May 17, 2026 – A Study of Matthew – Love the Truth

Love the Truth

Psalm 118:1-9 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    his love endures forever.

² Let Israel say:
    “His love endures forever.”
³ Let the house of Aaron say:
    “His love endures forever.”
⁴ Let those who fear the Lord say:
    “His love endures forever.”

⁵ When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord;
    he brought me into a spacious place.
⁶ The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.
    What can mere mortals do to me?
⁷ The Lord is with me; he is my helper.
    I look in triumph on my enemies.

⁸ It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust in humans.
⁹ It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust in princes.

What “endures forever” (verse 1)?

Who is to say “His love endures forever” (verse 2)?

What is the house of Aaron to say (verse 3)?

Who are those who say “His love endures forever” to fear (verse 4)?

What did the Psalmist do “when hard pressed” (verse 5)?

Why will the Psalmist “not be afraid” (verse 6)?

Who is the Psalmist’s helper (verse 7)?

What is better than to trust “in humans” and “in princes” (verses 8 and 9)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what truth about God does this passage reveal?

Matthew 16:1-12 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.

² He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ ³ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. ⁴ A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away.

⁵ When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. ⁶ “Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

⁷ They discussed this among themselves and said, “It is because we didn’t bring any bread.”

⁸ Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? ⁹ Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? ¹⁰ Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? ¹¹ How is it you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” ¹² Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

How did the Pharisees and Sadducees test Jesus (verse 1)?

What did Jesus say they would think when the sky was red in the evening (verse 2)?

What can the Pharisees and Sadducees not interpret (verse 3)?

Who looks for a sign (verse 4)?

What did the disciples forget (verse 5)?

What were the disciples to be on their guard against (verse 6)?

What did the disciples think this warning was about (verse 7)?

In your opinion, what does having little faith have to do with not understanding the warning (verse 8)?

What should the disciples have remembered (verses 9 and 10)?

What was Jesus not talking about (verse 11)?

What was Jesus warning them to guard against (verse 12)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what truth about God does this passage reveal?

In your opinion, how does the disciples’ difficulty understanding Jesus in Matthew 16:1-12 help us understand the challenges of following the guidance in Psalm 118:1-9 to take refuge in the Lord instead of trusting in humans?

Acts 4:1-12 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. ² They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. ³ They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. ⁴ But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.

⁵ The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. ⁶ Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. ⁷ They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”

⁸ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! ⁹ If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, ¹⁰ then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. ¹¹ Jesus is

“‘the stone you builders rejected,
    which has become the cornerstone.’

¹² Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

What were Peter and John doing when the “priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to” them (verse 1)?

Why were they “greatly disturbed” (verse 2)?

Where did they put Peter and John (verse 3)?

What did many people who had heard the message do (verse 4)?

Who met in Jerusalem (verse 5)?

What was Annas (verse 6)?

What question did they ask Peter and John (verse 7)?

Who filled Peter (verse 8)?

In your opinion, why does Peter begin by mentioning the “act of kindness” (verse 9)?

What did Peter say that “the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth” has done (verse 10)?

Who is “the cornerstone” (verse 11)?

Where is salvation found (verse 12)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what truth about God does this passage reveal?

In your opinion, how do Peter and John in Acts 4:1-12 demonstrate what it means to “take refuge in the Lord” in Psalms 118:1-9?

In your opinion, what can we learn about heeding the warning of Jesus in Matthew 16:1-12 to “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees” by Peter and John in Acts 4:1-12?

2 Thessalonians 2:7-17 - New International Version (NIV)

⁷ For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. ⁸ And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. ⁹ The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, ¹⁰ and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. ¹¹ For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie ¹² and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.

¹³ But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. ¹⁴ He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

¹⁵ So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.

¹⁶ May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, ¹⁷ encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

What is already at work (verse 7)?

How will the lawless one be overthrown (verse 8)?

What will be “in accordance with how Satan works” (verse 9)?

Why do people perish (verse 10)?

What does God send them (verse 11)?

Who will be condemned (verse 12)?

How are “brothers and sisters” saved (verse 13)

What do those who are “called through our gospel” share (verse 14)?

What should the “brothers and sisters” do (verse 15)?

Who will “encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word” (verses 16 and 17)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what truth about God does this passage reveal?

In your opinion, how does the wisdom of Psalm 118:1-9 help us with the challenges of 2 Thessalonians 2:7-17?

In your opinion, what don Matthew 16:1-12 and 2 Thessalonians 2:7-17 teach us about desiring signs?

In your opinion, how does the message of Peter and John in Acts 4:1-12 help us see through the lies described in 2 Thessalonians 2:7-17?

In your opinion, what do these passages from Psalms, Matthew, Acts, and 2 Thessalonians reveal about how the world can make it hard for Christians to believe that God’s “love endures forever”?

In your opinion, how does discerning the truth about God help Christians to “stand firm and hold fast” in the midst of the pressures and challenges of the world?