Sunday, December 27, 2015

January 3, 2016 – The Great Commission – A Study of Matthew – From Crucifixion to Triumph



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 Crucifixion to Triumph

Matthew 27:32-44 – New International Version (NIV)
32 “As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. 33 They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). 34 There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. 35 When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 36 And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. 37 Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews.
38 Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” 41 In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 42 “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.”

Where was Simon from (verse 32)?

What did the Roman soldiers force him to do (verse 32)?

What does Golgotha mean (verse 33)?

In your opinion, why did Jesus refuse to drink the wine mixed with gall (verse 34)?

When did the Roman soldiers divide “up his clothes by casting lots” (verse 35)?

How did they keep watch over Jesus (verse 36)?

What written charge was placed above His head (verse 37)?

Who was crucified with Jesus (verse 38)?

What did those who passed by and “hurled insults at him” do while they were hurling the insults (verse 39)?

In your opinion, why did the One who was the Son of God not come down from the cross like he was challenged to (verse 40)?

In your opinion, what is the truth hidden in the mocking of the chief priests, teachers of the law and elders (verses 42 and 43)?

Who else heaped insults on Jesus (verse 44)?

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

Isaiah 53:1-12 - New International Version (NIV)
1 “Who has believed our message
    and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
    and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
    nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by mankind,
    a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
    he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
Surely he took up our pain
    and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
    stricken by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
    and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
    each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed and afflicted,
    yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
    and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
    so he did not open his mouth.
By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
    Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
    for the transgression of my people he was punished.
He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
    and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
    nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
    and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
    and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
11 After he has suffered,
    he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
    and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
    and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
    and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
    and made intercession for the transgressors.”

In your opinion, why does this prophecy start out with a question that indicates that not many will believe (verse 1)?
Is there anything physical about the Savior to attract us (verse 2)?
How did mankind react to the Savior (verse 3)?
What did mankind think about the Savior when He “took up our pain and bore our suffering” (verse 4)?
How are we healed (verse 5)?
What have we, like sheep, done (verse 6)?
In your opinion, what is the significance of the fact that our Savior “did not open his mouth” (verse 7)?
Why was the Savior punished (verse 8)?
Who was the Savior “assigned a grave” with (verse 9)?
What does the Lord make “his life” (verse 10)?
What will “he” bear (verse 11)?
Who did “he” make intersession for (verse 12)?
In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?
In your opinion, how does Isaiah’s statementyet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted” in Isaiah 53:1-12 help explain the words of the chief priests, teachers of the law and elders in Matthew 27:32-44?

Philippians 2:5-11 – New International Version (NIV)
“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.”

Whose mindset are we to have in our “relationships with one another” (verse 5)?
What did Jesus not consider “something to be used to his own advantage” (verse 6)?
What was Jesus “made in” (verse 7)?
How did Jesus humble himself (verse 8)?
Where did God exalt Jesus to (verse 9)?
Who will bow to the name of Jesus (verse 10)?
What will every tongue acknowledge (verse 11)?
In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?
In your opinion, how do the Old Testament prophet Isaiah and the New Testament apostle Paul both speak so vividly of Jesus humiliation and of His exaltation in words that are so dissimilar and yet both so accurate?
In your opinion, how is the charge that was placed over the head of Jesus in Matthew 27:32-44 that “THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS” revealed to be totally inadequate by Philippians 2:5-11?

Revelation 17:3-14 – New International Version (NIV)
“Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. The name written on her forehead was a mystery:
babylon the great
the mother of prostitutes
and of the abominations of the earth.
I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus.
When I saw her, I was greatly astonished. Then the angel said to me: “Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns. The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because it once was, now is not, and yet will come.
“This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits. 10 They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while. 11 The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.
12 “The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. 13 They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. 14 They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”

Who did John see when the angel carried him into a wilderness (verse 3)?

What was in the golden cup (verse 4)?

In your opinion, who is “Babylon the Great” (verse 5)?

What was the woman drunk on (verse 6)?

Who is going to explain the “mystery of the woman and of the beast that she rides” (verse 7)?

In your opinion, why will “the inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world” be astonished when they see the beast (verse 8)?

What is called for (verse 9)?

How many kings are there (verse 10)?

Where is the eighth king, who “belongs to the seven” going (verse 11)?

How long will the ten kings “receive authority as kings along with the beast” (verse 12)?

What is the purpose of the ten kings (verse 13)?

Why will the Lamb win the war that the ten kings and the beast wages against Him (verse 14)?

Who will be with the Lamb (verse 14)?
In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, will the seven kings and the ten kings and the beast that John sees in Revelation 17:3-14 be among those that Paul says in Philippians 2:5-11 will “acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father”?
In your opinion, why is there a difference in the behavior of the Savior that Isaiah portrays in Isaiah 53:1-12 and the Savior that John sees in Revelation 17:3-14?

In your opinion, how is the triumph that is revealed in Revelation 17:3-14 greater than the salvation of Jesus from the cross that the chief priests, teachers of the law and elders say that they would believe in Jesus if God would “rescue him” from in Matthew 27:32-44?
In your opinion, what do these passages, from Matthew, Isaiah, Philippians and Revelation show us about the Great Commission?


Next, back to Matthew 27:45 – (sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

Saturday, December 19, 2015

December 27, 2015 – Son of a Woman and Son of God



Son of a Woman and Son of God

Luke 2:8-14 – New International Version (NIV)
8 “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Where were the shepherds living (verse 8)?
When were they “keeping watch over their flocks” (verse 8)?
Who appeared to them (verse 9)?
In your opinion, what does it mean that “the glory of the Lord shone around them” (verse 9)?
How did the shepherds react (verse 9)?
Who was the “good news that will cause great joy” for (verse 10)?
Who is the Savior who has been born in the town of David (verse 11)?
In your opinion, why does the angel say that the “baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger” will be a “sign to you” (verse 12)?
In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

Genesis 1:1-5 – New International Version (NIV)
1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.”

What did God do “in the beginning” (verse 1)?

How is the earth described (verse 2)?

Where is the darkness (verse 2)?

Who is “hovering over the waters” (verse 2)?

What happened when God said “let there be light” (verse 3)?

In your opinion, what was it about the light that God saw that it “was good” (verse 4)?

What did God call the light that He separated from the darkness (verse 5)?

What did God call the darkness that He separated from the light (verse 5)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?
In your opinion, how is it possible that the God who “created the heavens and the earth” in Genesis 1:1-4 is also the Lord that the shepherds of Luke 2:8-14 would be able to find as “a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger”?

John 1:1-14 - New International Version (NIV)
1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

When “was the Word” (verse 1)?
Who was the Word with (verse 1)?
Who was the Word (verse 1)?
What was made through the Word (verse 3)?
In your opinion, how is the life that is within the Word the “light of all mankind” (verse 4)?
Where does the light shine (verse 5)?
Why did John, the “man sent from God” come as a witness to testify concerning the light (verses 6 and 7)?
What was John’s relationship to the light (verse 8)?
Who does the “true light” give light to (verse 9)?
In your opinion, how can the “true light” give light to everyone and be in the world that was made through him and not be recognized (verses 9 and 10)?
Who did “not receive him” (verse 11)?
What did He give to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name” (verse 12)?
What did the Word become (verse 14)?
Who did the “one and only Son” come from (verse 14)?
In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?
In your opinion, what is the significance of God creating light in the darkness in Genesis 1:1-5 and John claiming that Jesus, the Word, was with God when that happened and is now “the light of all mankind” that shines in the darkness and that the “darkness has not overcome it” in John 1:1-14?
In your opinion, how much of the reason that “his own did not receive him” according to John 1:1-14 is because He came as “a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger” in Luke 2:8-14 instead of in a palace?

Galatians 4:4-7 – New International Version (NIV)
“But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.”

When did God send His Son (verse 4)?
How was God’s Son born (verse 4)?
What was God’s Son born under (verse 4)?
Why did God send His Son (verse 5)?
What does God send into the hearts of those who are adopted through the redemption given by God’s Son (verse 6)?
In your opinion, why does that Spirit call out “Abba, Father” (verse 6)?
Who are those who have been redeemed and are no longer slaves (verse 7)?
Why are we God’s heir (verse 7)?
In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, why did it take someone that Paul says in Galatians 4:4-7 was “born of a woman, born under the law” to give us what John in John 1:1-14 says is the “right to become children of God”?
In your opinion, why would God in Genesis 1:1-5 create the “heavens and the earth” in the beginning when He had to know that He would be the One that Paul talks about in Galatians 4:4-7 as being “born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law” when He had to know that the redemption would involve His death?

In your opinion, what does it mean that the One who sends the Spirit of His Son, who says “Abba, Father” into our hearts according to Paul in Galatians 4:4-7 was willing to send His Son to be “wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger” in Luke 2:8-14?
In your opinion, what do these passages, from Luke, Genesis, John and Galatians show us about our Lord and our salvation?


Next, back to Matthew 27:32 – (sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

December 20, 2015 – Blessing and Sacrifice



Blessing and Sacrifice

Luke 1:39-45 – New International Version (NIV)
39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

Who “got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea” (verse 39)?
Who did she greet (verse 40)?
Who leaped (verse 41)?
Who was filled with the Holy Spirit (verse 41)?
What did Elizabeth say was blessed (verse 42)?
In your opinion, why did Elizabeth say that “why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me” (verse 43)?
Why did the baby in Elizabeth’s womb leap (verse 44)?
Who does Elizabeth say is blessed (verse 45)?
In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

Micah 5:2-5a – New International Version (NIV)
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
    though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
    one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
    from ancient times.”
Therefore Israel will be abandoned
    until the time when she who is in labor bears a son,
and the rest of his brothers return
    to join the Israelites.
He will stand and shepherd his flock
    in the strength of the Lord,
    in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they will live securely, for then his greatness
    will reach to the ends of the earth.
And he will be our peace”

What is Bethlehem Ephrathah (verse 2)?

Who will come “out of you” (verse 2)?

How long will “Israel be abandoned” (verse 3)?

In your opinion, who are the “rest of his brothers” who are to return to “join the Israelites” (verse 3)?

How will He “stand and shepherd his flock” (verse 4)?

Why will they “live securely” (verse 4)?

What will He be (verse 5)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?
In your opinion, how are the promises that Elizabeth says that Mary believed in Luke 1:39-45 related to the prophecy in Micah 5:2-5a about Bethlehem Ephrathah?

Luke 1:46b-55 - New International Version (NIV)
“My soul glorifies the Lord
47     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has been mindful
    of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49   for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
    holy is his name.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
    from generation to generation.
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
    he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
    but has lifted up the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
    but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
    remembering to be merciful
55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
    just as he promised our ancestors.”

What “glorifies the Lord” (verse 46b)?
Who does Mary’s spirit rejoice in (verse 47)?
In your opinion, why does Mary say “he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant” (verse 48)?
Who has “done great things” for Mary (verse 49)?
What extends to “those who fear him” (verse 50)?
How has God dealt with those “who are proud in their inmost thoughts” (verse 51)?
In your opinion, why does Mary point out that “He has brought down rulers from their thrones” immediately before saying that “(He) has lifted up the humble” (verse 52)?
What has happened to the hungry (verse 53)?
Who has God remembered “to be merciful” to (verses 54 and 55)?
In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?
In your opinion, how does the various changes of circumstances that Mary sang about in Luke 1:46b-55 echo the change of circumstances predicted in Micah 5:2-5a?
In your opinion, how is the song of Mary in Luke 1:46b-55 a wonderful response to the blessing of Mary by Elizabeth in Luke 1:39-45?

Hebrews 10:5-10 – New International Version (NIV)
“Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:
“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
    but a body you prepared for me;
with burnt offerings and sin offerings
    you were not pleased.
Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—
    I have come to do your will, my God.’”
First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—though they were offered in accordance with the law. Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

In your opinion, what did Christ mean when He said “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me” (verse 5)?
What was God not pleased with (verse 6)?
Where was Christ written about (verse 7)?
Whose will did Christ come to do (verse 7)?
In your opinion, why was God not pleased with “sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings” even though they “were offered in accordance with the law” (verse 8)?
What is set aside and what is established (verse 9)?
How has we “been made holy” (verse 10)?
In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how is the “sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ” that Paul talks about in Hebrews 10:5-10 related to the mercy that Mary sings about in Luke 1:46b-55?
In your opinion, how do we reconcile the prophecy of Micah 5:2-5a thatHe will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord” with Paul’s statement in Hebrews 10:5-10 that “we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all”?

In your opinion, how is it amazing that Elizabeth’s statement in Luke 1:39-45 “blessed is the child you will bear” when you combine it with Paul’s statement in Hebrews 10:5-10 that “a body you prepared for me” knowing that this body was meant to be sacrificed to grant mercy to all who believe?
In your opinion, what do these passages, from Luke, Micah and Hebrews show us about our Lord and our salvation?


Next, back to Luke 2:41 – (sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

Monday, December 7, 2015

December 13, 2015 – The Great Commission – A Study of Matthew – Suffering and Waiting

December 13, 2015 – The Great Commission – A Study of Matthew – Suffering and Waiting


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.”

Suffering and Waiting

Matthew 27:27-31 – New International Version (NIV)
27 “Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. 30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31 After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.”

Who took Jesus to the Praetorium (verse 27)?

How many soldiers gathered around Him (verse 27)?

What did they the soldiers put on Him (verse 28)?

In your opinion, why did they put the crown of twisted thorns on His head (verse 29)?

Which hand did they put the staff in (verse 29)?

What did they do when they knelt in front of Him (verse 29)?

Where did they strike Him with the staff (verse 30)?

What did they do after they took off the robe and put His own clothes on Him (verse 31)?

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

Isaiah 42:1-7 - New International Version (NIV)
1 “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.”

Who will God “put my Spirit on” who will “bring justice to the nations” (verse 1)?
What will He not do (verse 2)?
In your opinion, what does it mean that “a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out” (verse 3)?
How will He “bring forth justice” (verse 3)?
In what will the islands “put their hope” (verse 4)?
What does “the Creator of the heavens” give to “its people” (verse 5)?
What does “the Creator of the heavens” give to “those who walk on it” (verse 5)?
What will the Lord who called His Servant “in righteousness” make His servant to be “for the people” (verse 6)?
What will the Lord who called His Servant “in righteousness” make His servant to be “for the Gentiles” (verse 6)?
Whose eyes will He open (verse 7)?
Who will be released from the dungeon (verse 7)?
In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?
In your opinion, how amazing is the accuracy of the prophecy in Isaiah 42:1-7 that says that my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight” would not “shout or cry out” and that Jesus would later endure the painful mockery of Matthew 27:27-31 without crying out or objecting?

Acts 13:44-52 – New International Version (NIV)
44 “On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy. They began to contradict what Paul was saying and heaped abuse on him.
46 Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. 47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us:
“‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,
    that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.
49 The word of the Lord spread through the whole region. 50 But the Jewish leaders incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. 51 So they shook the dust off their feet as a warning to them and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.”

Who gathered to “hear the word of the Lord” (verse 44)?
When were the Jews “filled with jealousy” (verse 45)?
How did the Jews treat Paul (verse 45)?
In your opinion, why did Paul and Barnabas “boldly” say “since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life” (verse 46)?
Who will Paul and Barnabas “now turn to” (verse 30)?
In your opinion, what did Paul means when he said that the Lord had commanded us “I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth” (verse 47)?
How did the Gentiles react when they heard Paul’s statement (verse 48)?
Who believed (verse 48)?
What happened to the “word of the Lord” (verse 49)?
Who did the Jewish leaders incite (verse 50)?
What was stirred up against Paul and Barnabas (verse 50)?
Why did Paul and Barnabas shake “the dust off their feet” (verse 51)?
What filled the disciples (verse 52)?
In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?
In your opinion, how do you reconcile the prophecy of Isaiah in Isaiah 42:1-7 that my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight” would be a light for the Gentiles” with Paul claiming that he and Barnabas were a “light for the Gentiles” in Acts 13:44-52?
In your opinion, how are the Jews of Acts 13:44-52 similar to the soldiers of Matthew 27:27-31; and how are they different?

1 Thessalonians 1:4-10 – New International Version (NIV)
“For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.”

What does Paul know about the “brothers and sisters loved by God” (verse 4)?
How did the gospel come to the “brothers and sisters” (verse 5)?
What were they in the midst of when they “welcomed the message” (verse 6)?
Who did the Thessalonians become “a model” to (verse 7)?
In your opinion, why had the Thessalonians “faith in God” become known everywhere (verse 8)?
What had the Thessalonians turned from and who had they turned to (verse 9)?
Who are the Thessalonians waiting for (verse 10)?
Who rescues us “from the coming wrath” (verse 10)?
In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how were Paul and Barnabas in Acts 13:44-52 filled with joy in the midst of persecution and the “brothers and sisters” of 1 Thessalonians 1:4-10 filled with joy “in the midst of severe suffering”?
In your opinion, how does the prophecy of Isaiah 42:1-7 about the servant and chosen one that a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out” anticipate the Savior of those who are “in the midst of severe suffering” like the Thessalonians of 1 Thessalonians 1:4-10?

In your opinion, what did the soldiers of Matthew 27:27-31 who put the robe and crown of thorns on Jesus, gave Him the staff, and bowed to Him and said “Hail, king of the Jews” not understand about the one who Paul says the ones who serve the living and true God wait for “his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath” in 1 Thessalonians 1:4-10?
In your opinion, what do these passages, from Matthew, Isaiah, Acts and 1 Thessalonians show us about the Great Commission?


Next, back to Matthew 27:32 – (sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)