Saturday, May 31, 2014

June 8, 2014 – The Great Commission – A Study of Matthew – Hearing and Refining

June 8, 2014 – The Great Commission – A Study of Matthew – Hearing and Refining


Matthew 28:18-20 – New International Version (NIV) – The Great Commission
18 “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Hearing and Refining

Matthew 11:1-15 – New International Version (NIV)
1 “After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.
When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”
Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written:
“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
    who will prepare your way before you.’
11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. 15 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
Where did Jesus go to teach and preach after he finished instructing his twelve disciples (verse 1)?

Where was John the Baptist at this time (verse 2)?

What did John send his disciples to ask Jesus (verse 3)?

In your opinion, why did John ask this question (verse 3)?

What were John’s disciples to report to John (verses 4 & 5)?

Who is blessed (verse 6)?

When did Jesus begin to speak about John (verse 7)?

In your opinion, why did Jesus begin his discussion about John with questions (verses 7 & 8 & 9)?

What did Jesus say that John was (verse 9)?

Who does the prophecy that Jesus quoted say that John is (verse 10)?

Even though no one born of women “has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist” how does he compare with those in the kingdom of heaven (verse 11)?

How long has the kingdom of heaven been subjected to violence (verse 12)?

What did “all the Prophets and the Law” do “until John” (verse 13)?

In your opinion, why does Jesus say “if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come” (verse 14)?

Who is supposed to hear (verse 15)?
In your opinion, what does this passage from Matthew 11:1-15 show us about the Great Commission?

Isaiah 29:17-24 – New International Version (NIV)
17 “In a very short time, will not Lebanon be turned into a fertile field
    and the fertile field seem like a forest?
18 In that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll,
    and out of gloom and darkness
    the eyes of the blind will see.
19 Once more the humble will rejoice in the Lord;
    the needy will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
20 The ruthless will vanish,
    the mockers will disappear,
    and all who have an eye for evil will be cut down—
21 those who with a word make someone out to be guilty,
    who ensnare the defender in court
    and with false testimony deprive the innocent of justice.
22 Therefore this is what the Lord, who redeemed Abraham, says to the descendants of Jacob:
“No longer will Jacob be ashamed;
    no longer will their faces grow pale.
23 When they see among them their children,
    the work of my hands,
they will keep my name holy;
    they will acknowledge the holiness of the Holy One of Jacob,
    and will stand in awe of the God of Israel.
24 Those who are wayward in spirit will gain understanding;
    those who complain will accept instruction.”
What is the fertile field that Lebanon will be turned into seem like (verse 17)?
Who will hear the words of the scroll (verse 18)?
Who will see out of the gloom and darkness (verse 18)?
In your opinion, why will the humble rejoice in the Lord (verse 19)?
In your opinion, why will the needy rejoice in the Holy One of Israel (verse 19)?
What will the ruthless do (verse 20)?
Who will be cut down (verses 20 & 21)?
In your opinion, what is the significance of identifying the Lord as the one who “redeemed Abraham” (verse 22)?
What three things will “Jacob” do when “they see among them their children, the work of my hands” (verse 23)?
            1)
            2)
            3)
Who will gain understanding (verse 24)?
Who will accept instruction (verse 24)?
In your opinion, since this passage from Isaiah 29:17-24 seems to be referenced by Jesus in His response to John the Baptist in Matthew 11:1-15 what message may Jesus be sending to John the Baptist?
In your opinion, what does this passage from Isaiah show us about the Great Commission?

Malachi 3:1-5 – New International Version (NIV)
1“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty.
But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the Lord, as in days gone by, as in former years.
“So I will come to put you on trial. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive the foreigners among you of justice, but do not fear me,” says the Lord Almighty.”
Who will be sent (verse 1)?
What will the Lord do (verse 1)?
In your opinion, why will it be hard to “endure the day of his coming” (verse 2)?
Who will the Lord purify (verse 3)?
What will the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem be (verse 4)?
Who will be put on trial (verse 5)?
In your opinion, why does the list of those who God will testify against end in “but do not fear me” (verse 5)?
In your opinion, how do we reconcile the Lord, who in Isaiah 29:17-24 seems to give a message of hope with the Lord, who in Malachi 3:1-5 seems to be giving a message of refining and trail?
In your opinion, what message is Jesus giving to those who were listening to Him in Matthew 11:1-15 when He quotes from Malachi 3:1-5?
In your opinion, what does this passage from Malachi show us about the Great Commission?  
  
Revelation 3:14-22 – New International Version (NIV)
14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Whose words are sent to the church in Laodicea (verse 14)?

In your opinion, why would God say “I wish you were either one or the other” about the deeds of the people in Laodicea (verse 15)?

What will happen because the people of Laodicea are “lukewarm – neither hot nor cold” (verse 16)?

In your opinion, why would people who are “wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked” say “I am rich” (verse 17)?

In your opinion, what should the people of Laodicea use to “buy from be gold refined in the fire” (verse 18)?

How does God treat those who are loved (verse 19)?

Where is God (verse 20)?

Who will have a right to “sit with me on my throne” (verse 21)?

Who is supposed to hear (verse 22)?

In your opinion, how does John’s teaching about buying “gold refined in the fire” in Revelation 3:14-22 help us understand Malachi’s message “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver” in Malachi 3:1-5?

In your opinion, how does John’s teaching “So be earnest and repent” help us to understand Isaiah’s “Those who are wayward in spirit will gain understanding” in Isaiah 29:17-24?

In your opinion, what does this command in Revelation to “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches” help us to understand about Jesus command to “Whoever has ears, let them hear” from Matthew 11:1-15?
In your opinion, what does this passage from Revelation show us about the Great Commission?


Next, back to Matthew 11:16 – (sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

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