Saturday, July 5, 2014

July 13, 2014 – The Great Commission – A Study of Matthew – Repay Evil with Blessing


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.”

Repay Evil with Blessing

Matthew 12:15-21 – New International Version (NIV)
15 Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill. 16 He warned them not to tell others about him. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
18 “Here is my servant whom I have chosen,
    the one I love, in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
    and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
19 He will not quarrel or cry out;
    no one will hear his voice in the streets.
20 A bruised reed he will not break,
    and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out,
till he has brought justice through to victory.
21     In his name the nations will put their hope.”
Who followed Jesus (verse 15)?

How many of the ill did he heal (verse 15)?

In your opinion, why would he warn them not to tell others about him (verse 16)?

Who is the prophet that foretold these actions of Jesus (verse 17)?

How does God react to the “servant” (verse 18)?

What, after “my Spirit” is put on Him, will he servant proclaim to the nations (verse 18)?

In your opinion, why does Isaiah follow the statement that “he will proclaim justice” with the seemingly contradictory statement that “He will not quarrel or cry out” (verses 18 and 19)?

How is the servant’s actions to the people of the nations described by “a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out” (verse 20)?

What is the servant bringing justice through (verse 20)?

In what will the nations put their hope (verse 21)?
In your opinion, what does this passage from Matthew 12:15-21 show us about the Great Commission?

Isaiah 42:19 New International Version (NIV)
“Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
    my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
    and he will bring justice to the nations.
He will not shout or cry out,
    or raise his voice in the streets.
A bruised reed he will not break,
    and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;
    he will not falter or be discouraged
till he establishes justice on earth.
    In his teaching the islands will put their hope.”
This is what God the Lord says—
the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out,
    who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it,
    who gives breath to its people,
    and life to those who walk on it:
“I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness;
    I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
    to be a covenant for the people
    and a light for the Gentiles,
to open eyes that are blind,
    to free captives from prison
    and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.
“I am the Lord; that is my name!
    I will not yield my glory to another
    or my praise to idols.
See, the former things have taken place,
    and new things I declare;
before they spring into being
    I announce them to you.”
In your opinion, why are there slight differences between the passage as quoted in Matthew and the original in Isaiah verses 1-4?
How is God the Lord described (verse 5)?
What does God give to the earth’s people (verse 5)?
Who did the Lord call “in righteousness” (verse 6)?
What will the servant be to the people (verse 6)?
What will the servant be to the Gentiles (verse 6)?
In your opinion, why is the servant described as the one who “open eyes that are blind”, one who will “free captives from prison”, and one who will “release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness” (verse 7)?
What will the Lord not yield to idols (verse 8)?
Why is significant about the things being announced (verse 9)?
In your opinion, how does Isaiah’s discussion in 42:1-9 about the servant help us to understand the words of Jesus in Matthew 12:15-21?
In your opinion, what does this passage from Isaiah show us about the Great Commission?

2 Corinthians 4:1-14 – New International Version (NIV)
1 “Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself.”
Whose mercy allows Paul to have his ministry (verse 1)?
How does Paul present the truth (verse 2)?
In your opinion, why would the gospel be veiled to those who are perishing (verse 3)?
Who has blinded the minds of unbelievers (verse 4)?
Who does Paul preach (verse 5)?
What does God cause to shine in our hearts (verse 6)?
In your opinion, why does Paul say we have this “treasure in jars of clay” (verse 7)?
In your opinion, what can we learn from the statements in verses 8 and 9?
Why do we “carry around in our body the death of Jesus” (verse 10)?
What is revealed through those who are alive “being given over to death for Jesus’ sake” (verse 11)?
In your opinion, why does Paul say that “death is at work” in him and “life is at work in” the Corinthians (verse 12)?
What does Paul say happens “since we have that same spirit of faith” (verse 13)?
What does Paul say that we know (verse 14)?
In your opinion, how does this passage from 2 Corinthians 4:1-14 help us to understand about the new things prophesied in Isaiah 42:1-9?
In your opinion, how does the passage from 2 Corinthians help us understand the servant in Matthew 12:15-21?
In your opinion, what does this passage from 2 Corinthians show us about the Great Commission?

1 Peter 3:8-18 – New International Version (NIV)
“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For,
“Whoever would love life
    and see good days
must keep their tongue from evil
    and their lips from deceitful speech.
11 They must turn from evil and do good;
    they must seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
    and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.”
How are we to be (verse 8)?
What are we to do that is contrary with repaying evil with evil and insult with insult (verse 9)?
What should those who “would love life and see good days” do (verse 10)?
How do those who “would love life and see good days” react to peace (verse 11)?
In your opinion, what can we learn from what Peter quotes about God’s reaction to the “righteous” and to “those who do evil” (verse 12)?
What is the result if “you should suffer for what is right” (verse 13)?
How should we treat Jesus in our hearts (verse 14)?
What should we be able to do if someone asks for “the reason for the hope that” we have (verse 15)?
In your opinion, why should we respond to the question “with gentleness and respect” (verse 15)?
Why should we keep a clear conscience (verse 16)?
Who did Christ “the righteous” suffer once for the sins of the “unrighteous” to bring the “unrighteous” to (verse 18)?
In your opinion, who are the “unrighteous” (verse 18)?
In your opinion, what does the good hope that is revealed in 1 Peter 3:8-18 help us understand about how Paul could say “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” in 2 Corinthians 4:1-14?
In your opinion, how does the discussion of the suffering of Christ for sins in 1 Peter help us to understand the actions of the servant in Isaiah 42:1-9?
In your opinion, how does the command to “repay evil with blessing” in 1 Peter help us to understand about the way the “servant” of Matthew 12:15-21 “justice through to victory”?
In your opinion, what does this passage from 1 Peter show us about the Great Commission?


Next, back to Matthew 12:22 – (sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

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