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)

February 2, 2025 – A Study of Matthew – God’s Favor and Blessing

God’s Favor and Blessing

Genesis 4:1-10 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ Adam made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the help of the Lord I have brought forth a man.” ² Later she gave birth to his brother Abel.

Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. ³ In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. ⁴ And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, ⁵ but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

⁶ Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? ⁷ If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

⁸ Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

⁹ Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”

“I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

¹⁰ The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.

Who was Cain (verse 1)?

Who was Abel (verse 2)?

What did Cain bring “as an offering to the Lord” (verse 3)?

What did Abel bring (verse 4)?

Who did the Lord look on with favor (verse 4)?

Why was Cain “very angry” (verse 5)?

When is sin “crouching at” Cain’s door (verse 7)?

What did Cain need to do with the sin (verse 7)?

Where were they when Cain killed Abel (verse 8)?

How did Cain respond when the Lord ask “where is your brother, Abel” (verse 9)?

What was Abel’s blood doing (verse 10)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about who God looks at with favor and blessing?

Matthew 5:1-12 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, ² and he began to teach them.

He said:

³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴ Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.
⁵ Blessed are the meek,
    for they will inherit the earth.
⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    for they will be filled.
⁷ Blessed are the merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.
⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart,
    for they will see God.
⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they will be called children of God.
¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

¹¹ “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Where did Jesus go when He “saw the crowds” (verse 1)?

What did He begin to do (verse 2)?

How are the “poor in spirit” blessed (verse 3)?

Who “will be comforted” (verse 4)?

What will the meek inherit (verse 5)?

In your opinion, what will fill those “who hunger and thirst for righteousness” (verse 6)?

Who will “be shown mercy” (verse 7)?

How are the “pure in heart” blessed (verse 8)?

What will the peacemakers be called (verse 9)?

How are those who are “persecuted because righteousness” blessed (verse 10)?

Why should those who people insult, persecute and falsely say evil things against “rejoice and be glad” (verses 11 and 12)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about who God looks at with favor and blessing?

In your opinion, how could Cain killing Abel in anger about offerings in Genesis 4:1-10 be an example of the way Jesus says that believers will be persecuted and blessed in Matthew 5:1-12?

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 had the Lord rescued Paul from (verses 10 and 11)?

Who will be persecuted (verse 12)?

What will “evildoers and impostors” do (verse 13)?

Why was Timonthy to “continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of” (verse 14)?

What are “the Holy Scriptures” able to do (verse 15)?

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

What does the Scripture’s usefulness in “teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” 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 who God looks at with favor and blessing?

In your opinion, how could Timothy, who is to look at Paul as an example in 2 Timothy 3:10-17, also find Abel in Genesis 4:1-10 to be an example?

In your opinion, how could the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:1-12 have served to equip Paul for the things that he went through listed in 2 Timothy 3:10-17?

Revelation 22:7-14 – New International Version (NIV)

⁷ “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.”

⁸ I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. ⁹ But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!”

¹⁰ Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is near. ¹¹ Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy.”

¹² “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. ¹³ I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

¹⁴ “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 

Who is “blessed” (verse 7)?

Who “heard and saw these things” (verse 8)?

Who is a fellow servant with John and “with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll” (verse 9)?

Why were the “words of prophecy of this scroll” not to be sealed (verse 10)?

Who is to continue to do wrong (verse 11)?

Who is to continue to do right (verse 11)?

What will be given “to each person” (verse 12)?

Who is “blessed” (verse 14)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about who God looks at with favor and blessing?

In your opinion, how is Genesis 4:1-10 an example of Revelation 22:7-14’s instruction to “Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy”? 

In your opinion, how does Matthew 5:1-12 help us understand what we have to do receive the blessing that Revelation 22:7-14 promises to those who “wash their robes”?

In your opinion, what do we learn from Revelation 22:7-14 to help us as we strive to follow Paul’s instruction to Timothy, “continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” in 2 Timothy 3:10-17?

In your opinion, what do these God-breathed Scriptures from Genesis, Matthew, 2 Timothy and Revelation teach us about how the world reacts to those who have found God’s favor?

In your opinion, how does God react to we, who are poor in spirit, mourning, meek, hungry for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, who are persecuted, and who wash their robes?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)