Search The Scriptures —Study 47 — Matthew 27:51-66

Study 47 From the Book of Matthew is: Matthew 27:51-66

1.     What is the significance of the torn curtain of the Temple (verse 51)? Cf. Heb. 9:8; 10:19-23.  How are the manifestations recorded in verses 52, 53 linked with these truths?

2.     What made Joseph of Arimathea (and Nicodemus, Jn. 19:39) come out into the open at this late stage? Is it not at first sight strange that they should now publicly associate themselves with Christ?  What, in the purposes of God, did such a burial demonstrate and make possible?

Note. Verse 62. ‘Next day, that is, after the day of Preparation’: it looks as if, in their concern to safeguard the tom, the Jewish leaders even broke their own sacred sabbath laws.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 46 — Matthew 27:32 - 50

Study 46 From the Book of Matthew is: Matthew 27:32 – 50

1. What were the real sufferings of Christ?  In what way are physical, mental and spiritual sufferings here indicated?

1.     What, if any, truth is there in the taunt of verses 41-43? Why did God not intervene? What is the meaning behind Christ’s own sense of desertion in verse 46? Can you hold this truth with that contained in 2 Cor. 5:19. ‘God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself’? See also 2 Cor. 5:21.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 45 — Matthew 27: 15-31

Study 45 From the Book of Matthew is: Matthew 27: 15-31

1.     In these verses the Jewish people made a fateful choice. Note especially verses 20 and 25. It was the choice of what kind of saviour they wanted (see Note below). What was the result of this choice in the life of the nation?

2.     In how many ways did Pilate seek to avoid a decision about Christ? Cf. Lk. 23:7. Read again the question in verse 22. Is this not a question which I, too, must ask and answer?

Note.  Verses 16, 17. There is good textual evidence in favour of reading ‘Jesus Barabbas’. This makes the question of verse 17 even more telling.  This was a choice between a false claimant and the true Saviour.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 44 — Matthew 27: 1-14

Study 44  From the Book of Matthew is: Matthew 27:1-14

1.     What lessons concerning the inevitable judgment upon sin are to be found in the account of the death of Judah?  Can you see any sense in which we may be tempted to act like Judas in our situation, or is he unique?

2.     Consider the silence of Jesus in these last hours of His life.  Cf. lk. 23:9. In the light of this, read 1. Pet. 2:-23 and note the lessons for our own life and witness.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 43 — Matthew 26: 57 - 75

Study 43 From the Book of Matthew is: Matthew 26: 57 – 75

1.     The trials of Jesus and Peter were running concurrently, but with such different results.  What was Peter’s failure, and what was the reason for it? Do you see any difference between this and the failure of Judas?

2.     Verses 59 – 68. In what ways was the trial of Jesus unworthy of the name of Justice? In contrast note the majesty of Jesus at this point. What would you consider the salient characteristics of His witness here?

Note. Verse 64. ‘You have said so’ is more than the equivalent of ‘Yes’. It indicates that Christ’s Kingship was real, but different from the concept in Caiaphas’ mind.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 42 — Matthew 26:30-56

Study 42  From the Book of Matthew is: Matthew 26: 30 -56

1.     How do these verses indicate the strength to do God’s will that Christ found through His knowledge of Scriptures? Consider how frequently during these last hours our Lord quoted the Old Testament. What ought we to learn from this concerning the way to face the demands of Christ’s service?

2.     Wherein lay the particular agony to Jesus of the experience in the garden? Why did He shrink so much from the cross? Consider this section in the light of Heb. 5:7-9; 10:1; 1 Pet. 2:24.

3.     What does our Lord pinpoint as the reason for the disciples’ failure in the garden? Consider in how many ways they did fail that night, and how relevant this is to our situation. Cf. What Peter wrote in 1Pet. 5:8-9.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 41 — Matthew 26:17-29

Study 41 From the Book of Matthew is: Matthew 26:17-29

1.     What does the phrase in verse 18, ‘My time is at hand’, teach us of Christ’s understanding and control of the situation even at this moment? Notice the repetition of this reference to ‘the hour’ (verse 45) Cf. Jn. 12:23, 27; 13: 1.  Note also in verse 24 the combined recognition of God’s foreordained purpose and man’s personal responsibility.

2.     In the institution of the Lord’s supper, Matthew notes the idea of a covenant in verse 28. In what way does this link with Ex. 24: 6-8 and with Je. 31:31–34?  What ought drinking from such a cup to mean to us?

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Search The Scriptures —Study 40 — Matthew 26:1-16

Study 40  From the Book of Matthew is: Matthew 26:1-16

1.     Note the difference between the prophecy of Christ in verses 1, 2, and the plans of the Jewish religious leaders in verses 3-5. Whose word, in fact, prevailed, and why? Cf. Acts 2:23; Ps. 33:10, 11.

2.     In verses 6-16 consider the contrast between the action of Mary, anointing Christ, and Judas selling Him.  How does this demonstrated the truth of Lk. 2:35b? What were the motives behind these different actions?

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Search The Scriptures —Study 39 — Matthew 25: 14-46

Study 39 From the Book of Matthew is: Matthew 25: 14-46

1.     Verses 14:30. Compare this parable with that in Lk. 19:11-27.  What is the message underlying both parables? Can you distinguish the particular emphasis of each parable?

2.     Verses 31-46. What claims does Christ here make concerning Himself? How is men’s final destiny determined?

3.     What does this passage teach about the gravity of the sin of omission? What does the absence of good works prove?

Notes

1.     Verse 34. This is the only place in the Gospels where Christ speaks of the Son of man as King. No doubt there was too great a danger of the popular misunderstanding of that title for its frequent use to be possible.

2.     Verse 46. ‘Eternal’:  This speaks primarily not of endless duration but of that which in quality is characteristic of the age to come.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 38 — Matthew 24:32 – 25:13

Study 38 From the Book of Matthew is: Matthew 24:32 – 25:13

1.     What truths concerning our Lord’s return are unmistakably certain, and what matters are left uncertain?  What, in consequence, ought the Christian’s attitude to be?

2.     The parable of the ten virgins (25:1-13) teaches a final division. What is the basis of that division? How can we join the company of the wise?  Cf. Mt. 7:21-27.

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