400 silent years - no prophesy, no Word from God. Then God, via the Holy Spirit, starts the next major interactive event.
When was the last mention of 400 years? Gen.15:13 “...God said to Abram, "Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years...” A silent period prior to a major interactive event?
Watch for Fulfilled Prophesy (FP), God’s Interaction (GI), God’s Purposes (GP)
MATTHEW
Mat.1 Genealogy
Speaking to a Jewish audience, revealing Jesus as descendant of Abraham.
14 Generations from Abraham to David, David to Deportation, Deportation to Messiah.
2000 years from Adam to Abraham (Gen.5,Gen.9, Gen.11)
Adam (930), Seth (912), Enosh (905), Kenan (910), Mahalalel (895), Jared (962), Enoch (365), Methuselah (969), Lamech (777), Noah (950), Shem (500), Arpachshad (438), Shelah (433), Eber (464), Peleg (239), Reu (239), Serug (230), Nahor (148), Terah, Abram (2000/19 = 105 yrs/generation)
2000 years from Abraham to Christ (Matt.1)
1000 years from Abraham to David (1000/14 = 71 yrs/generation)
1000 years from David to Messiah (1000/28 = 35 yrs/generation)
2000 years from Christ to our generation.
GI 1:20 Angel to Joseph - marry Mary, son will be named Jesus, will save His people from their sins.
FP 1:23 (Is.7:14, 9:6+7, 8:10) Virgin, Immanuel, God with us.
Mat.2 Birth and protection of Jesus
FP 2:6 (Mic.5:2) Ruler from Bethlehem.
GI 2:12 Magi warned in a dream not to return to Herod.
GI 2:13 Angel to Joseph - flee to Egypt.
FP 2:15 (Hos.11:1) Out of Egypt I called my son.
FP 2:18 (Jer.31:15) weeping and great mourning.
GI 2:19,20 Angel to Joseph - back to Israel.
GI 2:22,23 dream - to Galilee (Nazareth).
FP 2:23 (Possibly Is.11:1) Nazarene (branch).
Mat.3 John the Baptist
FP 3:3 (Is.40:3) Voice of one crying in the wilderness.
3:7,8 “...But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? "Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance;..” Is there a something beyond repentance?
3:9 “...and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father'; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham...” Joshua’s Stones?
GP 3:11 “...As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire...” Again, is there something beyond repentance? Baptism is outward sign. Changed attitudes and life come from?
3:16,17 Jesus baptized, Spirit descends, God pleased (trinity?). GI now becomes regular through Jesus.
Mat.4 Temptation and start of ministry
4:1-11 Temptation of Jesus, but His resisting.
Life is more than bread - every Word from God.
Not to test God.
Worship and serve God only.
How do we respond to temptation? Is Jesus showing us how to live?
FP 4:14 (Is.9:1+2, 60:1-3) Light for those in Galilee.
4:17 “...From that time Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand...”
Jesus message? Where is the kingdom of heaven?
GP 4:23,24 “...Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people. The news about Him spread throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, those suffering with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics; and He healed them....” What purposes?
Mat.5 Sermon on the Mount
GP 5:2-12 The Be-attitudes.
GP 5:13-16 Salt and light.
5:16 “...Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven...” How does this differ from ‘Are you saved?’ and ‘Do you know where you’ll go when you die?’
GP 5:17 “...Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill...”
5:19,20 “...Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. "For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven...” How can one’s righteousness surpass the Scribes and Pharisees?
5:21-26 Anger and relational issues.
5:27-30 Lust and the violence required to avoid it.
5:31-32 Divorce.
5:33-37 Reckless vows that aren’t fulfilled. Just be true to your word.
5:38-42 Submission trumps revenge.
5:43-48 Love as God loves, which includes enemies and persecutors.
Mat.6 GP - Living Right
6:1-4 Reward from God for doing right - no flaunting.
6:5-15 Proper prayer - no flaunting. Ask for God’s kingdom on earth. Forgive.
6:16-18 Fasting - no flaunting.
6:19-24 Wealth - no flaunting. Proper treasures.
6:25-34 No worries. 6:33 “...But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you...”
Mat.7 GP - Living Right
7:1-6 No critical, judgmental attitude [love mercy].
7:7 “...Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you...”
GP 7:12 “...In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets...” Why has the Golden Rule fallen out of favor?
7:14 “...For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it...” Does majority rule?
7:15-20 Fruit inspection to avoid false prophets.
GP 7:21 “...Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter...” Doers! What/where is the kingdom of heaven? Is it the earthly kingdom promised in the Old Testament with the Messiah as King? See 8:11,12.
7:22-29 Build carefully. Hear and act.
Mat.8
8:1-4 Heals a leper (disease of the day without a cure).
8:5-13 Centurion’s great faith. Sons of kingdom cast into outer darkness?
8:14-17 Heals Peter’s mother-in-law.
FP 8:17 (Is.53:4) took our infirmities.
8:23-27 Authority over the storms of this world. Faith should trump fear.
8:28-34 Sends demons into herd of swine and people implore Him to leave (can God’s interaction disrupt life as you know it?)
Mat.9
9:1-8 Paralytic healed. Faith prompted action. First forgiveness. Jesus authority revealed.
9:9-13 Jesus ridiculed for interaction with sinners.
9:13 “...But go and learn what this means: 'I desire compassion, and not sacrifice,' for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners..." FP (Hos.6:6) compassion not sacrifice. Have we lost our compassion in our push to proclaim His sacrifice.
9:14-17 Fasting. New wine requires fresh wineskins.
9:18-26 Faith of the bleeding woman who touched the hem of His garment.
9:27-34 Blind see. Mute has demon cast out. 9:29 “...Then He touched their eyes, saying, "It shall be done to you according to your faith..."
GI 9:35 “...Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness...”
9:38 “...Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest..." What do you think God wants the workers to accomplish? [teaching, proclaiming kingdom, healing]
Mat.10 GP The real Great Commission
10:1 “...Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness...”
10:7,8 “...And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give...”
Does He still give this kind of authority to His disciples?
10:16 “...Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves...”
10:22 “...You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved...” Salvation for who and when?
10:28 “...Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell...” Is Hell real?
10:34 “...Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword...”
FP 10:35,36 (Mic.7:6) families set against each other.
Mat.11
FP 11:5 (Is.35:5) blind receive sight.
FP 11:10 (Mal.3:1) messenger prepares the way
11:12 “...From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force...”
11:14 John himself is Elijah?
11:20 “...Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent...” Witnessing God’s presence should lead to repentance.
11:25 “...At that time Jesus said, "I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants...” Who gets it? Who doesn’t? It’s simple.
11:27 “...All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him...” This verse is full of information. Authority? Knowing the Father? Who can know Him? Must a person know Jesus before they can know the Father?
11:28-30 The invitation to come and find rest.
Mat.12
FP 12:7 (Hos.6:6) Again the desire for compassion, not sacrifice.
12:12 It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.
12:14 The Pharisees conspire against Jesus. Religious legalists still conspire to destroy Him and GP
FP 12:18-21 (Is.42:1-3) GP 12:20 “...He leads justice to victory...”
GI 12:28 “...the kingdom of God has come upon you...”
12:32 “...Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come...”
12:36 “...But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment...”
12:43-45 Do unclean spirits live within people?
Mat.13 Jesus describes the Kingdom of heaven.
13:1-9 Parable of four soils.
13:11 Why parables? Who can understand?
FP 13:14,15 (Is.6:9,10) See but don’t perceive. Hear but don’t understand. Dull hearts.
13:18-23 Explanation of parable. Beside road-evil one snatches. Rocky place-no root, can’t take affliction or persecution. Thorns-worries of world and deceitfulness of wealth choke. Good soil-bears fruit.
13:24-30 Parable of tares. Enemy sows tares among kingdom of heaven wheat. Both will grow until the harvest. Tares will be burned.
13:31,31 Parable of mustard seed. Kingdom of heaven becomes a nesting place for birds (Ez.17:23).
13:33-35 Parable of Yeast. FP 13:35 (Ps.78:2) Open mouth in parables, utter things hidden.
13:36-43 Parable of Tares explained. What happens at end of age? Who is taken? Who remains?
13:44 Kingdom of heaven like a treasure hidden in a field.
13:45 Kingdom of heaven like a pearl of great value.
13:47 Kingdom of heaven like a dragnet, gathering fish of every kind, but good and bad will be sorted out.
13:58 “...And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief...”
Mat.14
14:1-12 John the Baptist beheaded. Was this fair?
14:13-21 5000 + women and children are fed with 5 loaves and 2 fish.
14:22-33 Jesus walk on water. Peter is up, down, up. 14:31 “...You of little faith, why did you doubt?...” How’s our faith?
14:36 “...And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent word into all that surrounding district and brought to Him all who were sick; and they implored Him that they might just touch the fringe of His cloak; and as many as touched it were cured...” Faith plus touching Jesus equals cure.
Mat.15
15:3 “...Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?...” How can tradition cause transgression? 15:9 “...But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men...” Which is more important, holding on to tradition, or discovering God’s intentions and expectations?
15:11-20 Into mouth - through digestive tract. Out of mouth - from the heart. Are new heart’s needed?
15:21-28 Outsider coaxes Jesus to heal her demon possessed daughter.
15:29-31 God is glorified because of the actions of Jesus.
15:32-39 4000 + women and children are fed with 7 loaves and a few small fish.
Mat.16
16:12 Beware of the teaching of the religious leaders.
16:16 Peter proclaims that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.
GP 16:21 Jesus reveals God’s purposes for Him in Jerusalem.
16:23 Peter sets his mind on man’s interests instead of God’s.
16:24-27 “...Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? "For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds ...”
Mat.17 Transfiguration
A meeting on the mount between O.T. Law and Prophet and N.T. Perfect Sacrifice.
Disciples are awed.
God is well-pleased.
17:14-21 Demon possessed boy not cured by disciples.
Jesus reaction? 17:17 Putting up with “unbelieving and perverted generation”.
Why couldn’t the disciples drive out the demon? 17:19 “..Because of the littleness of your faith...”
Faith the size of mustard seed. Mountains moving. Prayer and fasting.
17:22,23 Second discussion on His fate in Jerusalem.
GI 17:24-27 Tax paid with shekel from fishes mouth. Will we allow God to provide in miraculous ways?
Mat.18
18:1-6 Becoming as a child. Receiving children. Not causing children to stumble.
18:7-9 Violence against stumbling blocks.
18:10 “...See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven...” Scripture where concept of guardian angels is derived.
GP 18:14 “...So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish...”
18:15-20 Proper path to reconciliation: 1. Go in private. 2. Take one or two with you. 3. Tell it to the church. If these 3 steps don’t work - no more.
18:21-35 But we are to forgive, forgive, forgive ...
Mat.19
GP 19:1-6 God’s plan for marriage
19:7-12 Permission to divorce because of hardness of hearts.
GP 19:16-30 How to obtain eternal life? Jesus still points to the commandments as the starting point, then expands to having compassion on the poor.
19:25 “...Then who can be saved...”
19:26 “...And looking at them Jesus said to them, "With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible..."
19:28 Followers to sit upon twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
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