November 29, 2015 – The Great Commission – A Study of Matthew – Remorse, Repentance and Salvation

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.”

Remorse, Repentance and Salvation

Matthew 27:1-10 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ “Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed. ² So they bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor.

³ When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. ⁴ “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.”

“What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.”

⁵ So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

⁶ The chief priests picked up the coins and said, “It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.” ⁷ So they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. ⁸ That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day. ⁹ Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on him by the people of Israel, ¹⁰ and they used them to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”

When did “all the chief priests and the elders of the people” make their plans on “how to have Jesus executed” (verse 1)?

Who did they hand Jesus over to (verse 2)?

When was Judas “seized with remorse” (verse 3)?

What did Judas do after he was “seized with remorse” (verse 3)?

How did the chief priests and elders respond to Judas when he told them “I have sinned, for I have betrayed innocent blood” (verse 4)?

In your opinion, why did Judas throw the money into the temple (verse 5)?

What did Judas do after throwing the money into the temple (verse 5)?

In your opinion, how is it hypocritical for the chief priests to say “it is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money” (verse 6)?

How did they decide to dispose of the money (verse 7)?

Who did Matthew quote (verse 9)?

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

Job 42:1-6 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ “Then Job replied to the Lord:

² “I know that you can do all things;
    no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
³ You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’
    Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
    things too wonderful for me to know.

⁴ “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak;
    I will question you,
    and you shall answer me.’
⁵ My ears had heard of you
    but now my eyes have seen you.
⁶ Therefore I despise myself
    and repent in dust and ashes.”

Who does Job reply to (verse 1)?

What does Job know (verse 2)?

In your opinion, why does Job say “surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know” (verse 3)?

What had the Lord said (verse 4)?

In your opinion, what is the difference between Job’s ears hearing “of you” and his eyes having “seen you” (verse 5)?

How does Job react to having seen the Lord and then despising himself (verse 6)?

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

In your opinion, why are the outcomes so different for Judas, who was “seized with remorse” in Matthew 27:1-10 and then hung himself and Job who despised himself in Job 42:1-6 and then repented?

2 Corinthians 7:8-11 – New International Version (NIV)

⁸ “Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— ⁹ yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. ¹⁰ Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. ¹¹ See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.”

What did Paul regret “only for a little while” (verse 8)?

What did sorrow lead the Corinthians to (verse 9)?

Who intended for the Corinthians to be sorrowful (verse 9)?

What does Godly sorrow bring and lead to (verse 10)?

What does Godly sorrow not leave (verse 10)?

What does worldly sorrow bring (verse 10)?

In your opinion, how does Godly sorrow produce earnestness, eagerness to clear yourselves, indignation, alarm, longing, concern and readiness to see justice done (verse 11)?

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

In your opinion, how does Job despising himself and repenting in Job 42:1-6 illustrate the progressing of Godly sorrow bringing repentance that leads to salvation as explained by Paul in 2 Corinthians 7:8-11?

In your opinion, how does the remorse that Judas felt that led him to hang himself in Matthew 27:1-10 show the truth of Paul’s statement in 2 Corinthians 7:8-11 that “worldly sorrow brings death”?

2 Timothy 2:23-26 – New International Version (NIV)

²³ “Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. ²⁴ And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. ²⁵ Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, ²⁶ and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.”

Why should we avoid “foolish and stupid argument” (verse 23)?

Who should the “Lord’s servant” be kind to (verse 24)?

How should opponents be instructed (verse 25)?

Who leads people to a knowledge of the truth as a part of the granting of repentance (verse 25)?

In your opinion, how does having a knowledge of the truth help people come to their senses (verse 26)?

What can people escape from once they come to their senses (verse 26)?

Who has taken people “captive to do his will” (verse 26)?

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

In your opinion, in the discussions about repentance what is the relationship between the knowledge of the truth that Paul talks about in 2 Timothy 2:23-26 and the Godly sorrow that he talks about in 2 Corinthians 7:8-11?

In your opinion, how does Paul’s discussion about the knowledge of the truth being a part of repentance in 2 Timothy 2:23-26 help understand the process that Job went through in Job 42:1-1-6 where he saw the Lord, then despised himself and repented?

In your opinion, what was Judas, who suffered remorse when he realized that he had “betrayed innocent blood” in Matthew 27:1-10 missing from the process of repentance that Paul talks about in 2 Timothy 2:23-26?

In your opinion, what do these passages, from Matthew, Job, 2 Corinthians and 2 Timothy show us about the Great Commission?

Next, back to Matthew 27:11 – (sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

November 22, 2015 – The Great Commission – A Study of Matthew – Humbling and Restoring

  

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.”

Humbling and Restoring

Matthew 26:69-75 – New International Version (NIV)

⁶⁹ “Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said.

⁷⁰ But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.

⁷¹ Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”

⁷² He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”

⁷³ After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.”

⁷⁴ Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!”

Immediately a rooster crowed. ⁷⁵ Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.”

Where was Peter sitting (verse 69)?

Who came to him and said “you also were with Jesus of Galilee” (verse 69)?

How did Peter respond (verse 70)?

In your opinion, why did Peter go out to the gateway (verse 71)?

Who saw him and said “this fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth” (verse 71)?

How was Peter’s denial more emphatic this time that the first time (verse 72)?

Why did “those standing there” think that Peter was one of those with Jesus of Galilee (verse 73)?

How was Peter’s denial even stronger this time (verse 74)?

What happened immediately after Peter said “I don’t know the man” (verse 74)?

What did Peter remember (verse 75)?

In your opinion, why do you think Peter “wept bitterly” (verse 66)?

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

Matthew 10:32-33 - New International Version (NIV)

³² “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. ³³ But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.”

What does Jesus say He will do for “whoever acknowledges me before others” (verse 32)?

What does Jesus say He will do about “whoever disowns me before others” (verse 33)?

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

In your opinion, how does your understanding of Peter’s bitter weeping in Matthew 26:69-75 change when you remember that Peter heard this instruction about acknowledging and disowning from Jesus in Matthew 10:32-33?

Acts 4:23-31 – New International Version (NIV)

²³ “On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. ²⁴ When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. ²⁵ You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:

“‘Why do the nations rage
    and the peoples plot in vain?
²⁶ The kings of the earth rise up
    and the rulers band together
against the Lord
    and against his anointed one.’

²⁷ Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. ²⁸ They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. ²⁹ Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. ³⁰ Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

³¹ After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”

Where did Peter and John go when they were released from the rulers, the elders, and the teachers of the law (verse 23)?

What did Peter and John report (verse 23)?

How did the people respond (verse 24)?

How did the Sovereign Lord speak through the mouth of David (verse 24)?

In your opinion, why did the people choose this quotation from David to quote (verses 25 and 26)?

Who met together to “conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed” (verse 27)?

What did the conspirators do (verse 28)?

How did they pray that the Sovereign Lord would allow them to meet the present threats (verse 29)?

In your opinion, why did they ask for the Sovereign Lord to “stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus” (verse 30)?

What happened to “the place where they were meeting” after the prayer (verse 31)?

How did God respond their prayers from verse 29 to “speak your word with great boldness” (verse 31)?

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

In your opinion, how is the response of the people to the threats of the rulers, elders and teachers of the law in Acts 4:23-31 so soon after the same people orchestrated the death of Jesus an example of how to respond to Jesus teaching in Matthew 10:32-33 about acknowledging and disowning Him?

In your opinion, what can we learn about ourselves and our relationship with God from Peter’s disowning Jesus in Matthew 26:69-75 to the boldness of Peter in Acts 4:23-31?

1 Peter 5:6-11 – New International Version (NIV)

⁶ “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. ⁷ Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

⁸ Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

¹⁰ And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. ¹¹ To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.”

What does Peter instruct us to do that God “may lift you up in due time” (verse 6)?

Why should we “cast all your anxiety on him” (verse 7)?

How should we be (verse 8)?

Who “prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (verse 8)?

How should we resist that enemy (verse 9)?

In your opinion, why does Peter say that “the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings” (verse 9)?

What has the “God of all grace” done (verse 10)?

What will the “God of all grace” do “after you have suffered a little while” (verse 10)?

To whom will be “the power for ever and ever” (verse 11)?

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

In your opinion, what parts of the passage of Acts 4:23-31 illustrate the various parts of Peter’s instructions in 1 Peter 5:6-11 including 1) the enemy, the devil, prowling like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour; 2) standing firm in the faith; 3) casting anxiety on Him; and 4) God restoring and making strong, firm and steadfast?

In your opinion, how can we who are intimidated by the instructions of Jesus in Matthew 10:32-33 take comfort and instruction from 1 Peter 5:6-11?

In your opinion, how does the failure of Peter to do what he expected of himself in Matthew 26:69-75 add to his compassionate instruction in 1 Peter 5:6-11?

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

Next, back to Matthew 27:1 – (sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

November 15, 2015 – The Great Commission – A Study of Matthew – Reactions to Christ

  

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.”

Reactions to Christ

Matthew 26:57-68 – New International Version (NIV)

⁵⁷ “Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled. ⁵⁸ But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome.

⁵⁹ The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. ⁶⁰ But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward.

Finally two came forward ⁶¹ and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”

⁶² Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” ⁶³ But Jesus remained silent.

The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”

⁶⁴ “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

⁶⁵ Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. ⁶⁶ What do you think?”

“He is worthy of death,” they answered.

⁶⁷ Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him ⁶⁸ and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?”

Where did “those who had arrested Jesus” take Him (verse 57)?

Who did Peter sit down with to “see the outcome” (verse 58)?

Why were the “chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin” looking for false evidence against Jesus (verse 59)?

In your opinion, why could they not find any false evidence even “though many false witnesses came forward” (verse 60)?

What did the two false witnesses agree on (verse 61)?

How did Jesus respond to the testimony and the high priest’s question about it (verses 62 and 63)?

Who did the high priest ask Jesus if He was (verse 63)?

In your opinion, why did Jesus say “you have said so” (verse 64)?

What did Jesus say to “all of you” (verse 64)?

How did the high priest react to what Jesus said (verse 65)?

What did “they” say Jesus was worthy of (verse 66)?

Where did “they” spit (verse 67)?

What did “they” say after they slapped Jesus (verses 67 and 68)?

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

Daniel 7:13-14 - New International Version (NIV)

¹³ “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. ¹⁴ He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.”

When did Daniel have this vision (verse 13)?

Who approached the “Ancient of Days” (verse 13)?

Who was “given authority, glory and sovereign power” (verse 13)?

Who worshiped Him (verse 13)?

When will His dominion end (verse 14)?

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

In your opinion, if we assume that the high priest knew the prophecies of Danial and this passage in Daniel 7:13-14 then what does the high priest’s reaction in Matthew 26:57-68 of Jesus statement “From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven” mean that he thought about Jesus?

Acts 9:1-19 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ “Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest ² and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. ³ As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. ⁴ He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

⁵ “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. ⁶ “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

⁷ The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. ⁸ Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. ⁹ For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

¹⁰ In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”

“Yes, Lord,” he answered.

¹¹ The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. ¹² In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”

¹³ “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. ¹⁴ And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”

¹⁵ But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. ¹⁶ I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

¹⁷ Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁸ Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, ¹⁹ and after taking some food, he regained his strength.”

What was Saul doing (verse 1)?

What did he ask the high priest for (verse 2)?

Where was he when “a light from heaven flashed around him” (verse 3)?

What question was he ask (verse 4)?

In your opinion, why did Saul ask “who are you, Lord” (verse 5)?

Who was speechless (verse 7)?

Why was Saul led “by the hand into Damascus” (verse 8)?

Who is Ananias (verse 10)?

What was Ananias told that “a man from Tarsus named Saul” was doing (verse 11)?

What had the “man from Tarsus named Saul” seen in a vision (verse 12)?

How did Ananias respond to the Lord (verses 13 and 14)?

Who does the Lord say that “this man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name” to (verse 15)?

What will the Lord show Saul (verse 16)?

How did Ananias address Saul (verse 17)?

Why did Ananias say he was sent to Saul (verse 17)?

What fell from “Saul’s eyes, and he could see again” (verse 18)?

What did Saul do after “he got up” (verse 18)?

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

In your opinion, what are the things in Acts 9:1-19 that show the “one like a son of man” from Daniel 7:13-14 exercising some of the “authority, glory and sovereign power” that He is given?

In your opinion, how are the meetings of Caiaphas and Jesus in Matthew 26:57-68 and Paul and Jesus in Acts 9:1-19 similar and how are they different?

1 Corinthians 2:6-16 – New International Version (NIV)

⁶ “We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. ⁷ No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. ⁸ None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. ⁹ However, as it is written:

“What no eye has seen,
    what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”—
    the things God has prepared for those who love him—

¹⁰ these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. ¹¹ For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. ¹² What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. ¹³ This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. ¹⁴ The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. ¹⁵ The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, ¹⁶ for,

“Who has known the mind of the Lord
    so as to instruct him?”

But we have the mind of Christ.”

What kind “message of wisdom” does Paul not speak of (verse 6)?

What does Paul declare from “God’s wisdom” (verse 7)?

What would the “rulers of this age” have not done if they understood the message from “God’s wisdom” (verse 8)?

What does the quote “what no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived-the thing God has prepared for those who love him” tell us about the ability of human wisdom to understand God’s wisdom, His love, or His actions (verse 9)?

Who reveals God’s wisdom (verse 10)?

In your opinion, how does Paul explain the Holy Spirit’s ability to reveal God’s wisdom, His love and His actions (verse 11)?

What spirits might we have received (verse 12)?

What wisdom does Paul claim not to speak by (verse 13)?

Who considers the “the things that come from the Spirit of God” foolishness (verse 14)?

Who has the “mind of Christ” (verse 16)?

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

In your opinion, how does the actions of Saul in Acts 9:1-19 who went to the high priest for letters but then spent three days praying and fasting after he met Jesus on the road to Damascus, then received the Holy Spirit when Ananias placed his hands on him illustrate the conflict between worldly wisdom and God’s wisdom that Paul (Saul) talks about in 1 Corinthians 2:6-16?

In your opinion, how does vision of Daniel in Daniel 7:13-14 who saw “one like the son of man” receiving “authority, glory and sovereign power” begin to anticipate Jesus, but still miss the amazing “things God has prepared for those who love him” as Paul quotes in 1 Corinthians 2:6-16?

In your opinion, what does the difference in the reaction of Ananias to Jesus in Matthew 26:57-68 illustrate acceptance of worldly wisdom and the reaction of Paul to Jesus in Acts 9:1-9 illustrate a rejection of worldly wisdom to accept God’s wisdom, both discussed by Paul in 1 Corinthians 2:6-16?

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

Next, back to Matthew 26:69 – (sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)