Search The Scriptures —Study 16 — Matthew 11:1-24

Study 16  From the Book of Matthew is: Matthew 11:1-24

1.      What may we learn o f the character of John the Baptist from his problems and doubts concerning Jesus, and from our Lord’s commendation of him (verses 1-19)?

2.     Verses 20:24. We may discern here some important principles behind God’s judgment of mankind.  What are they, and what relevance do they have in our situation?

Notes

1.      There is a unity in chapters 11 and 12.  Apparently disconnected incidents are linked together around the theme of the reality and nature of the Messiahship of Jesus.

2.     Verse 12 may suggest either the dynamic of John’s ministry or the cost of becoming a member of the Kingdom.

3.     Verse 19 may read ‘deeds’ or ‘children’ (mg.) In either case the verse means that God’s way are justified by their results.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 15 — Matthew 10: 24 -42

Study 15 From the Book of Matthew is: Matthew 10: 24 -42

1.      With all the realism of the warning in verses 24, 25, Christ encourages His disciples not to fear. Consider the reasons given in verses 26 – 33 to encourage confidence.

2.     In what way, do verses 34 – 42 demand of the Christians both militancy and tenderness? How do you equate the statement of verse 34 with the thought of Christ as Prince of Peace?

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Search The Scriptures —Study 14 — Matthew 9:35 – 10:23

Study 14 From the Book of Matthew is: Matthew 9:35 – 10:23

      1.      Some of the instructions given to the twelve here are clearly temporary and would not apply to every situation.  But, what principles of Christian service can you find, which are always applicable?

      2.     Verses 16-23 offer the prospect of both persecution in, and power for, service. In this situation, what is to be the attitude of discipleship?

Note. 10:23 has probably no reference to the second advent, but, rather to Christ’s coming in triumph after the resurrection, or to His coming in judgement in the fall of Jerusalem.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 13 — Matthew 9: 9 - 34

Study 13 From the Book of Matthew is: Matthew 9: 9-34

1.      In what ways do verses 9-17 disclose the revolutionary character of the ministry of Jesus? What do they teach us of the character of God (verse 13), and the way a Christian ought to live amongst sinners?

2.     Considering the miracles as signs, define the lessons we may learn from the incidents of verses 18-34 about the ability of our Lord to deal with the spiritual problems of weakness, deadness, blindness dumbness.  Have you such a problem which ought to be dealt with?

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Search The Scriptures —Study 12 — Matthew: 8:23 – 9:8

Study 12 From the Book of Matthew is: Matthew 8:23 – 9:8

      1.      In 9:6 and 8 the word ‘authority’ is used to characterize Christ’s ministry. In what three realms is this seen in this passage?

      2.     9:1-8 reveals Christ’s power to deal with the deepest trouble of man. What is this? How do these verses illustrate the means whereby a man may find this healing? What follows from it as a visible proof of it?

     3.     Demon-possession was clearly treated seriously by our Lord. What may we understand by the demons’ witness to Christ in 8:29 (cf. Mk. 1: 24; 3:11, 12; Acts 16:16-18)? In what way does the incident of 8: 28 – 34 have any parallel in the ministry of the Spirit today?

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Search The Scriptures —Study 11 — Matthew: 8:1-22

Study 11 From the Book of Matthew is: Matthew 8:1-22

      1.      Consider how different the people were who received healing, and how different our Lord’s method with them were.  What does this teach us concerning (a) His power, and (b) our work for Him?

      2.     What was so remarkable in the centurion’s faith as to elicit Christ’s great commendation? Contrast Jn. 4:48. Note how the statement of verses 11, 12 anticipates the revolutionary developments recorded in the Acts.  See Acts 13:45-48.

3.     Verses 18-22. Why did our Lord leave the crowds, and why did He check two would-be disciples? Cf. Lk. 14:25-27.

Note. In chapter 8 and 9 Matthew record nine miracles of our Lord, in three groups of three. Matthew has this habit of grouping in subject-matter rather than in strict chronological order.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 1 — Obadiah

Study 1 From the Book of Obadiah is: Obadiah

Obadiah is only one study. Tomorrow we will make a short stop in the book of Mathew again, starting with chapter 8 where we left off.

    1.      By act and attitude Edom had sinned against God and against His people. Trace the detail of the sin: then look up 1 Cor. 10:11, 12 and apply Obadiah’s warnings to your own life.

2.     The prophet claims divine inspiration (verses 1, 4, 8, 18).  What do we learn of the Lord’s character from this book? What wonderful truth had yet to be revealed which goes beyond verse 15? Cf. Rom. 8:3, 4.

3.     The prophet’s words speak of searing (verse 18) and possession (verses 17, 19, 20). How do the words ‘holy’ (verse 17) and ‘the kingdom shall be the Lord’s (verse 21) change the complexion of the situation? The Christians’ expectation is the same: ‘Thy kingdom come’. How and why does its spirit differ? Cf. Mk. 1:14, 15; Mt. 12:28; Acts 8:12; Jn. 18:36; Rev. 12:10, 11; Mt. 5:3; Rom. 14:17.

Notes

1.      Verse 1.  The section ‘We have heard… let us rise against her for battle!’ is in parenthesis, suggesting the means by which Edom will be brought low.

2.     Verse 3. RSV mg. Draws attention to a possible pun here; sela mans ‘rock’, but it was also the name of the capital city of Edom, later called Petra.

3.     Verse 5, 6.  Thieves or grape-stealers leave something behind; but when God plunders, the pillage is complete.

4.     Verse 7. The principle here is enunciated in verse 15b; this principle of strict justice is the basis of God’s moral law.  Cf. Gal. 6:7.

5.     Verses 10-14. Cf. Ps. 137; 7; La. 2:15, 16.

6.     Verse 16. The ‘cup’ of God’s wrath was a vivid prophetic picture of divine punishment and consequent disaster. Cf. Je. 25, 27, 28; Is. 51:17; Rev. 14:10.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 0 — Introduction of Obadiah

Study 0 From the Book of Obadiah is: The Introduction of Obadiah

Obadiah’s message is almost entirely a denunciation of Edom for unbrotherly conduct to Israel, and a prophecy of the destruction of that proud kingdom and people. But the prophet associates Edom’s fall with the day of the Lord and foresees Israel’s recovery of their promised possessions, and the universal triumph of God’s reign and kingdom.

The Edomites, as the descendants of Esau, and the Israelites, as the descendants of Jacob, were enemies from the time that Israel took possession of Canaan (see Nu. 20:14-21), and there are many references in the historical and prophetic books to Edom, which show the antipathy between Edom and Israel, and the difference in their destinies.  See e.g., 2 Sa. 8:14; 2 Ki. 14:7; Je. 49:7-22; Ezk. 25:12-17; Am. 1:11, 12; Mal. 1:1-5. 

Search The Scriptures —Study 4 — Habakkuk 3: 16-19

Study 4 From the Book of Habakkuk is: Habakkuk 3:16-19

With this lesson, we end the book of Habakkuk. Tomorrow we will start with the book of Obadiah.

      1        What two effects did the vision have upon Habakkuk? With verse 16, cf. Dn. 10:8; rev 1:17.  With verses 17, 18, cf. Ps. 73:25, 26; Phil. 4:11-13. Are we as sensitive as Habakkuk was to the glory and the faithfulness of the God with whom, by grace, we have to do?

2       What three things did God-trusted and rejoiced in—do for the prophet? Cf. Ps. 18:32, 39; Zc. 4:6; Is. 40:31. Which of these do you particularly need God to do for you?

Notes

1        Verse 16 ‘Rottenness enters’: a Hebrew idiom expressing complete loss of strength. Cf. Pr. 12:4; 14:30. With the last part of this verse, cf. 2 Thes. 1:6-8.

2       Verse 19. To ‘tread upon my high places’: a picture of triumph and security. Cf. Dt. 33:29c.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 3 — Habakkuk 3:1-15

Study 3 From the Book of Habakkuk is: Habakkuk 3:1-15

Habakkuk prays that God will show Himself once again as long ago (verses 1, 2), and then describes a vision of God coming to deliver His people. Past, present and future are intermingled. God’s self-revelation in the past at Sinai, at the Red Sea and at the entrance into Canaan are pictured under the image of a thunderstorm rolling up from the south and breaking upon Palestine. The same ‘Holy One’ is at work also in the present, and the tumults of the nations are the tokens that He has come in judgment to work salvation for His people.

1.      Habakkuk considered God’s working in the past with longing and fear (verses 1, 2). Do we know such longing? Cf. Pss. 85:6; 143:5, 6; Is. 64: 1-3.  Why was he afraid? Cf. Heb. 12:21, 28, 29.

2.      The poetry describes political upheavals. Cf. Is. 29:5-8. Yet, the poetry also is full of God’s acts.  How does this vision teach us to regard the world-happenings of our own day? What is God’s purpose through them?  Cf. Ps. 74:12; Lk. 21:25-28.

Notes

1.      Verse 3. ‘Terman’. ‘Mount Paran’: i.e., the region of Sinai.

2.      Verse 4. Allusions to lightning and thick clouds.

3.      Verse 8. The answer is found in verses 13-15.                         

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