Mat 7:24-27 What words that people hear is Jesus referring to in Mat 7:24 and 26? Hint: if you have a red letter edition of the Bible, where do the red letters start? What does the word “therefore” in Mat 7:24 imply about the relationship between Jesus’ teaching that follows about the wise and foolish…
Mat 7:13-14 What do these verses teach us about the two paths that confront each one of us in this life? Contrast the beginning and end of each. What is it about the path that leads to destruction that deceives people to suppose they are going the right direction? What does this teach us about…
Mat 7:1-5 What does Jesus mean by judging in Mat 7:1-2? Hint: We get our word criticize from the Greek word used here; “the habit of censoriousness; sharp, unjust criticism” (Robertson’s Word Pictures); cf. Jam 4:11-12. What is the danger of criticizing others for what we understand, rightly or wrongly, to be their shortcomings or…
Mat 6:25 What does “For this reason” in Mat 6:25 refer to? I.e., for what reason ought we to not be anxious about the daily necessities of our life? See Mat 6:19-24. What is the natural tendency of man’s fallen nature in regard to storing up treasures on earth to provide for his temporal needs,…
Mat 6:19-21 What does it mean to “lay up” treasures upon earth? See Rom 2:5, 1Co 16:2, 2Co 12:14, Luk 12:21 and context, and note: the Greek word used is the verbal form of the word treasure, thus literally “treasure not to you treasures…”. What sort of treasures do people treasure up for themselves today? …
Mat 6:12-15 When we pray Mat 6:12, and we have not truly and completely forgiven from our heart those who have sinned against us, what are we actually praying? If we forgive only begrudgingly, and hold in remembrance the offense so that if the person does it again we can hold it against them, are…
Mat 6:9 Are we to understand from Jesus’ words that there is something especially holy or even “magical” about the Lord’s Prayer so that we should recite it on a regular basis to attract God’s attention to our petition? See Mat 6:7. See also Luk 11:1 and observe that the Lord’s Prayer is a framework…
Mat 6:5-8 Is all prayer good? What prayer does Jesus condemn in Mat 6:5? What examples do we find in Scripture of someone who prayed this way? See Mar 12:38-40, Luk 18:11-12. In contrast, how are God’s true servants to pray? See Mat 6:6. What examples do we have in Scripture of those who prayed…
Mat 6:1 What three religious acts does Jesus single out in Mat 6:1-18 as deeds of righteousness? See Mat 6:2,5,16. Is His criticism against these acts themselves? How do these three acts exemplify the “pure and undefiled religion” that James mentions in Jam 1:27? I.e., which of the three looks after orphans and widows in…
Mat 5:43-48 See again Mat 5:20: what is the fifth example that Jesus gives in which our righteousness must surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees if we are to enter the kingdom of heaven? Lev 19:18 from which Jesus quotes does not mention hate for enemies; from where did this rabbinical tradition that…