November 15, 2026 – A Study of Matthew – Fixing Our Eyes

Fixing Our Eyes

Exodus 13:11-16 – New International Version (NIV)

¹¹ “After the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites and gives it to you, as he promised on oath to you and your ancestors, ¹² you are to give over to the Lord the first offspring of every womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock belong to the Lord. ¹³ Redeem with a lamb every firstborn donkey, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. Redeem every firstborn among your sons.

¹⁴ “In days to come, when your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ say to him, ‘With a mighty hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. ¹⁵ When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed the firstborn of both people and animals in Egypt. This is why I sacrifice to the Lord the first male offspring of every womb and redeem each of my firstborn sons.’ ¹⁶ And it will be like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead that the Lord brought us out of Egypt with his mighty hand.”

Who had the Lord “promised on oath” to give the land of the Canaanites to the Israelites (verse 11)?

What is to be given to the Lord (verse 12)?

How are firstborn donkeys redeemed (verse 13)?

Who brought Israel “out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery” (verse 14)?

What happened “when the Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let” the Israelites go (verse 15)?

What will the redeeming of the firstborn sons be like (verses 15 and 16)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about remembering what God has done?

Matthew 23:1-12 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: ² “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. ³ So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. ⁴ They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

⁵ “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; ⁶ they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; ⁷ they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.

⁸ “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. ⁹ And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. ¹⁰ Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. ¹¹ The greatest among you will be your servant. ¹² For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Who was Jesus talking to (verse 1)?

Where do the “teachers of the law and the Pharisees” sit (verse 2)?

What should those listening to Jesus not do (verse 3)?

What are the Pharisees “not willing” to do (verse 4)?

Why do they do things (verse 5)?

What do they love (verses 6 and 7)?

How many teachers are there (verse 8)?

Where is the Father (verse 9)?

Who is the Instructor (verse 10)?

In your opinion, who is the “greatest among” us (verse 11)?

What will happen to “those who humble themselves” (verse 12)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about remembering what God has done?

In your opinion, how does the teachers of the law and the Pharisees wearing of the phylacteries conflict with the original purpose as stated in Exodus 13:11-16?

Galatians 6:1-10 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. ² Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. ³ If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. ⁴ Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, ⁵ for each one should carry their own load. ⁶ Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.

⁷ Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. ⁸ Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. ⁹ Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. ¹⁰ Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

How should “brothers and sisters” restore a person caught in a sin (verse 1)?

How do Christians “fulfill the law of Christ” (verse 2)?

Who deceives themselves (verse 3)?

Who should Christians not compare themselves with (verse 4)?

What should each person carry (verse 5)?

Who should Christians share with (verse 6)?

What do people reap (verse 7)?

Who will reap eternal life (verse 8)?

When will Christians reap a harvest (verse 9)?

Who should Christians “especially” do good to (verse 10)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about remembering what God has done?

In your opinion, how does remembering what God has done, as Exodus 13:11-16 commands the Israelites to do, help us test our actions as Galatians 6:1-10 commands?

In your opinion, what could the Pharisees in Matthew 23:1-12 learn from the discussion of burdens and loads in Galatians 6:1-10?

Hebrews 12:1-3 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

What surrounds Christians (verse 1)?

What should Christians “throw off” (verse 1)?

How should we run “the race marked out for us” (verse 1)?

Who is “the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (verse 2)?

Why did Jesus endure the cross (verse 2)?

Where did Jesus sit (verse 2)?

How can Christians “not grow weary and lose heart” (verse 3)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about remembering what God has done?

In your opinion, what is the fundamental difference between what is instructed in Exodus 13:11-16 for Hebrews to do and what is instructed in Hebrews 12:1-3 for Christians to do even though they are similar?

In your opinion, how do the Pharisees in Matthew 23:1-12 get totally wrong according to Hebrews 12:1-3?

In your opinion, what does combining Galatians 6:1-10 and Hebrews 12:1-3 help Christians do?

In your opinion, what do these passages from Exodus, Matthew, Galatians, and Hebrews teach Christians about living in the world today?

In your opinion, what does it mean to fix our eyes on Jesus today?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)