February 15, 2026 – A Study of Matthew – Trusting God

Trusting God

Deuteronomy 8:1-5 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land the Lord promised on oath to your ancestors. ² Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. ³ He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. ⁴ Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years. ⁵ Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you.

What was the reward for following “every command” (verse 1)?

How long had the Lord led them “in the wilderness” (verse 2)?

What was the testing in the wilderness to reveal (verse 2)?

What did the Lord do after humbling the people and causing them to hunger (verse 3)?

What were they supposed to learn in the wilderness (verse 3)?

How long did their clothes last (verse 4)?

What had the Lord been doing (verse 5)?

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

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

Matthew 14:13-21 - New International Version (NIV)

¹³ When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. ¹⁴ When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

¹⁵ As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”

¹⁶ Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

¹⁷ “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.

¹⁸ “Bring them here to me,” he said. ¹⁹ And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. ²⁰ They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. ²¹ The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Where did Jesus go (verse 13)?

How did Jesus react to the “large crowd” (verse 14)?

Why did the disciples want Jesus to “send the crowds away” (verse 15)?

What did Jesus want the disciples to do (verse 16)?

What resources did the disciples have (verse 17)?

What did Jesus tell the disciples to do with the resources (verse 18)?

What did Jesus do before he gave the loaves to the disciples (verse 19)?

How did the people feel after they ate (verse 20)?

How many ate (verse 21)?

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

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

In your opinion, how are the people receiving the manna in the desert in Deuteronomy 8:1-5 and the feeding of the five thousand in Matthew 14:13-21 similar?

1 Corinthians 11:23-32 - New International Version (NIV)

²³ For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, ²⁴ and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” ²⁵ In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” ²⁶ For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

²⁷ So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. ²⁸ Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. ²⁹ For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. ³⁰ That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. ³¹ But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. ³² Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.

What did Paul do with what he “received from the Lord” (verse 23)?

What are we to do “in remembrance” of Jesus (verse 24)?

What is “the cup” (verse 25)?

How can we “proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (verse 26)?

Who will be “guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord” (verse 27)?

What should “everyone” do before eating the bread and drinking from the cup (verse 28)?

How can people “eat and drink judgment on themselves” (verse 29)?

Why are many “weak and sick” (verses 29 and 30)?

How could the Corinthian Christians “not come under such judgment” (verse 31)?

What would this discipline help us avoid (verse 32)?

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

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

In your opinion, how can the testing and discipline of the Israelite people in the desert that Moses spoke of in Deuteronomy 8:1-5 be compared with the self-examination that Paul says each Christian should do before remembering Jesus with the bread and wine in 1 Corinthians 11:23-32?

In your opinion, how should the generosity and compassion of Jesus in feeding the five thousand in Matthew 14:13-21 shape our understanding when remembering Jesus with the bread and wine as discussed in 1 Corinthians 11:23-32?

Titus 3:3-8 - New International Version (NIV)

³ At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. ⁴ But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, ⁵ he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷ so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. ⁸ This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

What were we “at one time” (verse 3)?

When did “God our Savior” save us (verses 4 and 5)?

How did He save us (verse 5)?

How was the Holy Spirit “poured out on us” through Jesus Christ (verse 6)?

What do those who are saved have hope of (verse 7)?

What are those who have “trusted in God” to devote themselves to (verse 8)?

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

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

In your opinion, how are the salvation of the Israelite people as described by Moses in Deuteronomy 8:1-5 and the salvation of Christians as described by Paul in Titus 3:3-8 similar?

In your opinion, how are the compassion and mercy of Jesus proclaimed in both Matthew 14:13-21 and Titus 3:3.8?

In your opinion, how does Titus 3:3-8 help us understand what we are to remember when we follow the instructions of 1 Corinthians 11:23-32?

In your opinion, what do these passages from Deuteronomy, Matthew, 1 Corinthians and Titus help us understand about why we need to go to God in all circumstances?

In your opinion, how do we feed the hungry today?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

May 11, 2025 – A Study of Matthew – Where Is Your Treasure?

Where Is Your Treasure?

Ecclesiastes 5:10-20 – New International Version (NIV)

¹⁰ Whoever loves money never has enough;
    whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.
    This too is meaningless.

¹¹ As goods increase,
    so do those who consume them.
And what benefit are they to the owners
    except to feast their eyes on them?

¹² The sleep of a laborer is sweet,
    whether they eat little or much,
but as for the rich, their abundance
    permits them no sleep.

¹³ I have seen a grievous evil under the sun:

wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners,
¹⁴     or wealth lost through some misfortune,
so that when they have children
    there is nothing left for them to inherit.
¹⁵ Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb,
    and as everyone comes, so they depart.
They take nothing from their toil
    that they can carry in their hands.

¹⁶ This too is a grievous evil:

As everyone comes, so they depart,
    and what do they gain,
    since they toil for the wind?
¹⁷ All their days they eat in darkness,
    with great frustration, affliction and anger.

¹⁸ This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. ¹⁹ Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. ²⁰ They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.

Who never has enough money (verse 10)?

What happens when “goods increase” (verse 11)?

What does the abundance of the rich not permit (verse 12)?

What “grievous evil under the sun” had Solomon seen (verse 13)?

How much of what they toiled for can the departed take (verse 15)?

How do people depart (verse 16)?

What has Solomon “observed to be good” (verse 18)?

What is a “gift of God” (verse 19)?

Why do people who receive this gift “seldom reflect on the days of their life” (verse 20)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about the treasures we pursue?

Matthew 6:16-24 - New International Version (NIV)

¹⁶ “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ¹⁷ But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, ¹⁸ so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

¹⁹ “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

²² “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. ²³ But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

²⁴ “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Why do hypocrites “disfigure their faces” (verse 16)?

Who “sees what is done in secret” (verse 18)?

What happens to treasures stored “on earth” (verse 19)?

Where should we store treasures (verse 20)?

Where is “your heart” (verse 21)?

When will “your whole body . . . be full of light” (verse 22)?

What happens when “your eyes are unhealthy” (verse 23)?

Who “can serve two masters” (verse 24)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about the treasures we pursue?

In your opinion, how does the fragileness of the earthly treasures in Matthew 6:16-24 reinforce the meaningless of wealth in Ecclesiastes 5:10-20 and highlight the value of heavenly treasures?

1 Timothy 6:3-10 - New International Version (NIV)

³ If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, ⁴ they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions ⁵ and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

⁶ But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. ⁸ But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. ⁹ Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

What are people who do “not agree the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching” like (verses 3 and 4)?

What do people “who have been robbed of the truth” think about godliness (verse 5)?

What is “godliness with contentment” (verse 6)?

What can we take from the world (verse 7)?

What does Paul say they “will be content with” (verse 8)?

Who falls “into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires” (verse 9)?

What is “a root of all kinds of evil” (verse 10)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about the treasures we pursue?

In your opinion, how is Ecclesiastes 5:10-20’s discussion of the meaninglessness of money and wealth reflected in 1 Timothy 6:3-10 contrast of love of money versus godliness?

In your opinion, how does 1 Timothy 6:3-10 help us understand Jesus’s statement in Matthew 6:16-24 that “no one can serve two masters”?

Titus 3:3-8 - New International Version (NIV)

³ At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. ⁴ But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, ⁵ he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷ so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. ⁸ This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

In your opinion, who was “foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures” (verse 3)?

What appeared (verse 4)?

Why did “God our Savior” save us (verse 5)?

How did “God our Savior” save us (verse 5)?

Who was “poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior” (verses 5 and 6)?

What do the heirs have hope of (verse 7)?

Who should “devote themselves to doing what is good” (verse 8)?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about the treasures we pursue?

In your opinion, what does Titus 3:3-8 reveal about how God saves us from the grievous evil of Ecclesiastes 5:10-20?

In your opinion, what does Titus 3:3-8 convey about the two masters that Jesus talked about in Matthew 6:16-24?

In your opinion, how does Titus 3:3-8 help us understand how we move from unhealthy interests to the “godliness with contentment” found in 1 Timothy 6:3-10?

In your opinion, what do these Scriptures from Ecclesiastes, Matthew, 1 Timothy and Titus teach us about what it means to be devoted to wealth?

In your opinion, how can we devote ourselves serving God today?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)