October 5, 2014 – The Great Commission – A Study of Matthew – From Dogs to Brothers

  

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.”

From Dogs to Brothers

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 came to Jesus (verse 22)?

What was wrong with the daughter (verse 22)?

In your opinion, why did Jesus “not answer a word” (verse 23)?

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

Who was Jesus sent for (verse 24)?

How did the woman respond to Jesus (verse 25)?

In your opinion, why did Jesus say “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs” (verse 26)?

Did the woman contradict Jesus (verse 27)?

How did the woman change Jesus’ statement about bread (verse 27)?

What does Jesus say about the woman (verse 28)?

When was her daughter healed (verse 28)?

In your opinion, what does this passage from Matthew 15:21-28 show us about the Great Commission?

Joshua 9:1-26 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ “Now when all the kings west of the Jordan heard about these things—the kings in the hill country, in the western foothills, and along the entire coast of the Mediterranean Sea as far as Lebanon (the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites)— ² they came together to wage war against Joshua and Israel.

³ However, when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, ⁴ they resorted to a ruse: They went as a delegation whose donkeys were loaded with worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended. ⁵ They put worn and patched sandals on their feet and wore old clothes. All the bread of their food supply was dry and moldy. ⁶ Then they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the Israelites, “We have come from a distant country; make a treaty with us.”

⁷ The Israelites said to the Hivites, “But perhaps you live near us, so how can we make a treaty with you?”

⁸ “We are your servants,” they said to Joshua.

But Joshua asked, “Who are you and where do you come from?”

⁹ They answered: “Your servants have come from a very distant country because of the fame of the Lord your God. For we have heard reports of him: all that he did in Egypt, ¹⁰ and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan—Sihon king of Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth. ¹¹ And our elders and all those living in our country said to us, ‘Take provisions for your journey; go and meet them and say to them, “We are your servants; make a treaty with us.”’ ¹² This bread of ours was warm when we packed it at home on the day we left to come to you. But now see how dry and moldy it is. ¹³ And these wineskins that we filled were new, but see how cracked they are. And our clothes and sandals are worn out by the very long journey.”

¹⁴ The Israelites sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the Lord. ¹⁵ Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath.

¹⁶ Three days after they made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites heard that they were neighbors, living near them. ¹⁷ So the Israelites set out and on the third day came to their cities: Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth and Kiriath Jearim. ¹⁸ But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the assembly had sworn an oath to them by the Lord, the God of Israel.

The whole assembly grumbled against the leaders, ¹⁹ but all the leaders answered, “We have given them our oath by the Lord, the God of Israel, and we cannot touch them now. ²⁰ This is what we will do to them: We will let them live, so that God’s wrath will not fall on us for breaking the oath we swore to them.” ²¹ They continued, “Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers in the service of the whole assembly.” So the leaders’ promise to them was kept.

²² Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said, “Why did you deceive us by saying, ‘We live a long way from you,’ while actually you live near us? ²³ You are now under a curse: You will never be released from service as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”

²⁴ They answered Joshua, “Your servants were clearly told how the Lord your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you the whole land and to wipe out all its inhabitants from before you. So we feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we did this. ²⁵ We are now in your hands. Do to us whatever seems good and right to you.”

²⁶ So Joshua saved them from the Israelites, and they did not kill them. ²⁷ That day he made the Gibeonites woodcutters and water carriers for the assembly, to provide for the needs of the altar of the Lord at the place the Lord would choose. And that is what they are to this day.”

What did all the kings west of Jordan do (verse 2)?

Why did the people of Gibeon resort to a ruse (verse 3)?

How did they accomplish their ruse (verses 4 & 5)?

What did they request of Joshua (verse 6)?

In your opinion, why did the Israelites suspect something was wrong (verse 7)?

How did the people from Gibeon convince the Israelites (verses 9 through 13)?

What mistake did the Israelites make (verse 14)?

What did Joshua and the leaders of the assembly do (verse 15)?

How long did it take the Israelites to realize that they had been deceived (verse 16)?

What did the Israelites not do (verse 18)?

Why did the leaders let the Gibeonites live (verse 20)?

In your opinion, why were the people of Gibeon to be the woodcutters and water carriers (verse 21)?

What question did Joshua ask (verse 22)?

How did the Gibeonites answer (verse 24)?

What, in addition to the assembly, were the Gibeonites to carry water and wood for (verse 27)?

In your opinion, how are the people of Gibeon in Joshua 9:1-26 similar to the woman of Matthew 15:21-28?

In your opinion, what does this passage from Joshua show us about the Great Commission?

Romans 15:7-13 – New International Version (NIV)

⁷ “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. ⁸ For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed ⁹ and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written:

“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;
    I will sing the praises of your name.”

¹⁰ Again, it says,

“Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”

¹¹ And again,

“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles;
    let all the peoples extol him.”

¹² And again, Isaiah says,

“The Root of Jesse will spring up,
    one who will arise to rule over the nations;
    in him the Gentiles will hope.”

¹³ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

How are we to accept one another (verse 7)?

Why did Christ become a servant for the Jews (verse 8)?

What did Christ becoming a servant of the Jews do for the promises made to the patriarchs (verse 8)?

In your opinion, how does Christ becoming a servant of the Jews give Gentiles the ability to “glorify God for his mercy” (verses 8 and 9)?

What is written that is to happen among the Gentiles (verse 9)?

Who is to rejoice with God’s people (verse 10)?

Who is to “extol” the Lord (verse 11)?

Who will hope in the “Root of Jesse” (verse 12)?

What is the “God of hope” to fill you with (verse 13)?

In your opinion, why is the filling with joy and peace linked to “trust in him” (verse 13)?

Who will give power to overflow with hope (verse 13)?

In your opinion, how is the mercy demonstrated by Joshua and the people of Israel to the people of Gibeon in Joshua 9:1-26 a foreshadowing of the Gentiles glorifying God for His mercy in Romans 15:7-13 and how are they different?

In your opinion, how does knowing that there were several scriptures in the Old Testament anticipating the Gentiles worshipping Jesus and hoping in the “Root of Jesse” in Romans 15:7-13 change your understanding of the interaction with the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15:21-28?

In your opinion, what does this passage from Romans show us about the Great Commission?

    

Philemon 1:1-25 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ “Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker— ² also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier—and to the church that meets in your home:

³ Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

⁴ I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, ⁵ because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. ⁶ I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. ⁷ Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.

⁸ Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, ⁹ yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus— ¹⁰ that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. ¹¹ Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

¹² I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. ¹³ I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. ¹⁴ But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary. ¹⁵ Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— ¹⁶ no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.

¹⁷ So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. ¹⁸ If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. ¹⁹ I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self. ²⁰ I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. ²¹ Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.

²² And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.

²³ Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. ²⁴ And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.

²⁵ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.”

Who is Paul (verse 1)?

Who is Philemon (verse 1)?

What is the source of the grace and peace (verse 3)?

How is Philemon treated in Paul’s prayers (verse 4)?

In your opinion, why does Paul mention the love of Philemon for “all his holy people” (verse 5)?

What does Paul pray that the “partnership with us in the faith” will be effective in doing (verse 6)?

What does Paul prefer in his request of Philemon (verse 9)?

How does Paul describe himself (verse 9)?

How does Paul describe Onesimus (verse 10)?

In your opinion, why does Paul say that Onesimus was useless and is now useful (verse 11)?

What would Paul have liked (verse 13)?

In your opinion, what does Paul mean when he talks about a favor that does not seem forced but is voluntary (verse 14)?

What reason does Paul offer for Onesimus being separated from Philemon for a while (verses 15 & 16)?

Who is Philemon to charge for any wrong that Onesimus has done (verse 18)?

What does Philemon owe Paul (verse 19)?

How do you think that Paul hopes that Philemon will “refresh my heart in Christ” (verse 20)?

How does Paul feel about what Philemon will do (verse 21)?

What additional thing does Paul ask for from Philemon (verse 22)?

How does Paul bless Philemon in his closing (verse 25)?

In your opinion, how does Paul’s letter concerning an escaped slave and his owner in Philemon personify the instruction in Romans 15:7-13 to “accept one another”?

In your opinion, how is the Old Testament relationship of the Israelites and the Gentiles in Joshua 9:1-26 personalized and updated by the relationship of the brothers in Christ; Philemon and Onesimus?

In your opinion, does the acceptance of the Canaanite woman by Jesus in Matthew 15:21-28 provide a model for Philemon to accept Onesimus in Philemon?

In your opinion, what does this passage from Philemon show us about the Great Commission?

Next, back to Matthew 15:29 – (sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)