July 13, 2025 – A Study of Matthew – Saved from Torment

Saved from Torment

1 Samuel 15:24-26, 16:14-23 – New International Version (NIV)

²⁴ Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned. I violated the Lord’s command and your instructions. I was afraid of the men and so I gave in to them. ²⁵ Now I beg you, forgive my sin and come back with me, so that I may worship the Lord.”

²⁶ But Samuel said to him, “I will not go back with you. You have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you as king over Israel!”

 

¹⁴ Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him.

¹⁵ Saul’s attendants said to him, “See, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. ¹⁶ Let our lord command his servants here to search for someone who can play the lyre. He will play when the evil spirit from God comes on you, and you will feel better.”

¹⁷ So Saul said to his attendants, “Find someone who plays well and bring him to me.”

¹⁸ One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the Lord is with him.”

¹⁹ Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.” ²⁰ So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them with his son David to Saul.

²¹ David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armor-bearers. ²² Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Allow David to remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.”

²³ Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.

What had Saul done (verse 24)?

In your opinion, could Samuel forgive Saul’s sin (verse 25)?

What happened to the relationship between Saul and the Lord (verse 26)?

When did “an evil spirit from the Lord” torment Saul (verse 14)?

What did Saul’s attendants think would make him “feel better” (verse 16)?

What did Saul tell his attendants (verse 17)?

Who did “one of the servants” suggest (verse 18)?

What did Jesse do when he got the request from Saul (verses 19 and 20)?

How did Saul feel about David (verse 21)?

What happened when the “spirit from God came on Saul” and David played the lyre (verse 23)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about the influence of demons?

Matthew 8:28-34 - New International Version (NIV)

²⁸ When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. ²⁹ “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?”

³⁰ Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. ³¹ The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”

³² He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. ³³ Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. ³⁴ Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.

Who met Jesus “in the region of the Gadarenes” (verse 28)?

Why did no one “pass that way” (verse 28)?

What did the men ask Jesus (verse 29)?

Where was the “large herd of pigs” feeding (verse 30)?

What did the demons beg (verse 31)?

What did the pigs do when the demons went into them (verse 32)?

Where did “those tending the pigs” go and what did they do (verse 33)?

What did the “whole town” plead for Jesus to do (verse 34)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about the influence of demons?

In your opinion, how was King Saul in 1 Samuel 16:14-23 like the two men “in the region of the Gadarenes” in Matthew 8:28-34?

1 Timothy 3:14-4:5 - New International Version (NIV)

¹⁴ Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, ¹⁵ if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. ¹⁶ Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great:

He appeared in the flesh,
    was vindicated by the Spirit,
was seen by angels,
    was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world,
    was taken up in glory.

4 ¹The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. ² Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. ³ They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. ⁴ For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, ⁵ because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.

Why is Paul writing these instructions to Timothy (verses 14 and 15)?

Where does Paul reveal “true godliness” springs from (verse 16)?

Who and what will people in later times who “abandon the faith” follow (verse 1)?

Who will these teachings “come through” (verse 2)?

What are some of the “teachings” (verse 3)?

Why is “nothing to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving” (verses 4 and 5)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about the influence of demons?

In your opinion, how is Saul in 1 Samuel 15:24-26 and 16:14-23 an example of what Paul warns will happen “in later times’ in 1 Timothy 3:14-4:5?

In your opinion, how is the destructiveness of demons shown in 1 Timothy 3:14-4:5 and in Matthew 5:28-34?

 

 

James 3:13-18 - New International Version (NIV)

¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. ¹⁵ Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

¹⁷ But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. ¹⁸ Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

How are the deeds that show a “good life” done (verse 13)?

What should we not do if we “harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition” in our hearts (verse 14)?

What is  “such wisdom” (verse 15)?

What do you find “where you have envy and selfish ambition” (verse 16)?

Where does the wisdom that is “pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere” from (verse 17)?

What will “peacemakers who sow in peace” reap (verse 18)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about the influence of demons?

In your opinion, how is the contrast between heavenly and earthly wisdom discussed in James 3:13-18 and illustrated in 1 Samuel 15:24-26, 16:14-23?

In your opinion, how is the difference between heavenly and earthly wisdom in James 3:13-18 exhibited in Matthew 8:28-34?

In your opinion, how does James 3:13-18 help Christians understand how to identify and avoid the “hypocritical liars” that Paul warns of in 1 Timothy 3:14-4:15?

In your opinion, what do these Scriptures from 1 Samuel, Matthew, 1 Timothy, and James teach us about being saved from torment?

In your opinion, how do we display “the wisdom that comes from heaven” in spite of the demonic influences in the world today?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)