Week 13. Unit II. Introduction. Page. Why This Study?

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1 Week 13 Unless otherwise indicated, scripture passages are taken from The New International Version, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House) In this study, please be sure to fill in all the blanks and answer all the questions in the spaces provided. That will make the study personal and meaningful to you. When you are asked to examine a given scripture, it will usually be printed in the left-hand column. Feel free to make notes and write questions in the margins particularly on issues you want to ask about. Memory Verse: Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119:105) Unit II Introduction In the first 24 pages of Unit 1, we learned why the study of the teachings and commands of Jesus is so important. Please review these pages to remind yourself of these essential facts. Why This Study? Jesus commanded...go and make disciples of all nations and teach them to obey all that I have commanded you... (Matthew 28:19-20). We should obey this command because Jesus is Lord and has all authority in heaven and on earth. He is the Master and King of all who will be saved. There is no salvation apart from Jesus being one s Lord. An easy way to remember this is Jesus will save all those for whom he is Lord. Or, Jesus is Lord of all who will be saved. It is an oxymoron to think of Jesus as Lord and not obey him. Obedience is at the heart of God s message throughout Scripture. What are we to believe and obey? The New Testament believer is to obey the teachings and commands of Jesus the Gospel of our Lord Jesus. What if we do not obey? Paul made a very strong statement to the Thessalonians: He [God] will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9). Let s make sure we understand this. What will God do? He will those who do not the gospel of our Jesus. How will they be punished? They will be punished with and out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his. If you deduce from this Scripture that those who do not obey are damned, you are right. Are there other scriptures that tie salvation to obedience? Yes, there are many. Consider Hebrews 5:9: He [Jesus] became the source of salvation for all who obey him. Yes, salvation is for who him. Page

2 Jesus spoke to this very issue and limited salvation to those who obey: John 12: For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say. John 14:24 These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you Romans 1:5 Through him and for his name s sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. Not everyone who says, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven (Matthew 7:21). Jesus knows you can call him Lord, but not obey him. He warns that the necessary condition of salvation is that we do God s will. Who will enter the kingdom of heaven? he who does the will of my father who is in heaven. What is the will of God that we must obey? It is everything that Jesus said, taught, and commanded exactly what we are focusing on in this Bible study. Several times in the Gospel of John, we read that Jesus said and did only what God the Father told him to do and say. (See John 8:28, 12:49-50, 14:10, 14:24, and 14:31.) How much of what Jesus said and did was the will of God?. If everything that Jesus said and did was the will of God, then it follows that we must obey everything Jesus commanded and taught. How much of what Jesus taught and commanded are we to obey?. Look again at Matthew 28:18-20 (left column). These are the instructions Jesus left for his church. We are to go and make of all nations. There are two things we re to do with these disciples: (1) them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit; and (2) them to everything I have commanded you. This Bible study complies with Matthew 28:20: teaching them to obey everything I [Jesus] have commanded you. We are in the process of doing just that in obedience to Jesus command. The New Testament apostles taught the same. At Romans 1:5, Paul said that he received his apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the that comes from. (See Romans 1:5, left column.) The teachings and commands of Jesus are the Gospel and the law of Jesus Christ. Paul said,...i am not free from God s law but am under Christ s law... (1 Corinthians 9:21). May each of us humbly learn and obey the Law of Christ Jesus. Page 2

3 What is the most important statement or scripture you read today? Reword that statement into a prayer to God: Summary Statements Jesus must be the Lord of all who would be saved. It is an oxymoron to claim Jesus as Lord but not obey him. God will punish with everlasting destruction those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. Jesus is the source of salvation for all who obey him. Salvation is only for those who do the will of God. Everything Jesus said and did is the will of God. We are commanded to teach disciples to obey the teachings and commands of Jesus. DAY 2 Matthew 5:31-32: 31 It has been said, Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce. 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery. Do Not Divorce Matthew 19:3-6: Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason? 4 Haven t you read, he replied, that at the beginning the Creator made them male and female, 5 and said, For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh? 6 So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate. In Unit 1, pages 67-68, we discussed Jesus commands about divorce at Matthew 5: Even though Matthew included this teaching, in a separate incident recorded at Matthew 19:3-6, the Pharisees came to test Jesus by ask- Page 3

4 ing him if it was lawful to divorce one s wife for any and every reason. Their question could not have been more broad, could it? For what reasons did they ask if it was lawful to seek divorce? For and reason. According to Jesus (verse 5) what will the two become?. Who joined them together?. Who is the man that should not separate them? In this context, the term man refers to man or woman. Who has the right to separate two people joined in marriage?. That s right. No one has the right to separate them, not the parties to the marriage nor anyone else. Divorce and Remarriage Matthew 19:7-9: Why then, they asked, did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away? 8 Jesus replied, Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. 9 I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery. The Pharisees got more than they bargained for when they continued to question Jesus. Instead of getting the answer they sought, Jesus emphasized the opposite. He said that the only reason for divorce was marital. In much of America, the laws have changed to permit a no fault divorce. Similarly, the Pharisees were hoping that Jesus would agree that they could divorce for any and every reason. However, Jesus did not agree. He asserted that the only reason for divorce was marital unfaithfulness. In verse 9 we find a hard teaching: anyone who divorces his wife, for marital unfaithfulness, and another woman commits. As we learned in Unit 1, more Christians get divorced than atheists. The highest divorce rates are in the Midwest in Baptist and non-denominational churches 32 percent and 33 percent, respectively. Only 23 percent of atheists are divorced. How many of those divorces do you suppose were for marital unfaithfulness? How many of those that divorced subsequently remarried? What did Jesus say about remarriage after divorcing (except for marital unfaithfulness)? He said such a person commits. Page 4

5 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. Matthew 19:9 I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery. Mark 10:11-12 Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. 12 And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery. Luke 16:18 Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. Romans 7:2-3 For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. 3 So then, if she marries another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress, even though she marries another man. Hebrews 13:4 Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. Committing adultery is a grievous offense against God. At 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Paul wrote, Neither the sexually nor idolaters nor nor male prostitutes nor offenders nor thieves nor the nor drunkards nor nor swindlers will the of God. To see various instances where divorce can lead to adultery, review Matthew 19:9, Mark 10:11-12, and Luke 16:18 (left column). From God s perspective, marriage between a man and a woman is to last until one of them dies. Death terminates the marriage vow. (See Roman 7:2-3, left column.) Likewise, marital unfaithfulness breaches the marriage contract and allows the innocent party to terminate the marriage. Hebrews 13:4 reiterates God s displeasure over adultery: God will the adulterer and all the immoral. Do you see the problem that has risen in our churches? They are full of people who have divorced and remarried. Likely, not all divorced because of marital unfaithfulness, but as a result of irreconcilable differences (a legal term used to categorize generic motives for divorce). Jesus said this was not a lawful reason to divorce. Furthermore, he says that those who remarry commit adultery. Because adultery is defined as the act of a person who has unlawful sexual intercourse with the spouse of another, it means that those who wrongfully divorce, remarry, and have sexual relations are in a continuing state of adultery. A fair reading of those scriptures indicates that such persons who are wrongfully divorced and remarried cannot be saved, or they would have to give up all sexual relations with their spouse until their former spouse dies. Although that is a very unpleasant interpretation, it does not mean it s wrong. Let s look further. Christianity is rife with false doctrines that cost salvation. For example, it is common to claim that salvation results when a person accepts Jesus as Savior. This is a false doctrine. Salvation will not result from this as some claim. Nowhere in Scripture does it say this. Consequently, many perhaps most of those claiming to be Christians do not have a saving faith. Instead they are trusting in false doctrines. Nonetheless, hope is not lost for such people. The following applies to those who believed they were Christians when they divorced, but had never received Jesus as their Lord and had not pledged to obey him. In- Page 5

6 stead of practicing Christianity, they might have been practicing Churchianity. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 1 Corinthians 7:17, 20 Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him. The first thing to do if you are wrongfully divorced, remarried, and living in a state of adultery, is to come to God and sincerely repent of your sin. Secondly, receive Jesus Christ as your Lord. Give up your life for his life, ask him to live within you as your Lord and to direct your life from now on. Pledge to obey him until you die. New rules come into play when you do this. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a creation: the has gone, the has come! We all have sinned before coming to a saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus. What are we to do when we receive Jesus as our Lord? 1 Corinthians 7:17, 20 says each one should the place in life the Lord to him... Each one should in the situation which he was in when God him. If we apply this Scripture to marriage after divorce, we can conclude that we should stay in that marriage, raise the children, and be a faithful father and husband or wife and mother. We are to stay in that marriage. The awful alternative would be to abandon the marriage, and the children of that marriage. We know that is not what God would want. From a personal perspective, I believed I was a Christian as a child and teenager. I had planned to go into full-time Christian service as a pastor or missionary. But I lost my faith to the extreme that I did not believe in God or in an afterlife. Unbeknownst to me, I had turned my life over to Satan. While I was serving him, I was divorced three times. When I married Dar (my present wife) I was still an unbeliever. But then I received Jesus as my Lord and my whole life changed. As far as Scripture is concerned, Dar is my only wife the only wife I have had as a believer. The sin-filled past is gone washed clean by the blood of the Lamb. As Paul said at 2 Corinthians 5:17, I am now a new creation, the old has gone; the new has come. You are at a defining moment if divorce and remarriage has been your unfortunate lot. Will you now repent of your past sins, receive Jesus as your Lord, pledge to obey him the best you can the rest of your life, and seek to bring honor to your King through your words and actions? If so, you will become a son or daughter of the most high God, and a brother or sister of our Lord Jesus. For an in-depth review of divorce and remarriage, please read my article May Christians Divorce? (And Remarry?) at Important Biblical Issues Doctrine Page 6

7 May Christians Divorce? (And Remarry?). What is the most important statement or scripture you read today? Reword that statement into a prayer to God: Summary Statements Men are not to separate what God has joined together. Marital unfaithfulness is the only basis for divorce. Wrongful divorce and subsequent remarriage results in adultery. Adulterers will not inherit the kingdom of God. God will judge the adulterer. If wrongfully divorced and remarried, it is necessary to receive Jesus as your Lord and pledge to obey him, repenting from past sins. When you come to a saving faith, you become a new creation the old has passed away. After coming to a saving faith, retain the position in which God has placed you be a faithful husband and father or wife and mother. Who Should Not Marry? DAY 3 Matthew 19:10-12: The disciples said to him, If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry. 11 Jesus replied, Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. 12 For some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others were made that way by men; and others have renounced marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it. The disciples understood the problem. If this was as Jesus said, marriage was permanent. There wouldn t be such a thing as simply tiring of the other person, finding someone else more exciting, or deciding to find fulfillment alone. Page 7

8 If Christians understood the frightening permanency of marriage, as the disciples did, they would take marriage much more seriously. Friend and editor Maria Duran is planning marriage. She and her fiancé attend the Times Square Church in New York City. In order to marry in the church they had to go through various counseling sessions. They take the marriage vow very seriously. It surely is true that it is better not to marry than to live in a bad marriage. When people pledge in sickness or in health, till death do us part, they should know that is exactly what God requires of them. 2 Corinthians 6:14-15 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 1 Peter 3:1-2 Wives, in the same way bne submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 1 Corinthians 7:15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. As I said before, I ve been married four times, and divorced three times (before receiving Jesus as my Lord). In retrospect, HAD I KNOWN THE LORD, those marriages could have lasted. That s the big difference. When we live according to the world, where Satan is our master, it endangers any lasting and loving marriage relationship. However, when we live in the kingdom of our Lord Jesus, the fundamental rule is to love one another as Jesus loves us. When that becomes our way of life, the resulting transformation affects the entire family in wonderful ways. We can now understand in greater depth Paul s warning at 2 Corinthians 6:14-15: Do not be together with. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a have in common with an? While marriage can be difficult, as I can testify, it can be almost impossible if one spouse is a Christian and the other is not. Be sure to spare yourself this pain by marrying a believer. And if you are presently married to an unbeliever, your best course of action is to gently do everything possible, according to Scripture, to bring your spouse to a saving faith in the Lord Jesus. (See 1 Peter 3:1-2.) Finally, at 1 Corinthians 7:15, Paul spoke about an unbelieving spouse leaving the believer. What should the believer do? Paul said, If the unbeliever leaves, him do so. A believing man or is bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. May you live in peace in a long, loving, happy marriage. Page 8

9 The Little Children and Jesus Matthew 19:13-15: Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14 Jesus said, Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. 15 When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there. Jesus said, the little children to me, and do hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven to such as these. Matthew 18:3-5 And he said: I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. What was Jesus teaching us through this? Jesus used children to illustrate a truth about what we must be like if we are to be saved. At Matthew 18:3-5, he said, Unless you and become like little children, you will enter the kingdom of heaven. What characteristics of a little child does Jesus insist we have if we are to be saved? Circle your choices: Trusting Honest Humble Teachable Open Likely all those are true. We note at Matthew 18:4 Jesus specifically mentioned being humble. God hates pride! Does this have application to you? What should you do to have the characteristics of a little child that each of us must have if we would enter the kingdom of heaven? What is the most important statement or scripture you read today? Reword that statement into a prayer to God: Page 9

10 Summary Statements Do not enter into marriage lightly. It is intended by God to be a permanent relationship that is terminated only at death. Some should not marry if God has given them that mindset. Believers should not be unequally yoked with unbelievers, particularly in marriage. Paul said the believer is not bound if an unbelieving spouse leaves. Jesus loved the little children and said the kingdom of heaven belonged to such as them. Unless we become like little children, we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. DAY 4 Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Romans 1:5 Through him and for his name s sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. Romans 16:26 so that all nations might believe and obey him. The Rich Young Man Matthew 19:16-22: Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life? 17 Why do you ask me about what is good? Jesus replied. There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments. 18 Which ones? the man inquired. Jesus replied, Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself. 20 All these I have kept, the young man said. What do I still lack? 21 Jesus answered, If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me. 22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. The young man asked Jesus, Teacher, what thing must I to get eternal life? His question implies that he believes he should do something to gain eternal life. At Ephesians 2:8-9, Paul made clear that we are saved by grace, through, and this from ourselves, it is the of God not by, so that no one can boast. (See Ephesians 2:10 and Romans 1:5, 16:26.) Because Jesus had not yet died and risen to take away the sins of the world, he responded in Old Testament terms: Page 10

11 If you want to enter life, the commandments. In response to the young man s query, Which ones?, Jesus answered, Do not, do not commit, do not, do not give false testimony, your father and mother, and your neighbor as yourself. The young man assured Jesus that he had kept all these commands, yet asked Jesus what he still lacked. He obviously sensed more was required, likely learning that from what Jesus taught. Matthew 5:48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Luke 14:26-27 If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters yes, even his own life he cannot be my disciple. 27 And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:33 In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. Jesus answered, If you want to be, go, your possessions and to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, me. Jesus was introducing the young man to his kingdom, and a new covenant in his blood that required more than what the old covenant required. The rules are changed in the kingdom of our Lord Jesus. Christians are bond-servants of the Lord Jesus. His concerns are to be our concerns. We are to obey all he commands without regard for ourselves. At Luke 14:26-27, Jesus says that if we do not hate our family members and even our own we cannot be his disciples. He says that we must carry our and him or we cannot be his disciple. At Luke 14:33, Jesus said,...any of you who does not up he has cannot be my disciple. Jesus had asked the young man to give up his wealth and then to follow him. The young man went away sad because he was very wealthy. Doubtless this incident is recorded in Scripture so that we learn what it takes to be a disciple. What do you have or do that the Lord Jesus says you must give up if you are to be his disciple? Ask yourself, Would I be willing to give up for the Lord Jesus? This cannot be something you glibly say, Oh, yes, I d give that up. Think it through. What if the Lord Jesus were to ask you to give up your house, your job, your car, your hobby, or your friends? How would you respond? Review Luke 14:33. Note that Jesus made our salvation conditional upon giving up everything for him. We be his disciple unless we give up. Are we willing? Do we desire to be a follower of the Lord Page 11

12 Jesus more than anything else, or are we under the delusion that we can practice Churchianity going to church occasionally, or even regularly and gain salvation? God usually doesn t ask us to leave our jobs, our homes, and/or sell all we have to follow Jesus. Our responsibility as faithful bond-servants is to discern what our master wants of us and then to do it. Our attitude should be that our possessions belong to God we hold them in trust as a servant for his master. It is God s good pleasure to entrust us with possessions but they are all his. We are to use them for his honor and glory. What does God want you to give up that you haven t? Are you willing to give up anything the Lord asks you to in order to serve him? What is the most important statement or scripture you read today? Reword that statement into a prayer to God: Summary Statements We are not saved by works, lest any man should boast. We are saved by grace, through faith. If we would be a disciple of Jesus, we must take up our crosses and follow him. We cannot be a disciple of Jesus unless we love him more than our closest family members and even our own lives. Jesus requires his followers to give up everything they have or they cannot be his disciples. Everything we have we are to hold in trust for the Lord. All our possessions are to be used by him and for him according to his will and pleasure. Page 12

13 DAY 5 Difficulty in Being Rich Matthew 19:23-26: Then Jesus said to his disciples, I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, Who then can be saved? 26 Jesus looked at them and said, With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. Jesus said,...it is for a man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a to go through the of a than for a rich man to the kingdom of God. Why would it be hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven? Matthew 7:13-14 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Mark 10:23-25 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Often the rich don t have the moment-by-moment trust that God wants us to have in him and in our Lord Jesus. Rather than seek God when they are faced with a problem, they rely on their own sufficiency to find a solution. At Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus said that few will enter the kingdom of heaven. In verse 24 above Jesus describes how difficult it is for a rich person to be saved. Do you think it is easy for a camel to go through the eye of a needle? That does sound impossible, doesn t it, but Jesus assured his disciples that it is impossible with men, but with all things are. Consider that most people in America may be rich compared to the rest of the world. Those who have enough money in the bank to cover most emergencies might not feel the need to trust God they believe they can handle emergencies by themselves. There is another invidious evil that can come from having wealth. Managing wealth is usually time consuming time that invariably is taken away from serving our Lord Jesus and his Kingdom. This time mismanagement shows that our priorities are not in order. What should our priority be? Jesus taught, But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will Page 13

14 James 5:1-5 Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. 4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. Matthew 6:19-21 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains. Matthew 10:22 All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. be given to you as well. We are to seek his, not care first for our wealth or our efforts to accumulate wealth. (See Matthew 6:33.) At James 5:1-5, James states how God looks at rich people and what he tells them to do: and because of the that is coming upon you. Does wealth last? James continued, Your has rotted, and have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are. James warns: Their will testify you and your like. Why? Because they have wealth in the last days. Why would hoarding wealth be so bad? Because it shows a self priority instead of God s priorities. Instead of seeking to reach a world that does not know the Lord Jesus with a saving faith, money and wealth is hoarded for personal comfort and security. James must have heard Jesus teach about treasures and wealth (see Matthew 6:19-21). Jesus commanded, Do not store up for treasures on, where and consume and where thieves break in and, but store up for yourselves in, where neither moth nor rust and where thieves do not in and steal. The ultimate truth is what Jesus said next: For where your is, there your will be also. We know that God sees the heart. We must make sure that our heart is pure and holy before God with respect to our possessions and wealth. It is not only wealth that can separate you from God; it can also be the desire for wealth or the love of wealth. At 1 Timothy 6:10, Paul warned, For the of is a root of all kinds of, and in their eagerness to be some have wandered from the and pierced themselves with many pains. Are you saved if you ve wandered away from the faith? Circle one: YES NO (See Matthew 10:22.) What is your priority? Do you love money? Are you eager to be wealthy? Page 14

15 What is the most important statement or scripture you read today? Reword that statement into a prayer to God: Is this all about the attitude of our hearts? What is the way God judges our hearts? Do you think it is sufficient if we simply say that our hearts are right about our wealth? How do you think we can show God that we regard all that we have as coming from him and that we take seriously the need to fulfill the great commission? Summary Statements It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Do not store up treasure for yourself on earth. Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. In their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains. Page 15

16 Week 14 DAY 1 Promised Reward for Following Jesus Matthew 19:27-29: Peter answered him, We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us? 28 Jesus said to them, I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. The Jews had been expecting a Messiah who would free them from the yoke of Roman rule. The disciples often argued among themselves regarding who was the greatest. Two of the disciples had their mother ask Jesus for the most honored positions in his kingdom. Likely the disciples believed that one day they would be very powerful and wealthy when Jesus began his earthly kingdom. That hope seemed to be dashed when Jesus told them how hard it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. That seemed to mean they wouldn t be rich. Imagine their consternation. It prompted Peter to ask: We have left to follow you! What then will there be for? His question was based on self interest, but it was a reasonable question. Mark 10:29-30: I tell you the truth, Jesus replied, no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. Jesus treated it as a serious question. He answered: I tell you the truth, at the of all things, when the Son of sits on his glorious, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, the twelve tribes of Israel. And who has left houses or or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a times as much and will inherit eternal life. Mark 10:29-30 says much the same, except that Mark emphasizes that there will be a hundred times as much of homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields in this present age. This is a passage that has been, and continues to be grossly misinterpreted by preachers who falsely proclaim a prosperity gospel, often claiming that if a person gives a gift to his ministry the Lord will give him a hundred times as much. I knew a pastor who attended such a meeting and gave a large sum (that he could not afford) hoping to receive a hundred times as much. Page 16

17 The key is found in the language of the passage in Mark. Can you imagine having a hundred mothers? Impossible, isn t it? Note verse 30: a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers,, mothers,, and fields and with them, ). In what sense could Jesus mean this? When we enter his kingdom, everything changes. Other people in the kingdom are our brothers and sisters. Older women are our mothers. Their homes are our homes, their fields are our fields not to be possessed, but enjoyed. Note the next key: with this abundance will come persecutions. And in the age to come, life. If someone had a hundred fields, he would be rich. Jesus had just taught that it was very hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Jesus didn t intend for this to be taken literally, just as we can t literally have a hundred mothers. Luke 21:12 But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. John 15:20 Remember the words I spoke to you: No servant is greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. Jesus promises us hundreds of loving, family relationships if we have sacrificed those relationships for him and his kingdom. He will make sure we are more than adequately repaid. When Jesus spoke of persecutions, he may have been speaking of how his followers will be persecuted, just as he was persecuted, because they are his followers. Jesus warned his followers at Luke 21:12: They will lay on you and you. At John 15:20 Jesus taught: No servant is greater than his master. If they me, they will you also. The First Will Be Last Matthew 19:30: But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. Please read Matthew 20:1-16, the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard, which concludes with Jesus statement: So the will be first, and the will be last. In this parable, Jesus told the story of a landowner who hired men to work in his vineyard. Early in the morning he found men who were willing to work for a. A denarius is usually defined as a day s wage. The landowner went back throughout the day and hired more men. Jesus begins this parable (verse 1) by saying For the Page 17

18 Matthew 20:1 For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. Matthew 20:8: When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first. Matthew 20:9-12: The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 These men who were hired last worked only one hour, they said, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day. Luke 13:28-30: There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. 29 People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. 30 Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last. Kingdom of is like a who went out early in the morning to men to work in his. (See Scripture on left.) Again, Jesus is teaching us another principle that applies to the kingdom of heaven, so we should pay very close attention. The landowner hired men all through the day, even at the very end of the day for only one hour. At verse 8, Jesus said, When came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, Call the workers and them their, beginning with the ones hired and going on to the first. (See Mathew 20:8.) How much was each man paid? Jesus told us at Matthew 20:9-12: The workers who were hired at about the hour each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a. When they received it, they began to against the landowner. These men who were hired worked only one, they said, and you have made them to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day. (See also Luke 13:28-30.) The landowner reminded those workers that he was not being unfair. They had agreed to work for a denarius and he had paid them just that. If he chose to pay others the same who had worked less time, that was up to him. What is the application for us? Consider the various stages at which people come to faith. Some grow up in Christian homes and seem to have always had faith. Others came to faith as teenagers, others as young adults, others later in life, and some even on their death bed. Notwithstanding, when each of us comes to faith, we receive the same gift from God eternal life. The thief on the cross is an example of someone who lived a very short time after putting his faith in Jesus. On the other hand, Paul lived many years as the most effective of all the apostles in spreading the Gospel. He was beaten, stoned, left for dead, shipwrecked, and ultimately beheaded. The thief on the cross and Paul received one and the same reward eternal life. Is that fair? Who can question God for fairness? Is not his gift of eternal life his to give to whom he wishes? Page 18

19 Jesus concluded his parable by saying (in verse 16), So the will be, and the will be. What is the most important lesson or scripture you have learned today? Reword that lesson into a prayer to God: Summary Statements Those who leave family and possessions for Jesus sake will receive many times as much and will inherit eternal life. Following Jesus will involve persecution. If they persecuted Jesus, they will persecute you also. Many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. The reward for those who serve Jesus is the same, whether it is for a short time or a long time the gift of eternal life. Jesus Predicts His Death DAY 2 Matthew 17:22-23: When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. 23 They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life. And the disciples were filled with grief. Matthew 20:17-19: Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, 18 We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death 19 and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life! Jesus prophesy of his coming death and resurrection was very specific. Compare to Matthew 17:22-23 and Mark 9:31. Let s examine some of the specifics: As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, We are going up to, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the and the of the law. They Page 19

20 Mark 9:31 He said to them, The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise. See Old Testament prophecies about the Christ (Messiah) that said he must die (Isaiah 53) and described the crucifixion (see Psalm 22). Acts 2:26-28 speak of prophecies of the resurrection of the Christ at Psalm 16:8-11. will him to 19 and will turn him over to the to be and and. On the day he will be to! The disciples expected Jesus to bring God s kingdom to earth. They expected to have positions of power and authority. Now, however, they are being told that this will not happen, that Jesus the Messiah would instead be condemned to die by the Jews and would be executed by the Romans by crucifixion. How confusing to them to hear that Jesus would be raised from the dead after three days. Places of Authority At Matthew 20:20-28 is the story of the mother of two disciples who asked Jesus to give her sons special places of honor and authority. Jesus said to them, Can you drink the cup I am going to drink? We can, they answered. Jesus said they would in fact drink from his cup, but then added: 23 These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father. 24 When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25 Jesus called them together and said, You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. In verse 23, who did Jesus say would determine would get such positions of honor? Matthew 18:4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. The other disciples became jealous and indignant. In verse 25 we read that Jesus called them together and said, You know that the of the lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. so with you. Instead, wants to become great among you must be your, and whoever wants to be must be your slave just as the Son of Man did not come to be, but to serve, and to give his as a ransom for many. At Matthew 18:4, Jesus gave an example of those who would be greatest in the kingdom of heaven those who Page 20

21 themselves like a child. Once again Jesus shows us that the principles of his kingdom are contrary to the principles of this world. Jesus continues to teach us what it means to be first. In this teaching, Jesus shows that those who wish to be first must be your slave; whoever wants to become great must be the servant of all; the greatest will be humble like a small child. Luke 1:52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Luke 1:52 confirms this teaching. Rulers would expect to be first. No, they are brought. God lifts up the. And at Matthew 11:29, Jesus says about himself, I am gentle and in heart. We are to be like Jesus. Do you know of people in Christian service who do not act as servants but act as if they should be served? Is it likely they are the ones who will be last while a humble servant in their church will be first? But let s look in a mirror. Are we humble or are we proud? God hates pride. Two Blind Men Receive Sight Matthew 20:29-34: As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. 30 Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us! 31 The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us! 32 Jesus stopped and called them. What do you want me to do for you? he asked. 33 Lord, they answered, we want our sight. 34 Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him. Two men were sitting by the. What did they shout?, Son of, have on us! Somehow these blind men knew what the Jewish rulers didn t that Jesus is LORD, and that he was of the descent and lineage of David. What did the crowd do when they shouted for Jesus? Page 21

22 Luke 18:6-8 The Lord said, Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth? See also Luke 11:5-11, where Jesus again commends persistence in prayer, through the story of the man who needs bread and goes to his neighbor who is in bed. (verse 31). The crowd them and told them to be, but they all the louder. Would they have been healed if they had listened to the crowd?. It was only by persisting in their shouts that they gained the attention of Jesus and were healed. Jesus made the same point at Luke 18:6-8. He taught his disciples to be persistent in prayer, to cry out to him day and night. Jesus said (verse 8), I tell you, he will see that they get, and quickly. Do you persist in prayer, expecting God to answer your prayer? YES NO (Circle one.) What is the most important lesson or scripture you have learned today? Reword that lesson into a prayer to God: Summary Statements Jesus predicted in great detail his betrayal, condemnation to death, being turned over to the Roman Gentiles, being mocked and flogged and crucified, and even saying he would be raised to life on the third day. God the Father determines who will receive the places of honor in his kingdom. Followers of Jesus must be the servant of all if they would be great in the kingdom. He who wants to be first must be your slave. Those who are as humble as a little child will be greatest in the kingdom of God. Don t listen to others who would discourage you from crying out to God. Page 22

23 DAY 3 Luke 19: Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, Why are you untying the colt? 34 They replied, The Lord needs it. 35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. 37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: 38 Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest! 39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, Teacher, rebuke your disciples! 40 I tell you, he replied, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out. 41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you Jesus Triumphal Entry Matthew s account is found at Matthew 21:1-11, but it omits important details, so we will examine the account at Luke 19: Please read this passage in Luke and then fill in the blanks below. Verses are on the left. The passage begins when Jesus tells two of his disciples to go ahead to find a colt for him to ride on. Jesus told them exactly what they would find and what to say. In verse 35: They brought it to, threw their on the colt and put Jesus on it. As he went along, spread their on the road. At verse 37: When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of, the crowd of began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the they had seen: Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the! This specifically fulfilled the prophecy about the coming Messiah at Zechariah 9:9: See, your comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle, and on a donkey, on a, the foal of a donkey. At verse 39: Some of the in the crowd said to Jesus, Teacher, your! I tell you, he replied, if they keep, the stones will out. As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he over it and said, If you, even you, had only known on day what would bring you peace but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of coming to you. This was the first time Jesus was called King by the people. It was a fulfillment of Daniel 9:25 where it refers to a ruler (translated as king in 1 Kings 9:16). It is here that the exact time of the coming of the Messiah is prophesied. It was to be exactly 483 years from the authorizing of the rebuilding of Jerusalem. Page 23