June 7, 2026 – A Study of Matthew – Witnesses

Witnesses

Exodus 33:12-23 – New International Version (NIV)

¹² Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ ¹³ If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”

¹⁴ The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

¹⁵ Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. ¹⁶ How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”

¹⁷ And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”

¹⁸ Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”

¹⁹ And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. ²⁰ But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”

²¹ Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. ²² When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. ²³ Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”

What doesn’t Moses know (verse 12)?

What did Moses want the Lord to do if He “was pleased” with him (verse 13)?

How did the Lord reply to Moses (verse 14)?

When did Moses not want the Lord to send them (verse 15)?

In your opinion, why does Moses want people to know God is pleased with them (verse 16)?

Why will the Lord do what Moses has asked (verse 17)?

What did Moses want to see (verse 18)?

Who will the Lord have mercy on (verse 19)?

What can no one see and live (verse 20)?

Where can Moses stand (verse 21)?

What will the Lord do for Moses when His “glory passes by” (verse 22)?

What will Moses be allowed to see (verse 23)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about God’s glory?

Matthew 17:1-13 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. ² There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. ³ Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

⁴ Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

⁵ While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

⁶ When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. ⁷ But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” ⁸ When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

⁹ As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

¹⁰ The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”

¹¹ Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. ¹² But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” ¹³ Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.

Where did Jesus take Peter, James and John (verse 1)?

How is He described when He is “transfigured” (verse 2)?

Who appeared and talked with Jesus (verse 3)?

What was Peter ready to do (verse 4)?

What did the voice from the cloud say (verse 5)?

How did Peter, James and John react to the voice (verse 6)?

What did Jesus tell them (verse 7)?

When could Peter, James and John tell what they had seen (verse 9)?

Who did the “teachers of the law” say must come first (verse 10)?

What would the one who comes first do (verse 11)?

What is the “Son of Man” going to do “at their hands” (verse 12)?

Who had Jesus been talking about (verse 13)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about God’s glory?

In your opinion, how is the experience of being in God’s presence different for Moses in Exodus 33:12-23 than for Peter, James and John in Matthew 17:1-17?

2 Corinthians 3:7-18 - New International Version (NIV)

⁷ Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, ⁸ will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? ⁹ If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! ¹⁰ For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. ¹¹ And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

¹² Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. ¹³ We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. ¹⁴ But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. ¹⁵ Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. ¹⁶ But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. ¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸ And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

What did the “ministry that brought death” come with (verse 7)?

What will be more glorious than “the ministry that brought condemnation” (verse 9)?

What does “what was glorious” not have “in comparison with the surpassing glory” (verse 10)?

What will have greater glory than “what was transitory” (verse 11)?

Why are we “very bold” (verse 12)?

What did Moses do (verse 13)?

How can the veil be taken away (verse 14)?

What happens “when Moses is read” (verse 15)?

When is the veil taken away (verse 16)?

Where is “freedom” (verse 17)?

Who are “being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory” (verse 18)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about God’s glory?

In your opinion, how do you explain the difference between God protecting Moses until His glory had passed by in Exodus 33:12-23 and Christians being able to be transformed by the “Lord’s glory” in 2 Corinthians 3:7-18?

In your opinion, how is the way Jesus was transfigured in Matthew 17:1-13 related to the way Christians are “transformed into his image” in 2 Corinthians 3:7-18?

2 Peter 1:16-18 - New International Version (NIV)

¹⁶ For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. ¹⁷ He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” ¹⁸ We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.

When did Peter not “follow cleverly devised stories” (verse 16)?

What was Peter an eyewitness of (verse 16)?

Whose voice said, “this is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (verse 17)?

Where was Peter when he heard that voice (verse 18)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about God’s glory?

In your opinion, how is what Moses witnessed on the mountain in Exodus 33:12-23 different from what Peter and the others witnessed on the mountain in 2 Peter 1:16-18?

In your opinion, how does 2 Peter 1:16-18 help us understand what happened on the mountain in Matthew 17:1-13?

In your opinion, how is Peter in 2 Peter 1:16-18 an example of those who “are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory” in 2 Corinthians 3:7-18?

In your opinion, what do these passages from Exodus, Matthew, 2 Corinthians, and 2 Peter teach us teach us about God’s mercy?

In your opinion, how can we be witnesses for Jesus today?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

May 31, 2026 – A Study of Matthew – Following Jesus

Following Jesus

Isaiah 53:7-12 – New International Version (NIV)

⁷ He was oppressed and afflicted,
    yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
    and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
    so he did not open his mouth.
⁸ By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
    Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
    for the transgression of my people he was punished.
⁹ He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
    and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
    nor was any deceit in his mouth.

¹⁰ Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
    and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
    and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
¹¹ After he has suffered,
    he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
    and he will bear their iniquities.
¹² Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
    and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
    and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
    and made intercession for the transgressors.

Where will God’s servant be led (verse 7)?

Why was He punished (verse 8)?

What was He assigned (verse 9)?

What does the Lord make His life (verse 10)?

When will He “be satisfied” (verse 11)?

Where will He be given “a portion” (verse 12)?

Who did He make “intercession for” (verse 12)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about being children of God?

Matthew 16:21-28 - New International Version (NIV)

²¹ From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

²² Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”

²³ Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

²⁴ Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ²⁵ For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. ²⁶ What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? ²⁷ For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.

²⁸ “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

What did Jesus explain to His disciples (verse 21)?

Who rebuked Jesus (verse 22)?

What kind of concerns did Jesus say Peter had (verse 23)?

Who must “deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (verse 24)?

What will those who lose their life for Jesus find (verse 25)?

In your opinion, “what can anyone give in exchange for their soul” (verse 26)?

How will each person be rewarded (verse 27)?

What will some not taste before “they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom” (verse 28)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about being children of God?

In your opinion, how does Isaiah 53:7-12 help us understand what the “concerns of God” are that Jesus mentioned in Matthew 16:21-28?

Romans 8:5-17 - New International Version (NIV)

⁵ Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. ⁶ The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷ The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. ⁸ Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

⁹ You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. ¹⁰ But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. ¹¹ And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

¹² Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. ¹³ For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

¹⁴ For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. ¹⁵ The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” ¹⁶ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. ¹⁷ Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Who has their minds set on, “what the Spirit desires” (verse 5)?

What is “the mind governed by the flesh” (verse 6)?

What does the “mind governed by the flesh” not do (verse 7)?

Who “cannot please God” (verse 8)?

What realm are the people who “the Spirit of God lives in” in (verse 9)?

Who “gives life because of righteousness” (verse 10)?

What will “the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead” do if He is living in you (verse 11)?

What do “brothers and sisters” hot have an obligation to (verse 12)?

How do Christians “put to death the misdeeds of the body” (verse 13)?

Who are children of God” (verse 14)?

What has the Spirit “brought about” in those who receive Him (verse 15)?

Who does the Spirit testify with (verse 16)?

What do we share with Christ “in order that we may also share in his glory” (verse 17)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about being children of God?

In your opinion, how does the servant in Isaiah 53:7-12 display the “mind governed by the Spirit” described in Romans 8:5-17?

In your opinion, how does Romans 8:5-17 help us better understand the disagreement between Peter and Jesus in Matthew 16:21-28?

1 Peter 4:7-11 - New International Version (NIV)

⁷ The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. ⁸ Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. ⁹ Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. ¹⁰ Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. ¹¹ If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

What is near (verse 7)?

How should Christians prepare to pray (verse 7)?

What “covers a multitude of sins” (verse 8)?

What should not accompany hospitality (verse 9)?

Who should “use whatever gift you have received to serve others” (verse 10)?

How should the one who speaks speak (verse 11)?

How should the one who serves serve (verse 11)?

How should God be praised (verse 11)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about being children of God?

In your opinion, how does the servant in Isaiah 53:7-12 fulfill the instructions in 1 Peter 4:7-11?

In your opinion, how does 1 Peter 4:7-11 help us understand how to follow Jesus’s instructions about being a disciple in Matthew 16:21-28?

In your opinion, what does 1 Peter 4:7-11 teach us about how to be children of God as instructed by Romans 8:5-17?

In your opinion, what do these passages from Isaiah, Matthew, Romans, and 1 Peter teach us about following Jesus?

In your opinion, what does it mean to be led by the Spirit today?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

May 25, 2026 – A Study of Matthew – Like “a Son of Man”

Like a “Son of Man”

Daniel 7:9-14 – New International Version (NIV)

⁹ “As I looked,

“thrones were set in place,
    and the Ancient of Days took his seat.
His clothing was as white as snow;
    the hair of his head was white like wool.
His throne was flaming with fire,
    and its wheels were all ablaze.
¹⁰ A river of fire was flowing,
    coming out from before him.
Thousands upon thousands attended him;
    ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
The court was seated,
    and the books were opened.

¹¹ “Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire. ¹² (The other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time.)

¹³ “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. ¹⁴ He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

Who “took his seat” (verse 9)?

What “were opened” (verse 10)?

What happened to the body of the beast (verse 11)?

Who “were allowed to live for a period of time” (verse 12)?

Who came “with the clouds of heaven” (verse 13)?

What was He given (verse 14)?

How long will His kingdom last (verse 14)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about the “one like a son of man”?

Matthew 16:13-20 - New International Version (NIV)

¹³ When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

¹⁴ They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

¹⁵ “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

¹⁷ Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. ¹⁸ And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. ¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” ²⁰ Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

What did Jesus ask his disciples (verse 13)?

What was their answer (verse 14)?

How did Simon Peter answer the question, “who do you say I am” (verses 15 and 16)?

Who revealed the answer to “Simon son of Jonah” (verse 17)?

What will not overcome Christ’s church (verse 18)?

What did Jesus say would be given to Peter (verse 19)?

What did Jesus order the disciples not tell anyone (verse 20)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about the “one like a son of man”?

In your opinion, what does Daniel 7:9-14 help us understand about the title that Jesus calls Himself in His question to the disciples in Matthew 16:13-20?

 

1 Thessalonians 1:2-10 - New International Version (NIV)

² We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. ³ We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁴ For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, ⁵ because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. ⁶ You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. ⁷ And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. ⁸ The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, ⁹ for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, ¹⁰ and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

How often does Paul mention the church in Thessalonica in his prayers (verse 2)?

What does Paul say inspires the endurance of the church (verse 3)?

Who chose the “brothers and sisters” (verse 4)?

How did the gospel come to them (verse 5)?

What were they in the midst of when they welcomed the message (verse 6)?

What did they become (verse 7)?

Where is the “faith in God” known (verse 8)?

What did they turn to God from (verse 9)?

Who do they wait for (verse 10)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about the “one like a son of man”?

In your opinion, how does 1 Thessalonians 1:2-10 reveal the impact in our daily lives of the glorious God the Father and Son, as presented in Daniel 7:9-14?

In your opinion, what does 1 Thessalonians 1:2-10 help us understand about the significance of Peter’s statement that Jesus is “the Son of the living God” in Matthew 16:13-20?

Revelation 1:12-18 - New International Version (NIV)

¹² I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, ¹³ and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. ¹⁴ The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. ¹⁵ His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. ¹⁶ In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.

¹⁷ When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. ¹⁸ I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

Why did John turn (verse 12)?

Who was the one he saw like (verse 13)?

What was His hair like (verse 14)?

How did His voice sound (verse 15)?

What was His face like (verse 16)?

How did John react (verse 17)?

What was He (verse 18)

How long will He be alive (verse 18)?

What does He hold (verse 18)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about the “one like a son of man”?

In your opinion, how are the vision of Daniel in Daniel 7:9-14 and the vision of John in Revelation 1:12-18 similar?  How are they different?

In your opinion, what is the significance of Jesus saying that He will give Peter “the keys of the kingdom of heaven” in Matthew 16:13-20 and that John quotes Jesus as saying that He holds “the keys of death and Hades” in Revelation 1:12-18?

In your opinion, how can a people in the midst of “severe suffering” like the church of Thessalonica in 1 Thessalonians 1:2-10 find comfort in the “one like a son of man” as described in Revelation 1:12-18?

In your opinion, what do these passages from Daniel, Matthew, 1 Thessalonians, and Revelation teach us about the power of Jesus?

In your opinion, how does the Lord’s message ring out from us today?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)