Questions

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 1:1–17

Many scholars opine that Matthew was writing to primarily a Jewish audience. In fact, it is likely that Matthew originally wrote in Hebrew and it was later translated into Greek. In any case, with the many references to the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, Matthew was trying to prove to his readers that Jesus Christ is the Messiah. For more detailed background information on Matthew, consult a good commentary or a study Bible.

1. Why did Matthew, as inspired by the Holy Spirit, begin his gospel of Christ with a detailed genealogy? (Note that “son of David” is a special term that the Jews would understand as referring to the Messiah. See Matt. 20:30, for example.) How important was it to his immediate audience, especially the non-believing Jews?

2. Why did Matthew squeeze Jesus’ genealogy into three distinct phases?

3. What makes each of these phases so distinct, in terms of spiritual and political regression?

4. As you reflect on the above questions, have you paid attention to the following uniqueness of the genealogy?

a. Rarely in the old Oriental culture did women count in terms of genealogy, but Matthew chose to highlight a few of the women, and yet ignore important figures like Sarah, the wife of Abraham. Why?

b. Who were these women? What can you say about their racial background? Is there any infamous past related to them?

c. What is the ultimate message given by including them in the genealogy of Jesus Christ?

5. What is the main message to you today and how can you apply it to your life?

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 1:18–25

1. This small section explains “how” the birth of Jesus Christ came about. Therefore we shall spend some time reflecting on the following “how” and “why”, based on the first two verses:

a. Do you know why Jesus Christ has to come as a human being?

b. If so, could He not just appear as an adult? Why should He take on the entire human process: conception, birth, growth and death?

2. If Joseph was a righteous man, why would he want to divorce Mary?

3. Even a “quiet divorce” in those days would have meant shame, disgrace and ruin for the rest of Mary’s life. What price for obedience! What do you think about Mary’s obedience?

4. Of course, if something is of God, He will see us through. But why did God choose to reveal to Joseph in a dream, and not in a personal appearance? How would Joseph be sure that it came from God?

5. What is the significance of the message from the angel, especially

a. In addressing Joseph as the “Son of David”?

b. In naming the son, Jesus?

c. In linking Jesus’ name to deliverance? In the Old Testament, salvation or deliverance refers sometimes to the deliverance from neighboring enemies, but here with the name of Jesus, how is the emphasis of deliverance being made clear?

6. Matthew seized the opportunity to prove here that Jesus’ birth is a fulfillment of OT prophecy. Which prophecy did he highlight? How important is this particular fulfillment in terms of:

a. Virgin birth?

b. Immanuel? How did God’s presence in the Old Testament differ from that of “Immanuel”?

7. From Joseph’s response to the angel’s command, how did he demonstrate that he was truly a righteous man?

8. What is the main message to you today and how can you apply it to your life?

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 2:1–12

1. Take a minute to recount what had happened to Mary and Joseph since the end of the last chapter to the visit of the Magi (when Jesus was likely a child between one to two years old).

2. What had the long journey back to Bethlehem, the anxiety of not finding any room in the inn, the delivery of the baby in a manger, the visit of the shepherds with their story of the angelic proclamation and the surprise words from Simeon and Anna in the temple — meant to both Mary and Joseph?

3. What might this visit by the Magi mean to them?

4. Star gazing which often was used as a form of omens was a pagan practice which was not in tune with the Law of Moses (Lev. 19:26; Deut. 18:10). Why would God use, of all people, Magi for His purpose?

5. Why would they come a long way, spend so much time and money, and risk the danger of bringing their expensive gifts, all to worship a foreign king?

6. What had these particular gifts meant to Jesus, and also to Mary and Joseph (especially given their subsequent journey to Egypt)?

7. It should not be a surprise that King Herod was disturbed, but why would the people of Jerusalem also be? Were they not looking forward to their Messiah? Did any of the priests and scribes who knew the Scripture so well accompany the Magi to find Jesus? Why?

8. What is the main message to you today and how can you apply it to your life?

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 2:13–23

1. It appears that the toughest part of being the parents of the Messiah is over. If you were Mary and Joseph, what would you expect or focus on next?

2. But lo and behold, they now find out from the dream that it is just the beginning of an even longer journey.  What did the next phase of their life involve?  How would you greet it, if you were Joseph?

3. Matthew told us that it was, again, a fulfillment of prophecy, and this time, it’s from Hosea 11:1. Read this prophecy, and see how you would interpret it before the birth of Christ. What does this show you about divinely inspired prophecies in the Bible?

4. Hebrews 4:15 tells us that Jesus has gone through all the temptations (which is the word for trials) that we face.  What has Jesus become as they fled to Egypt?  With what kind of people is Jesus identifying?

5. From the action taken by King Herod, what has the birth of Jesus led to?

6. With, perhaps, a smaller population in those days, maybe a few hundred children of two years and under were killed.  Do you know how many unborn children are being killed each year, just in North America?

7. Matthew, again, tells us that it was a fulfillment of Jeremiah 31:15.  Read what the Lord says in 31:16-17.  How has the birth of Christ made God’s promise possible?

8. Can you list all the miracles that God has performed in the land of Egypt?  As much as Egypt is very much an Islamic country, how would you understand Isaiah19:25, especially in light of the fact that Jesus must have lived there for a number of years?

9. What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 3:1–12

1. Now, Matthew introduces his audience to John the Baptist:

a. Who was he as foretold in Isaiah 40:3?

b. What were his role and his ministry?

2. What kind of a person did he appear to be based on where he lived, how he dressed and what he ate?  Why was it necessary for his role and his ministry?

3. What was his message?  How did the people respond to his message?  Why?

4. Who were the Pharisees and Sadducees?  Why was John so harsh on them? 

5.  In what way was John preparing the way for Jesus with his warning and confrontation with these important religious leaders?

6.  In his testimony for Jesus:

a. Who is Jesus?

b. How different would Jesus’ ministry be from his?

c. In his description of Jesus, what was John’s emphasis - salvation or judgment?  Why so?  In what way was he preparing the way for Jesus?

7. What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 3:13–17

1. Why did John try to prevent Jesus from being baptized by him?  How does it give us insight into the meaning of John’s baptism?

2. Jesus gave a rather profound answer:

a. If Jesus was referring to the fulfillment of all righteousness, what did He mean?  How would His baptism fulfill it?

b. If Jesus was referring to the fulfillment of all rituals (of the Law of Moses), was He not basically referring to the same thing?

3.  Read John the Baptist’s personal testimony about this particular incident in John 1:31-34.  What is the significance of this event to John and all who witnessed this baptism?

4. What did God say?  Why did He choose to speak?  Based on what He said, what did this baptism mean to the Father?

5. Have you been baptized?  If so, what did it meant to you, to those who witnessed it and to the Father?

6. If you have not been baptized, why should you be?   

7. What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 4:1–11

The temptation of Jesus, which took place shortly after His baptism, marked the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry.

1. Why did Jesus need to go through this process of being tempted? What difference did it make?

2. What might be the significance of its timing?

Try to approach reflecting on the three temptations afresh without being preconditioned by any prior perception:

3. The first temptation

a. What precipitated the opportunity of the first temptation?

b. Why did the tempter seem to emphasize —“If you are the Son of God”?

c. What would turning the stones into bread accomplish?

d. What in essence was Jesus’ reply to the tempter with what He said?

e. What then would you label this first temptation as?

4. The second temptation

a. This time, the tempter created the situation for Jesus to be tempted.  What setting did the tempter create to tempt Jesus?

b. Why did the tempter repeat with his emphasis, “If you are the Son of God”?

c. What would the throwing of Himself down from the highest point of the temple accomplish?

d. What in essence was Jesus’ reply to the tempter with what He said?

e. What then would you label this second temptation as?

5. The third temptation

a. Again, what setting did the tempter create in order to tempt Jesus?

b. Now, the tempter did not repeat the previous emphasis, except to demand His worship:

1. Did he seriously think that Jesus might bow and worship him?
2. In his mind (and the tempter is not exactly stupid), what might sway Jesus to actually bow and worship him?

c. What might the bowing down to worship the tempter accomplish for Jesus?

d. What in essence was Jesus’ reply to the tempter with what He said?

e. What then would you label this third temptation as?

6. What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?