Matthew 7:1 – 13:58

Answers

Judging Others – Chapter Seven

“Stop judging others, and you will not be judged.”

Does this mean that all types of judgment are forbidden?  What about self-judgment?  Fair judgment?  Divine judgment?  (A) No!  It means that self-righteous, critical and hypocritical judgment is forbidden.  See vs. 6 – it is necessary to discern dogs and swine from our own brothers & sisters, this to say how one handles the gospel in the face of those who hate the truth.

1. “Ask and it will be given.”  Does this mean that we are free to ask for anything – all the desires of your heart?  (A) The key is v.11; “how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts…”  The good can only be things that are according to His will, not for the benefit of our selfish hearts.
2. “You can enter God’s kingdom only through the narrow gate.”  Are their two gates?  (A.) The narrow and the wide gates are the two ways offered.  The narrow is by faith, only through Christ – it is hard, concise, and difficult.  It represents true salvation in God’s Way that leads to eternal life.  The wide gate includes all religions of works and self-righteousness – it leads to hell, not heaven (Acts 4:12). 

Miracles – Chapter Eight

The Man with Leprosy – “Suddenly a man with leprosy approached Jesus.  He knelt before Him, worshipping.”

1. What did it mean to be a leper: Physically?  Spiritually?  Socially?  What is significant about Jesus’ touch?  (A). A leper was one who had a terrible, wasting disease – the flesh turned white and the sense of feeling in the limbs disappeared.  Often, one would lose limbs because they could not feel an injury.  The disease was among the most feared with no know treatment.  It meant you were socially outcast, not allowed physical contact with anyone, not even family.  Spiritually you were declared, “Unclean –no Temple worship or synagogue worship allowed.”
2. What was the significance of the leper’s approach to Jesus?  (A) He knelt and worshipped, fully believing that Jesus could heal Him, only uncertain if He wanted to.  How certain are we of God’s abilities?
3. Jesus was asked to visit a Roman centurion’s home to heal his servant and He agreed to go.  Why is this remarkable?  What does it show about Jesus? (A). In the Jewish tradition, a person who entered a Gentile’s house was ceremonially unclean (unable to worship without special cleansing rituals.)  Jesus loved and cared about people, not tradition.
4. The Centurion answered, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home.  Just say the word…”  What does this show about the man?  What is significant about vs. 11 & 12?  (A). This man, a Gentile, and very powerful Roman no less, believed in Jesus.  He understood Jesus’ absolute authority.  The many speaks of salvation extended to the Gentiles who would join with believing Israel in God’s kingdom.
5. When Jesus healed the two demon-possessed men, their demons shouted, “Why are you bothering us, Son of God?  You have no right to torture us before God’s appointed time.”  Does their knowledge of Jesus’ deity surprise you?  If Jesus is God, doesn’t He have the right to “bother” (torment) them?  They mention “before God’s appointed time” – what time is referred to here?  (A).  They were once in heaven with Christ and knew Him well.  As God, Only He has the right to pass judgment.  The demons knew that there was an appointed time in the future for their final judgment – to be thrown forever into the Lake of Fire! 

Jesus Heals a Paralyzed man – Chapter Nine

1. Jesus returns to Capernaum and is confronted with a paralytic.  It says, “Seeing their faith… take heart son!  Your sins are forgiven.”  Wait a minute!  Isn’t this man paralyzed and didn’t his people come to have his health cured?  Why does Jesus instead forgive his sins?  Is it because of sin that the man is paralyzed?  (A).  The fact that Jesus first forgave the man’s sins indicates that indeed, his paralysis was the result of sin.  The consequences of physical sin may have been the cause of his problem.  While sin may be the cause of suffering (John 5:14; Num. 12:1; Cor. 11:30), it is not always the case (Job; 2Cor. 12:7).
2. What is significant about how Jesus goes about healing this man?  (A).  Jesus knew that his enemies watched him carefully.  When He forgave the man his sins, He was declaring Himself God!  A doctor may be able to heal a man, but only God can forgive sins!
3. Three stories follow – the ruler of the synagogue and the woman with a blood issue, and two blind men.  What did these four people have in common?  How did Jesus respond to that?  (A).  They all had great faith and approached Him in humility and worship!  He instantly healed both issues.  *Note:  Your faith has made you well” Literally means, “has saved you!” 

Jesus Sends Out Twelve Apostles – Chapter Ten

The rubber meets the road!

Compare verses one and two.  What are His followers called in each?  Is there a difference?  (A)  “Disciple” means “student,” one who is taught by another.  “Apostles” refers to qualified representatives who are sent on a mission.  Each term emphasizes different aspects of their calling.  He had many disciples, but not all continued to be faithful.

1. “He gave them authority (power)…” There were hundreds of disciples (see Acts), but Jesus chose to give this unprecedented power to only the twelve.  How important is this?  What are the implications for us?  (A) Jesus shared His power with the apostles to show clearly that He and His kingdom were sovereign over the physical and spiritual world, the effects of sin, and the efforts of Satan.  This was intended to announce the Messiah’s arrival and authenticate Him and His apostles who preached His Gospel.  The purpose of these miraculous signs was to authenticate the apostles as God’s messengers.  These signs were unique for the twelve alone.  The implications – we all have God given gifts; some to teach, some to heal, some have gifts of mercy, etc.  Beware of those claiming their own power to do these things!
2. Read v.29.  Why is this important?  (A) Jesus was teaching that God providentially controls the timing and circumstances of even the most insignificant events such as the death of a sparrow.  Even the number of hairs on our heads is controlled by His sovereign will.  So, do not be afraid!
3. Read v. 39.  What does it mean, “If you cling to your life you will lose it; but if you give it up for me, you will find it?”  (A) Everything!!!!  He tells us that we must take up our cross (total commitment to Him –full surrender).  Those who fail to do so will not have eternal life with Him. 

Jesus and John the Baptist – Chapter Eleven

1. “Are You really the Messiah we’ve been waiting for…?  *John is in prison because he called Herod on his adultery – how might prison have raised doubts for John?  (A)  John was the one who introduces Christ as the One who would bring fierce judgment , separating the “wheat from the chaff” and burning it with everlasting fire (3:12).  He was confused by the turn of events:  he was imprisoned, and Jesus was carrying out a ministry of healing, not judgment in Galilee, not in Jerusalem, the home for the coming King.
2. “…none is greater than John the Baptist.  Yet, even the most insignificant person in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he is (11:11!”)  How so?  (A) John was greater than the OT prophets because he saw with his eyes and personally participated in the fulfillment of what they only prophesied.  But all believers are greater still, because they participate in the full understanding (even if it takes a lifetime!) and experience of something John only foresaw – the actual atoning work of Christ.
3. Probably one of the most important verses in this section – “”O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding the truth from those who think themselves so wise and clever, and for revealing it to the childlike.  Yes Father, it pleased you to do it this way!”  My Father has given me authority over everything.  No One really knows the Son except the Father, and no one really knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”  WOW!  This is a powerful affirmation of the sovereignty of God over all the affairs of men and Christ claimed the fact that it was committed to Him to execute that will.  What does it say to you “those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him?”  (A)The following 2 verses give us some insight.  First, it is an open invitation to all who hear, but it is couched in language that the only ones to respond to the invitation are those who are burdened by their own spiritual bankruptcy (remember the Beatitudes).  Without a sovereignly bestowed awakening (in other words, the prompting of the Holy Spirit,), all sinners refuse to acknowledge the depth of their spiritual poverty, (Romans tells us that we are dead in our sins).  That is why Jesus says in v.27, our salvation is the sovereign work of God.  Yet, the mystery that we struggle with is the free will offer to all in vv.28-30. 

Controversy About the Sabbath – Chapter 12

1. Was the picking of a few handfuls of wheat really an unlawful act on the Sabbath?  What is the point Jesus makes about David?  (A) Not at all.  The Laws do not restrict deeds of necessity; service to God; or acts of mercy.  The Sabbath was made for man’s benefit and God’s glory.  What David did by eating the Showbread reserved for the priests of the Temple was to satisfy a legitimate need of hunger. 
2. Jesus admonishes them, ‘If you had known what these words mean, “I desire mercy not sacrifice…(Hosea 6:6.)  When have you fallen into the trap of “offering sacrifice” but “neglecting mercy?
3. V.31 says, “Every sin or blasphemy can be forgiven except blasphemy against the Holy spirit, which can never be forgiven.”  Obviously, there is so much confusion about this “unpardonable sin.”  What is Jesus saying?  (A) The sin He was confronting was the Pharisees’ deliberate rejection of that which they knew to be of God (John 11:48; Acts 4:16).  They could not deny what the Holy Spirit had done through Christ, so they gave Satan the credit for the work.

Story of the Farmer Scattering Seed – Chapter 13

From this point forward, Jesus taught in parables (the text calls them stories).

1. What exactly is a parable and why did He teach this way?  (A) A parable is a long analogy (comparing something in one or more ways between things otherwise unlike).  Jesus used them to hide the truth from unbelievers while making it clearer to His disciples.  Keeping the truth from unbelievers, this way was both an act of judgment and an act of mercy.  Judgment kept them in the darkness they loved, but it was mercy because they had already rejected the light, so any exposure to more truth would only increase their condemnation.
2. What does this parable of the Sower represent?  (A) V.11 “It has been given to you…”  The ability to comprehend spiritual truth is a gracious gift from God, sovereignly given to the elect.  God is not unfair as unbelievers choose to rebel.  God takes no pleasure in keeping the truth from men.

q      The Hard Path & the Good News about the Kingdom, v.18 – Represents the message of how to enter God’s Kingdom, that is, the Gospel.  When one hears the Word but it does not penetrate their soul, Satan comes and snatches it away from their understanding.

q      Rocky soil – Some people make an emotional, superficial commitment to salvation in Christ, but it is not real.  They remain interested only until there is a sacrificial price to pay, and then abandon Christ.

q      Thorny ground – These make superficial commitments without true repentance.  They can’t break with the love of money and the world.

q      Good ground – As there are three soils with no fruit, thus no salvation, there are three kinds of good soil with fruit (he hears the Word, understands it, and bears fruit).  Not all believers are equally fruitful, some 100 fold, some sixty, some thirty, but all are fruitful.

3.   The Wheat and the Weeds Explained – It pictures Satan mingling his children with God’s, in some cases making it impossible for believers to discern the true from the false.  What happens to the wheat (believers) and the wheat (unbelievers) at the end of the age?  (A) The Righteous believers will shine like the sun in their Father’s Kingdom, but unbelievers will be judged and thrown into the Lake of Fire to burn forever.  God is never unfair!