October 13, 2024 – A Study of Matthew – The Testing Test

The Testing Test

Deuteronomy 6:10-25 – New International Version (NIV)

¹⁰ When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, ¹¹ houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then when you eat and are satisfied, ¹² be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

¹³ Fear the Lord your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. ¹⁴ Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; ¹⁵ for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will burn against you, and he will destroy you from the face of the land. ¹⁶ Do not put the Lord your God to the test as you did at Massah. ¹⁷ Be sure to keep the commands of the Lord your God and the stipulations and decrees he has given you. ¹⁸ Do what is right and good in the Lord’s sight, so that it may go well with you and you may go in and take over the good land the Lord promised on oath to your ancestors, ¹⁹ thrusting out all your enemies before you, as the Lord said.

²⁰ In the future, when your son asks you, “What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the Lord our God has commanded you?” ²¹ tell him: “We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. ²² Before our eyes the Lord sent signs and wonders—great and terrible—on Egypt and Pharaoh and his whole household. ²³ But he brought us out from there to bring us in and give us the land he promised on oath to our ancestors. ²⁴ The Lord commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the Lord our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today. ²⁵ And if we are careful to obey all this law before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness.”

Who did the Lord swear to about the promised land (verse 10)?

Who are the Israelites to “be careful” not to forget when they “eat and are satisfied” (verses 11 and 12)?

How is the Lord described (verse 13)?

Who are the Israelites not to follow (verse 14)?

Where is the Lord (verse 15)?

What did the Israelites do at Massah that they’re not to do now (verse 16)? (if you are interested see Exodus 17:1-7 to read about Massah)

Why were the Israelites to “do what is right and good in the Lord’s sight” (verse 18)?

How are the Israelites to answer the question “what is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the Lord our God has commanded you” (verses 20 and 21)?

Where did the Lord send “signs and wonders” (verse 22)?

What did the Lord give the Israelites (verse 23)?

When would the Israelites “always prosper and be kept alive” (verse 24)?

What will be the Israelites “righteousness” (verse 25)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about testing?

Psalm 91:9-16 - New International Version (NIV)

⁹ If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
    and you make the Most High your dwelling,
¹⁰ no harm will overtake you,
    no disaster will come near your tent.
¹¹ For he will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways;
¹² they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
¹³ You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
    you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

¹⁴ “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
    I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
¹⁵ He will call on me, and I will answer him;
    I will be with him in trouble,
    I will deliver him and honor him.
¹⁶ With long life I will satisfy him
    and show him my salvation.”

Why is the first word crucial to understanding everything that follows (verse 9)?

What is the Lord (verse 9)?

Where will disaster not come (verse 10)?

Who will the Lord command (verse 11)?

Why will the foot not strike the stone (verse 12)?

What will the foot tread on (verse 13)?

Why will the Lord rescue and protect (verse 14)?

Where will the Lord be “in trouble” (verse 15)?

What will the Lord “show him” (verse 16)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about testing?

In your opinion, what is the difference between putting “the Lord your God to the test” that we are warned not to do in Deuteronomy 6:10-25 and taking refuge in the Lord in Psalm 91:9-16?

Matthew 4:5-7 - New International Version (NIV)

⁵ Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. ⁶ “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
    and they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”

⁷ Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

Where did the devil take Jesus (verse 5)?

Where did the devil have Jesus stand (verse 5)?

In your opinion, why is the first word in verse 6 crucial to understanding everything that follows (verse 6)?

What was Jesus to do if He was God’s Son (verse 6)?

What was the devil’s point when he quoted “He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that your will not strike your foot against a stone” (verse 6)?

How did Jesus answer the devil (verse 7)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about testing?

In your opinion, how does Deuteronomy 6:10-25 give richness and strength to Jesus answer to the devil in Matthew 4:5-7? 

In your opinion, what can we learn about the devil’s deceit in quoting part of Psalm 91:9-16 to encourage Jesus to jump off the highest point of the temple in Matthew 4:5-7?

1 Corinthians 10:1-13 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. ² They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. ³ They all ate the same spiritual food ⁴ and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. ⁵ Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

⁶ Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. ⁷ Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” ⁸ We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. ⁹ We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. ¹⁰ And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.

¹¹ These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. ¹² So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! ¹³ No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

What did “our ancestors” pass through (verse 1)?

What were they all “baptized into” (verse 2)?

What did they  all eat (verse 3)?

Who was the “spiritual rock” that they all drank from (verse 4)?

How did God feel about “most of them” (verse 5)?

Why did these things occur (verse 6)?

How did Paul demonstrate that some of the people were idolaters (verse 7)?

What happened to those who tested Christ (verse 9)?

Why were people killed “by the destroying angel” (verse 10)?

Why were these things written down (verse 11)?

When should we “be careful that” we don’t fall (verse 12)?

What kind of temptation has fallen on us (verse 13)?

What will God provide (verse 13)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about testing?

In your opinion, what can we learn from Moses’s instructions in Deuteronomy 6:10-25 to those who were going to enter the promised land but were also descendants of those who 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 says are examples to us?

In your opinion, how is saying “the Lord is my Refuge” with the Psalmist in Psalm 91:9-16 a part of the “way out” that 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 says that the Lord will provide?

In your opinion, how is the command to not test God in 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 made more difficult by the devil twisting Scripture as he did in Matthew 4:5-7?

In your opinion, what do these passages from Deuteronomy, Psalms, Matthew, and 1 Corinthians help us understand about “testing God”?

In your opinion, how can our relationship with God help us grow stronger when we are tested and also help us avoid the temptation to test God?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

May 8, 2016 – Teachings from the Rock – Snakes or the Pole

  

Snakes or the Pole

Numbers 21:4-9 – New International Version (NIV)

⁴ “They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; ⁵ they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!”

⁶ Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. ⁷ The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.

⁸ The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” ⁹ So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.”

Why did they leave Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea (verse 4)?

What did the people do when they grew impatient (verses 4and 5)?

In your opinion, why would the people have complained about the manna, “miserable food” (verse 5)?

Why did many Israelites die (verse 6)?

What sin did the people confess to Moses (verse 7)?

In your opinion, why did the people ask Moses to pray that the Lord would take the snakes away instead of praying themselves (verse 7)?

Who told Moses to make a snake and put it on a pole so that “anyone who is bitten can look at it and live” (verse 8)?

What happened when people who had been bitten by snakes looked at the bronze snake (verse 9)?

In your opinion, why did God have Moses put the bronze snake on the pole instead of removing the snakes?

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

Mark 9:2-10 - New International Version (NIV)

² “After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. ³ His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. ⁴ And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.

⁵ Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” ⁶ (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)

⁷ Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

⁸ Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.

⁹ As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. ¹⁰ They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant.”

Who did Jesus take up a high mountain (verse 2)?

What happened to Jesus there (verse 2)?

What happened to Jesus’s clothes (verse 3)?

Who appeared before them (verse 4)?

What did Peter want to do (verse 5)?

In your opinion, why were they frightened (verse 6)?

Where did the voice come from that said “This is my Son, whom I love.  Listen to him!” (verse 7)?

What did Jesus order them not to tell (verse 9)?

What did they discuss among themselves (verse 10)?

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

In your opinion, what might have Moses, who put the bronze snake up for people to look at and be saved in Numbers 21:4-9, told Jesus when He was transfigured in Mark 9:2-10?

1 Corinthians 10:1-13 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ “For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. ² They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. ³ They all ate the same spiritual food ⁴ and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. ⁵ Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

⁶ Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. ⁷ Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” ⁸ We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. ⁹ We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. ¹⁰ And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.

¹¹ These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. ¹² So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! ¹³ No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

What did the ancestors pass through (verse 1)?

How were they baptized into Moses (verse 2)?

What did they eat (verse 3)?

In your opinion, what did Paul mean that they drank from the “spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ” (verse 4)?

Where were the bodies of most of them scattered (verse 5)?

Why did these things occur (verse 6)?

What did the people do that caused Paul to call them idolaters (verse 7)?

How many died in one day because of sexual immorality (verse 8)?

In your opinion, how did the Israelites who were killed by snakes “test Christ” (verse 9)?

What happened to “some of them” who grumbled (verse 10)?

What has come upon us (verse 11)?

When should we be careful that we don’t fall (verse 12)?

What kind of temptation has overtaken us (verse 13)?

How far will God let us be tempted (verse 13)?

What will God provide so that we can endure temptation (verse 13)?

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

In your opinion, what does it mean that Moses, who joined Jesus when He was transfigured in Mark 9:2-10, was one of the people whose body was “scattered in the wilderness” as stated by Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:1-13?

In your opinion, do you think that the people of Numbers 21:4-9 who grew impatient and who “spoke against God and against Moses” thought that they were “standing firm” as Paul warned about in 1 Corinthians 10:13?

1 Peter 1:10-16 – New International Version (NIV)

¹⁰ “Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, ¹¹ trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. ¹² It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.

¹³ Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. ¹⁴ As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. ¹⁵ But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; ¹⁶ for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

What did the prophets search for “intently and with the greatest care” (verse 10)?

Who pointed out the “sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow” (verse 11)?

What was revealed to the prophets (verse 12)?

In your opinion, why would the angels “long to look into these things” (verse 12)?

How should our minds be when we set our “hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming” (verse 13)?

What should we “as obedient children” not do (verse 14)?

What should we be in all we do (verse 15)?

Why should we “be holy” (verse 16)?

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

In your opinion, how do the examples and warnings Paul gives in 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 help us to understand about how to follow Peter’s instruction in 1 Peter 1:10-16 to “be holy” and to “be holy in all you do”?

In your opinion, how do you think the appearance of Jesus when He was transfigured in Mark 9:2-10 will compare to the appearance of Jesus when He “is revealed at His coming” in 1 Peter 1:10-16?

In your opinion, how was Moses putting up the bronze snake on the pole so that the sinners who were bitten by a snake could look at it and live in Numbers 21:4-9 anticipate the “sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow” that Peter talks about in 1 Peter 1:10-16?

In your opinion, what do these passages, from Numbers, Mark, 1 Corinthians and 1 Peter show us about ourselves today?

Next, back to Peter 1:17 – (sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)