Apr 13, 2017 | Blog
The Burial of Jesus: When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”57 As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. 58 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59 Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb” (Matthew 27).
Centurion – A Roman military officer in charge of 100 soldiers. Son of God – It cannot be determined whether the centurion made a fully Christian confession, or whether he was only acknowledging that, since the gods had so obviously acted to vindicate this judicial victim, Jesus must be one especially favored by them. Arimathea – A village in the hill country of Ephraim, about 20 miles northwest of Jerusalem.
The Guard at the Tomb: “62 The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63 “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.” 65 “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard” (Matthew 28).
Jesus Has Risen: “5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” 8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me” (Matthew 28).
The Great Commission: “16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28).
Matthew ends with the reassuring and empowering words of him who came to earth to “God with us.”
Apr 13, 2017 | Blog
The Soldiers Mock Jesus: “7 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. 30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31 After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.” Praetorium – This is the governor’s official residence in Jerusalem. Scarlet Robe – The outer cloak of a Roman solider.
The Crucifixion of Jesus: “2 As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. 33 They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). 34 There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. 35 When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 36 And sitting down, they kept watch over him there.37 Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is Jesus, the king of the Jews.
38 Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” 41 In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 42 “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.”
Cyrene – A city in North Africa. Mixed with gall – Tradition says that the women of Jerusalem customarily furnished this pain-killing narcotic who were crucified. Jesus refused to drink it because he wanted to be fully conscious until his death (verse 50).
The Death of Jesus: “45 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). 47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.” 48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49 The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.” 50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.”
Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani – A mixture of Aramaic and Hebrew, translated by Matthew for his readers.
“51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and] went into the holy city and appeared to many people.”
Curtain: The inner curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. The tearing of the curtain signified Christ’s making it possible for believers to go directly into God’s presence (see Hebrews 9:1-14; 10:14-22).
Apr 6, 2017 | Blog
Judas Hangs Himself: “Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed. 2 So they bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor. 3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. 4 “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.” 5 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself” (Matthew 27:1-5).
Jesus Before Pilate: “11 Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied. 12 When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” 14 But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.
15 Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. 16 At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus Barabbas. 17 So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” 18 For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him. 19 While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”
“20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed. 21 “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor. “Barabbas,” they answered. 22 “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!” 23 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!” 24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!” 25 All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified” (Matthew 27:11-26).
BIBLE STUDY OUTLINE THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW: APRIL 10 – APRIL 16, 2017
The Resurrection (chapter. 28)
The Earthquake and the Angel’s Announcement (28:1–7)
Jesus’ Encounter with the Women (28:8–10)
The Guards’ Report and the Jewish Elders’ Bribe (28:11–15)
The Great Commission (28:16–20
Apr 6, 2017 | Blog
Key Events During Jesus’ Final Week:
Sunday: Crowds cheer Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem-Palm Sunday (Chapter 21:1-11)
Monday: Jesus angers leaders by throwing vendors out of the temple (Chapter 21:12-46)
Tuesday: Jesus confronts the hypocrisy of the Jewish leaders (Chapters 23-25)
Wednesday: Judas bribed to betray Jesus (Chapter 26:14-16)
Thursday: The Last Supper; Judas betrays Jesus; Peter denies Jesus (Chapter 26:17-75)
Friday: Jesus’ crucifixion; the chief priests rally the people to chant, “Crucify him!” (Chapter 27)
Highlighted Scriptures of the Holy Week Events:
The Plot Against Jesus: “When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, 2 “As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.” Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, 4 and they schemed to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. 5 “But not during the festival,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people” (Matthew 26:1-5).
Jesus Anointed at Bethany: 6″While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, 7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table” (Matthew 26: 6-5).
Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus: 14 “Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests 15 and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver.16 From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over” (Matt. 26).
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial: 31″Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” 33 Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” 34 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” 35 But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same” (Matthew 26:31-35).
Mar 31, 2017 | Blog
This chapter covers the Jewish leaders’ plot to kill Jesus, Judas Iscariot‘s agreement to betray Jesus to Caiaphas, the Last Supper with the Twelve apostles and institution of the Eucharist, the agony in the garden of Gethsemane and the subsequent vindication of Jesus’ predictions that one of the twelve will betray him and that he will be disowned by Peter.
This chapter is divided into 75 verses as follows:
The Plot to Kill Jesus (Matthew 26:1–5)
The Anointing at Bethany (Matthew 26:6–13)
Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus (Matthew 26:14–16)
Jesus Celebrates Passover with His Disciples (Matthew 26:17–25)
Jesus Institutes the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:26–30)
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial (Matthew 26:31–35)
The Prayer in the Garden (Matthew 26:36–46)
Betrayal and Arrest in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:47–56)
Jesus Faces the Sanhedrin (Matthew 26:57–68)
Peter Denies Jesus, and Weeps Bitterly (Matthew 26:69–75
In Matthew’s Gospel, the teaching of Jesus is now finished. In the last days leading up to his betrayal and crucifixion, he warned the multitudes about the corrupt religious leadership, and he spoke to his disciples about things to come. Now, it was time for Jesus to fulfill his work on the cross. One theologian writes, “Having instructed his disciples and the Jews by his discourses, edified them by his example, convinced them by his miracles, he now prepares to redeem them by his blood!”
The Meaning of Jesus’ Death: As Jesus’ death approaches, he instructs his disciples more fully in the meaning of his mission. The disciples could not guess that their teacher’s death was part of God’s sovereign plan, and they would scatter in fear once it came; but by reinterpreting a familiar ritual (the Passover, an annual celebration of how God delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt), Jesus gave them a new way of looking at God’s purposes, which would make sense once he had risen. Jesus’ mission signifies a new Passover (26:17-20). In the context of the Passover, Jesus shows that his own mission provides a new act of redemption (vv. 17-20, 26).
The Last Supper: “‘17 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 8 He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” 19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover. 26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” 27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” 30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.’”
BIBLE STUDY OUTLINE THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW: APRIL 2 – APRIL 9, 2017
The Arrest, Trials and Death of Jesus (26:14—27:66)
The Resurrection ( 28):
The Earthquake and the Angel’s Announcement (28:1–7)
Jesus’ Encounter with the Women (28:8–10)
The Guards’ Report and the Jewish Elders’ Bribe (28:11–15)
The Great Commission (28:16–20)
Mar 31, 2017 | Blog
The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times: “Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; everyone will be thrown down.” As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains” (verses 1-8).
The Day and Hour Unknown: “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. “Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come” (verses 36-42).
Matthew 25, consists of Three Parables of Jesus: Parable of the Ten Virgins (25:1-13); Parable of the Talents or minas (25:14–30); The Sheep and the Goats (25:31–46).
The Parable of the Ten Virgins: “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep” (verses 1-5).
The Parable of the Talents: ‘“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness’” (v. 21)! The good servants are considered “good” by their master because they felt the responsibility of their assignment and went to work without delay. As a result of this work, the master increased their responsibility. It seems as though a part of the good servants’ reward included a share in the master’s joy for their work. This sets the good servants apart from the idle servant. The good servants diligently worked even in the absence of the master.
