August 10, 2025 – A Study of Matthew – Set Apart

Set Apart

1 Chronicles 17:1-14 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ After David was settled in his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under a tent.”

² Nathan replied to David, “Whatever you have in mind, do it, for God is with you.”

³ But that night the word of God came to Nathan, saying:

⁴ “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: You are not the one to build me a house to dwell in. ⁵ I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought Israel up out of Egypt to this day. I have moved from one tent site to another, from one dwelling place to another. ⁶ Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their leaders whom I commanded to shepherd my people, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’

⁷ “Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. ⁸ I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name like the names of the greatest men on earth. ⁹ And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning ¹⁰ and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also subdue all your enemies.

“‘I declare to you that the Lord will build a house for you: ¹¹ When your days are over and you go to be with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. ¹² He is the one who will build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. ¹³ I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never take my love away from him, as I took it away from your predecessor. ¹⁴ I will set him over my house and my kingdom forever; his throne will be established forever.’”

Where is the “arc of the covenant of the Lord” (verse 1)?

In your opinion, why did Nathan say, “Whatever you have in mind, do it, for God is with you.” (verse 2)?

What came to Nathan “that night” (verse 3)?

What is David “not the one to” do (verse 4)?

Where has the Lord not done “from the day I brought Israel up out of Egypt to this day” (verse 5)?

What had the Lord “appointed” David to be (verse 7)?

Who will the Lord “provide a place for” (verse 9)?

What is the Lord going to build for David (verse 10)?

Who will “build a house” for the Lord (verses 11 and 12)?

What will the Lord be for this person (verse 13)?

How long will this person be over the Lord’s house and kingdom (verse14)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about being set apart?

Matthew 9:27-34 - New International Version (NIV)

²⁷ As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”

²⁸ When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”

“Yes, Lord,” they replied.

²⁹ Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; ³⁰ and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” ³¹ But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region.

³² While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. ³³ And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”

³⁴ But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.”

What did the two blind men call Jesus (verse 27)?

How did the blind men answer when Jesus ask them “do you believe that I am able to do this” (verse 28)?

What did Jesus say when He “touched their eyes” (verse 29)?

When did Jesus warn them “see that no one knows about this” (verse 30)?

What did the men do (verse 31)?

Who was brought to Jesus (verse 32)?

How did the crowd react when the “man who had been mute spoke” (verse 33)?

What did the Pharisees say (verse 34)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about being set apart?

In your opinion, how does 1 Chronicles 17:1-14 help us understand what it means when the two blind men of Matthew 9:27-34 call Jesus “Son of David”?

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.

Who was “set apart” for the gospel (verse 1)?

How was the gospel promised (verse 2)?

Who was the Son “as to his earthly life” a descendant of (verse 3)?

What was He appointed by “the Spirit of holiness” (verse 4)?

How has Paul received his “call” (verse 5)?

Who was Paul writing to (verse 6)?

What blessing does Paul give (verse 7)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about being set apart?

In your opinion, how does Romans 1:1-7 affirm “the word of God” that came to Nathan in 1 Chronicles 17:1-14?

In your opinion, what does Romans 1:1-7 help us understand about why Jesus in Matthew 9:27-34 was able to do things that caused the crowd to say, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”?

 

2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 - New International Version (NIV)

¹⁴ Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? ¹⁵ What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? ¹⁶ What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

“I will live with them
    and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
    and they will be my people.”

¹⁷ Therefore,

“Come out from them
    and be separate,
says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
    and I will receive you.”

¹⁸ And,

“I will be a Father to you,
    and you will be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.”

7 ¹ Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

Who should Christians not be “yoked together with” (verse 14)?

In your opinion, “What harmony is there between Crist and Belial” (verse 15)?

What are “we” Christians (verse 16)?

Where will God live (verse 16)?

What are Christians to “come out from them and be” (verse 17)?

What will we be to the Lord Almighty (verse 18)?

What should we “purify ourselves from” (verse 1)?

Why should Christians perfect “holiness” (verse 1)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about being set apart?

In your opinion, how is God’s call of David from the pasture to being the ruler in 1 Chronicles 17:1-14 an example to Christians of the call to “come out from them and be separate” in 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1?

In your opinion, how does the reaction of the Pharisees to Jesus in Matthew 9:27-34 help us understand the reason Paul said in 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 that believers and unbelievers should not be yoked?

In your opinion, how does Paul’s statement in Romans 1:1-7 about being “called to belong to Jesus Christ” become much more intimate in 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1?

In your opinion, what do these Scriptures from 1 Chronicles, Matthew, Romans, and 2 Corinthians reveal about the tensions between those who believe Jesus is “able to do this” and those who don’t?

In your opinion, how do we “separate” ourselves today?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

May 5, 2024 – Isaiah in the New Testament – Clean Feet and Pure Heart

Clean Feet and Pure Heart

Isaiah 52:10-15 - New International Version (NIV)

¹⁰ The Lord will lay bare his holy arm
    in the sight of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth will see
    the salvation of our God.

¹¹ Depart, depart, go out from there!
    Touch no unclean thing!
Come out from it and be pure,
    you who carry the articles of the Lord’s house.
¹² But you will not leave in haste
    or go in flight;
for the Lord will go before you,
    the God of Israel will be your rear guard.

¹³ See, my servant will act wisely;
    he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.
¹⁴ Just as there were many who were appalled at him—
    his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being
    and his form marred beyond human likeness—
¹⁵ so he will sprinkle many nations,
    and kings will shut their mouths because of him.
For what they were not told, they will see,
    and what they have not heard, they will understand.

 

What will “all the ends of the earth” see (verse 10)?

What are people not to do when they “depart, depart, go out from there” (verse 11)?

Who will go before the people (verse 12)?

Who will be “your rear guard” (verse 12)?

What will happen to God’s servant (verse 13)?

Why were many “appalled at him” (verse 14)?

Who will “shut their mouths because of him” (verse 15)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about being clean and pure?

John 13:1-11 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

² The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. ³ Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; ⁴ so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. ⁵ After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

⁶ He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

⁷ Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

⁸ “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

⁹ “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

¹⁰ Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” ¹¹ For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

What did Jesus know (verse 1)?

Who did Jesus love to the end (verse 1)?

What had the devil already done (verse 2)?

What did Jesus know (verse 3)?

Where had Jesus come from, and where was He going (verse 3)?

What did Jesus begin to do (verse 5)?

Who ask “Lord, are you going to wash my feet” (verse 6)?

How did Jesus answer (verse 7)?

What had to happen for Peter to “have a part of” Jesus (verse 8)?

What did Peter ask for (verse 9)?

In your opinion, what can we learn from Jesus statement “and you are clean, though not every one of you” (verse 10)?

What did Jesus know (verse 11)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about being clean and pure?

In your opinion, how is the purity that Isaiah 52:10-15 commands different from the cleanliness that Jesus gives in John 13:1-11?

2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 - New International Version (NIV)

¹⁴ Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? ¹⁵ What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? ¹⁶ What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

“I will live with them
    and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
    and they will be my people.”

¹⁷ Therefore,

“Come out from them
    and be separate,
says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
    and I will receive you.”

¹⁸ And,

“I will be a Father to you,
    and you will be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.”

¹ Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

Who are Christians not to be yoked with (verse 14)?

In your opinion, “what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever” (verse 15)?

Where does God walk (verse 16)?

In your opinion, who is to “come out from them and be separate” (verse 17)?

Who will Christians be (verse 18)?

How should Christians respond to “these promises” (verse 1)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about being clean and pure?

In your opinion, how does Isaiah 52:10-15’s call for the Jewish people to “go out from there” help us understand 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1’s call for Christians to “come out from them and be separate”?

In your opinion, how does John 13:1-11 help us understand how we “purify ourselves” as instructed by 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1? 

Philippians 1:3-11 – New International Version (NIV)

³ I thank my God every time I remember you. ⁴ In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy ⁵ because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, ⁶ being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

⁷ It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. ⁸ God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

⁹ And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, ¹⁰ so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, ¹¹ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

What does Paul do each time he remembers the Philippian Christians (verse 3)?

Why does Paul pray for them “with joy” (verses 4 and 5)?

What is Paul confident of (verse 6)?

Why is it right for Paul to “feel this way” (verse 7)?

What do the Philippian Christians share with Paul (verse 7)?

How does Paul “long for” them (verse 8)?

What is Paul’s prayer for them (verse 9)?

What does Paul want them to “be able to discern” (verse 10)?

What fruit does Paul want them to be filled with (verse 11)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about being clean and pure?

In your opinion, how does the fulfillment of Isaiah 52:10-15’s promise that God would “go before” and also be the “rearguard” for the returning Jews help us today have confidence in Philippians 1:3-11’s promise that “he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus”?

In your opinion, how does John 13:1-11 help us “discern what is best” as discussed in Philippians 1:3-11?

In your opinion, how does Philippians 1:3-11 help us understand how we can follow the instruction of 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 to “purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God”?

In your opinion, what do these passages from Isaiah, John, 2 Corinthians, and Philippians teach us about being separate from the world today?

In your opinion, how do our lives show we are filled with “the fruit of righteousness” today?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)