September 28, 2025 – A Study of Matthew – Humble in Heart

Humble in Heart

Ezekiel 28:1-10 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ The word of the Lord came to me: ² “Son of man, say to the ruler of Tyre, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘In the pride of your heart
    you say, “I am a god;
I sit on the throne of a god
    in the heart of the seas.”
But you are a mere mortal and not a god,
    though you think you are as wise as a god.
³ Are you wiser than Daniel?
    Is no secret hidden from you?
⁴ By your wisdom and understanding
    you have gained wealth for yourself
and amassed gold and silver
    in your treasuries.
⁵ By your great skill in trading
    you have increased your wealth,
and because of your wealth
    your heart has grown proud.

⁶ “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘Because you think you are wise,
    as wise as a god,
⁷ I am going to bring foreigners against you,
    the most ruthless of nations;
they will draw their swords against your beauty and wisdom
    and pierce your shining splendor.
⁸ They will bring you down to the pit,
    and you will die a violent death
    in the heart of the seas.
⁹ Will you then say, “I am a god,”
    in the presence of those who kill you?
You will be but a mortal, not a god,
    in the hands of those who slay you.
¹⁰ You will die the death of the uncircumcised
    at the hands of foreigners.

I have spoken, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”

Who had a word for the “ruler of Tyre” (verse 2)?

Where did the ruler say, “I am a god” (verse 2)?

How has the ruler “gained wealth” (verse 4)?

Why has the ruler’s heart “grown proud” (verse 5)?

What will happen because the ruler thinks he is “as wise as a god” (verse 6)?

Who will the Lord bring against the ruler (verse 7)?

How will the ruler die (verse 8)?

What will the ruler be (verse 9)?

What kind of death will the ruler die (verse 10)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about what it means to humble ourselves?

Matthew 11:20-30 - New International Version (NIV)

²⁰ Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. ²¹ “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. ²² But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. ²³ And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. ²⁴ But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

²⁵ At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. ²⁶ Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

²⁷ “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

 

Who did Jesus “denounce” (verse 20)?

 

What would have happened in Tyre and Sidon “if the miracles that were performed” had been performed in them (verse 21?

When will it be more the “bearable for Tyre and Sidon” (verse 22)?

Where will Capernaum go (verse 23)?

Why does Jesus praise His Father and “Lord of heaven and earth” (verse 25)?

What has been committed to Jesus by the Father (verse 27)?

Who knows the Father (verse 27)?

What will Jesus give to the “weary and burdened” who come to Him (verse 28)?

What is Jesus (verse 29)?

How does Jesus describe His yoke (verse 30)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about what it means to humble ourselves?

In your opinion, what can the Lord’s word to the ruler of Tyre in Ezekiel 28:1-10 help us understand about the people of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum in Matthew 11:20-30?

1 Corinthians 1:21-31 - New International Version (NIV)

²¹ For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. ²² Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, ²³ but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, ²⁴ but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵ For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

²⁶ Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. ²⁷ But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. ²⁸ God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, ²⁹ so that no one may boast before him. ³⁰ It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. ³¹ Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

Through what did the world not know God (verse 21)?

What was God pleased to do “through the foolishness of what was preached” (verse 21)?

Who looks for wisdom (verse 22)?

What does Paul preach (verse 23)?

To whom is “Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” (verse 24)?

What is “stronger than human strength” (verse 25)?

How many of the “brothers and sisters . . . were wise by human standards” (verse 26)?

Why did God “choose the foolish things of the world” (verse 27)?

What did God choose “to nullify the things that are” (verse 28)?

Who has become “our righteousness, holiness and redemption” (verse 30)?

What is as written (verse 31)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about what it means to humble ourselves?

In your opinion, what does the message about the wisdom of the ruler of Tyre in Ezekiel 28:1-10 help us understand about worldly wisdom discussed in 1 Corinthians 1:21-31?

In your opinion, what does 1 Corinthians 1:21-31 help us understand about the “little children” that Jesus mentioned in Matthew 11:20-30?

Philippians 2:1-11 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ² then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. ³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

⁵ In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

⁶ Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
⁷ rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
⁸ And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross!

⁹ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,
¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹ and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

How can the Philippian Christians make Paul’s joy complete (verse 2)?

How should we “value others” (verse 3)?

What should be done “out of selfish ambition or vain conceit” (verse 4)?

When should we have the same “mindset as Christ Jesus” (verse 5)?

What did Christ not consider using “to his own advantage” (verse 6)?

How did Jesus make “himself nothing” (verse 7)?

What did Jesus become “obedient to” (verse 8)?

Who exalted Jesus “to the highest place” (verse 9)?

What will cause “every knee to bow” (verse 10)?

What will “every tongue acknowledge” (verse 11)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about what it means to humble ourselves?

In your opinion, how is the “selfish ambition and vain conceit” that Philippians 2:1-11 tells us to avoid demonstrated by the ruler of Tyre in Ezekiel 28:1-10?

In your opinion, what does Philippians 2:1-11 help us further understand about the yoke that Jesus mentioned in Matthew 11:20-30?

In your opinion, what in the description of Christ in Philippians 2:1-11 might be a stumbling block for the Jews and foolishness for the Gentiles in 1 Corinthians 1:21-31?

In your opinion, what do these Scriptures from Ezekiel, Matthew, 1 Corinthians and Matthew teach about the barriers to finding rest in Jesus?

In your opinion, how does being yoked with Christ change us?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

December 6, 2015 – The Great Commission – A Study of Matthew – Accusations and Acknowledgement

Matthew 28:18-20 – New International Version (NIV) – The Great Commission

¹⁸ “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Accusations and Acknowledgement

Matthew 27:11-26 – New International Version (NIV)

¹¹ “Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

“You have said so,” Jesus replied.

¹² When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. ¹³ Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” ¹⁴ But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.

¹⁵ Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. ¹⁶ At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus Barabbas. ¹⁷ So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” ¹⁸ For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him.

¹⁹ While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”

²⁰ But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.

²¹ “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.

“Barabbas,” they answered.

²² “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked.

They all answered, “Crucify him!”

²³ “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.

But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

²⁴ When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”

²⁵ All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!”

²⁶ Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.”

Who did Jesus stand before (verse 11)?

In your opinion, why was Jesus ask “are you the king of the Jews” (verse 11)?

Who accused Jesus (verse 12)?

How did Jesus amaze the governor (verses 12 - 14)?

What was the governor’s custom “at the festival” (verse 15)?

Who was the “well-known prisoner” (verse 16)?

What did Pilate ask the crowd (verse 17)?

What did Pilate know about the chief priests and elders (verse 18)?

Who sent Pilate the message “don’t have anything to do with that innocent man” (verse 19)?

In your opinion, why did the crowd listen to the chief priests and elders persuasion (verse 20)?

How did the crowd respond to the question “which of the two do you want me to release to you” (verse 21)?

What did the crowd want to happen to Jesus (verse 22)?

In your opinion, why did Pilate’s attempt to reason with the crowd just result in them shouting “all the louder” (verse 23)?

What did Pilate do to demonstrate that he did not approve of what was happening (verse 24)?

Who did Pilate pass responsibility to (verse 24)?

In your opinion, why did the people answer “His blood is on us and on our children” (verse 25)?

What happened to Barabbas (verse 26)?

What happened to Jesus (verse 26)?

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

1 Samuel 8:6-20 - New International Version (NIV)

⁶ “But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. ⁷ And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. ⁸ As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. ⁹ Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”

¹⁰ Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. ¹¹ He said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. ¹² Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. ¹³ He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. ¹⁴ He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. ¹⁵ He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. ¹⁶ Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. ¹⁷ He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. ¹⁸ When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”

¹⁹ But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us. ²⁰ Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.”

What did Samuel do when the people displeased him by asking for a king (verse 6)?

Who did the Lord say that the people were rejecting (verse 7)?

How long had the people of Israel forsaken God and served other gods (verse 8)?

In your opinion, why did God want Samuel to “let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights” (verse 9)?

What did Samuel tell the people that the king will claim (verses 10-17)?

How will the Lord respond when the day comes that the people of Israel cry out for relief from the king they have chosen (verse 18)?

How did the people respond to Samuel (verse 19)?

Who did the people want to be like (verse 20)?

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

In your opinion, knowing that in 1 Samuel 8:6-20 the people rejected the Lord as their king what does it tell you about the people who were listening to Pilate in 27:11-26  when he recognized that Jesus might be the King of the Jews and they responded to his offer to release Jesus with shouts of “Crucify him”?

Acts 5:27-32 – New International Version (NIV)

²⁷ “The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. ²⁸ “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”

²⁹ Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! ³⁰ The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. ³¹ God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. ³² We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

Who were the apostles “brought in and made to appear before” (verse 27)?

What did the high priest do (verse 27)?

In your opinion, why did the high priest think that the apostles were “determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood” (verse 28)?

How did “Peter and the other apostles” state their priorities (verse 29)?

Who raised Jesus from the dead (verse 30)?

Who killed Jesus “by hanging him on a cross” (verse 30)?

Why did God exalt “him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior” (verse 31)?

Who are the witnesses (verse 32)?

Who is the Holy Spirit given to (verse 32)?

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

In your opinion, how does the Lord who told the people of Israel in 1 Samuel 8:6-20 that He would not answer them when they cried for relief from the king, do something much greater in exalting Jesus “to his own right hand as Prince and Savior” according to Acts 5:27-32?

In your opinion, what does it say about the Sanhedrin, who had lead the people in front of Pilate to shout “His blood is on us and our children” in Matthew 27:11-26, were now ready to punish the apostles because they were “determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood” in Acts 5:27-32?

Philippians 2:1-11 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ “Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ² then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. ³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

⁵ In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

⁶ Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
⁷ rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
⁸ And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross!

⁹ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,
¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹ and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.”

What does Paul say that we should do if we have any encouragement, comfort, tenderness and compassion from “being united with Christ” (verses 1 and 2)?

How should we value others (verse 3)?

When should we “have the same mindset as Christ Jesus” (verse 5)?

In your opinion, how hard would it be “being in very nature God” and not use it to our own advantage (verse 6)?

What did Jesus make himself (verse 7)?

How did Jesus humble Himself (verse 8)?

Where did God exalt Jesus to (verse 9)?

What name did God give Jesus (verse 9)?

What will happen “at the name of Jesus” (verse 10)?

Which tongue will “acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord” (verse 11)?

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

In your opinion, how would you choose if you were given the choice the apostles were given between obeying the Jesus that Paul testifies to in Philippians 2:1-11 and the high priest of Acts 5:27-32 who was running from responsibility for the blood that he had earlier said would be on he and his children?

In your opinion, what does it say about us as humans that we continually make the choice of the Israelites of 1 Samuel 8:6-20 to “be like all the other” people instead of worshipping the one who Paul says in Philippians 2:1-11 “humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross”?

In your opinion, how do we deal with the intimidation of being instructed by Paul in Philippians 2:1-11 to have a mind like Christ and a love like Christ, who stood before Pilate and the chief priests and elders and did not answer, and then submitted to flogging and crucifixion in Matthew 27:11-26?

In your opinion, what do these passages, from Matthew, 1 Samuel, Acts and Philippians show us about the Great Commission?

Next, back to Matthew 27:27 – (sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)