January 12, 2025 – A Study of Matthew – Chosen By God

Chosen By God

Daniel 2:24-30 – New International Version (NIV)

²⁴ Then Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to execute the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, “Do not execute the wise men of Babylon. Take me to the king, and I will interpret his dream for him.”

²⁵ Arioch took Daniel to the king at once and said, “I have found a man among the exiles from Judah who can tell the king what his dream means.”

²⁶ The king asked Daniel (also called Belteshazzar), “Are you able to tell me what I saw in my dream and interpret it?”

²⁷ Daniel replied, “No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, ²⁸ but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come. Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind as you were lying in bed are these:

²⁹ “As Your Majesty was lying there, your mind turned to things to come, and the revealer of mysteries showed you what is going to happen. ³⁰ As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have greater wisdom than anyone else alive, but so that Your Majesty may know the interpretation and that you may understand what went through your mind.

What had Arioch been “appointed” to do (verse 24)?

What did Daniel tell Arioch (verse 24)?

When did Arioch take Daniel to the king (verse 25)?

What did he tell the king (verse 25)?

What was Daniel “also called” (verse 26)?

In your opinion, why was it important that Daniel answer the king’s question about the dream by saying “no wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery” (verses 26 and 27)?

Who “reveals mysteries” (verse 28)?

Who showed the king “what is going to happen” (verse 29)?

Why was the mystery revealed to Daniel (verse 30)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage reveal about the challenges those chosen by God may face in the world?

Matthew 2:1-12 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem ² and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

³ When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴ When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. ⁵ “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

⁶ “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
    who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

⁷ Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. ⁸ He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

⁹ After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. ¹¹ On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. ¹² And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

When did the “Magi from the east” come to Jerusalem (verse 1)?

What did the Magi ask (verse 2)?

What had the Magi seen (verse 2)?

Who was disturbed (verse 3)?

Who did Herod ask about “where the Messiah was to be born” (verse 4)?

Where was the Messiah to be born (verse 5)?

Who will come “out of” Bethlehem (verse 6)?

What did Herod secretly find out (verse 7)?

Why did Herod ask the Magi to report to him when they find the child (verse 8)?

How did the Magi find “the place where the child was” (verse 9)?

What did they do when “they saw the child with his mother Mary” (verse 11)?

How were the Magi warned not to go back to Herod (verse 12)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage reveal about the challenges those chosen by God may face in the world?

In your opinion, what do the revelation to king Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 2:24-30 and the revelation to the Magi in Matthew 2:1-12 have in common?

Acts 13:5-12 - New International Version (NIV)

⁵ When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.

⁶ They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, ⁷ who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. ⁸ But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. ⁹ Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, ¹⁰ “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? ¹¹ Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun.”

Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. ¹² When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.

What did they do “when they arrived in Salamis” (verse 5)?

Who did they meet in Paphos (verse 6)?

Why did the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, send for Barnabas and Saul (verse 7)?

Who opposed Barnabas and Saul (verse 8)?

How was Saul filled (verse 9)?

Who did Saul say that Elymas was (verse 10)?

What was going to happen to Elymas “for a time” (verse 11)?

How did the proconsul respond to this (verse 12)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage reveal about the challenges those chosen by God may face in the world?

In your opinion, what is the difference between the motivations of Daniel in Daniel 2:24-30 and Bar-Jesus (Elymas) in Acts 13:5-12?

In your opinion, why would King Herod in Matthew 2:1-12 and Bar-Jesus (Elymas) in Acts 13:5-12 both reject people who worship God?

1 Corinthians 1:26-31 – New International Version (NIV)

²⁶ Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. ²⁷ But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. ²⁸ God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, ²⁹ so that no one may boast before him. ³⁰ It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. ³¹ Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

Who does Paul want to “think of what you were when you were called” (verse 26)?

How many were “wise by human standards” (verse 26)?

Why did God choose “the foolish things of the world” (verse 27)?

Why did God choose “the lowly things of this world and the despised things-and the things that are not” (verse 28)?

Who can boast before God (verse 29)?

What has Jesus “become for us” (verse 30)?

What is written (verse 31)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage reveal about the challenges those chosen by God may face in the world?

In your opinion, how is Daniel in Daniel 2:24-30 an example of the foolish, weak and lowly people that 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 says that God choose?

In your opinion, how does the reaction of King Herod and “all Jerusalem with him” as contrasted with the Magi in Matthew 2:1-12 help us understand the difference between those who are viewed well by human standards and those who 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 indicates are chosen by God?

In your opinion, how is Bar-Jesus (Elymas) in Acts 13:5-12 an example of those not chosen by God as described in 1 Corinthians 1:26-31?

In your opinion, what do these passages from Daniel, Matthew, Acts and 1 Corinthians teach us about being chosen by God?

In your opinion, how can we who are chosen boast about God today?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

January 5, 2025 – A Study of Matthew – Choices

Choices

Isaiah 7:1-17 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ When Ahaz son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, was king of Judah, King Rezin of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel marched up to fight against Jerusalem, but they could not overpower it.

² Now the house of David was told, “Aram has allied itself with Ephraim”; so the hearts of Ahaz and his people were shaken, as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind.

³ Then the Lord said to Isaiah, “Go out, you and your son Shear-Jashub, to meet Ahaz at the end of the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Launderer’s Field. ⁴ Say to him, ‘Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid. Do not lose heart because of these two smoldering stubs of firewood—because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah. ⁵ Aram, Ephraim and Remaliah’s son have plotted your ruin, saying, ⁶ “Let us invade Judah; let us tear it apart and divide it among ourselves, and make the son of Tabeel king over it.” ⁷ Yet this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘It will not take place,
    it will not happen,
⁸ for the head of Aram is Damascus,
    and the head of Damascus is only Rezin.
Within sixty-five years
    Ephraim will be too shattered to be a people.
⁹ The head of Ephraim is Samaria,
    and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah’s son.
If you do not stand firm in your faith,
    you will not stand at all.’”

¹⁰ Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, ¹¹ “Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.”

¹² But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.”

¹³ Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? ¹⁴ Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. ¹⁵ He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, ¹⁶ for before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste. ¹⁷ The Lord will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since Ephraim broke away from Judah—he will bring the king of Assyria.”

Who did “King Rezin of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel” march up to fight (verse 1)?

Why were the hearts of Ahaz and his people shaken (verse 2)?

Where was Isaiah and his son, Shear-Jashub, to meet Ahaz (verse 3)?

In your opinion, why did the Lord tell Isaiah to call Rezin and Pekah “smoldering stubs of firewood” (verse 4)?

Who did they want to make the king of Judah (verse 6)?

What did the Sovereign Lord say (verse 7)?

How long would it take for Ephraim to “be too shattered to be a people” (verse 8)?

When would the King of Judah “not stand at all” (verse 9)?

What was Ahaz to ask for (verses 10 and 11)?

How did Ahaz respond (verse 12)?

What sign was the Lord going to give Ahaz (verse 14)?

What will happen before the “boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right” (verse 16)?

Who would the Lord bring on Judah (verse 17)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about the choices we have in responding to God?

Matthew 1:18-25 - New International Version (NIV)

¹⁸ This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

²⁰ But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

²² All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ²³ “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

²⁴ When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. ²⁵ But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Who was Mary “pledged to be married to” (verse 18)?

What happened before “they came together” (verse 18)?

Why was Joseph thinking about divorcing Mary quietly (verse 19)?

Who appeared to Joseph in a dream (verse 20)?

Why was Joseph not to “be afraid to take Mary home” (verse 20)?

What were they to name the son Mary would “give birth to” (verse 21)?

Why did “all this” take place (verse 22)?

What does Immanuel mean (verse 23)?

When did Joseph do “what the angel of the Lord had commanded him” (verse 24)?

What did Joseph name Mary’s son (verse 25)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about the choices we have in responding to God?

In your opinion, how does having the promise of the coming Immanuel at a time of threats great threats in Isaiah 7:1-17 influence your understanding of the promise of “God with us” in Matthew 1:18-25?

Romans 1:1-7 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— ² the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures ³ regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, ⁴ and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. ⁵ Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake. ⁶ And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.

⁷ To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people:

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

How did Paul describe his relationship with Jesus (verse 1)?

What was he “set apart” for (verse 1)?

Where were the gospel promises of the prophets recorded (verse 2)?

What was the Son’s “earthly life” as (verse 3)?

How did “the Spirit of holiness” appoint the Son of God in power by (verse 4)?

What did Paul receive from Jesus to “call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith” (verse 5)?

Who are the Gentiles called to belong to (verse 6)?

Who was the letter written to (verse 6)?

What did Paul pray that they would receive from “God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ” (verse 7)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about the choices we have in responding to God?

In your opinion, what does Romans 1:1-7 help us better understand about the son called Immanuel in Isaiah 7:1-17?

In your opinion, what does Romans 1:1-17 teach us about the power that Jesus would use to “save his people” as promised in Matthew 1:18-25?

1 John 2:12-25 – New International Version (NIV)

¹² I am writing to you, dear children,
    because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.
¹³ I am writing to you, fathers,
    because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
    because you have overcome the evil one.

¹⁴ I write to you, dear children,
    because you know the Father.
I write to you, fathers,
    because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
    because you are strong,
    and the word of God lives in you,
    and you have overcome the evil one.

¹⁵ Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. ¹⁶ For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. ¹⁷ The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

¹⁸ Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. ¹⁹ They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.

²⁰ But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. ²¹ I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. ²² Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son. ²³ No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

²⁴ As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. ²⁵ And this is what he promised us—eternal life.

Why was John writing to the “dear children” (verse 12)?

Who had the “young men” overcome (verse 13)?

Why did John write the “young men” (verse 14)?

Who does not have the “love for the Father” in them (verse 15)?

Where does “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” come from (verse 16)?

Who “lives forever” (verse 17)?

How does John know that it “is the last hour” (verse 18)?

What did “their going” show (verses 18 and 19)?

Why do the ones John was writing to “know the truth” (verse 20)?

“Who is the liar” (verse 22)?

Who “has the Father also” (verse 23)?

What is promised (verse 25)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about the choices we have in responding to God?

In your opinion, what does the choice between the Father and the world in 1 John 2:12-25 help us understand about the opportunity that Ahaz refused to seize in Isaiah 7:1-17?

In your opinion, how is Joseph’s choice of Mary and Jesus in Matthew 1:18-25 an example of the choice that the children, young men and fathers in 1 John 2:12-25 had made?

In your opinion, how is knowing that Jesus is the son of David and the Son of God as revealed in Romans 1:1-7 an important part of the overcoming that is discussed in 1 John 1:12-25?

In your opinion, what do these passages from Isaiah, Matthew, Romans and 1 John teach us about the results of our choices in response to God?

In your opinion, how can Joseph be an example for us today?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)