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.

Matthew Chapter Twelve - Part Two

I am going to warn you ahead of time that next week, chapter thirteen is the longest chapter yet.  I am going to post it in its entirety, but if you find that it is too much and get behind because of it, please let me know and I will skip posting the following week and allow you time to finish it up. 
Below is the remainder of chapter twelve; have a great week of study.  I pray that God is revealing Himself to you in a new and awesome way. 

Matthew Chapter Twelve: Part Two

Who was brought to Jesus? Vs22   

What did Jesus do?  

The people are astonished, what do they say? Vs23   

How did the Pharisees respond? Vs24   

What did Jesus know? Vs25A   

What did Jesus say will not stand? Vs25   

Jesus explains what He means by this.  How does it relate to the Pharisees calling Him Beelzebul? Vs26   

What does Jesus ask? Vs27   

What did Jesus interject here to make them think? Vs28   

How do you steal from a strong man? Vs29   

What do you think this means, in regards to Jesus being accused of being Satan?  

If someone isn’t with Jesus, what are they? Vs30   

According to this scripture, is there a gray area?  If you are not with Him, is there a middle ground?   

What can be forgiven? Vs31   

What cannot be forgiven?   

How can we humans blaspheme the Holy Spirit?   

Again, what can be forgiven? Vs32   

Explain what you think this means?  

What will a good tree produce? Vs33   

What will a bad tree produce?   

Therefore, how do you know if a tree is good or bad?   

How does this relate to us as people, not trees?  

What did Jesus call the Pharisees that accused Him of being Beelzebul? Vs34   

Jesus sums up this teaching; what did He say about a good man and an evil man? Vs35   

What will everyone have to give an account for on the day of judgment? Vs36   

On the day of Judgment, what acquits us and what condemns us? Vs37   

Do you think this is saying; if we are careful and only speak kind words we will be accepted in Heaven?

I think this may be answered in Matthew 15:18.  What do our words really reveal about us?  

What do the religious leaders ask Jesus for? Vs38   

Who did Jesus say asks for this? Vs39   

Will they get what they ask for?   

What will they get? Vs40   

What kind of sign will be similar?   

What will the men of Ninevah do? vs41   

Why?   

Read Jonah 1:1-2.

What did the Lord tell Jonah to do?   

Jonah 1:3  Did Jonah do it?  

Jonah 1:17  What happened to Jonah?   

Jonah 3:1-3  after 3 days and nights what did Jonah do?   

Jonah 3:10   How did the people of Ninevah respond to the message?   

Who else will be at the judgment and condemn them? Vs42   

Why?   

Read 1Kings 10:1-9.After talking to Solomon, who did the queen come to see and why?   

Who did the queen praise? Vs9   

What happens to an impure spirit when it leaves a person? Vs43   

What does it decide to do? vs44   

What does it find when it arrives?   

What does it do after finding this? Vs45   

After this, how is the person’s condition compared to before the spirit left?   

For who did Jesus say this is what it would be like? Vs45   

What was Jesus told while He was teaching? Vs46-47  

What was His response? Vs48 -49   

Why do you think He replied this way?  Was He trying to disrespect His family?  

Who is His family (brothers and sisters)? Vs50   

Matthew Chapter Twelve - Part One

This is a long chapter, so once again I have decided to split this chapter into 2 segments.  This week we will cover Matthew 12:1-21

Matthew Chapter Twelve: Part One

What did Jesus and His disciples do on the Sabbath and why? Vs1   

Who saw this? Vs2   

What did they say to Jesus?   

What example did Jesus give (of someone they considered to be great) doing what is unlawful? Vs3-4   

(see 1 Samuel 21:1-9)

What else did Jesus point out? Vs5   

After speaking about the temple, what did Jesus tell them? Vs6   

What words did the Pharisees not understand? Vs7   

If they understood these words spoken through Hosea, how would they be living?   

Who did Jesus say the Son of Man was? Vs8   

What is He telling them?   

Where did Jesus go next? Vs9   

Who was there? Vs10   

The Pharisees must have followed Him there.  What were they looking for?  

What did they ask Him there?   

How did Jesus answer this question? Vs11     

Then what did He say to them? Vs12   

What did Jesus do? vs13   

Did the Pharisees rejoice in this miracle? Vs14   

What did Jesus know that caused Him to withdraw? Vs15   

Who followed Him?   

What did He continue to do?   

What did He warn the people not to do? vs16   

Why? Vs17   

What do you see about Jesus in this prophecy? Vs18   

What do you see about Jesus in this prophecy?  Vs19-21  

Matthew Chapter Eleven

Matthew Chapter Eleven

Okay, this is one of those chapters where you will have to look at each verse to understand what Jesus is saying.  Context is so important.  Each verse connects to the next, without that, we get a lot of fragmented thoughts. 

Also, I like to think of scripture as round – it explains itself in other areas of the Bible; the more scripture you to come to know, the more you will be able to understand as you study other areas.  So don’t get upset if something doesn’t make sense right away.   Trust the Spirit to teach you what you need to know for now.

There may be parts of this chapter that seem a bit confusing, don’t get discouraged, do your best to answer the questions – pray, pray, pray – the Spirit will give understanding, pray on each verse if necessary, and be sure to check back next week to see if I came up with the same thoughts that you did.  (Fortunately it is not a very long chapter

When Jesus finished His instructions to His twelve disciples, what did He do? vs1  

Who was in prison and heard about what Jesus had been doing?  Vs2   

What did he do? vs2-3   

Look ahead to verses 7-10; who is this person?   

How did Jesus answer the question that was brought? Vs4   

What types of things were taking place? Vs5   

What did Jesus say next? Vs6   

What?  Why would Jesus say this?   

As John’s followers leave, what did Jesus begin to speak to the crowd about? Vs7   

What are the three points that Jesus makes about why the people went into the wilderness to see John? Vs7-10

1.    Vs7   

2.    Vs8   

3.    Vs9-10  

Was there any human being whose work had been more important than John’s? vs11   

Who will be greater than him?   

What had been happening to the Kingdom of Heaven? Vs12   

Up until the time of John, what had led the people to the Lord? Vs13   

Who was John? Vs14   

See Malachi 4:4-6   

Who will hear what is being said? Vs15   

Read Isaiah 6:10 & Isaiah 32:3.  According to these verses, what type of hearing and seeing is being spoken of?   

What did Jesus compare that generation to? Vs16   

What was called out? Vs17   

John the Baptist didn’t eat unclean or drink fermented drink – he was under the Nazarite vow and yet what was said about him? vs18   

Jesus sat with the people and broke bread with them and drank wine with them and what was said about Him? vs19   

How is wisdom proved right?   

What is the bottom line of what Jesus was teaching in this segment?   

What did Jesus begin to do after this speech/teaching? Vs20   

Why?   

Tyre, Sidon and Sodom were most likely Pagan cities with reputations for great evil.  Bethsaida, Chorazin and Capernaum were cities occupied with Israelites.   What did Jesus say about these cities?  Vs21-24   

Why do you think that Tyre, Sidon and Sodom would have been spared if they had seen these miracles and yet the Jewish cities mentioned, had not repented?

Jesus stopped to praise the Father.  What did He give praise for? Vs25-26   

What has been committed to Jesus? Vs27   

By whom?   

Who can know the Father?    

Who do you think that would be?   

What did Jesus say to those that are weary and burdened? Vs28   

How did Jesus say He would give rest to the tired? Vs29   

How do you think that would work since a yoke is something designed for work or control?   

What did Jesus say that He is as a master?   

What specifically will we find rest for in His leadership? Vs29b   

What does He say about His yoke? (think of the yoke as His leadership or authority) Vs30   

It took everything in me not to put a whole bunch of my thoughts and notes in here.  I wanted to give so much extra information but then I remembered….this is for you to seek and find for yourself, not for me to teach, so I deleted them all!   You can see them all next week when I post my answers.  J

Matthew Chapter Ten - Part Two

This week we will complete the second part of Matthew Chapter Ten.  The content isn't long but there are more "thought/opinion questions" that you may have to really think and pray about.  I challenge you to do just that; don't hurry through them like they are homework to get done, instead, think about what Jesus has said in the chapter to get some context and then really contemplate your response.  Here we go....

Part Two

In the beginning of this chapter Jesus is preparing His disciples for the work that He has for them to do, as well as the response that they will get in doing that work. 

When they are persecuted in one place, what are they to do? vs23   

What will not happen before the Son of Man comes?   

What did Jesus say about the student and the servant? Vs24   

What does verse 25 tell us?   

Why shouldn’t they be afraid? Vs26  

They will hear Jesus voice in the quiet (in the dark and whispered).  How are they to respond to what they hear? Vs27   

Why shouldn’t they be afraid of those that kill the body? Vs28  

Who should they fear?   

Sparrows aren’t worth much, they could buy two for a mere penny.  Yet how does God look after them? Vs29   

How well does God know us and care for us? Vs30   

Are we worth more than sparrows? Vs31   

We don’t have to be afraid of anyone or anything because God loves us and will care for us however He decides.  Therefore, what does Jesus tell us? Vs32   

What will Jesus do to those that disown Him before others? Vs33   

Why do you think that Jesus would do this?   

If we believe that we are more precious than sparrows and we acknowledge Jesus before others, what does that say about our faith?   

Jesus didn’t come to bring peace to the world.  He didn’t come to make worldly peace, (tolerance) or to unite everyone together under the status quo.  What did He come for? Vs34-36   

Does this mean that Jesus’ purpose was to bring discord?   

When you choose Jesus, who will be your enemies? Vs36   

Are we to align ourselves with anyone over Jesus? Vs37   

What did Jesus say about following Him in this verse? Vs38   

What happens to the one that finds their life? Vs 39   

What happens to the one that loses their life for Jesus sake?   

According to what we just read in the previous verses, what do you think “finding your life” means?   

What do you think that “losing your life for my sake” means?   

Anyone that welcomes them (us) when they bring the message of Jesus, is actually welcoming whom? Vs40  

And anyone that welcomes Jesus is actually welcoming whom?   

There is reward in welcoming a person of societal standing.  When they welcome them as such, they get what they have earned.  What will happen to the one that is open to one of Jesus disciples? Vs41-42