><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> (Matthew) CHAPTER 1 ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Directing Questions -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 1) Consider the names in the genealogy and note how sinful some of them were. How does this chapter indicate that the coming of Jesus was in God's plan form the beginning? In what ways does it demonstrate that in Jesus Old Testament prophecy is fulfilled? What truths are here indicated concerning His Person and work? 2) What do verses 18-25 teach us about the virgin birth? What is the importance of this truth for the Christian? 3) Examine the character of Joseph as revealed in these verses(cf 2:13-23) What may we learn from his corageous obedience? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Comments from (Matthew) Chapter 1 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -------------------------------------------- * Blenda Chao -------------------------------------------- 1) Matthew was writing to Jews, and so uses "son of Abraham" in v1. Jesus is a descendant of David, which fulfills the promise to D. that his kingdom will last forever. How amazing! 2) Christ's birth was foretold by an angel to Joseph. It was definitely a deliberate birth, with the name "Jesus" already being chosen. The importance to me is that God has a perfect plan in everything He does, for us as well. Only trust in Him for he loves us, Jer 29:11; despite adversity (e.g. Herod killing babies would be in this case), God's will is always done. 3) Joseph was a righteous man (kept the law), and trusted God at His word by doing what the angel told him to. This obedience is highly exemplary and shows a true love for God; those who love Him will obey Him: John 14:23-24a, "Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father willl love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching..." -------------------------------------------- * James Chao -------------------------------------------- Matthew 1 Jesus Who Is Called Christ The Bible is the book of Jesus Christ. Matthew is the book that addresses Jesus as King of kings. The gospel according to St. Matthew emphasizes the kingdom life. Jesus Christ is son of David; that is Solomon. Solomon is the one who built the temple. He was also the one who spoke the word of wisdom. Lord Jesus is greater than Solomon; He sent forth the Holy Spirit and built the Spiritual temple. Jesus Christ is the son of Abraham. It means that He was to be Isaac. Isaac was offered on the altar. He also married a Gentile woman. The Lord was offered in His death and resurrected. Jesus also married the Gentiles and brought forth the church. [The Collected Works of Watchman Nee] Genesis is the book of the generations of first Adam, Genesis 5:1. Matthew is the generation of the second Adam. First Adam is a sinner and the second Adam is the Savior. The genealogy of a man begins with the descendants and goes back to the ancestors. The Genealogy of a king begins with the king and comes down to the descendants. Further, the genealogy recorded in Luke traces back to Adam with the concept show the identity of Jesus as a man. It shows the descendants of Adam to Mary, the mother of Jesus. Mary is daughter of David through Nathan, Luke 3:31b. Joseph, Mary's husband, is son of David through Solomon, Matt. 1:6b. Christ was a child of the Holy Spirit born of Mary, 1:16 and 20. Through the virgin Mary as a means, He put on flesh and blood, the human nature, taking the likeness of the flesh, Rom. 8:3, the likeness of men, Phil. 2:7. This Son of the virgin is the seed of the woman prophesied in Genesis 3:15. Verse 19: "Joseph.being righteous." A righteous person is both just and kind. Joseph was just; so he had to divorce such a woman. He was also kind; thus, he was not willing to disgrace her openly but intended to divorce her secretly. As a righteous person, Joseph was both just and kind. Children of God should be both just and kind, not just kind or kind of just. -------------------------------------------- * Alvin Chao -------------------------------------------- 1) The genealogy of Matthew is one of Jesus the Messiah(anointed one). The book of Matthew is the "Kingdom life in a Nutshell". It is interesting to note some of the men and women involved in the genealogy. Rahab the harlot is the mother of Boaz who would be a pseudo-Redeemer to Ruth. We also see Solomon, the son of Bathsheba for who David commited horrible sins to have. The way that the genealogy moves is from covenant to covenant. First starting with Abraham and God's covenant to Him to bring a Messiah, and going on and on through the Jewish line. 2) The virgin birth is explained in 18-25. An important item for the Christian is that Jesus was only part man. IF He were fully man then He would have been cursed (v11) to never rule on the throne. Jeconiah in v11 had a curse pronounced on his line that none would rule on the throne of David. Since Jesus was from Mary's lineage fully and Joseph was not His natural father, He would not be subject to this curse.(Ryrie Study Bible) Thus, He will someday be able to sit upon the throne of David in the Kingdom of God in the New Jerusalem. 3) Joseph is described here as a Righteous man. We see his obedience to God's revelation to him, and the courage that he had to follow this, even though it was out of line with what natural man would do. By law, Joseph had every right to disown Mary and to cast her off in divorce(separation), (but perhaps in parallel to God's love for us). Instead, he loved her and took her to be his own even when man's law said to despise her and her 'sin' separated her from him. His compassion and mercy on Mary is just a small taste of the Mercy and Grace that God demonstrates to us when He calls us back to Him even though our sin nature gives Him ground to seek a divorce(separation) from us. He instead loves us and calls us to be with Him and He is to us Immanuel(God with Us). ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> (Matthew) CHAPTER 2 ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Directing Questions -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 1) Consider the significance of the coming of the wise men from the East in the light of such passages as Is 49:6;Lk 2:32;Jn 10:16 2) Note the different reactions to the birth of Jesus from the wise men, the chief priests and scribes, and Herod. How does this prove the truth of Jn 9:39; 18:37? 3) Notice the accuracy of fulfilment of prophecy in our Lord's infancy(vs 15;17,18;23) What does this teach us about the nature and authority of prophecy? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Comments from (Matthew) Chapter 2 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -------------------------------------------- * Blenda Chao -------------------------------------------- 1) The wise men (NIV study Bible) were Gentiles, calling Jesus "the king of the Jews" in v2. It shows how people of all nations recognized Jesus as the king of the Jews and came to worship Him. One day every knee will bow, every tongue confess...that Jesus Christ is LORD. 2) Wise men worshipped Him (AND STILL DO!), Chief Priests (Sadducees in charge of temple worship in jerusalem) and teachers of the law (Jewish scholars, professionally trained in OT law, very traditional) knew about Him at least. Herod feared His power. 3) Prophecy is a great gift, and if from the Lord, will always come true. I Cor. 14:3..5 SAYS, "BUT EVERYONE WHO PROPHECIES SPEAKS TO MEN FOR THEIR STRENGTHENING, ENCOURAGMENT, AND COMFORT...He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets.." -------------------------------------------- * James Chao -------------------------------------------- Matthew 2 The Great Faith of Joseph and The Great Disturbance of the Wise Men Joseph is a man of great faith. (1) For a virgin to be with child is against the natural law and impossible in our thinking, yet he believed, 1:24. (2) Even though he needed to flee with Jesus, the Son of god, he still believed, 2:14. (3) "---flee to Egypt, and and stay there until I bring you word; ---", 2:13. (4)He obeyed god's command and returned to the land of Israel, 2:21. The magi logically went to Jerusalem to look for the King of Jews. The King was at first given to Jews. The magi were looking for Him because He is King of kings. These magi caused the killing of all the children under two years old. That makes me wonder why the Lord let things like this happen? Because the prophecy had to be fulfilled, 2:17-18. Above all, it tells the whole world that Herod could not kill God's plan. When magi saw Jesus, He was in the house, not in the manger anymore, 2:11. It brings our attention of one fact, that how the tradition could and still would mislead us. Further, these magi worshipped the child - Son of God. May the Lord bless us and enable us to see deeper things and so we would live a deeper life in Him. -------------------------------------------- * Alvin Chao -------------------------------------------- 1) The wise men - a very misunderstood topic in the Bible/the Christmas story. In most nativity scenes(creches) the wise men are in the picture, and there are 3 of them. In fact, if we look at the first verses of Matt 2 we see they were never there for the actual birth, but came shortly after it and saw Christ in a house. There is also nowhere that says three, we just associate it with the gifts and it was easier to have a one per gift scenario. Jesus is described as the Light of the world in many places: Is 49:6;Lk 2:32;Jn 10:16. Here in Matthew the magi (astronomers at heart) see his star. We too are called to be salt and light, and to shine as stars or lights to this world.(Phil 2:15) (NIV) so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe (NASB95) so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, 2) The wise men realized that Christ was the King of the Jews(and accepted Him as Saviour), the chief priests and scribes knew the law and the prophecies and believed them (yet they still didn't accept Christ as Saviour), and Herod was jealous of another taking the throne in His life and yielding control to Him. These are the typical reactions of this world to Jesus Christ. Apparent at birth and still echoed today. Men still hear and believe, hear and are not convinced, and hear and are opposed to Christ. 3) The prophecies fulfilled in His birth are just another example of God's sovreign plan from the day original sin was placed upon man and man fell under the curse of sin. The promise to Adam and Eve that Eve's seed would crush Satan(the child of a woman[interesting note: Jesus was son of a woman, not man] Gen 3:15. The fulfillment of the prophecies that He would be born in Bethlehem, in a manger, and would flee due to the need for safety to Egypt and returned to be called a Nazarene. ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> (Matthew) CHAPTER 3 ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Directing Questions -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 1) John the Baptist saw himself as preparing the way for Christ (v3) In what ways did he do this through a) his preaching, and b) his administration of baptism? 2) What do verses 13-15 tell us about the importance of His baptism to Jesus? How do you link this moment with the cross? Cf Ps 40:7-8;Lk 12:50;2 Cor 5:21. Can you see the Trinity clearly at work in these verses? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Comments from (Matthew) Chapter 3 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -------------------------------------------- * Blenda Chao -------------------------------------------- 1) J. the Baptist preached to "make straight paths for Him", prepare the way for the Lord. People confessed their sins and were baptized. Also, he was against the Pharisees and Sadducees. His was a baptism of water for repentance, and he prophecied Christ. The P.'s and S.'s lacked this true repentance, so J. the B. would not baptize them. 2) This portion, Jesus baptism, makes me feel the power of being able to read God's Word today. Jesus told J. the B. that his baptizing Him was necessary "to fulfill all righteousness". Yes, the Trinity is seen in v 16-17. Jesus as the man going in the water, the Spirit of God descending on Him live a dove, and God's voice from heaven saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." -------------------------------------------- * James Chao -------------------------------------------- Matthew 3 "This Is My Beloved Son, In Whom I Am Well Pleased" 3:17b The first two chapters are talking about the birth of Jesus. Now, the birthday party is over and his work starts. It starts with being baptized by John the Baptist. John was born a priest, Luke 1:5, 13. But he did not preach in a temple, nor wore priestly garments. Also he did not eat priestly food, which is composed mainly of fine flour and the meat of the sacrifices offered to God by His people, Lev. 2:1-3. All that John did was not according to the religious regulations. It is the indication of the end of the age of priesthood. He proclaimed the New Testament way of life. The theme of this chapter is that Jesus being baptized which brought Him three things: The heavens opened, the descending Spirit of God, and the speaking of the Father. I was baptized at the age of 13. I expected that all these things would happen to me. Then, I was so disappointed because it did not happen to me. Then, I convinced myself that I am not Jesus; so it did not happen. WRONG, totally wrong. It was my ignorance. Just because my spiritual ears and eyes were not functional and did not realize what went on in me. Verse 17 declared the trinity of the Almighty God. Because Jesus Christ and also because the Holy Spirit, we are counted as children of God. So often in my mind, I think that I should act properly like a true child of God. May the Lord bless us to be worthy to be called the children of God. -------------------------------------------- * Alvin Chao -------------------------------------------- 1) John prepared the way for Jesus in that He called people out of the law and OT priestly ways into the New order of Righteousness and the Age of Grace. He was calling people out of the world to be baptized(identify themselves) as believers in the One True God. He preached repentance and that Christ was the only Way. John's message is clear in v10,12. We must make a change in our lives, repent(turn away 180 degree change from where we were naturally going) from evil and follow Christ. We must make an action as Jonah did in the belly of the whale, to turn our eyes upon Jesus and to follow God's way not our own. Our own way is 180 degrees out of line with God in many cases. We must make sure we are on His path and following His Ways. Along this way we must be a good tree and produce fruit that we may be identified as wheat, otherwise, we will be thrown into the unquenchable fire. 2) John's Baptism of Jesus was important to identify Jesus as part man, Jesus needed to identify with sinners in baptism in order to fulfill all righteousness and assume His position as Messiah. It was also then that God could put His annointing on His Son, the Holy Spirit declaring "This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased" It is a beautiful thing to see the threefold nature of God here in this chapter. Perhaps only a few other times does such a movement and demonstration of the Trinity happen: Genesis(at the creation), at the Cross, and at the day of Pentecost. ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> (Matthew) CHAPTER 4 ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Directing Questions -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 1) Consider the temptations of Jesus as a testing of the kind of ministry He was going to exercise. What was the special point of appeal in each temptation? Can you link these three typical temptations with the threefold division of I Jn 2:16? 2) In what way do verse 1-11 help us to understand the meaning of temptation and the way in which Satan may be defeated? 3) What was Christ's first message? Try to define repentance Cf Acts 2:38;20:21; Lk 15:18; Mt 3:8. What further demand did He make on those who became disciples, and why? Has your response to Christ been this kind? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Comments from (Matthew) Chapter 4 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -------------------------------------------- * Blenda Chao -------------------------------------------- 1&2) Satan tempted Jesus on three things: physical gratification (food), power, and riches/kingdoms of the world. Each time Jesus responded with a Biblical defense. This is how we should do it too. God's Word is the sword of the Spirit, Eph 6:17b- it is a weapon to fight Satan. Use it! 3) Repentance, as heard in Pastor Sawyer's message today, is a spiritual U-turn. It involves the will, deciding to turn from evil to be obedient to God. Emotion and weeping may occur, but primarily it involves change. The fact that Jesus' first message was about repentance is very significant. It is the first step in knowing God. I think it is so simple, yet so hard for us to see sometimes- SIN is WHAT SEPARATES MAN FROM GOD- Christian and non-Christian! We have to get rid of it in order to know/have peace with God. But we CANNOT do it thru our own works because we are fallen humans- we are physically and spiritually INCAPABLE of independent salvation. We need Jesus, but really following Him means making a decision to change- repentance. -------------------------------------------- * James Chao -------------------------------------------- Matthew 4 Kingdom Ministry Started After Being Tested For His Qualification Jesus fasted forty days and forty nights prior to His ministry of preaching the Kingdom of Heavens. It indicates that it is a serious battle to win souls from the world. The Devil, Satan, said to Him that if you are the Son of God, speak, that these stones may become loaves of bread to satisfy your hunger after forty days fasting. Jesus did not turn the stone in bread because He did not need to prove to Satan that He is Son of God; He is Son of God as stated in 3:17. This chapter emphasizes how important the Word of God is in defeating Satan when he tempts us. The Devil's temptation of the first man, Adam, was a success. The temptation of the second Adam, Christ, was an absolute failure. It indicates that Satan has no place in the kingdom of heavens. Jesus began His ministry in Capernaum, and along the Sea of Galilee, 4:13 to continue the John Baptist's ministry (after he was locked up in the jail) to say "Repent, for the kingdom of the heavens have drawn near." 4:17 Galilee was called "Galilee of the nations", 4:15. It was a place mixed of Jews and Gentiles. Jesus' ministry started far away from the holy city, the dignified Jerusalem. He indicated to people that if you would like to enter into the Kingdom of Heavens, you have to repent of your sins to be holy. That is the only way we can build relationship in with God. Otherwise, you would have no part in the Kingdom of Heavens. His ministry stated by calling four disciples: two casting net, Peter and his brother Andrew, and two mending the nets, James and John, sons of Zebedee. In a church, some are serving for invitation and the others are doing connecting the broken relationship with the Lord etc. -------------------------------------------- * Alvin Chao -------------------------------------------- 1) In this chapter, we see the temptation of Jesus by the devil. In the first temptation, the devil tempted Jesus' trust in God to provide. He next tempted Him with testing God. The next temptation was Power and the offer and lure of control/idolatry/humanism. 2) We see here the meaning of temptation, the opportunity God gives us to overcome and win victory over each temptation and a way to defeat Satan, the WORD OF GOD. The Word is our only weapon in the struggle against Satan. We must use it wisely and become master's at handling our Word sword so as to be able to use it properly in spiritual warfare and battle with the enemy. 3) Christ's first message was to repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. It was the same message that John the Baptist was preaching. Repentance is solemnly seeking a change of mind, and will to a new right way. The other requirement Jesus made of His disciples was to "Follow ME" This chapter always amazes me, and shows me the true meaning of that term, to 'follow Jesus'. This does not simply mean trying to do good, and trying to be a good person, but is a whole soul experience, a complete total and utter surrender without condition to Jesus. The disciples gave up their families, their professions, their way of life to be followers of the One true Way. Are we willing to lay down all of these before Christ and say Lord, all these are yours, make me a fisher of men? It is easy to do lip service and say we want to be followers of Christ, but living the life of a follower is a deep commitment to living with and for Jesus daily.