What are the “gates of Hades”? See Isa 38:10, as well as 3Ma 5:51, Wis 16:13, Psalms of Solomon 16:2 and from the Apocrypha[1]. See also Job 38:17, Psa 9:13, 107:18. Note that “overpower” in Mat 16:18 means to overcome or prevail over, win out; see KJV and Luk 23:23 where the same word is…
What was Jesus’ threefold response in Mat 16:17-19 to Peter’s great confession he just made in Mat 16:13-16? Did Jesus say Peter was blessed because he possessed a superior intellect that was able to reason to a correct understanding of who He was? Did He say he was blessed because he had the right parents…
What question did Jesus pose to the disciples when they had come into “the district of Caesarea Philippi”? What in particular had He been doing when He asked the question? See Luk 9:18. By what title had Jesus been referring to Himself (Mat 16:13), and why? Hint: recall that because of people’s misconceptions that the…
After leaving the “region of Magadan” (Mat 15:39) and the “district of Dalmanutha” (Mar 8:10) and crossing the Sea of Galilee by boat, where did Jesus and the disciples land? See Mar 8:22. Where were they headed? See Mat 16:13, Mar 8:27. Locate Caesarea Philippi on a map; why were they headed to this remote…
Mat 16:5-7 What warning did Jesus’ give the disciples in Mat 16:6? What prompted Jesus to give the warning? See Mat 16:1-4. What previous run-ins with the religious leaders had Jesus also had? See Mat 15:1-2, 12:1-2. Did Jesus’ conversation with the disciples about the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees take place in…
Mat 16:4 How did Jesus answer the request of the Pharisees and Sadducees? Considering that Jesus did many signs in order that people might believe (see Joh 20:30-31), indeed, so many as to fill the whole world with books (Joh 21:25), what does his response indicate about the way that God answers those whose hearts…
Mat 16:1 Where was Jesus when the Pharisees and Sadducees came up to test Him? See Mat 15:39. What is significant about the fact that the Pharisees and Sadducees came together in order to test Him? Cf. Act 23:6-10 and think: were the Pharisees and Sadducees political allies or rivals? Considering their bitter opposition…
In what ways was this event similar to the feeding of the 5000 recorded in Mat 14:13-21 and Mar 6:30-44? Think: what was multiplied? Was it a large or small number who were fed? Were women and children included in the count of those who were fed at each? Was it in Judea or Galilee…
Mat 15:29 From where had Jesus just departed? See Mat 15:21. Where in particular around the sea of Galilee does Mark say that Jesus departed to? See Mar 7:31. Where was the region of Decapolis in relation to Galilee that was ruled by Herod Antipas, and to Iturea and Trachonitis (Luk 3:1) that was ruled…
Mat 15:24-25 To whom does Jesus say He was sent to minister and provide deliverance and salvation? See Mat 15:24. What was His reception from those to whom He was sent? See Mat 15:1-2, 12:22-24, Joh 1:11, etc… How was His reception by this cursed Canaanite woman much different? After being put off twice, what…