Search The Scriptures —Study 6 — Matthew 5: 17-48

Study 6 From the Book of Matthew is: Matthew 5:17-48

      1.      Our Lord demonstrates His respect for the law in verses 17-20. What does verse 20 mean? What does verse 20 mean? Does it leave us any hope? Cf.  Rom. 3: 20-22; 8:3, 4. In what way does our Lord make the law more demanding?

     2.     What is the relevance in our modern world of Christ’s teaching in verses 33-48 on the subject of oaths and taking vengeance? Consider the application of the question in verse 47, ‘What more are you doing than others?’ to the whole subject of Christian love.

3.     Comparing verses 31, 32, with 19: 3-9, what is our Lord’s teaching on the sanctity of marriage and the possibility of divorce?

Notes

1.      Verse 18.  ‘Not an iota, not a dot’: a reference to the smallest letter or significant part of a letter in the Hebrew language.

2.     Verse 48. ‘perfect’ has more the meaning of ‘mature’ or full -grown than any concept of sinless perfection. Cf. Lk. 6:36.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 5 — Matthew 5: 1-16

Study 5 From the Book of Matthew is: Matthew 5: 1-16

     1.      Describe the qualities of the happy life as detailed in verses 1-12.  What makes them such?  To what rewards do they lead, and why?

    2.     Verses 13-16.  What is the significance of the two metaphors with which our Lord describes the relation to the world of those who belong to the kingdom? And in what ways does He warn them that they may fail to exercise their proper function?

Note.  Verse 3. ‘Poor in spirit’: i. e., aware of their spiritual poverty and of their need of divine help. Cf. Is. 57:15; Lk. 18:13.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 4 — Matthew 4

Study 4 From the Book of Matthew is: Matthew 4

     1.      Consider the temptations of Jesus as a testing of the kind of ministry He was going to exercise.  What was the special point of appeal in each temptation? Can you link these three typical temptations with the threefold division of 1 John. 2:16?

    2.     In what way do verses 1-11 help us to understand the meaning of temptation and the way in which Satan may be defeated?

3.     What was Christ’s first message?  Try to define repentance. Cf. Acts 2:38; 20:21; Lk. 15:18; Mt. 3:8. What further demand did He make on those who became disciples and why? Has your response to Christ been of this kind?

Note. The incidents recorded in Jn. 1:29 – 4:3 must have happened between verses 11 and 12 of this chapter.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 3 — Matthew 3

Study 3 From the Book of Matthew is: Matthew 3

      1.      John the Baptist saw himself as preparing the way for Christ (verse 3). In what ways did he do this through (a) his preaching, and (b) his administration of baptism?

      2.     What do verses 13-15 tell us about the importance of His baptism to Jesus? How do you link this moment with the cross? Cf. Ps. 40:7-8; Lk. 12:50; 2 Cor. 5:21.  Can you see the Trinity clearly at work in these verses?

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Search The Scriptures —Study 2 — Matthew 2

Study 2  From the Book of Matthew is: Matthew 2

    1.      Consider the significance of the coming of the wise men from the East in the light of such passage as Is. 49:6; Lk. 2:32; Jn. 10:16.

   2.     Note the different reactions to the birth of Jesus from the wise men, the chief priests and scribes, and Herod. How does this prove the truth of Jn. 9:39; 18:37?

   3.      Notice the accuracy of fulfillment of prophecy in our Lord’s infancy (verses 15:17, 18; 23). What does this teach us about the nature and authority of prophecy?

Notes

1.      Verse 1. ‘Wise men’: the word ‘Magi’ refers to learned astrologers or those who practised magical arts.  There is nothing but tradition to make them kings.

2.     Verse 23. There is no Old Testament quotation about the Messiah as a Nazarene. Matthew may be making a play on the Hebrew word nester meaning ‘branch’ from Is. 11:1 and Je. 23:5. Or the phrase may refer to the contempt associated with Christ’s home background. Cf. Jn. 1:46; Is. 53:2, 3.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 1 — Matthew 1

Study 1 From the Book of Matthew is: Matthew 1

   1.      Consider the names in the genealogy and note how sinful some of them were.  How does this chapter indicate that the coming of Jesus was in God’s plan from the beginning? In what ways does it demonstrate that in Jesus Old Testament prophecy is fulfilled? What truths are here indicated concerning His Person and work?

   2.     What do verses 18-25 teach us about the virgin birth? What is the importance of this truth for the Christian?

3.     Examine the character of Joseph as revealed in these verses (cf. 2:13-23).  What may we learn from his courageous obedience?

Notes

1.      Verse 17.  This arrangement into three periods of fourteen generations each is not exact, some generations, being omitted. Possibly this artificial arrangement is for easy memorizing.

2.     Verse 19.  According to Jewish law, Mary, being betrothed Joseph, was already legally regarded as his wife.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 0 — Introduction to the book of Matthew

Study 0 From the Book of  Matthew: Is the Introduction of the book

It is customary to see in Matthew’s Gospel the fact that Jesus is presented especially as the Messiah, the promised Son of David. This is true; but it also declares that He is the Saviour from sin (1:21) and the Son of God (1:23; 3:17; 16: 16, 17); and although the writer was obviously a Jew to the core, and wrote primarily for the Jews only, but of all nations (2:1, 11; 28:19, 20). Nevertheless, this is the most Jewish of the Gospel.  It is significant that our Lord’s genealogy is traced back, not to Adam, as in Luke’s account, but to Abraham, the father of the Jewish race.

The story of the birth of Christ shows distinct signs of being derived from Joseph’s side, as the story given by Luke would seem to come from Mary’s.

The Gospel is characterized by the large place it gives tot the teaching of our Lord, and in particular to His teaching in parables and about ‘things to come’.

Search The Scriptures —Study 42 — Isaiah 66

Study 42 From the Book of  Isaiah is: Isaiah 66

With this lesson, we end the book of Isaiah. Tomorrow we start the book of Matthew.

The distinction is maintained between those who are disobedient to God, and those who fear Him.  The final destiny of the two classes is made clear. God will thus be fully and finally glorified.  Cf. 2. Thes. 1:7-12

1.      When God looks down upon men’s worship, what is it He values? See verses 1-4; cf. Ps. 51:17; Jn. 4:23, 24.

2.     What is the end of those who, having heard God’s voice will not give heed? See especially verses 4, 5, 6, 17, 24.  What, on the other hand, is promised to Zion and her children?  See verses 7-14, 20-22.  While these promises are made primarily to Jerusalem and are yet to be fulfilled, they also declare the spiritual good things which God has provided for us in His Son, and which we may claim for ourselves in Him.  Cf. Rom. 8:16, 17, 32; 1 Cor. 3:22, 2 Cor. 1:20.

3.     How does the prophet’s vision of God’s purpose for the nations fall short of the glory of the full revelation of this  ‘mystery’ in the New Testament?

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Search The Scriptures —Study 41 — Isaiah 65

Study 41 From the Book of  Isaiah is: Isaiah 65

1.      Verses 1-7.  What picture of God is unfolded in verses 1 and 2? Cf. Mt. 7:2. Why has He been unable to answer the prophet’s prayer for Israel’s salvation?  Cf.  59:1-3.  How does God purpose to deal with them (verses 8-12)?

2.     What is to be the lot of God’s chosen people in Jerusalem in the new age that is to dawn (verses 17-25)?  What in contrast is going to be the life and end of those who forsake God (verses 11:15)?

Notes

1.      Verses 3-7. A condemnation of various idolatrous practices.

2.     Verses 8. ‘When a bunch of grapes hold some good wine, men say, ‘destroy it not, it holds a blessing’ So, God will save the good in Israel.

3.     Verse 11. ‘Fortune and ‘Destiny’:  the Hebrew words are Gad and Meni, the names of two gods.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 40 — Isaiah 63:7 – 64:12

Study 40 From the Book of  Isaiah is: Isaiah 63:7 – 64:12

1.      63:7-14. How does the suppliant begin his prayer?  What has Israel learnt of God’s mercy and love in her past? What lesson is there here for us when in our need we pray to God? Cf. Eph. 1:16; Phil. 1:3; 4:6; Col. 1:3.

2.     What five pleas are found in 63: 15-19?  In 64:4, 5, the suppliant begins to advance another plea.  What is it, and why is he unable to continue it (verses 6, 7)? Do you know how to plead with God? What pleas may we rightly make?

Notes

1.       63:10, 11, 14. The references to the Holy Spirit in this prayer are strikingly clear and full.

2.     63:17a. The prolonging of the suffering was tending to increase the ungodliness

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