The Gospel of Matthew

Transcription

1 The Gospel of Matthew Bible Study Guide 2016 From that time on Jesus began to preach, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near. Matthew chapter 4 verse 17 1 Page

2 An introductory to the gospel of Matthew: A gospel is a biography of the life of Jesus. Matthew s Gospel is the longest of the 4 gospels. Matthew s gospel also contains a lot of historical quotations and references from the Old Testament Scriptures. It may possibly have been written in its context to assist Jewish Christians to gain a better understand of their new faith as one which continues on from their ancestors. That is, to help them, and now in turn to help us, understand that the Christian faith is the same faith as the Old Testament faith, with the same promises, the same plan, and most importantly, the same God! Plans fulfilled now in Christ. Matthew s gospel contains many themes and topics which are worth noting, such as The Kingdom of heaven, Fulfilment, Discipleship, Who is Jesus?, God s salvation plan through history and eschatology (the study of end times). These themes, and many more, make Matthew a gospel with a lot to offer for both believers and non believers as it opens us up to a deeper understanding of God and his plans for us through Jesus. Title Passage 1 Passage 2 The King of the Harvest Matthew 9:35-10:4 Matthew 10:5-20 Parables of the King 1 Matthew 13:24-30 Matthew 13:36-43 Parables of the King 2 Matthew 13:31-35 Matthew 13:44-46 The Transfiguration of the King Matthew 16:13-28 Matthew 17:1-13 The forgiveness of the King Matthew 18:15-20 Matthew 18:21-35 The grace of the King Matthew 20:1-16 Matthew 20:20-28 Enter the King Matthew 21:1-11 Matthew 21:12-22 The return of the King Matthew 24:36-51 Matthew 25:1-13 The death of the King The mission of the King Matthew 27:27-56 Matthew 28:1-20 Recommended text resource: Jesus sermon on the mount and his confrontation with the world by D. A. Carson. Global Christian Publishers Cost: About $10-$15 well worth the purchase easy to read and very practical. 2 P age

3 Study One - The King of the harvest In this study, we will look at who Jesus sends and what they are to do. We will start to investigate what it means to be a disciple, a follower, of Jesus. You might like to begin this study by discussing the question: What is a disciple? Investigating the Bible 1. READ Matthew 9:35-10:4. What does this passage tell you about Jesus? 2. What does this passage tell you about the kingdom of God? 3. What does this passage tell you about the authority of Jesus and his disciples? 4. READ Matthew 10:5-20. What does this passage tell you about the mission of Jesus? 5. What does this passage tell you about the role of the disciples? 3 P age

4 6. What does it mean to be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves? 7. Why does Jesus expect such bad things to happen to his disciples?! Applying this to our lives 8. What does it mean to YOU to be a disciple of Jesus? 9. Do you sometimes water down or minimise the work God calls you to as a disciple? 10. As a disciple, do you ever worry about what to say or how to say it? (10:19) 4 P age

5 Study Two Parables of the King 1 In this study, we will look at the Parable of the sower. Parables are simple teaching stories Jesus used to teach his followers a point. Usually, parables have one main teaching point illustrated by a story. This is a parable about the kingdom of heaven, which is a strong theme in the gospel of Matthew. Investigating the Bible 1. READ Matthew 13: What do you see as the main thing Jesus is teaching in this parable? 2. What does this parable tell you about the kingdom of heaven? 3. What does verse 30 tell us about the alternative to the kingdom of heaven? 4. READ Matthew 13: Why do you think Jesus needs to explain this parable to his disciples? 5. What does this explanation reveal or confirm about Jesus and his mission? 5 P age

6 6. What does this explanation tell you about the work of the devil? 7. Is the kingdom of heaven here now on earth, or in the future? 8. Do these passages help us to understand hell? Applying this to our lives 9. Who/what do you identify with in this parable? 10. Verse does this give you a better understanding of why evil is allowed in the world? How does a verse like this help you in your life struggles as a Christian? 11. What hope do you gain from verse 43? 6 P age

7 Study Three Parables of the King 2 In this study, we will look at some more parables of the kingdom. The question we can ask is Why? Why does Jesus spend so much time talking about the kingdom of heaven and what it is like? What is the context of his day? Who is he speaking to? A good opening question to consider together is: What do I spend most of MY time talking about? Investigating the Bible 1. READ Matthew 13:31-35 and What is the main point that each parable teaches us about the kingdom of heaven? Mustard seed: Flour: Treasure: Pearl: 2. In these short parables, why do you think Jesus uses so many different descriptions to talk about the kingdom of heaven? 3. Think of two other ways/parables/metaphors to describe the kingdom of heaven. 4. Have a quick read of Palm 78:1-8. Does this help explain why Jesus uses parables? 7 P age

8 5. Is the kingdom of heaven here now on earth, or in the future? Applying this to our lives 6. Verse 44 in what ways do you treat the kingdom of heaven like that field? 7. Verse 45 in what ways do you treat the kingdom of heaven like that pearl of great value? 8. What are some ways you can keep your focus on the value of the kingdom of heaven each day? 8 P age

9 Study Four The Transfiguration of the King In this study, we will look again at the difficult path of following Jesus as a disciple. Jesus teaching was not only hard for the people of the world, but difficult for his own followers. And it can be difficult for us, unless we are willing to accept his Word completely. Start with the question: What teaching of Jesus do YOU find the hardest to accept and follow? Investigating the Bible 1. READ Matthew 16: Why is there so much confusion among people as to who Jesus is? 2. What does this passage tell us about Jesus and his mission? 3. What does this passage tell us about Peter and the disciples? 4. Verse 28: a difficult verse. Some say the son of man coming in his kingdom is actually referring to the transfiguration or the crucifixion. Rather than discuss this verse itself, discuss what you do when you come upon a difficult verse like this in God s Word. How do you come to understand it? 9 P age

10 5. Verse 20: Why does Jesus want the disciples to keep his identity secret? (This is often referred to as the Messianic secret ) 6. Peter could not accept Jesus plans. What does this tell you about Peter s thoughts at the time on the kingdom of heaven? 7. Why does Jesus accuse Peter of having in mind the things of men, not the things of God? Applying this to our lives 8. How are you personally challenged by verse 25? 9. How are you personally challenged by verse 26? 10 P age

11 Study Five The forgiveness of the King In this study, we will consider the issue of forgiveness and reconciliation between people. The way Jesus speaks is to have us compare the way God has forgiven us and reconciled with us. This is the model we are to show to each other. But we are not God! So how do we do it? A good starter question: When do you find it hard to forgive? Investigating the Bible 1. READ Matthew 18: What is the process for sorting out disputes or disagreements among Christians? 2. Why is this process so hard to do in practice? Have you ever done it well? 3. Verses are often taken out of context, but they is really placed in this passage to talk about God s work in resolving disputes between Christians. What do you think these verses say about what God will do in the context of this whole passage? 4. READ Matthew 18: Again Jesus talks about the kingdom of heaven and what it is like to live as a member of it. What is Jesus teaching us about the unmerciful servant? 11 P age

12 5. What drove the man s heart to not forgive the small debt when he had been forgiven such a large debt? Applying this to our lives This is a difficult topic to discuss for many people because of past hurts and broken relationships. So please be considerate in your choice of words as you discuss: 6. When do you find it difficult to forgive or reconcile with another person, Christian or not? What are the things that make reconciliation difficult? 7. Jesus speaks of forgiveness as something we should do, since God has graciously forgiveness us of a much bigger debt. But sometimes, because we are human, that can take time. Forgiveness can become more of a process of the heart. Some might like to share their journey of forgiveness and the process they are going through to forgive others that have done wrong against them. 8. A personal question: Is there someone you need to forgive? 12 P age

13 Study Six The grace of the King In this study, we look at what it means to be great in the kingdom of heaven. Again, we find that we need to struggle against our own ideas of what is fair and right and great, and submit to God s kingdom view of things. Investigating the Bible 1. READ Matthew 20:1-16. What does the parable of the landowner tell us about God? 2. What does this parable tell us about the kingdom of heaven? 3. What does this parable tell us about the way we, as people, compare ourselves to others in our faith? 4. READ Matthew 20: What does this passage teach us about the kingdom of heaven? 5. Following the previous parable of the landowner, have these disciples understood what Jesus said? 13 P age

14 Applying this to our lives 6. Do you compare yourself to other Christians in your faith? For example: how long you ve been a Christian, what you do as a Christian, your knowledge of the Bible. Are you sometimes tempted to see yourself as better or greater than another? 7. Do you think God compares us? Explain your answer 14 P age

15 Study Seven Enter the King Jesus entry into Jerusalem fulfils the prophecy of Zechariah. He comes as a King, yet on a donkey (a humble beast) and arrives to cries of Hosanna and Son of David and in the name of the Lord. Jesus is welcomed as a King, expected as one who would lead his people victoriously against the Romans, yet he the King who is lead to be crucified. Note the fulfilment of prophecy in these passages, yet also the irony. He is a King, but a servant, welcomed in the name of the Lord as the Son of David, yet crucified as the King of the Jews. Investigating the Bible 1. READ Matthew 21:1-11. What does this passage tell you about Jesus and God s plan for him? 2. READ and compare Jeremiah 7:1-11 to see a more complete picture of the claims Jesus is making against the temple sellers 3. How is Jesus welcomed into Jerusalem by people? Why is he welcomed this way? 4. READ Matthew 21: What does this passage tell us about those opposed Jesus (verse 15)? 15 P age

16 5. What does the lesson of the fig tree teach us about faith in following Jesus? 6. Why do you think Jesus chooses this time to teach his disciples this lesson? Applying this to our lives 7. Have you welcomed Jesus into your life as King? Do you treat him as King each day? 8. What difference does it make to your Christian faith knowing that we have a King who is a servant? 16 P age

17 Study Eight The return of the King In this chapter, Jesus is speaking privately to his disciples (see 24:3). He is preparing them for his departure and his second coming. He is preparing them for his crucifixion, his leaving for a long time, and his final return. These are words that should ring in our ears as we await that final return of our King. Investigating the Bible 1. READ Matthew 24: What does this passage tell you about God s plan for our future? 2. How does this uncertainty of the end times affect the way we live as Christians and the ministry we do as a church? 3. Is there ANY way for people to predict any degree of certainty about the time of Jesus return? For example: He s NOT coming this year. OR He IS coming in the next 100 years. Can we say things like that? 4. In verse 45, Jesus speaks about those in positions of authority over others (such as the disciples). What is his encouragement and warning to those in such positions? 17 P age

18 5. READ Matthew 25:1-13. The ten virgins: Another kingdom parable. What is the main point of this teaching parable? 6. What is the oil in our lamps to which Jesus is referring? 7. What does this parable say about the idea that God will let everyone into heaven no matter what, because he s a loving God. Or that as long as your belief in a god is sincere, God will let you into his kingdom. Or that there is no hell Applying this to our lives 8. How do you personally keep watch as a Christian? 9. What is the purpose of this teaching? Do you think Jesus teaching on this is meant to scare us, make us worry about our salvation, warn us, keep us vigilant, or something else? 18 P age

19 Study Nine The Departure of the King. The Mission of the King The Easter story we know it so well. But how does it affect us today? Does it take hold of us and amaze us? Does it bring us to our knees in thanksgiving? Does it remind us of the power of God and the fulfilment of all his promises? Take some time to reflect on the first question. Leave time for the application questions! Investigating the Bible 1. READ Matthew 27:27-56 and 28:1-20. What things still amaze you as you read this? 2. What does this passage tell you about Jesus himself? 3. What does this passage tell you about the fulfilment of God s plan in Jesus? 4. Much of these passages focus on Jesus title as King. Why is that important? 19 P age

20 5. How much of the story includes women? Given that it was unusual in these days to record women as witnesses of events, why do you think Matthew included so many women? 6. How much of the story revolves around prophecies and fulfilment of God s plans? Applying this to our lives 7. Having read the whole of Matthew, does it help you better understand the words of the great commission in Matthew 25:19-20? 8. What do you think is the main theme of Matthew s gospel? Or what is the main idea you have learned from Matthew s gospel? 9. How does the book of Matthew impact you as a follower of Jesus? 20 P age