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.”
Blindness and
Fruitfulness
Matthew 13:1-23
– New International Version (NIV)
1 “That
same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such
large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while
all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many
things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As
he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and
ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have
much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But
when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they
had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and
choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where
it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever
has ears, let them hear.”
10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to
the people in parables?”
11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the
kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever
has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have,
even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I
speak to them in parables:
“Though
seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:
“‘You
will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15 For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15 For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’
16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears
because they hear. 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and
righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear
what you hear but did not hear it.
18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When
anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil
one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown
along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to
someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But
since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or
persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The
seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the
worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it
unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to
someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a
crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
Where
did Jesus move to sit (verse 1)?
Why
did Jesus move to sit in the boat (verse
2)?
What did the farmer go out to do (verse
3)?
What happened to the seed that fell
along the path (verse 4)?
What happened to the seed that fell
on rocky places (verses 5 and 6)?
What happened to the seed that fell
among thorns (verse 7)?
In your opinion, why did the
disciples ask “Why do you speak to the
people in parables” (verse 10)?
Who has the knowledge of the “secrets
of the kingdom of heaven” been given to (verse 11)?
What will happen to “whoever does not have” (verse 12)?
In your opinion, why does Jesus
answer by saying “Though seeing, they do
not see; though hearing they do not hear or understand” (verse 13)?
Who was the prophet that Jesus was
paraphrasing and who is then quoted (verse 14)?
What reason, having to do with the
heart, is given that the people can hardly hear and have closed their eyes
(verse 15)?
What might happen if the eyes were
open and the ears could here and the hearts could understand (verse 15)?
Why are the disciples blessed (verse
16)?
In your opinion, what are the
disciples seeing and hearing that “many
righteous people” longed for (verse 17)?
How would you describe the person
represented by the seed sown along the path (verse 19)?
How does the person represented by
the rocky ground receive the word (verse 20)?
When does that person “quickly fall away” (verse 21)?
What chokes the word of those
represented by the thorns (verse 22)?
When the seed falls on the good soil
of one who “hears the word and
understands it” what happens (verse 23)?
In your opinion, what does this passage
from Matthew 13:1-23 show us about the Great Commission?
Isaiah 6:1-10 - New International Version (NIV)
1
“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on
a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above
him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their
faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And
they were calling to one another:
“Holy,
holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory.”
the whole earth is full of his glory.”
4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds
shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of
unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen
the King, the Lord Almighty.”
6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his
hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it
he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is
taken away and your sin atoned for.”
8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I
send? And who will go for us?”
And
I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
9 He said, “Go and tell this people:
“‘Be
ever hearing, but never understanding;
be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’
10 Make the heart of this people calloused;
make their ears dull
and close their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts,
and turn and be healed.”
be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’
10 Make the heart of this people calloused;
make their ears dull
and close their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts,
and turn and be healed.”
Who did Isaiah see “in the year that King Uzziah died” (verse 1)?
What were the seraphim doing with their
six wings (verse 2)?
In your opinion, why would the Lord
Almighty be described as “holy, holy,
holy” instead of just “holy”
(verse 3)?
What filled the temple when the seraphim
spoke (verse 4)?
Why did Isaiah think he was ruined (verse
6)?
What did the seraphim take from the
alter and touch Isaiah’s lips with (verses 6 and 7)?
How was Isaiah changed by the seraphim’s
action (verse 7)?
In your opinion, is it significant that
the Lord did not ask the question until after Isaiah’s guilt was removed (verse
8)?
What was Isaiah to tell the people (verse
9)?
In your opinion, how would Isaiah’s
statement to the people make their heart calloused, their ears dull, and close
their eyes (verse 10)?
If the people saw, heard and understood
what might happen (verse 10)?
In your opinion, what does the fact that
Isaiah had to have his guilt taken away and his sin atoned for before he got
the message to share in Isaiah 6:1-10 help us to understand the limitation of
those who could understand the parables in Matthew 13:1-23?
In your opinion, what does this passage
from Isaiah show us about the Great Commission?
Psalm 115 – New International Version (NIV)
1 “Not to us, Lord,
not to us
but to your name be the glory,
because of your love and faithfulness.
but to your name be the glory,
because of your love and faithfulness.
2 Why do the nations say,
“Where is their God?”
3 Our God is in heaven;
he does whatever pleases him.
4 But their idols are silver and gold,
made by human hands.
5 They have mouths, but cannot speak,
eyes, but cannot see.
6 They have ears, but cannot hear,
noses, but cannot smell.
7 They have hands, but cannot feel,
feet, but cannot walk,
nor can they utter a sound with their throats.
8 Those who make them will be like them,
and so will all who trust in them.
“Where is their God?”
3 Our God is in heaven;
he does whatever pleases him.
4 But their idols are silver and gold,
made by human hands.
5 They have mouths, but cannot speak,
eyes, but cannot see.
6 They have ears, but cannot hear,
noses, but cannot smell.
7 They have hands, but cannot feel,
feet, but cannot walk,
nor can they utter a sound with their throats.
8 Those who make them will be like them,
and so will all who trust in them.
9 All you Israelites, trust in the Lord—
he is their help and shield.
10 House of Aaron, trust in the Lord—
he is their help and shield.
11 You who fear him, trust in the Lord—
he is their help and shield.
he is their help and shield.
10 House of Aaron, trust in the Lord—
he is their help and shield.
11 You who fear him, trust in the Lord—
he is their help and shield.
12 The Lord
remembers us and will bless us:
He will bless his people Israel,
he will bless the house of Aaron,
13 he will bless those who fear the Lord—
small and great alike.
He will bless his people Israel,
he will bless the house of Aaron,
13 he will bless those who fear the Lord—
small and great alike.
14 May the Lord
cause you to flourish,
both you and your children.
15 May you be blessed by the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
both you and your children.
15 May you be blessed by the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
16 The highest heavens belong to the Lord,
but the earth he has given to mankind.
17 It is not the dead who praise the Lord,
those who go down to the place of silence;
18 it is we who extol the Lord,
both now and forevermore.
but the earth he has given to mankind.
17 It is not the dead who praise the Lord,
those who go down to the place of silence;
18 it is we who extol the Lord,
both now and forevermore.
Praise
the Lord.”
Why should glory go to the Lord’s name (verse
1)?
What question do the nations ask (verse 2)?
What does God do (verse 3)?
In your opinion, why does the psalmist
point out that “their idols” are “made by human hands” (verse 4)?
What keeps the idols from speaking, even
though they have mouths, and from seeing, even though they have eyes (verse 5)?
Who will be like the idols (verse 8)?
What are the differences between the
idols of verses 5, 6, and 7 and the Lord of verses 9, 10 and 11?
Who will the Lord bless (verses 12 and
13)?
In your opinion, is it appropriate to
say that as those who trust in idols become more like them and that the blessing of
the Lord to those who fear Him may be to become more like the Lord?
How is the Lord described (verse 15)?
Who do the heavens belong to (verse 16)?
Who is the earth given to (verse 16)?
Who does not praise the Lord (verse 17)?
When will we extol the Lord (verse 18)?
In your opinion, how does the discussion
of those who worship idols becoming like the idols of Psalm 115 help us to
understand the statement in Isaiah 6:1-10 about the hearts of the people
becoming calloused?
In your opinion, how does the statement at
the end of Psalm 115 that we who, by inference, do see and hear should “extol” and “praise the Lord” help us understand the fruitfulness of the good
soil in Matthew 13:1-23?
In your opinion, what does this passage
from Psalms show us about the Great Commission?
Colossians 1:3-14
– New
International Version (NIV)
3 “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
when we pray for you, 4 because we have heard of your faith in
Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people— 5 the
faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about
which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel 6 that
has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing
throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day
you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. 7 You learned it
from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on
our behalf, 8 and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.
9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have
not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the
knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit
gives, 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and
please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the
knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power
according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and
patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has
qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of
light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness
and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom
we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Who does Paul thank when he prays for
the Colossians (verse 3)?
What has Paul heard about the Colossians
(verse 4)?
Where does the faith and love of the
Colossians spring from (verse 5)?
What is the gospel doing (verse 6)?
Who is Epaphras (verses 7 and 8)?
When does Paul “ask God to fill” the Colossians with knowledge of His will (verse
9)?
What is “bearing fruit” linked to (verse 10)?
What is the desired outcome of the prayer that the Colossians be
“strengthened with all power according to his glorious might” (verse 11)?
What has the Father qualified the
Colossian Christians to share in (verse 12)?
Where are we rescued from (verse 13)?
What do we have through the “Son he loves” (verse 14)?
In your opinion, how does the contrast
of Paul’s discussion in Colossians 1:3-14 about being filled “with the
knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit
gives”
with the Psalmist discussion in Psalm 115 of how those who trust in idols
become like the idols they trust help us understand both truths better?
In your opinion, how does Paul’s statement
in Colossians 1:3-14 that we have redemption and the forgiveness of sins
through the Son of God bring a more complete understanding to God’s statement
in Isaiah 6:1-10 about turning and being healed?
In your opinion, how does Paul’s
discussion in Colossians 1:3-14 about bearing fruit in every good work through
the Spirit help us to understand the statement that Jesus made about the good
soil in Matthew 13:1-23?
In your opinion, what does this passage
from Colossians show us about the Great Commission?
Next, back to Matthew 13:24 – (sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)
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