Search The Scriptures —Study 1 — Jonah: 1 and 2

Study 1 From the Book of Jonah is: Jonah 1 and 2

The key to Jonah’s flight is found in 4:2. He feared the tenderness of God. If he went to Nineveh as commanded, Nineveh might repent, and be spared (cf. Je. 18:8) to become later the destroyer of Israel. If he did not go, God’s judgment would fall upon Nineveh, and Israel would be saved.

    1.      ‘But Jonah’ (verse 3); ‘But the Lord’ (verse 4). Cf. Acts 11:8, 9 (where the context also concerns Gentiles). Of what truth had Jonah lost sight? Cf. 1 Tim. 2:4. How did the Lord retain control of the situation?  With 1:7b cf. Pr. 16:33, and notice ‘appointed’ in 1:17.

2.     Jonah (like Adam and Eve, Gn. 3:8-10) tried to escape from the presence of the Lord. (1:3, 10; cf. 2:4). Why was this impossible? In the light of this passage, look up Ps. 139:23, 24 and apply it to yourself.

3.     Jonah’s prayer, remarkable for its lack of direct petition, speaks of distress and passes into thanksgiving.  What was the fundamental cause of his distress? What caused the transition?

Notes

1.      1:3. ‘Flee…from the presence of the Lord’: this amounted to renouncing his vocation, for the prophet stood in the presence of the Lord (cf. 1. Ki.17:1).

2.     1:17. “three days and three nights’: cf. Mt. 12:40.  According to Jewish reckoning this may mean one full day with the night before and the night after.

3.     2:7. To the Hebrews, ‘remembering’ could be much more than a bare mental process; he could mean recreating to the imagination the historic deeds of the Lord; the use of the word repays detailed study.  With this passage cf. Pss. 77:11, 12; 105:4-6; 143:5.

4.     2:9. The vow was probably some sort of sacrificial thank-offering. Vowing is a biblical practice; but the Old testament counsels against hasty (Pr. 20:25) and empty (Ec. 5:5) vows.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 0 — The Book of Jonah

Study 0 From the Book of Jonah is: Jonah Introduction of the Book of Jonah

Introduction

Jonah is mentioned in 2 Ki. 14:25 as having predicted the victories of Jeroboam II by which the borders of the kingdom of Israel were greatly enlarged. If Jonah prophesied at the beginning of Jeroboam’s reign, he would precede Amos by about twenty years only. At that time Assyria was already a great power, and had begun to reach out westwards: in fact, Jeroboam’s victories were partly due to Assyrian raids upon Damascus and neighbouring states, which weakened these kingdoms. It would seem that Jonah was afraid of Assyria, whose cruelties were well known, and whose power was dreaded.

To this man came the commission to go to Nineveh and cry against it. One might have thought that such a commission would not be unwelcome, but to Jonah it was so hateful that he resolved rather to resign his prophetic office than obey it.  The book is the story of what happened.  It is one of the most remarkable books in the Bible, and rich in spiritual teaching.

Search The Scriptures —Study 10 — Matthew 7:13-29

Study 10 From the Book of Matthew is: Matthew 7:13-29

With this study we will pause briefly to study the small book of Jonah

    1.      In verses 13-23 what threefold responsibility does our Lord lay upon those who would enter His kingdom (verses 13-14); (b) as to a right discrimination between false and true (verses 15-20); and (c) as to the condition of being acknowledged by Him at the last (verses 21-23)?

2.     To what categories of men do verses 24-27 refer? In what way do the two houses differ? How is it possible to be building – yet building foolishly?

3.     Verses 15-20. In what way, may we tell the false prophet? Cf. Dt. 13: 1-5; 1 Jn. 4-6. Can you think of any modern guise in which he appears?

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Search The Scriptures —Study 9 — Matthew 7:1-12

Study 9 From the Book of Matthew is: Matthew 7:1-12

      1.      Compare verses 1-5 with verses 6, 16; and see Jn. 7:24.  If judging is not always wrong, what is our Lord here condemning?

      2.     What is he teaching of verses 7:12 on the practice of prayers? What place is there for persistency, and what place for trusting? Is there any conflict between these two ideas?

Note. Verse 6.  This indicates that, while Christians must not be guilty od condemning anyone, they must learn to discriminate in their witness cf. Pr. 9:8.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 8 — Matthew 6:19-32

Study 8 From the Book of Matthew is: Matthew 6:19-32

      1.     Verses 19-24 are a word to the rich. What should be a Christian’s attitude to material possessions? In what way do these verses portray the character and danger of worldliness?

     2.     Verses 25-34 are a word to the not-so-rich. Note the recurrence of the phrase ‘Do not be anxious’, and list the reasons given why anxiety is wrong.

Note.  Verse 23. An eye which is ‘not sound’ or ‘evil’ signifies a covetous or niggardly disposition. Cf. Dt. 15:9; Pr. 28:22; Mt. 20:15. (mg.)

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Search The Scriptures —Study 7 — Matthew 6: 1-18

Study 7 From the Book of Matthew is: Matthew 6: 1-18

     1.      What was wrong with the religion of the scribes and Pharisees, here called ‘hypocrites’ and what kind of religion does our Lord commend in contrast?  Cf. Je. 17:10.  How do you ‘practice your piety’ (verse 1)

     2.     In the Lord’s prayer, what may we learn (a) from the order of the petition, and (b) from the kind of subjects which are particularly mentioned? What must be our relation (a) to God, and (b) to our fellow-men, if we are to make it our prayer?

Note. Verses 2, 5, 16. The word ‘hypocrite’ means an actor, i.e., one who plays a part. 

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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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