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?

May 10, 2026 – A Study of Matthew – Content

Content

(Highlighted words are from the Greek (chortazo) means: To feed, to be filled to satisfaction, to satisfy the desire of anyone)

Ecclesiastes 5:8-15 – New International Version (NIV)

⁸ If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still. ⁹ The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.

¹⁰ Whoever loves money never has enough;
    whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.
    This too is meaningless.

¹¹ As goods increase,
    so do those who consume them.
And what benefit are they to the owners
    except to feast their eyes on them?

¹² The sleep of a laborer is sweet,
    whether they eat little or much,
but as for the rich, their abundance
    permits them no sleep.

¹³ I have seen a grievous evil under the sun:

wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners,
¹⁴     or wealth lost through some misfortune,
so that when they have children
    there is nothing left for them to inherit.
¹⁵ Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb,
    and as everyone comes, so they depart.
They take nothing from their toil
    that they can carry in their hands.

What should not surprise us (verse 8)?

Who takes “the increase from the land” (verse 9)?

What is the one “who loves wealth” never satisfied with (verse 10)?

What increases when “goods increase” (verse 11)?

Who is unable to sleep because of “their abundance” (verse 12)?

What “grievous evil” has been seen (verse 13)?

How does everyone depart (verse 15)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about priorities?

Matthew 15:29-39 - New International Version (NIV)

²⁹ Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down. ³⁰ Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. ³¹ The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.

³² Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.”

³³ His disciples answered, “Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?”

³⁴ “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.

“Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.”

³⁵ He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. ³⁶ Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. ³⁷ They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. ³⁸ The number of those who ate was four thousand men, besides women and children. ³⁹ After Jesus had sent the crowd away, he got into the boat and went to the vicinity of Magadan.

Where was Jesus when He “sat down” (verse 29)?

What did Jesus do for the people the “great crowds” brought Him (verse 30)?

How did the people react (verse 31)?

Why did Jesus have compassion for the people (verse 32)?

How did His disciples answer (verse 33)?

What did Jesus ask the disciples (verse 34)?

What did Jesus tell the crowd to do (verse 35)?

What happened to the loaves (verse 36)?

How much was left over after the people “were satisfied” (verse 37)?

How many ate (verse 38)?

When did Jesus get into the boat (verse 39)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about priorities?

In your opinion, how are the wealthy in Ecclesiastes 5:8-15 and the crowd listening to Jesus in Matthew 15:29-39 different?

Philippians 4:10-19 - New International Version (NIV)

¹⁰ I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. ¹¹ I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

¹⁴ Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. ¹⁵ Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; ¹⁶ for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. ¹⁷ Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. ¹⁸ I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. ¹⁹ And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Why did Paul rejoice (verse 10)?

What was Paul “not saying this” because (verse 11)?

What secret has Paul learned (verse 12)?

How does Paul do this (verse 13)?

What was good of the Philippians (verse 14)?

What have only the Philippians done (verse 15)?

What had the Philippians done for Paul when he “was in Thessalonica” (verse 16)?

What does Paul desire (verse 17)?

Why is Paul “amply supplied” (verse 18)?

How will God meet the Philippians needs (verse 19)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about priorities?

In your opinion, what could the Philippians Christians in Philippians 4:10-20 have taught the rich in Ecclesiastes 5:8-15?

In your opinion, how does the reason Jesus fed the 4,000 plus in Matthew 15:29-39 reflected in the Philippian Christians in Philippians 4:10-20?

James 2:14-26 - New International Version (NIV)

¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? ¹⁵ Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. ¹⁶ If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? ¹⁷ In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. ¹⁹ You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

²⁰ You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? ²¹ Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? ²² You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. ²³ And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. ²⁴ You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

²⁵ In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? ²⁶ As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

In your opinion, how does the illustration in verses 15 and 16 answer the questions of verse 14?

What is faith that is “not accompanied by action” (verse 17)?

What do the demons believe that causes them to shudder (verse 19)?

What was Abraham considered righteous for doing (verse 21)?

How was Abraham’s faith made complete (verse 22)?

What was Abraham called (verse 23)?

How is a person “considered righteous” (verse 24)

What was Rahab considered righteous for doing (verse 25)?

What is the “body without the spirit” (verse 26)?

What is “faith without deeds” (verse 26)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about priorities?

In your opinion, how is Ecclesiastes 5:8-15 an example of the consequences of resisting the instructions in James 2:14-26?

In your opinion, how are Jesus in Matthew 15:29-39 and the Philippian Christians in Philippians 4:10-20 examples that we can learn from as we read James 2:14-26?

In your opinion, what do these passages from Ecclesiastes, Matthew, Philippians and James teach us about the link between compassion and deeds of faith?

In your opinion, how do we learn to be content today?

 

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

May 3, 2026 – A Study of Matthew – Chosen People

Chosen People

Genesis 17:9-14 – New International Version (NIV)

⁹ Then God said to Abraham, “As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. ¹⁰ This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. ¹¹ You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. ¹² For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner—those who are not your offspring. ¹³ Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant. ¹⁴ Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”

Who was to keep God’s covenant (verse 9)?

What is the covenant they are to keep (verse 10)?

Who is the covenant between (verse 11)?

What instruction is given for those “bought with your money” (verse 12)?

How long is the covenant to last (verse 13)?

What will happen to the uncircumcised male (verse 14)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage help us understand about Jews and Gentiles?

Matthew 15:21-28 - New International Version (NIV)

²¹ Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. ²² A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”

²³ Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”

²⁴ He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”

²⁵ The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.

²⁶ He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

²⁷ “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

²⁸ Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.

Where did Jesus withdraw to (verse 21)?

Who cried out “Lord, Son of David” (verse 22)?

Who was “demon-possessed and suffering terribly” (verse 22)?

How did Jesus respond (verse 23)?

What did the disciples urge Jesus to do (verse 23)?

How did Jesus answer them (verse 24)?

What did the woman tell Jesus when she knelt before Him (verse 25)?

What did Jesus reply to the woman (verse 26)?

In your opinion, why can the woman accept the comparison to dogs (verse 27)?

What does Jesus recognize about the woman’s faith (verse 28)?

What happened to the daughter (verse 28)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage help us understand about Jews and Gentiles?

In your opinion, how does Genesis 17:9-14 help us understand the rejection of the woman by the disciples in Matthew 15:21-28?

Ephesians 2:11-22 - New International Version (NIV)

¹¹ Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— ¹² remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

¹⁴ For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, ¹⁵ by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, ¹⁶ and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. ¹⁷ He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. ¹⁸ For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

¹⁹ Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, ²⁰ built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. ²¹ In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. ²² And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

What were the Gentiles by birth called “by those who call themselves “the circumcision”” (verse 11)?

What were the Gentiles “without” (verse 12)?

How have those “who once were far away” been brough near (verse 13)?

What have the two groups been made into (verse 14)?

How was “the law with its commands and regulations” set aside (verse 15)?

How were the two groups reconciled “to God” (verse 16)?

What was preached “to you who were far away” and “to those who were near” (verse 17)?

Who do both groups have access to (verse 18)?

What have the foreigners and strangers become (verse 19)?

Who is the “chief cornerstone” (verse 20)?

What does the “whole building” rise to become (verse 21)?

Where does God live “by his Spirit” (verse 22)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage help us understand about Jews and Gentiles?

In your opinion, how does what is revealed in Ephesians 2:11-22 change the covenant made in Genesis 17:9-14?

In your opinion, how does Jesus’s interaction with the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15:21-28 help prepare for the revelations of Ephesians 2:11-22?

1 Peter 2:4-10 - New International Version (NIV)

⁴ As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— ⁵ you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ⁶ For in Scripture it says:

“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
    a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him
    will never be put to shame.”

⁷ Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,

“The stone the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone,”

⁸ and,

“A stone that causes people to stumble
    and a rock that makes them fall.”

They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.

⁹ But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. ¹⁰ Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Who has chosen “the living Stone” (verse 4)?

What are those like “living stones” being built into (verse 5)?

Who will “never be put to shame” (verse 6)?

What is the Stone “to those who do not believe” (verses 7 and 8)?

Why do people stumble (verse 8)?

What are the “chosen people” to declare (verse 9)?

Who are the ones who once “were not a people” (verse 10)

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

In your opinion, what does this passage help us understand about Jews and Gentiles?

In your opinion, how does Peter’s statement in 1 Peter 2:1-10 (10) “once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God” apply to the descendants of Abraham who are part of the covenant of Genesis 17:9-14?

In your opinion, what does the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15:21-28 help us understand about the “spiritual sacrificies” that 1 Peter 2:1-10 (5) says we are to offer?

In your opinion, what do 1 Peter 2:1-10 and Ephesians 2:11-22 help us understand about the building being built on the cornerstone of Christ?

In your opinion, what do these passages from Genesis, Matthew, Ephesians and 1 Peter teach us about Jews and Gentiles in God’s eyes?

In your opinion, how can the chosen faithfully declare God’s praises today?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)