

Where did He stop?   

Who came to Him and what did they bring? Vs30   

What did he do? 

What amazed the people there? Vs31 

What did the people do as a result? 

What did Jesus call His disciples together for? Vs32 

How long had the people been with Jesus? 

What do the disciples ask Jesus? Vs33 

Jesus answers with a question; what is the question? Vs34   

How many is there? 

What did Jesus instruct the crowd to do? vs35   

Then what did He do? vs36 

What did the disciples do? 

How far did the small amount of food go? Vs37   

What was left after everyone ate? 

How many were fed that day? Vs38 

What did Jesus do after that? Vs39

. 

If you have time, check out these other times when God provided:

1Kings 17:12-16

2 Kings 4:42-44

Exodus 16:14-26

Did any of these instances leave them set for life, or did they still have to have faith that God would provide the next day?

Why do you think that is?

Read Luke 12:22-24.

What does God want us to do every day? 

Is this the way that you live?

Matthew Chapter Fourteen

Matthew Chapter Fourteen

During the time of Jesus’ teaching and miracles, who had been hearing things about Him? vs1   

What did he tell his servants? Vs2   

How did Herod know John? Vs3-4   

How did Herod want John dealt with, and why hadn’t he done it? Vs5   

What happened on Herod’s birthday? Vs6   

What did Herod promise because he was so pleased? Vs7  

What did the girl ask for and why? Vs8   

How did the king feel about her request and what did he do? vs9   

What happened? Vs10-11   

What did John’s disciples do? vs12   

In a society where brutality has become common place, people aren’t affected by it unless it touches them personally.  People become hardened by it.  The same is true today.  What types of stories on the news does it take to shock us now?   

When Jesus heard this had happened, what did He do? vs13   

When the people heard about this, did they leave Him alone and allow Him to have some quiet?    

Jesus finally came back and landed, He saw the large amount of people that had gathered.  How did He feel about them and what did He do? vs14   

As evening approached, what was the disciples concern? Vs15   

What did Jesus tell the disciples to do? vs16   

What was their dilemma? Vs17   

What did Jesus then tell them to do? vs18   

Where did the fish and loaves come from?  (the only place you will find it is in John 6:9)

What did Jesus do? vs19   

The disciples distributed the food amongst the crowd of people.  Did each person get a crumb? Vs20   

What was left over?    

How large was the crowd that ate from the loaves and fish? Vs21   

What happened next and how soon? Vs22   

What did Jesus do? vs23   

Later that night where was He and with whom?   

Where was the boat? Vs24   

What was happening to it?   

When did Jesus leave to meet the disciples? Vs25   

How did Jesus get to them?   

When the disciples saw Him, were they relieved and happy? Vs26   

Jesus must have seen their reaction, what did He tell them? Vs27   

What did Peter say to Jesus, to test and see if it was Him? vs28   

Jesus response? Vs29   

What did Peter do? vs29   

Once he did this, what did he see? vs30   

And what happened when he saw it?   

What did Jesus do immediately? Vs31   

What did Jesus say to Peter?   

What happens when we take our eyes off of Jesus and look at the environment around us or our circumstances?   

What does James  tell us? James 1:5-7   

What happened when they climbed into the boat? Vs32   

Why do you think that happened at that time and not earlier?  

How did the ones that were in the boat watching, react? Vs33   

They finally reach the other side of the lake, what did the men of that area do when they recognized Jesus? Vs34-35  

What did the people do? vs35-36  

What happened to all those that touched Him?   

Was there magic in the garments that Jesus wore?   

Remember what He said to the woman in Matthew 9:22?   

Read Ephesians 2:8.  What happens to us when we put our faith in Jesus?   

What thoughts or new insights have you taken away from this chapter?

Matthew Chapter Thirteen

I warned you last week that this is a looooooong chapter; 58 verses!
If you don't get through it all, let me know and I will let it ride for another week and wait to post chapter fourteen. 
We are in the "meat" of Jesus teachings now and have almost reached the middle of the book of Matthew.  I hope that you are seeing God in new ways as He blesses you for seeking to understand His Word better.  Let's pray and begin...

Matthew Chapter Thirteen

Jesus was in a house during His last teaching (12:46 His mother and brothers stood outside).  Where did He go? Vs1   

What did He get into and why? Vs2     

What did He tell the people? Vs3   

What did He start with?   

In this parable, what happened as the farmer scattered seed? Vs4   

Where did some also fall? Vs5   

What happened to this seed?   

Because of this, what happened to the plants? Vs6   

Where else did seed fall? Vs7   

What happened to these plants?   

Where else did seed fall? Vs8   

What happened?   

What does good soil do?   

Who does Jesus want to hear what He is saying? Vs9   

What do the disciples ask Jesus? Vs10   

His reply? Vs11   

Who will be given more? Vs12     

More what?   

How much will these people have?   

What about the ones who do not have this?   

What was it that Jesus is talking about again? (Vs11)   

Why do you think that the Disciples had this but others did not? 

(hint: Matthew 4:19-20)   

Further exploration: 1 Corinthians 2:10-14, 1 Corinthians 1:18

Read Matthew 13:13-15.

Jesus explains why He speaks in Parables.  Do you understand what He is saying?  Write it in your own words:

Jesus calls the disciples, blessed, why? Vs16   

Who longed to see and hear what the disciples have been able to see and hear? Vs17   

Read Hebrews 11:1-13.

What were the faithful people listed in Hebrews 11:1-12 living by when they died?   

What did they not get to see or hear?   

So now, what are the disciples seeing and hearing that the other righteous ones didn’t?   

What will Jesus explain to them? Vs18   

This is wonderful; we don’t have to guess, Jesus Himself gives the explanation:

What is the seed that is sown along the path?  Vs19   

What happens when someone hears the message but doesn’t understand it?   

Go back to verse 4; if the seed represents the message or the word of God, what represents the evil one?   

Who does the seed on rocky ground (vs5-6) represent? Vs20   

When do they fall away? Vs21   

Who does the seed among the thorns (vs 7) represent and what keeps it from growing? Vs22   

What does the seed in good soil (vs 8) represent? Vs23   

What does this seed produce?   

According to this, do they all produce the same crop?   

Are they all fruitful?   

What do you think is required for one to hear the word and understand it?   

After the explanation of the parable, what did Jesus go into telling them? Vs24  

What is the kingdom of Heaven like?   

What is the seed?   

What happened while everyone slept? Vs25   

Who is the enemy and what do weeds represent?   

What are the deliberately sowed weeds designed to do? (vs22)   

The wheat sprouted and formed heads, but what also came up? Vs26   

What did the servants ask the owner? Vs27   

What did the owner tell them? Vs28   

What did the servants ask next?   

Does the owner want this? Vs29   

Why or why not?   

What is to be done? Vs30   

Let’s look at a few things here:

Who do you think that the owner represents?   

Who do you think that the servants represent?   

What do you think that the bundles to be burned represent? 

(Revelation 20:11-15)   

What does the barn represent?        

(Revelation 21:1-3)   

Put it all together here; write what you think this parable is telling us:  

Also, why would pulling the weeds be a risk to the good plants?

What did Jesus do next? Vs31   

What is the kingdom of Heaven like?   

How is it like that? Vs32   

What do you think this is telling us?     

Jesus tells another parable; what is the kingdom of Heaven like in this one? Vs33   

What is the only way that Jesus spoke to these crowds? Vs34   

What prophecy was fulfilled? Vs35   

Read Psalm 78:1-8. Ultimately, what is to be accomplished with the parables and the telling of things from the past (things of old)?   

Jesus left the crowds and went inside.  His disciples followed.  What did they ask? Vs36   

What is the answer for the one who sowed good seed? Vs37   

What is the field?   

What is the good seed?   

What are the weeds? Vs38   

Who is the enemy who sowed the weeds? Vs39   

What is the harvest?   

Who are the harvesters?   

What will it be when the weeds are pulled up and thrown in the fire? Vs40   

What will the sower of good seed (Son of Man) do? vs41   

What will happen to the weeds? Vs42   

Then what will happen to the righteous? Vs43   

Who should hear this?   

What is the kingdom of Heaven like and how? Vs44   

What is the kingdom of Heaven like?  Vs45   

How is it like that? Vs46   

Should we sell everything to buy the kingdom of Heaven?

What is the kingdom of Heaven like? Vs47   

How is it like this? Vs48   

What does this mean?   

When will it be like this? Vs49-50   

How?   

What did Jesus ask His disciples? Vs51   

What is their reply?   

I ask you the same; do you understand all these things? 

Why do you think that Jesus said the same thing over and over but in different ways?   

What is a teacher of the law who becomes a disciple in the kingdom of Heaven compared to? Vs52   

What does this mean??   

When did Jesus move on? Vs53   

Where did He go next and what did He do there? Vs54   

What were the people’s thoughts about Jesus?   

What did they ask, or recognize? Vs55   

What do these two verses reveal to you about Jesus family? Vs56   

Knowing who He was and what family He came from, were they excited about His knowledge and teaching? Vs57   

What did Jesus say about this?   

Why do you think this is?   

What did the people of that town lose out on because of their lack of faith? Vs58   

Wow!!  That was a full chapter!

There were really only a few teachings in this chapter but Jesus said them over and over again in different ways for emphasis.