Why did Jesus say James and John could not have their request? What does this indicate about Jesus’ submission to the Father, and whose will must ultimately be done in God’s kingdom? Cf. Joh 8:29, 1Co 15:24. Who does Jesus say will sit at His right and left in His kingdom? What does the fact…
What question does Jesus ask James and John in Mat 20:22, in regard to their misguided request? What does He mean by drinking from the cup that He is about to drink? Cf. Mat 26:39,42, Joh 18:11. What is the spiritual significance of that cup that Jesus drank? Cf. Psa 75:8, Isa 51:17-22, Jer 25:15-17,…
How does Mark say that James and John prefaced their request to Jesus? See Mar 10:35. In what way is such a lead-in on the one hand quite childish, and on the other hand quite similar to the manner in which Christians often beseech God? Is God our Maker and our Master, or our butler? …
Who does Matthew say made a request of Jesus in Mat 20:20? What does Mark’s description of the same event indicate about who was ultimately behind the request? See Mar 10:35; cf. Mat 20:24, and observe that “you” in Mat 20:22 is plural, referring to James and John, not their mother. Why would James and…
Recall the context: Jesus is on His final journey to Jerusalem and has just stated plainly that He would be betrayed to the Jewish religious leaders who would condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles who would “mock and scourge and crucify Him”, but on the third day He would be raised…
What is foreshadowed by the fact that Jesus was “about to go up to Jerusalem”? I.e, what is going to happen there? See Mat 20:18-19. What is the significance that all these things would happen in Jerusalem? See Luk 13:33. What does this teach us about the true nature of persecution and where it comes…
What is the great danger of grumbling against God and His servants because of perceived injustices to us, especially in regard to envy? See Exo 17:3, Num 11:1, 14:26-30, 1Co 10:10-11; cf. Luk 15:29, Rom 9:30-32, 10:19-21, 11:7-11. Why is it always wrong to grumble against God supposing He is treating us unfairly? See Rom…
For what had the first laborers agreed with the landowner to work? What was a denarius, and what does it represent in the parable? See NAS text note, and cf. Mat 19:27. What made them suppose that they would receive more than they had agreed to? See Mat 20:9. How does their expectation reflect the…
Who does the landowner in the parable represent, and does the vineyard represent the whole world, or what? Cf. Isa 5:1-7, Mat 21:33-41. How does the vineyard and work to which God calls His laborers differ from the field and work to which the god of this age calls laborers? Contrast Joh 15:1-6 and Luk…
Consider again the context of Jesus’ ministry: facing opposition from the religious authorities for His denunciation of their religious hypocrisy (Mat 12:22-45), His popularity among even His supporters had also begun to decline due to the perceived difficulty of His teachings (see Joh 6:60,66). As a result, He began to withdraw with His remaining disciples,…