A Comprehensive Study. The Gospel of Matthew

Transcription

1 A Comprehensive Study of The Gospel of Matthew Matthew 28:18-20 says, "Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'" by James Thomas Lee, Jr. A Bible Study For /31/ ,695 words - 1 -

2 - 2 -

3 Table of Contents Table of Contents Why the NIV Bible was Used in This Book...7 Chapter 1 - Jesus' Genealogy and Birth to Mary (Matthew 1:1-25)...11 Study Question Study Questions 1.2 Through Study Questions 1.5 Through Study Question Study Questions 1.8 Through Study Questions 1.10 Through Chapter 2 The Magi Seek Jesus and Jesus in Egypt and Nazareth (Matthew 2:1-23)...21 Study Questions 2.1 Through Study Questions 2.7 Through Study Questions 2.12 Through Chapter 3 John the Baptist Begins his Ministry (Matthew 3:1-17)...32 Study Questions 3.1 Through Study Questions 3.7 Through Study Questions 3.11 Through Chapter 4 The Devil Tempts Jesus and He Begins His Galilean Ministry (Matthew 4:1-25)...39 Study Questions 4.1 Through Study Questions 4.6 Through Study Questions 4.13 Through Study Questions 4.18 Through Chapter 5 The Sermon on the Mount Begins (Matthew 5:1-48)...50 Study Questions 5.1 Through Study Questions 5.7 Through Study Questions 5.11 Through Study Questions 5.15 Through Study Questions 5.20 Through Study Questions 5.24 Through Study Questions 5.27 Through Study Questions 5.32 Through Chapter 6 The Right Ways to Give, Pray, Forgive, and Fast (Matthew 6:1-34)...68 Study Questions 6.1 Through Study Questions 6.8 Through Study Questions 6.14 Through Study Questions 6.21 Through Study Question Study Questions 6.26 Through Chapter 7 Judging, Being Judged, Asking, and Entering (Matthew 7:1-29)...79 Study Questions 7.1 Through

4 Table of Contents Study Questions 7.6 Through Study Questions Study Questions 7.10 Through Study Questions 7.13 Through Study Questions 7.18 Through Chapter 8 Jesus Healed Three Plus Others and Miscellaneous Teachings (Matthew 8:1-34)...89 Study Questions 8.1 Through Study Questions 8.9 Through Study Questions 8.17 Through Study Questions 8.22 Through Study Questions 8.24 Through Chapter 9 A Healing, a Calling, a Meal and a Ruler's Daughter was Healed (Matthew 9:1-38)100 Study Questions 9.1 Through Study Questions 9.5 Through Study Questions 9.11 Through Study Questions 9.19 Through Chapter 10 Jesus Instructs the Twelve (Matthew 10:1-42) Study Questions 10.1 Through Study Questions 10.7 Through Study Questions Through Chapter 11 Jesus Defends the Baptist (Matthew 11:1-30) Study Questions 11.1 Through Study Questions 11.7 Through Study Questions Through Study Questions Through Chapter 12 Disciples Pick Grain and the Pharisees Accuse Jesus (Matthew 12:1-50) Study Questions 12.1 Through Study Questions 12.5 Through Study Questions 12.9 Through Study Questions Through Study Questions Through Chapter 13 Seven (or Eight) Parables (Matthew 13:1-58) Study Questions 13.1 Through Study Questions 13.8 Through Study Questions Through Study Questions Through Chapter 14 John the Baptist Beheaded and Five Thousand People Fed (Matthew 14:1-36) Study Questions 14.1 Through Study Questions 14.5 Through Study Questions Through Study Questions Through Study Questions Through Chapter 15 Tradition without Obedience, Healing and More Feeding (Matthew 15:1-39) Study Questions 15.1 Through Study Questions 15.7 Through Study Questions Through Study Questions Through

5 Table of Contents Chapter 16 Beware the Pharisees and Sadducees (Matthew 16:1-28) Study Questions 16.1 Through Study Questions 16.6 Through Study Questions Through Study Questions Through Chapter 17 The Transfiguration, Healing, and Taxes (Matthew 17:1-27) Study Questions 17.1 Through Study Questions 17.9 Through Study Questions Through Study Questions Through Chapter 18 Behavior and Parables (Matthew 18:1-35) Study Questions 18.1 Through Study Questions Through Study Questions Through Chapter 19 Divorce and Riches (Matthew 19:1-30) Study Questions 19.1 Through Study Questions 19.9 Through Study Questions Through Chapter 20 The Parable of the Vineyard and Preparing to Die (Matthew 20:1-34) Study Questions 20.1 Through Study Questions 20.7 Through Study Questions Through Chapter 21 The Triumphal Entry (Matthew 21:1-46) Study Questions 21.1 Through Study Questions Through Study Questions Through Study Questions Through Study Questions Through Chapter 22 A Parable, Paying Taxes, and Kingdom Truths (Matthew 22:1-46) Study Questions 22.1 Through Study Questions Through Study Questions Through Study Questions Through Chapter 23 Seven Woes (Matthew 23:1-39) Study Questions 23.1 Through Study Questions 23.8 Through Study Questions Through Chapter 24 The End of the Age (Matthew 24:1-51) Study Questions 24.1 Through Study Questions Through Study Questions Through Study Questions Through Chapter 25 Two More Parables and the Sheep and Goats (Matthew 25:1-46) Study Questions 25.1 Through Study Questions 25.6 Through Study Questions Through Chapter 26 The Plot Against Jesus (Matthew 26:1-75)

6 Table of Contents Study Questions 26.1 Through Study Questions 26.4 Through Study Questions Through Study Questions Through Study Questions Through Study Questions Through Chapter 27 Judas, Jesus, More Trials, and Crucifixion (Matthew 27:1-66) Study Questions 27.1 Through Study Questions 27.7 Through Study Questions Through Study Questions Through Study Questions Through Study Questions Through Chapter 28 Jesus Lives (Matthew 28:1-20) Study Questions 28.1 Through Study Questions 28.9 Through Study Questions Through Bibliography Copyright Page Index

7 Why the NIV Bible was Used in This Book Neither the King James Version (KJV) nor the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible is Holy Spirit inspired. Both versions are translations of copies of copies of the original. The KJV was translated from the Massoretic texts, which date to around 900AD, and the NIV was translated from the Dead Sea Scrolls, which were discovered in 1948 and date to around 200BC. Based on that, the NIV was translated from copies that are about eleven hundred years closer to the original, and in my opinion, that makes it more reliable. No evidence exists to show or even suggest that anyone involved in the transmission of the Bible was corrupt. Based on the available data, no one ever tried to intentionally make alterations to the original or to the copies during the copying process, and no one ever tried to change the meaning while translating from one language to another. The individuals involved in producing the KJV and the NIV were all trying to do a good, accurate job. However, despite that, there have still been some minor errors documented in the KJV through the centuries. A scribal copying error was made in Samuel and Chronicles in the use of a verb because a scribe, at one point during the whole process, wrote a Hebrew - 7 -

8 "r" instead of "k". That error has been retained ever since in the KJV, but translators of the NIV corrected the flaw. The two versions do not agree completely. But they are very close, and none of the differences affect Bible doctrines. The NIV often uses transliterations, which make the text easier to understand. A transliteration means that the original language, Greek or Hebrew, word was brought forward to the translation. For example, in Genesis 6:4 and Numbers 13:33, the Hebrew word "Nephilim" was used instead of the word "giant" in the KJV. In thirty-nine places, the word "Asherah" was used in place of the word "grove," and the KJV reader would probably not know that the word "grove" was really referring to the pagan god, Asherah. But the NIV reader would immediately see that. The NIV is also written in more modern language, which makes it more readable. One of the arguments for the KJV is that the church has always accepted that version, but one who uses that argument must understand that the KJV was not produced until 1625AD. The manuscripts accepted by the early church were written in Greek because even the Old Testament had been translated from Hebrew to Greek to give a text that is called the Septuagint. Having said all of the above, I use both the KJV and the NIV. In 1974, when I began studying the Bible in earnest, I used the KJV. Therefore, I learned the Bible from the KJV, and I still find many of the more obscure verses by using - 8 -

9 a KJV concordance. However, when I discovered the NIV, I found that version to make much more sense and to be much easier to understand. In I Corinthians 14:19, the Apostle Paul wrote, "But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue." In my opinion, the true Bible scholar will always try to work closely with the original languages of the Bible rather than just with one of the popular English translations. When I want to better understand what a particular Bible passage says, I look at numerous English translations, including the KJV, the NIV, and the American Standard Version, plus I look at the original languages of Hebrew and Greek. I try to understand the context of the passage, the intent of the author, the traditions of the time period, and also any kinds of historical or geographical factors that may be involved. I examine commentaries on the passage, and I also seek the leading of the Holy Spirit as He illuminates Scriptures to those that earnestly seek the truth. My opinion is that valid Bible study always involves much more than just settling on either the KJV or the NIV. It always involves a complete analysis of all of the available information, and it involves a total commitment to the Lord and to His Word. Tom Lee 1/21/

10 - 10 -

11 Chapter 1 - Jesus' Genealogy and Birth to Mary (Matthew 1:1-25) Study Question 1.1 Question 1.1 What was life like during the days of the early church? I. A wealthy merchant from Pontus, named Marcion, was excommunicated from the church in 144AD for being a Gnostic. A. He had studied under a well-known Gnostic named Credo. Gnostics thought that evil existed in physical materials (an idea from the Greeks), and this belief lasted throughout the first two centuries of the church. B. He had tried to identify his own Canon. In so doing, he tried to remove the Gospel of Luke, chapters 1 and 2, the Gospel of Matthew, Acts, and Hebrews. C. He had tried to remove the Jewish stuff about Jesus and some of the things relating to His physical birth. D. He had claimed that the original Scriptures had been obscured, but the church said no. The Canon had not been established yet, so what Marcion was doing was not entirely bad. However, he seemed to be promoting Gnostic ideals in the way that he was doing it. II. Date and Authorship of the Gospel of Matthew A. Each synoptic Gospel had a particular theme and audience

12 Study Questions 1.2 Through 1.4 Question 1.2 To whom were the gospels written? Question 1.3 What is the Synoptic Problem, and how is it explained? Question 1.4 How do we know that Matthew wrote the Gospel of Matthew? 1. The Gospel of Matthew was written to the Jews to show Jesus as their king. Matthew was an eyewitness to what he wrote. 2. The Gospel of Mark was written to the Romans to show Jesus as a servant. Mark got his information from the Apostle Peter. 3. The Gospel of Luke was written to the Greeks to show Jesus as the Son of Man. Luke got his information from eyewitnesses. 4. The Gospel of John was written to believers and nonbelievers so that they could understand the deity of Christ. The key word in his gospel is "believe." John was an eyewitness to what he wrote. B. The Synoptic Problem - How can three Gospels be so close in viewpoint, Greek words and phrases, but each is a little different than the others? Mark has 93% agreement with others, but John has 92% differences

13 1. Common Original Theory - the other two copied from the first. 2. Mutual Dependence Theory - two used the other, but they were mutually dependent on each other. 3. Many different fragments were used. C. The three most credible church fathers (Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, and Irenaeus) certified that Matthew wrote this gospel. Papyrus, who was the disciple of John, also certified Matthew's authorship. D. The date of authorship was determined to be sometime before 70AD because there is not any mention of the destruction of the Temple. E. Dr. Marvin R. Vincent, Vincent's Word Studies of the New Testament, said that Levi and Matthew was the same man. The name, Matthew, means "gift of God" and represented Levi after he became a Christian. In Jewish cultures, people's names often changed to acknowledge their new relationship to the Lord (i.e., Abram to Abraham, Jacob to Israel, Simon to Peter, and Saul to Paul). Study Questions 1.5 Through 1.6 Question 1.5 How does the Gospel of Matthew differ from the other gospels? Question 1.6 Why does Matthew list the genealogy of Joseph?

14 F. According to Dr. Vincent, there are some unique writings in the Gospel of Matthew: 1. Ten parables were the Tares, the Hid Treasure, the Pearl, the Draw-net, the Unmerciful Servant, the Laborers in the Vineyard, the Two Sons, the Marriage of the King's Son, the Ten Virgins, and the Talents. 2. Two miracles were the Cure of the Two Blind Men and the Coin in the Fish's Mouth. 3. Four events related to His birth were the Visit of the Magi, the Massacre of the Infants, the Flight into Egypt, and the Return to Nazareth. 4. Ten great discourses were Parts of the Sermon on the Mount, the Revelation of the Babes, the Invitations to the Weary, Idle Words, the Prophecy to Peter, Humility and Forgiveness, Rejection of the Jews, the Great Denunciation, the Discourse about Last Things, and the Great Commission and Promise. III. Matthew 1:1-17 lists the royal genealogy of Joseph. Luke 3:23-38 lists the genealogy of Mary. A. Joseph was a descendant from David through Solomon (Matthew 1:6). Jesus inherited the throne of David from Joseph, His stepfather

15 B. Mary was a descendant from David through Nathan (Luke 3:31). Jesus was the legitimate Son of David and Seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15) through Mary. Matthew 1:6 says, "and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah's wife," Luke 3:31 says, "the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David," Study Question 1.7 Question 1.7 What can one learn from Joseph s genealogy? IV. Significant verses in Matthew 1:1-17 A. Matthew 1:17 says, "Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Christ." 1. Or Messiah. "The Christ" (Greek) and "the Messiah" (Hebrew) both mean "the Anointed One." 2. Jewish children were often taught in patterns that could be more easily remembered. 3. The key word in the above verse is fourteen

16 B. Matthew 1:3 says, "Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram." C. Matthew 1:5 says, "Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse," D. Matthew 1:10 says, "Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah," II Kings 21:16 says, "Moreover, Manasseh also shed so much innocent blood that he filled Jerusalem from end to end-- besides the sin that he had caused Judah to commit, so that they did evil in the eyes of the LORD." Study Questions 1.8 Through 1.9 Question 1.8 Does the Bible teach reincarnation? Question 1.9 How can a person argue against reincarnation in Jesus? V. Mr. James M. Pryse wrote a book entitled, Reincarnation in the New Testament. 18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. A. In that book, he claimed that Jesus was a reincarnation of David

17 B. He based his reasoning on the dual accounts in Matthew 1:1-17 and Luke 3:23-38 and on Psalm 110:1, which says, "The LORD says to my Lord: 'Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.'" 1. Mr. Pryse did not understand the differences between the two genealogies. 2. He did not realize that Mary was a descendant of David, too. 3. He did not accept Jesus as eternal deity. 4. He did not understand the virgin birth. 5. He did not understand the right of succession to the throne. C. In Psalm 110:1, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, David said, "The LORD says to my Lord." David was verifying that Jesus had existed as Lord even before David, himself, existed. Jesus confirmed that in John 8:58. John 8:58 says, "'I tell you the truth,' Jesus answered, 'before Abraham was born, I am!'" D. Because Mr. Pryse's words are contrary to the Bible, they MUST BE REJECTED!!!

18 Study Questions 1.10 Through 1.12 Question 1.10 What kind of a man was Joseph? Question 1.11 What convinced him to stay with Mary? Question 1.12 What do we learn about Jesus from Matthew s account? VI. In the beginning, Joseph did not want to have anything to do with Mary and her baby. 19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit." A. He was going to quietly walk away until an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. B. The angel told him to not be afraid. C. He said that the Holy Spirit conceived her child. He had to have as much faith as Mary. Isaiah 7:14 says, "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." Genesis 3:15 says, "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."

19 1. She was probably a young teenager, and he was probably somewhat older. 2. He probably died shortly after Jesus' birth because he not mentioned much in the New Testament. VII. Facts about Jesus from the above verses 21 "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us." 24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. A. He will save His people from their sins (John 12:32-33). Jesus is the Greek form of the name Joshua, which means the LORD saves. John 12:32-33 says, "But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die. " B. Joseph did what the angel of the Lord commanded him to do (I Samuel 15:22). I Samuel 15:22 says, "But Samuel replied: 'Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.'"

20 C. He stayed away from Mary until after Jesus was born

21 Chapter 2 The Magi Seek Jesus and Jesus in Egypt and Nazareth (Matthew 2:1-23) I. The birth of Jesus A. He was born in Bethlehem. Micah 5:2 says, "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times." 1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. Study Questions 2.1 Through 2.6 Question 2.1 How was prophecy fulfilled when Jesus was born? Question 2.2 How did Herod come to power? Question 2.3 What were some of Herod s positive accomplishments? Question 2.4 In what year was Jesus born? Question 2.5 How is His birth dated to Herod and to the visit of the magi? Question 2.6 How did Herod react to the news about Jesus birth? B. Jesus was born during the time of Herod, and Herod was very wicked. The Jews hated him because he was so evil

22 1. Herod the Great was born in 73BC to Antipater II, his father, and to his mother, who was the daughter of King Nabatea. 2. His father was a patriot that had helped Julius Caesar come to power. Because of that, the Roman Senate, in 40BC, through the encouragement of Mark Anthony and Caesar Octavian, declared Herod to be the king of the Jews, if he could conquer them. 3. Herod first took Galilee, and over the next three years, he took Israel. 4. Herod was very accomplished, and he was very worried about being overthrown. His fear of being attacked from within explains some of his accomplishments. a) He built the Antonia, which was a structure seventy-five to one hundred feet tall. b) He built another fortress, called Herodium, which was five miles south of Jerusalem and looked like a volcano. c) He built Macherias, which was where John the Baptist was beheaded. d) He fortified Masada, which was thirteen hundred feet above the Dead Sea

23 e) He built the Alexandrian as a fortification for defending against his enemies. f) He built two more such structures in Jericho and Mount Tabor, and those fortresses were high enough to not be obstructed by anything else. Guards could see each other from the different towers and use them for cross communications. g) He built the Western Wall. h) He died in 4BC, but members of his family controlled the throne until 34AD. C. The Magi and the star in the East (unique to Matthew) 1. The Magi were normally considered wise men. 2. They saw the star come up in the east. According to astronomers, a number of planets lined up in about 6BC, and Herod died in April 4BC. Most Bible scholars say that Jesus was born sometime between those two dates. D. Herod was paranoid when he heard the news

24 II. Herod wanted to know where Jesus was born. 4 When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5 "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: 6 "'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'" 7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. Study Questions 2.7 Through 2.11 Question 2.7 How did Herod react when he heard about Jesus birth? Question 2.8 How did the chief priests react when he heard about His birth? Question 2.9 What kind of man was Herod? Question 2.10 How did the magi learn of Herod s plot? Question 2.11 How was Joseph warned of Herod s plot? A. Notice that he never questioned that Jesus was and is the Christ, or Messiah. B. Notice that the chief priests and teachers of the Law acknowledged the prophet Micah and his prophesy in Micah 5:2 about Bethlehem. 1. Micah said that a Ruler and a Shepherd would be born in Bethlehem

25 2. Fulfilled prophecy is one way that we can have confidence in the Bible. III. Herod tried to trick the wise men. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him." 9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. A. He did not intend to worship Jesus. B. The wise men followed the star and found Jesus. C. They gave Him gold, incense, and myrrh. 1. Gold symbolized royalty. 2. Incense "was the purest incense. When burned it produced a white smoke which symbolized the prayers and praises of the faithful ascending to heaven. Because the ancients often burned frankincense during religious rituals, this gift

26 symbolizes sacrifice, Christ's divinity, His sweet savor, and His priestly role. It is also a symbol of the Divine name of God" (source: "Christmas Symbols" at Isaiah 60:6 says, "Herds of camels will cover your land, young camels of Midian and Ephah. And all from Sheba will come, bearing gold and incense and proclaiming the praise of the LORD." 3. "Legend says Caspar brought the gift of myrrh from Europe or Tarsus and placed it before the Christ Child. Because of myrrh's various medicinal uses this gift represents Christ's human nature, the Suffering Savior, the Great Physician, and the Passion" (source: "Christmas Symbols" at IV. The wise men were warned, and Herod did not get the information that he very much wanted. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. V. The third of three dreams (Matthew 1:20, Matthew 2:12, and Matthew 2:13) 13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him." 14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son." [

27 A. According Luke 2:22-24, Jesus was presented in the Temple shortly after His birth. Study Questions 2.12 Through 2.20 Question 2.12 Why was Herod so persistent? Question 2.13 Why did God allow Herod to pursue Jesus? Question 2.14 What did Herod do to try to get Jesus? Question 2.15 How did the Lord communicate with Joseph? Question 2.16 What was Joseph s first dream? Question 2.17 What was his second dream? Question 2.18 Why did He communicate with Joseph and not Mary? Question 2.19 What was Joseph s third dream? Question 2.20 How did Joseph, Mary, and Jesus end up in Nazareth? B. An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream. This was his second important dream. The first had told him that Mary was okay to marry. Why did Joseph have the dreams and not Mary? In good marriages, husbands and wives are partners, not master-servant. Ephesians 5:22 says, "Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord." Ephesians 5:28 says, "In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself." C. Joseph was told to take Jesus and Mary to Egypt for safety (unique to Matthew)

28 1. Why did God allow Herod to pursue Jesus? He could have just killed the king and let Joseph, Mary, and Jesus have an easy time of things. 2. Most of the time, God uses natural processes to accomplish His purposes. Even in something like evolution, God created each species and then allowed those species to evolve within their own kinds (Genesis 1:21-27). 3. Notice that they left the same night. They did not even wait until morning. He might have been seeking the safety of night time travel, but he also might have been faithful to obey his dream. D. Herod was very persistent even though he knew that Jesus was and is the Messiah (Matthew 2:4). 1. Why would he fight so hard against God? 2. Why did Saul fight so hard against David? 3. Why did Haman fight so hard against Mordecai and the Jews? E. Out of Egypt was a prophecy in Hosea 11:1. 1. Hosea wrote about Israel's deliverance from Egypt through Moses, and Hosea 11:2-7 talks about Israel's rebellion against Him

29 2. Jesus returned from Eqypt, but He did not rebel against His heavenly Father (unique to Matthew). Hosea 11:1 says, "When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son." VI. Herod did not want to be outdone. 16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: 18 "A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more." A. Herod issued orders to kill all the boys two and under in Bethlehem (unique to Matthew). 1. If Herod died in April 4BC and if Jesus was already two years old, then Jesus would have been born in 6BC. 2. Therefore, his time of birth is usually put at between 6BC and 4BC. B. Jeremiah had prophesied those killings in Jeremiah 31:

30 Jeremiah 31:15 says, "This is what the LORD says: 'A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because her children are no more.'" VII. Two More Dreams, and Joseph, Mary, and Jesus Return to Nazareth 19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20 and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child's life are dead." 21 So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 23 and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: "He will be called a Nazarene." A. Herod failed just like Saul and Haman many years earlier. A person cannot fight God and win. 1. Saul died in battle, and David became king (I Samuel 31:3-6). 2. Haman was hanged on his own gallows (Esther 9:23-25). B. Joseph obeyed his third dream and returned to Israel. C. He was warned in the same dream or possibly a fourth dream to stay out of Judea

31 D. He took Jesus and Mary to Galilee and Nazareth. 1. Bethlehem was about ten miles south of Jerusalem. 2. Nazareth was about thirty miles north of Jerusalem in the vicinity of Mount Tabor and about twenty miles west of the Sea of Galilee. 3. Nazareth was the small village where Joseph had grown up, and it was where Jesus would grow up

32 Chapter 3 John the Baptist Begins his Ministry (Matthew 3:1-17) Study Questions 3.1 Through What kind of man was John the Baptist? 3.2 What did John the Baptist preach? 3.3 What had the Prophet Isaiah said about him? 3.4 When did Isaiah live, and when did John the Baptist live? 3.5 Did John the Baptist eat bugs? 3.6 Did everyone like John the Baptist? Who did not? I. The Beginning of John the Baptist's Ministry 1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea 2 and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'" 4 John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. A. He preached in the desert of Judea. Where was that? B. His message was one of repentance. When people come to the Lord, they always change their ways. C. The Prophet Isaiah had prophesied the coming of John the Baptist (Isaiah 40:3)

33 Isaiah 40:3 says, "A voice of one calling: 'In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God." 1. He was the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth (Luke 1:57-66). Luke 1:63 says, "asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone's astonishment he wrote, 'His name is John.'" 2. His appearance was unusual. 3. His diet was unusual. Did he actually eat bugs? II. He introduced a type of water baptism, and the church still observes that ordinance. But the two baptisms were different. John baptized repentant sinners. The church baptizes those that associate with Christ and a local assembly of believers. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. A. People went to him. B. They confessed their sins. 1. Even under the Law, people knew that confession of sins was important. 2. Compare Habakkuk 2:4 and II Corinthians 5:7. Paul quoted Habakkuk 2:4 in Romans 1:17. People were saved

34 the same way in the Old and New Testaments. One looked forward to the cross, and the other looks back to the cross. Habakkuk 2:4 says, "See, he is puffed up; his desires are not upright- but the righteous will live by his faith." II Corinthians 5:7 says, "We live by faith, not by sight." C. They were baptized. III. John the Baptist was not popular with everyone. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. A. The Pharisees and Sadducees could not stay away, but they did not come to repent. They were there to find fault. B. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost, but salvation is conditional. The sinner has some clear responsibilities (Luke 19:10). 1. The sinner must come to Jesus (Matthew 3:5)

35 2. The sinner must believe on Him and accept Him as Savior (John 3:16-18). John 3:16-18 says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. 3. The sinner must ask for forgiveness. God cannot forgive someone that does not ask for forgiveness. 4. The sinner must show fruits of repentance (Matthew 3:8). C. God expects His people to produce fruit. (Compare John 15:1-8) Study Questions 3.7 Through 3.10 Question 3.7 How did John the Baptist feel about his temporary ministry? Question 3.8 How was his baptism different than church baptism? Question 3.9 What does church baptism symbolize? How? Question 3.10 Is baptism by immersion important?

36 IV. John the Baptist knew that his ministry was temporary, and he was at peace with that. 11 "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire." A. Hebrew "with" in verse eleven also means "in". B. Baptism is a symbol for washing and regeneration, but it is also a good conscience before God (I Peter 3:18-22). I Peter 3:18-22 says, "For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also--not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand--with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him." C. John basically said that Jesus would clean house

37 Study Questions 3.11 Through 3.16 Question 3.11 Why was Jesus baptized? Question 3.12 Did He have to be baptized to be saved? Why or why not? Question 3.13 Did either John witness the dove descending upon Jesus? Question 3.14 Should all Christians be baptized? Why or why not? Question 3.15 What is modalism? Question 3.16 Is modalism correct or incorrect? V. Jesus was baptized. 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" 15 Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented. 16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." A. An Important Observation: The Holy Spirit had revealed to John the Baptist, to the people who repented and came to him, and to Jesus that water baptism is important. It was important then, and it is important now

38 B. Jesus acknowledged that baptism was the right thing to do. He submitted Himself to John when John really should have been the one to be baptized. C. Which "he" saw the Spirit of God descending? I think that John the Baptist saw the Spirit of God descending upon Jesus (see John 1:32-34). John 1:32-34 says, "Then John gave this testimony: 'I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.'" D. Did everyone hear the voice and the same words? I think so because God would not have said only to Jesus, "This is my Son." E. Based on this passage, notice that modalism cannot be true. 1. Modalism says that one God manifested Himself three different ways at different times in history. 2. But all three Persons of the Trinity were witness to Jesus' Baptism

39 Chapter 4 The Devil Tempts Jesus and He Begins His Galilean Ministry (Matthew 4:1-25) I. Jesus was tempted in all points of the Law. 1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. Study Questions 4.1 Through 4.5 Question 4.1 How was Jesus tempted? Question 4.2 How did Jesus respond to the devil's tempting? Question 4.3 Why did Eve fail when she was tempted? Question 4.4 What is the kenosis? Question 4.5 Why did Jesus endure so much? A. He was tempted just as we are tempted (Hebrews 4:14-15) but not in the same way. Hebrews 4:14-15 says, "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin."

40 B. Jesus was not tempted to steal, to cheat on His taxes, to have an illicit affair, or to skip church. He was tempted, and He understood the pangs of temptation. But His temptation was different than what we typically experience. II. Jesus was tempted to turn stones into bread so that He could eat. 3 The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." 4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' A. He had the need. B. He had the power. C. But He did not give into the temptation. Instead, He quoted from Deuteronomy 8:3 and applied James 4:7-8. Deuteronomy 8:3 says, "He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord." James 4:7-8 says, "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."

41 1. Jesus countered the devil's temptation by rightly using Scripture. a) He had a high view of the Old Testament, which was all that they had in those days. b) He accepted the writings of Moses, which means that He believed him to be a prophet. c) Our strength also comes from God's Word. 2. The kenosis (Philippians 2:5-8)) Philippians 2:5-8 says, "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross! a) Jesus could have turned every rock in this world into a piece of bread to satisfy His hunger, BUT HE RESISTED THAT TEMPTATION. b) When was the last time that you fasted for forty days, knowing that you could quickly grab something to eat from the refrigerator in the next room. Jesus felt hunger that as you and I do, and He could have turned anything into food or even created something from nothing for His meal

42 c) The essence of the kenosis is that Jesus gave up the "voluntary" use of his "comparative attributes" (omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence). III. He was tempted to show His supernatural power, but he did not do so. The challenge was Psalm 91:11-12, and His response was Deuteronomy 6:16). 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: "'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" 7 Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' IV. He was tempted to rule the kingdoms that He already had the right to rule. 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." 10 Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" 11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. A. He countered Satan with Deuteronomy 6:

43 B. The essence of the kenosis is that Jesus gave up a lot when He voluntarily became a human. C. He did it for each of us (Romans 5:6-8). Study Questions 4.6 Through 4.12 Question 4.6 Why was John the Baptist arrested? Question 4.7 Why did Jesus set up His home base in Capernaum? Question 4.8 What did Matthew mean when he spoke of great light? Question 4.9 What was the theme of Jesus' preaching? Question 4.10 What was the theme of John the Baptist's preaching? Question 4.11 How are "believing" and "repenting" related? Question 4.12 What do "eis" and "epi" mean? V. John the Baptist was arrested and would eventually be put to death. 12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. A. John took a stand, and it cost him his life (Matthew 14:1-12, Mark 6:14-29, and Luke 3:19). B. He told the king to stop his wicked behavior

44 VI. Jesus set up his home base (Isaiah 9:1-2) 13 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali-- 14 to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: 15 "Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles-- 16 the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." A. Jesus had His home base in Capernaum. B. The Prophet Isaiah had said that He could come out of Zebulum and Naphtali and that He would be a great light to the people living in darkness. Isaiah 9:1-2 says, "Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan - The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." John 8:12 says, "When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'"

45 VII. Believing is more than just believing. 17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." A. John the Baptist and Jesus preached the same message (Matthew 3:8). B. There is more to John 3:16 than just believing in Jesus. The devil believes and trembles (James 2:14-19). 1. EIS - means into and presents the idea of entering into a relationship with Jesus. 2. EPI means on and presents the idea of trusting "on" the Lord like one would trust a chair. Study Questions 4.13 Through 4.17 Question 4.13 How did the disciples respond when Jesus called them? Question 4.14 What was the first thing that Andrew did after meeting Jesus? Question 4.15 Was this their first encounter with the Lord? Question 4.16 Who was Jesus' best earthly friend? Question 4.17 How did He organize His disciples?

46 VIII. They dropped everything and followed Him immediately. 18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." 20 At once they left their nets and followed him. 21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. A. Jesus called Andrew and Peter. But according to John 1:41, Andrew went and found Peter, his brother. B. The account in Matthew 4:18-22 differs from the account in John 1: Notice the chronology between the two accounts. 1. In John 1:35-42, Jesus met with Andrew, John, Peter, and James. He had probably just been baptized. 2. John 1:39 says that Andrew and John spent the day with Jesus. 3. John 1:40 says that Andrew left Jesus to go find his brother, Peter. He brought Peter to Jesus. 4. John 1:43 says that Jesus decided to go to Galilee the next day. While there, He turned water into wine at Cana in Galilee, and then they went their separate ways. He went

47 to Capernaum, and they went back to their fishing trade in Galilee. John 1:35-43 says, "The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, 'Look, the Lamb of God!' When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, 'What do you want?' They said, 'Rabbi' (which means Teacher), 'where are you staying?' 'Come,' he replied, 'and you will see.' So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour. Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, 'We have found the Messiah' (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, 'You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas' (which, when translated, is Peter). The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, 'Follow me.'" 5. Matthew 4:18-22 says that Jesus saw the four again while in Galilee. 6. The first day, they came to Jesus. Some time later, He came after them on a return visit to Galilee. When He sought them, during their second meeting, they left everything to follow Him. C. He called James and John. They were also called the sons of thunder because they were so highly spirited. 1. James and John wanted to sit next to Jesus in the kingdom (Matthew 20:20-28)