Lesson 26, Q6~Q7

THIRD DAY: Read Matthew 26:17-30.

Q6. Read Exodus 12:1-16 and 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 with Jesus’ life and His cross in mind.

a. What Jewish feast did Jesus and His disciples prepare to celebrate? It’s the Lord’s Passover.

b. What did this feast commemorate?

To commemorate the day God strikes down every firstborn of both people and animals, and brought judgment on all the gods of Egypt to deliver Israel from the hand of Pharaohs.

c. List ways Jesus fulfilled the symbolism of this feast.

The lamb Israel chose to sacrifice must be year-old males without defect and must be slaughtered at twilight before the Passover feast.

Q7.

a. What do the bread and wine in Holy Communion or the Lord’s Supper represent? Give points from the following verses:

Luke 22:19-20

In Holy Communion, the bread and wine are represented by the body and blood of Jesus.

John 6:51-58

Jesus’ flesh is the living bread came down from heaven. Whoever eats His flesh and drinks His blood has eternal life, and will be raised up at the last day, also who eats remains in Jesus, and Jesus in them.

1 Peter 1:19

The precious blood of Jesus, a lamb without blemish or defect, to redeem us from the sins we have made.

1 Peter 2:24

Jesus himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so we might live for righteousness, by his wounds we have been healed.

1 John 1:7

If we walk in the light the blood of Jesus purifies us from all sin.

b. What phrases in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 suggest God intends us to consider Jesus’ return each time we partake of the Holy Communion or the Lord’s Supper?

Each time we partake of the Holy Communion it reminds us that do this in remembrance of Jesus, which is his body broken for us. And for whoever eat and drink will keep the new covenant with Jesus until his second coming.

c. How could these verses make your worship more meaningful?

For whenever we eat this bread and drink this cup proclaim the Lord's death made me feel sad and more obligated to walk in the light of Jesus.

Lesson 26, Q3~Q5

BSF, 2013~2014, Book of Matthew

Lesson 26

SECOND DAY: Read Matthew 26:1-16; Mark 14:3-9; John 12:1-11.

Q3. How do Mary’s gift, open affection for Jesus and faith challenge you? Give verses.

John 12:3 Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair.

Jesus said “As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.” If we know someone we love is leaving soon we certainly will give our best gift to the one. In fact, the way that Mary gave her precious gift to Jesus and used her hair to wipe his feet to express her affection and faith challenge me that whether my love to Jesus is same with what Mary did.

Q4.

a. What lessons do you learn from Judas’ resentment?

From John 12 we learned that Judas was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. He was upset for the wasted the price of the expensive perfume.

b. Why is the amount Judas was paid significant? (See Exodus 21:32; Zechariah 11:12-13.)

Judas was paid for 30 pieces of silver, as an insult to Jesus because it’s said in Exodus: If a bull gores a slave, the owner of bull must pay the owner of slave 30 pieces of silver and stone the bull to death. Since the life of a slave equal to 30 pieces of silver and a bull’s life, therefore, 30 pieces of silver were cheaper than a slave’s life.

Zechariah 11:12-13 offers an intriguing account regarding 30 silver coins, bringing to mind the betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot. The New Testament identifies this as a Messianic prophecy, which found its fulfillment in Jesus Christ.

Q5.

a. Why was such expensive perfume not a waste?

The expensive perfume was poured on Jesus’ body beforehand to prepare for the sacrifice.

b. What good things tempt you to consider time spent in prayer, Bible reading and worship a waste?

After work my time was often wasted for relaxing before I spent time in Bible reading and saving the prayers. Some evening was wasted with silly TV programs.

Lesson 25, Q13~Q14

FIFTH DAY: Read Matthew 25.

Q13. The same Greek word for “eternal” is used three times in Matthew 25:41 and 46.

a. What does this tell you about heaven and hell?

There is last forever happiness in the heaven but there is no end in time for the fire and punishment in the hell.

b. Give aspects of heaven from the following verses.

Matthew 25:10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

Heaven is a wedding banquet of the bridegroom Jesus and His believers.

Matthew 25:21, 23

21 “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!’

23 “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!’

Heaven is a place where the believers to share the happiness of God.

Matthew 25:34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

Heaven is a kingdom prepared for the believers of Jesus since the creation of the world.

c. Give aspects of hell from the following verses.

Matthew 25:12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’

The people who belong in hell will be denied by Jesus.

Matthew 25:30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

The people who belong in hell will be thrown into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 25:41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

The people who belong in hell will depart from Jesus and be cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

Q14.

a. What similarities stand out to you in the three parables?

“wise virgins” V.S. “foolish virgins”

“good and faithful servant” V.S. “wicked, lazy servant”

“the sheep on his right” V.S. “the goats on his left”

Jesus used the three parables to teach us what we should do to please God and how our choice could lead to different results either the eternal happiness or eternal punishment.

b. What in this chapter helps you to worship and love the Lord Jesus Christ?

It is a clear teaching that Jesus revealed how the followers could enter His kingdom. I want to join the bridegroom’s banquet and have the eternal happiness. Therefore, I remind myself to get rid of self-seeking and self-righteousness but only focus my eye on being the wise and good one and be ready all the time, especially when I am weaken by all kind of temptations. 

Lesson 25, Q10~Q12

FOURTH DAY: Read Matthew 25:31-46.

Q10.

a. When Jesus comes to judge, where will He reign as King?

When the Son of Man comes in His glory. He reigns as King in heaven and will reign on earth as well.

b. Whom will Jesus judge? (See also Acts 17:30-31.)

30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”

Jesus will judge all people in the world.

Q11.

a. How did the righteous care for Jesus?

The righteous one gave the brother something to eat when he was hungry, gave him something to drink when he was thirsty, invited him in, clothed him when he needed clothes, and looked after him when he was sick, came to visit him when he was in prison.

b. How did those on Jesus’ left fail to care for Him?

Jesus said if whatever the people did not do (as listed above) for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of Jesus, they did not do for Jesus.’

Q12.

a. What similar question did each group ask the King?

When did we do or ignore You for all those manners you said?

b. From the following verses, give ways that our daily lives may show us the truth about our relationship with Jesus.

Romans 2:7-11 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism.

If we’d like to have good relationship with Jesus, we must be doing good persistently and seek glory, honor and immortality from Jesus.

James 2:14-17 Faith and Deeds

14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

If we have the true faith we will put Jesus’ teachings into practice for our daily life.

1 John 3:16-19 16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. 19 This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence:

To have good relationship with Jesus, we must love others with actions and in truth.

Lesson 25, Q6~Q9

THIRD DAY: Read Matthew 25:14-30.

Q6. “Talent” was a unit of weight, like pounds or kilograms today.

a. List things God gives us for which He holds us responsible:

Proverbs 3:13-15 13 Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding,

14 for she is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold.

15 She is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.

He holds us responsible- to use the wisdom we gain from the Holy Spirit to gain understanding of God’s kingdom.

Matthew 13:52 He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”

He holds us responsible- Teacher of low is a disciple in the kingdom of heaven and shall take care of all congregations like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.

Matthew 28:19-20 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.”

He holds us responsible- Go share the gospel to all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything Jesus have commanded you.

John 1:9-13 9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

He holds us responsible- to share the true light to the people, so by receive Jesus who receive Jesus are born of God through their faith.

John 13:15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

He holds us responsible- to follow Jesus and to do what Jesus has done for us.

John 21:15-17 Jesus Reinstates Peter

15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” 17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.

He holds us responsible- to share the gospel and to love and strengthen other believers.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

He holds us responsible- to understand the Bible and use it for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

b. What has God entrusted to you that He would like you to “invest” or use?

God has entrusted me that I can use the wisdom from Him to influence other people by dissecting and sharing the truth for the world logically, objectively, and scientifically.

Q7. Describe each servant. Include attitude, actions and what each received in the end.

Five talent: good and faithful servant, went at once and put his money to work, and gained what God has entrusted him two times more, and received the reward from God.

Two talent: good and faithful servant, and gained what God has entrusted him two times more, and received the reward from God.

One talent: wicked, lazy servant dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money, earn nothing, but got punishment.

Q8.

a. What was wrong with the man with one talent even before he buried it?

This servant does not plan to earn any money for his master from the beginning.

He has been grumbling behind his master about how terrible of the master who harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed that this servant did not think of learning more money but just wish he did not lose money.

b. Read Joel 2:25-27. What promise does God give those who have “buried their talent” but who repent before the Master returns?

Many time, talent and opportunity have been wasted like the locusts have eaten those. But God waits to forgive the people if they repent.  And repay them for the years the locusts have eaten and have plenty. So the people will praise the name of God.

Q9. Give a spiritual principle from Matthew 25:29. (See also Matthew 13:12; Luke 8:18.)

We who has the talents from God should do what they have be entrusted to give, to love, to share the kingdom of God and to witness for Jesus by using our gift. Then we will be given more from God.