Mat 5:3 What is meant by “blessed” in this and the following verses? Note: “blessed” in English has two meanings that correspond to two different Greek words: to be well spoken of, and to be happy or fortunate; the Greek word for the latter (makarios) is what is used here. What does it mean to…
Mat 4:23-25 Describe the four aspects of Jesus’ ministry that Matthew records in Mat 4:23. What was the central precept of the gospel of the kingdom he was proclaiming and for which John had prepared the people? See again Mat 4:17, 3:2. Why is it significant that the “healing” aspect of Jesus’ ministry is mentioned…
Mat 4:12-17 What event does Matthew note as marking the beginning of Jesus’ Galilean ministry? See Mat 4:12. Did that event, in fact, mark the actual beginning of Jesus’ ministry? See Joh 3:24 and consider the events John records in Joh 1:19-4:43 that would have taken place mostly outside of Galilee prior to this time;…
Mat 4:1 What three-fold event immediately preceded Jesus’ temptation? See Mat 3:16-17; cf. Mar 1:9-13. Where was Jesus led to be tempted by the devil? Who led Him? What does it mean that Jesus was tempted? Note: the Greek word used means to be tested or tried, assayed; see Mat 16:1, 19:3, 22:18,35, Acts 15:10,…
Mat 3:11-12 Is baptism an Old Covenant rite? Is the rite of baptism ever mentioned in the Old Testament Scriptures? Where did it come from? See Lev 11:32, 14:49-53, Num 19:17-21, Joh 2:6, 3:22-26, Mar 7:1-4, Heb 6:2, 9:10.[1] Was John’s baptism basically the same as what we know as Christian baptism? See Act 19:1-6. …
Mat 3:1-6 What two words in Mat 3:1 describe the two-fold ministry of John? See also Mat 3:6. Where did he preach and baptize? What is the significance that a message like that of John’s comes from “the wilderness”? Do such messages arise from those who are surrounded by the world and the things of…
Mat 2:13-15: By what means did the Lord warn and direct Joseph? See Mat 2:13, and cf. Mat 2:12,19,22. Are we attentive to our dreams if perchance God should speak to us in them? How long does it appear that Joseph waited before giving heed to the warning in his dream and departing for Egypt? …
Mat 2:1-12: What does Mat 2:1 teach us about the date when Jesus was born?[1] Who were the magi, and where were they from?[2] What significance would the inclusion of the coming of the (Gentile) magi have held for Matthew’s readers at a time when the gospel was spreading rapidly among the Gentiles and generating…
Mat 1:18-19: What do Mat 1:18-19 teach us about the binding nature of betrothal in the Jewish culture? Cf. Deut 22:23-27. Why was Joseph going to divorce Mary? Consider the emotions of betrayal and the threat to Mary’s marriage relationship with Joseph that her miraculous conception would cause, as well as the shame and humiliation…
Some suggest that Luke gives Jesus’ descent through Mary, which is a possible, but somewhat strained explanation in light of Luk 3:23 which would otherwise seem to clearly indicate that Luke too is tracing Jesus’ line through Joseph. Consider also that since Mary was related to Elizabeth (Luk 1:36) who was “from the daughters of…