In this rather large passage of scripture, we see the rejection by Israel, as a nation, of Jesus Christ. There were multitudes of people who were amazed at the miracles he did and the words he preached. Nevertheless, the Pharisees rejected him and then eventually turned the multitudes against him at...
Matt 12:1-13 Guiltless on the Sabbath CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO The trouble here is that the Pharisees were trying to find a way to condemn Jesus. They were trying to catch him in a fault. The easiest way was to watch him on the sabbath and accuse him of breaking that...
Jesus had been preaching the kingdom of heaven and so had John the Baptist. Jesus had just explained to the Jews that if they would receive the kingdom (vs. 12-14) then John fulfilled the prophecy concerning Elijah coming before the Lord (Mal 4:5). Hence, he was ready to set up...
Matt 11:12-14 John the Baptist – Elijah CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO This lesson simply sets out why Jesus said about John the Baptist, “… this is Elias, which was for to come,” (Matt 11:14). In order to understand this statement, it is necessary to go back beyond “the beginning” to see...
Matt 11:1-15 John the Baptist CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO When John the Baptist was imprisoned for preaching [Matt 14:3] he sent two of his disciples to ask Jesus a question and Jesus used this opportunity to tell his disciples about John. In this passage we see John the Baptist’s: 1. Doubt...
In all of chapter 10, the Lord dealt with his disciples about preaching the kingdom of heaven, a Jewish kingdom over which Jesus would eventually rule. In the first part (10:1-15), he commissioned his disciples to preach the kingdom. In the second part (10:16-31), he warned them of the opposition...
Jesus warned his disciples whom he had chosen to preach the kingdom that they would meet with opposition to the kingdom along the way. While they were to prepare the Jews for his kingdom, there were many who would resist them. They’d be like sheep in the midst of wolves. So...
When Jesus chose his twelve disciples and sent them out to preach, he was preparing the house of Israel for their Jewish kingdom. Remember that at this time, Israel was under Roman authority and had been under continuous foreign rule since Nebuchadnezzar attacked them in 606 BC. No where in this...
Matt 9:18-38 The Shepherd of the Sheep CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO We always have to remember in studying the book of Matthew that we are literally reading about Jesus, the Jewish Messiah, revealing himself to Israel. Though we can often glean some spiritual truths, we have to be certain to learn...
Matt 9:14-17 The Bridegroom CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIOThe disciples of John raised a question concerning fasting. They wanted to know why they and the Pharisees fasted often while the disciples of Jesus didn’t fast. So, Jesus took this opportunity not only to answer their question but also to teach them something...
