Sunday, January 10, 2016

January 17, 2016 – The Great Commission – A Study of Matthew – Giving Up and Encouraging



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.”

Giving Up and Encouraging

Matthew 27:50-56 – New International Version (NIV)
50 “And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”
55 Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.”

When did Jesus give “up his spirit” (verse 50)?

What happened in the temple at the moment that Jesus “gave up his spirit” (verse 51)?

Whose bodies were “raised to life” (verse 52)?

Why did “the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus” exclaim “surely he was the Son of God” (verse 54)?

In your opinion, why did “many women” watch from a distance (verse 55)?

Why had the women, including “Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of Zebedee’s sons” followed Jesus (verses 55 and 56)?

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

Leviticus 16:1-4 - New International Version (NIV)
1 “The Lord spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron who died when they approached the Lord. The Lord said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron that he is not to come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place behind the curtain in front of the atonement cover on the ark, or else he will die. For I will appear in the cloud over the atonement cover.
“This is how Aaron is to enter the Most Holy Place: He must first bring a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. He is to put on the sacred linen tunic, with linen undergarments next to his body; he is to tie the linen sash around him and put on the linen turban. These are sacred garments; so he must bathe himself with water before he puts them on.”

When did the Lord speak to Moses (verse 1)?
What were the sons of Aaron doing when they died (verse 1)?
What was Moses to tell Aaron (verse 2)?
In your opinion, what is the significance of the curtain and the Most Holy Place (verse 2)?
Where will the Lord appear (verse 2)?
What is the first thing that Aaron is to do when he is preparing to enter the Most Holy Place (verse 3)?
How is the clothing that Aaron is to wear described (verse 4)?
What is Aaron to do before putting the clothing on (verse 4)?
In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?
In your opinion, how does the death of Aaron’s sons and the actions that Aaron is to take before going through the curtain to the Most Holy Place in Leviticus 16:1-4 help us to understand about the significance to the tearing of the curtain at the death of Jesus in Matthew 27:50-56?

Hebrews 10:19-25 – New International Version (NIV)
19 “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Why do we have “confidence to enter the Most Holy Place” (verse 19)?
How is the “way opened for us through the curtain” described (verse 20)?
What is the “way opened for us through the curtain” (verse 20)?
Who has a “great priest over the house of God” (verse 21)?
How should we “draw near to God” (verse 22)?
In your opinion, what does it mean to have “our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us” and “having our bodies washed with pure water” (verse 22)?
What should we “hold unswervingly to” (verse 23)?
Who should we “spur” on “toward love and good deeds” (verse 24)?
What should we not give up (verse 25)?
In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?
In your opinion, what has changed that would allow Paul to tell us that we “have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place” in Hebrews 10:19-25 in comparison to Aaron losing two sons and then needing to offer sacrifices and bath himself and wear special clothes in Leviticus 16:1-4?
In your opinion, at what moment described in the passage of Matthew 27:50-56 do you think that the “new and living way” that Paul talked about in Hebrews 10:19-25 was opened for us through the curtain?

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 – New International Version (NIV)
“Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

What does Paul not need to write about (verse 1)?
How will the “day of the Lord” come (verse 2)?
What will people be saying when “destruction will come on them suddenly” (verse 3)?
In your opinion, why is the impossibility of escaping the upcoming destruction described as “labor pains on a pregnant woman” (verse 3)?
Why should “brothers and sisters” not be surprised (verse 4)?
What are the brothers and sisters children of (verse 5)?
How should we be (verse 6)?
When do “those who sleep” sleep and get drunk (verse 7)?
What should we do with faith and love (verse 8)?
In your opinion, what does it mean to put “the hope of salvation” on as a helmet (verse 8)?
What did God appoint for us (verse 9)?
Why did Jesus die for us (verse 10)?
What should we do for each other (verse 11)?
In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how is Paul’s discussion in Hebrews 10:19-25 about having “confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus” then instructing us to encourage one another “all the more as you see the Day approaching” expanded on by his discussion in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 that “the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night” followed by the statement that “He died for us so that . . . we may live together with him” and instruction to “encourage one another and build each other up”?
In your opinion, how would you describe the difference in God’s relationship with people prior to Jesus dying on the cross as shown by Aaron and his sons in Leviticus 16:1-4 and after Jesus dying on the cross by Paul’s instruction to put “on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet” when he is discussing the coming “day of the Lord” in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11?

In your opinion, what does 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 show us about why Jesus “gave up his spirit” in Matthew 27:50-56?
In your opinion, what do these passages, from Matthew, Leviticus, Hebrews and 1 Thessalonians show us about the Great Commission?


Next, back to Matthew 27:57 – (sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

No comments:

Post a Comment