January 11, 2026 – A Study of Matthew – Priceless Treasure

Priceless Treasure

Isaiah 55:1-7 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ “Come, all you who are thirsty,
    come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
    come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
    without money and without cost.
² Why spend money on what is not bread,
    and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
    and you will delight in the richest of fare.
³ Give ear and come to me;
    listen, that you may live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
    my faithful love promised to David.
⁴ See, I have made him a witness to the peoples,
    a ruler and commander of the peoples.
⁵ Surely you will summon nations you know not,
    and nations you do not know will come running to you,
because of the Lord your God,
    the Holy One of Israel,
    for he has endowed you with splendor.”

⁶ Seek the Lord while he may be found;
    call on him while he is near.
⁷ Let the wicked forsake their ways
    and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them,
    and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

How were the readers to “buy wine and milk” (verse 1)?

In your opinion, “why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy” (verse 2)?

What kind of covenant is the Lord making (verse 3)?

What has God made David “to the peoples” (verses 3 and 4)?

Who will “come running” (verse 5)?

When should we “seek the Lord” (verse 6)?

What will the Lord do for the unrighteous who forsake their thoughts and “turn to the Lord” (verse 7)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about both the cost and value of salvation?

Matthew 13:44-52 - New International Version (NIV)

⁴⁴ “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

⁴⁵ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. ⁴⁶ When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

⁴⁷ “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. ⁴⁸ When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. ⁴⁹ This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous ⁵⁰ and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

⁵¹ “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked.

“Yes,” they replied.

⁵² He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”

What did the man do when he found “treasure hidden in a field” (verse 44)?

What did the merchant who was “looking for fine pearls” do when he found one (verses 45 and 46)?

What was caught in the net (verse 47)?

Where did they collect the good fish (verse 48)?

How were the bad fish treated (verse 48)?

Who will separate “the wicked from the righteous” (verse 49)?

What will happen to the wicked (verse 50)?

How did the disciples answer when Jesus ask “have you understood all these things” (verse 51)?

Who is “like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old” (verse 52)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about both the cost and value of salvation?

In your opinion, what does Isaiah 55:1-7 help us understand about the cost of entering the kingdom of heaven that Jesus is discussing in the parables in Matthew 13:44-52?

Philippians 3:4b-14 - New International Version (NIV)

If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: ⁵ circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; ⁶ as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.

⁷ But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. ¹⁰ I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹ and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

¹² Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ¹³ Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

What does Paul have more of (verse 4)?

How was Paul “a Pharisee” (verse 5)?

What had Paul’s zeal caused him to do (verse 6)?

Why did Paul consider “whatever were gains” now a loss (verse 7)?

What did Paul consider garbage (verse 8)?

What is the basis of “the righteousness that comes from God” (verse 9)?

What did Paul want to participate in (verse 10)?

What resurrection did Paul want to attain (verse 11)?

Who “took hold” of Paul (verse 12)?

What does Paul strain toward (verse 13)?

How did God call Paul heavenward (verse 14)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about both the cost and value of salvation?

In your opinion, how does Philippians 3:5-14 help us understand why it is difficult for people to accept the absolutely amazing gift that is offered in Isaiah 55:1-7?

In your opinion, how do the parables in Matthew 13:44-52 demonstrate the consequences of the decision about what to consider gain and loss that Paul describes in Philippians 3:5-14?

2 Timothy 3:10-17 - New International Version (NIV)

¹⁰ You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, ¹¹ persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. ¹² In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, ¹³ while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. ¹⁴ But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, ¹⁵ and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

What did Timothy know that the Lord had rescued Paul from (verses 10 and 11)?

Who will be persecuted (verse 12)?

Who will “go from bad to worse” (verse 13)?

What was Timothy to “continue in” (verse 14)?

When had Timothy learned “the Holy Scriptures” (verse 15)?

What could “the Holy Scriptures” do for Timothy (verse 15)?

How much Scripture “is God-breathed” (verse 16)?

What does the Scripture do for the “servant of God” (verse 17)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about both the cost and value of salvation?

In your opinion, what does 2 Timothy 3:10-17 help us understand about what comes after accepting the free pardon in Isaiah 55:1-7?

In your opinion, how does Paul’s statement in 2 Timothy 3:10-17 that “all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful” help us understand why Jesus said in Matthew 13:44-52 that “every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven” can get new and old treasures from their storeroom?

In your opinion, what can considering the information in Philippians 3:5-14 and 2 Timothy 3:10-17 help us learn about life before and after salvation?

In your opinion, what do these Scriptures from Isaiah, Matthew, Philippians and 2 Timothy teach us about the true treasure we can seek in our earthly life?

In your opinion, how does life change after we claim that treasure?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

January 4, 2026 – A Study of Matthew – The Kingdom of Heaven

The Kingdom of Heaven

Genesis 22:9-18 – New International Version (NIV)

⁹ When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. ¹⁰ Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. ¹¹ But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied.

¹² “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”

¹³ Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. ¹⁴ So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”

¹⁵ The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time ¹⁶ and said, “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, ¹⁷ I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, ¹⁸ and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”

Who did Abraham lay on the altar (verse 9)?

Why did Abraham take “the knife” (verse 10)?

Who called out “Abraham! Abraham!” (verse 11)?

What was the proof that Abraham feared God (verse 12)?

What was sacrificed “instead of his son” (verse 13)?

Why did Abraham call that place “The Lord Will Provide” (verse 14)?

Who did the Lord swear by (verse 16)?

Why was the Lord going to bless Abraham and “make your descendants as numerous as the stars” (verses 16 and 17)?

How will “all nations on earth” be blessed (verse 18)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about the kingdom of heaven?

Matthew 13:31-35 - New International Version (NIV)

³¹ He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. ³² Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”

³³ He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”

³⁴ Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. ³⁵ So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet:

“I will open my mouth in parables,
    I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.”

What “is like a mustard seed” (verse 31)?

What happened to the mustard seed (verse 31)?

How is the mustard seed transformed when it grows (verse 32)?

What do birds do (verse 32)?

What is “like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour” (verse 33)?

Who did Jesus speak to in parables (verse 34)?

What was fulfilled (verse 35)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about the kingdom of heaven?

In your opinion, what is the relationship between the descendants the Lord promised Abraham in Genesis 22:9-18 and the kingdom of heaven that Jesus described in parables in Matthew 13:31-35?

Galatians 3:7-18 - New International Version (NIV)

⁷ Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. ⁸ Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” ⁹ So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

¹⁰ For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” ¹¹ Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.” ¹² The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.” ¹³ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” ¹⁴ He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

¹⁵ Brothers and sisters, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. ¹⁶ The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ. ¹⁷ What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. ¹⁸ For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.

Who are “children of Abraham” (verse 7)?

What did God announce to Abraham (verse 8)?

Who are “blessed along with Abraham” (verse 9)?

Who are “under a curse” (verse 10)?

How will “the righteous” live (verse 11)?

What does the law say (verse 12)?

How did Christ redeem us (verse 13)?

Why did Christ redeem us (verse 14)?

Who were the promises spoken to (verse 16)?

What does the law “not set aside” (verse 17)?

How did God give the inheritance (verse 18)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about the kingdom of heaven?

In your opinion, what does Galatians 3:7-18 help us understand about the descendants Abraham was promised in Genesis 22:9-18?

In your opinion, how do those who are “children of Abraham” due to their faith in Galatians 3:7-18 fit into the “kingdom of heaven” that Jesus described in the two parables in Matthew 13:31-35?

2 Timothy 4:9-18 - New International Version (NIV)

⁹ Do your best to come to me quickly, ¹⁰ for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. ¹¹ Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. ¹² I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. ¹³ When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.

¹⁴ Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. ¹⁵ You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.

¹⁶ At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. ¹⁷ But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. ¹⁸ The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

What does Paul want Timothy to do “quickly” (verse 9)?

Why did Demas desert Paul (verse 10)?

Who was “helpful” to Paul in his ministry (verse 11)?

What did Paul want Timothy to bring (verse 13)?

Who will repay Alexander for the harm done to Paul (verse 14)?

Why should Timothy be on guard against Alexander (verse 15)?

What did Paul not want to be held against people (verse 16)?

Who gave Paul strength (verse 17)?

Where will be Lord safely bring Paul (verse 18)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about the kingdom of heaven?

In your opinion, how are Abraham’s actions in Genesis 22:9-18 similar to Paul’s actions in 2 Timothy 4:9-18?

In your opinion, how is the “kingdom of heaven” that Jesus told two parables about in Matthew 13:31-35 related to the “heavenly kingdom” that Paul is looking forward to in 2 Timothy 4:9-18?

In your opinion, how does 2 Timothy 4:9-18 help us understand some of the challenges that those who are the modern “children of Abraham” as defined in Galatians 3:7-18 face today?

In your opinion, what do these Scriptures from Genesis, Matthew, Galatians and 2 Timothy teach us about how the kingdom of heaven grows?

In your opinion, how do we who are a part of the kingdom of heaven grow to believe and learn to act like Abraham did when he named the place “The Lord Will Provide”?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)