Questions

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 9:1–13

As each Gospel writer is inspired to put a slightly different emphasis on certain events, we find that Matthew skips the more graphic details of the opening up of the roof, but focuses on the exchange between Jesus and the scribes in this town of Capernaum. It is now called Jesus’ own town and He has chosen it to be His base of ministry:

1. Why did Jesus tell the paralytic to “take heart”? Why was his heart being weighed down?

2. Why did Jesus charge the scribes as having “evil thoughts”?

3. Compare the two acts – the healing of the paralytic and the forgiveness of his sin:

a. Which is easier to say?

b. Which is easier to actually perform? (Can God forgive just anyone? What is His basis for forgiveness? See 1 Jn. 1:9.)

4. Why could the power to heal prove Jesus’ authority to forgive?

5. What does Matthew aim to tell us about Jesus in this miracle?

6. From this account about Matthew himself, can you describe the kind of life a tax collector might have? Take time to think of someone that you know who might live a life quite similar to that of Matthew. How hard might it be for that person to become a Christian? Why?

7. Why then would he follow Jesus immediately upon being called?

8. What did Matthew do right after he became Jesus’ disciple? Why did he not cut off all ties with friends of his former circle? (Many commentators tell us that the term, sinners, refers to prostitutes).

9. Ask yourself, if you were one of the Pharisees would you feel comfortable about Matthew and his circle of friends and their lifestyle? Would you also wonder why Jesus would willingly be part of such a dinner?

10. As a Christian, what might be the kind of people with whom you will not feel comfortable in associating?

11. Mull over the reply Jesus gave in v. 12-13. How should it affect your attitude toward reaching people who might make Christians uncomfortable?

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

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 9:14–26

1. In vv. 16-17, read carefully the parable of a new (unshrunk) cloth on old garment, and new wine in an old wine skin. What then does Jesus refer to as an old garment or an old wine skin? What then is the new patch or new wine?

2. Now if Jesus represents the new, in what sense is it (He) new?

3. Now if the Law of Moses is old, then in what sense is the Law old?

4. Refer to vv. 14-15 (on the issue of fasting). Why is fasting in the presence of Jesus like mixing the old with the new?

5. Jesus did leave them for a while, but now the Holy Spirit has come and dwells in each believer. Has fasting then become “new” again, or does it remain (part of the) “old”? What was the purpose of fasting by the disciples of John and the Pharisees that made it “old”?

6. Based on what you have read so far in Matthew, how did the rulers of the synagogue view Jesus? Why then did this ruler choose to fall at Jesus’ feet?

7. Why did Jesus choose to revive the little girl only in the presence of a few disciples and the parents? Why would He exclude the wailing crowd from this?

8. What would be the physical condition of a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years? (See Lev. 15:19-24.)

9. Apart from her health problem, try to describe her other conditions, physical, emotional and spiritual (i.e. attitude toward God).

10. Jesus said the same to the woman, as He did the paralytic, “Take heart”. What was He trying to say to the woman?

11. Is there anything that is weighing you down today? Can you hear Jesus say “take heart” to you today?

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

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 9:27–38

1. Why did Jesus choose to heal the two blind men only when He had gone inside the house? Did it have anything to do with Matthew’s comment in v. 26 and v. 31?

2. What does it say to us about the focus of Jesus?

3. Why did Jesus ask if they believed? And what is meant by, “According to your faith will it be done to you”?

4. Are you exercising faith as you face your challenges in life?

5. Matthew is recounting Jesus’ ministry on earth, and he describes it geographically — “went through all the towns or villages (of Galilee).” What does it mean to you?

6. He also describes it sequentially: teaching, preaching and healing. What kind of a model did Jesus set in terms of evangelism?

7. Behind His activities (or ministries), Matthew describes also His heart:

a. What did Jesus see in these people and what does it mean?

b. What does this say about the people of today?

c. What is the motive behind His ministry?

d. What can we learn, then from Jesus, when it comes to our sharing of the gospel?

8. Has what Jesus said in v. 37 changed much? Does the problem remain the same, or has it worsened? Why?

9. What would you have expected Jesus to say to the disciples given the situation (of shortage of workers)?

10. Why then did He urge the disciples to ask the Lord of Harvest (i.e. pray about the situation) instead?

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

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 10:1–20

1. Read this passage carefully. Do you get a sense that this was a message just for their immediate assignment or for the longer term? Why?

2. If you were one of the Twelve, and were given such authority, how would you feel? But with respect to the preaching part, were they “qualified” to preach? How much did they know? Did it really matter?

3. What might be the reasons for reaching the Jews only, and not the Gentiles, not even the Samaritans? Do you think this particular instruction affected how they perceived the Great Commission in the early part of the Book of Acts?

4. Jesus was very specific in His instructions of not taking anything for the journey. Should this principle be applied to us today?

5. What about the instruction to stay in one house (instead of moving around)? What was the purpose of such an instruction?

6. Was the shaking of dust too harsh a treatment against those who rejected them? Why or why not? What was the message here?

7. Did the Twelve include Judas? How then could he also perform miracles?

8. Why would Jesus describe such a mission as one of sending sheep among wolves? What is then the message of being shrewd and yet innocent? What does it mean?

9. What is the context within which the promise of the Spirit speaking through them is given?

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

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 10:21–42

In sending the Twelve to preach the good news of the Kingdom, Jesus appears to be giving instructions beyond the immediate tasks and foretells of persecution that will be suffered because of Him. (10:22)

1. Vv. 21-23: The Severity

a. How severe will the persecution be? Can you recall present or recent event(s) in history that echoes its severity?

b. Why would people react so violently to the gospel?

c. While Jesus urges us to stand firm, but He also advises us to flee. Why? Does v. 23 give us a clue?

d. According to R.T. France, “The Son of Man comes” appears to be “an echo of Daniel 7:13 which does not speak of the ‘son of man’ coming to earth, but rather [of His] coming to God to receive authority.” (TNTC, Matthew, 184) What then is the core message of this encouragement?

2. Vv. 24-25: It comes with the territory.

a. Have you ever taken this meaning of following Christ seriously?  Why or why not?

3. Vv. 26-31: “Do not be afraid”—this segment begins and ends with this same encouragement.

a. Reason #1: Nothing will be hidden —The message appears to be that if you do not preach, the message will still be made known.

b. Reason #2: Our soul cannot be killed — Only God can kill both body and soul; our persecutors cannot, Satan included!

c. Reason #3: Even our body is precious to Him — more precious than sparrows.

Which of the above reasons is most helpful so that you will “not be afraid” of persecution?

4. Vv. 32-39: A choice that we must make:

a. Vv. 32-33: to acknowledge Him or not to

b. Vv. 34-38: a sword before peace

c. Vv. 39: which life to choose

For disciples of the first several centuries and for today’s Christians in hostile regions, these tests are real. What then would be the reason that they will acknowledge Christ till the end? For most modern-day Christians, we do not have to face severe persecution, how then can we make known our choice to God and to the world?

5. Vv. 40-42: The reward

a. Why does Jesus call His disciples, “the little ones”?

b. In using a cup of cold water, how does Jesus clarify the meaning of “receive” in this context?

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

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 11:1–19

1. John was born for the mission of the one preparing the way of the Messiah (11:10); he witnessed the testimony of the Father and the Holy Spirit at Jesus’ baptism and he publicly declared Him as the Lamb of God (Jn. 1:29-34). Why did he doubt that Jesus was the Messiah now? What had changed?

2. Jesus used Isaiah’s prophecy, but not entirely, about Himself (61:1-3; 35:5-6) in His reply to John. What was missing that would be very personal to John’s immediate situation and which might have caused John to “fall away” and doubt?

3. Jesus appears to be using three distinct phases to refer to the advancement of the Kingdom:

(i) the days of the prophets to John,
(ii) from John till now (John’s baptism of repentance) and
(iii) from Jesus onward.

a. What are the roles of the three phases?

b. What role did John the Baptist play that made him the greatest “among those born of women”? In what sense was he the “greatest”?

c. The third phase is distinctly different from the two earlier phases which were in preparation for it. Why is it then that “he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John?” In what sense is that one “greater”?

d. In vv. 7-9, what did Jesus present John as - a gentle or forceful person?

e. How different was Jesus from John? How might this difference have caused John to doubt?

4. Jesus contrasted the wisdom of the generation then with His wisdom and that of John. With these words, did Jesus approve or disapprove of John and his ministry? Why?

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

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 11:20–30

1. Find Korazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum on a Bible map.

2. What privilege did they have over other regions according to Jesus and according to Isaiah 9:1-2?

3. Why should they have repented? Why did they not?

4. Do you know what Sodom, Tyre and Sidon had in common, geographically (look up your Bible’s map), racially, spiritually and in terms of their fate?

5. Why would Jesus say that they would have responded differently?

6. V. 25 begins with “at the time” and it seems what follows is a result of Jesus’ lament in vv. 20-24:

a. In light of this, what was the problem with the people of these three Galilean cities?

b. Who might be the little children (see 10:42) by contrast?

c. By using the words “hidden” and “reveal”, what is shown as the key of knowing God?

7. In responding to the invitation of Jesus to come to Him, we have to

(i) acknowledge or are aware that we are weary and burdened,
(ii) exchange our yoke and our burden for His, and
(iii) learn from Him:

a. What are the causes of our weariness and burden?

b. Why does resting in Jesus have to involve an exchange of yoke and burden and not simply getting rid of ours?

c. Before we can find rest for our souls, why must we also tie our rest to learning from Jesus who is gentle and humble?

d. What is meant by the rest given by Jesus?

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