Questions

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 13:24–30; 36–43

We shall continue to reflect upon Jesus’ parables of the Kingdom of Heaven. We have read the parable of the mixed results, and today we shall reflect on the parable of the mixed existence. Please read the parable and its explanation together.

1. Does God have the ability to prevent the evil one from sowing weeds among the wheat? Why does God not prevent the evil one from so doing?

2. While God never sleeps (Ps. 121:3-4), who might be the ones sleeping?

3. Why would the servants want to pull the weeds out?

4. There are two reasons given for not pulling the weeds out right away. What are they?

a. According to v. 41, who are the weeds?

b. Which of the two reasons give you the patience to bear with them?

c. Might there be other reason(s) that cause you to be patient as well?

5. What does “pulling out” mean? Does it conflict with church discipline? (And what is the aim of church discipline?)

6. Read Joel 3:13 and Revelation 14:19 about the harvest time and read Matthew 8:12, 22:13, 24:51, 25:30 and Luke 13:28, as well. How do these passages speak to you concerning your attitude toward the “weeds”?

7. Reflect on v. 43 and also Daniel 12:3. They are meant to be a tremendous promise and encouragement to us. Are they to you? Why or why not?

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

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 13:31–35

These are two parables of growth. Compare them and see their similarities in trying to understand what aspects of growth about the Kingdom that Jesus desires us to learn:

1. The size of a mustard seed and yeast. Why did Jesus choose each to describe the Kingdom?

2. What ideas does being “small” convey? Name at least five. How does it speak to us, the church today?

3. The size of a tree and the flour dough. Why does Jesus choose each to describe the Kingdom?

4. What ideas does being “big” convey”? Name at least five. How does it speak to God’s Kingdom?

5. What words that denote "time" are being used in each of the parables? How do they speak to you about God’s Kingdom?

6. Having considered their similarities, are there any differences between them that also speak of the Kingdom that are meaningful to you?

7. Although Jesus was speaking mostly in parables, obviously He was meant to be understood. Although, He would only explain them further in private to the disciples, what impact might these parables have on the listening crowd

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

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 13:44–52

1. The parable of the treasure:

a. Why is the Kingdom likened to what is “hidden”?

b. Why is it likened to “treasure”? What is the Kingdom like to you?

c. How special is the man in the parable?

d. Putting yourself in the shoes of the man in the parable, would you sell “all” to buy the field? (Under what conditions might you do it?)

e. How does the parable relate the Kingdom of God to you?

2. The Pearl:

a. What is so special about this merchant?

b. If you were him, under what conditions would you sell “everything” to buy the pearl?

c. How does the parable relate the Kingdom of God to you?

3. In what ways are the above parables an accurate depiction of your conversion? In what ways are they not?

4. The mixed net: Compare this parable with the previous two parables of the mixed results (vv. 1-9) and of the mixed harvest (vv. 24-30).

a. What might be the difference in emphasis?

b. What might be similar in emphasis?

5. “Scribes” in v.52 now refers to the disciples who have been trained and have come to understand the Kingdom (Lenski, Matthew, 550):

a. What do they now have?

b. What does Jesus call both the new and the old?

c. Are you striving to be the expert or the owner of God’s words today?

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

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 13:53–58

1. What were the amazing things that the people were asking about Jesus? By their questions, what have they admitted about Jesus?

2. What were the other skeptical questions that they also asked about Jesus? Why would these questions appear to contradict their previous admissions about Jesus to the point that “they took offense at him”? What were they more concerned about?

3. Read Jesus’ remark in v. 57. Was His remark true? Would it be true today about a servant of God who is serving in his home church where he was brought up? What should a church be more concerned about when it comes to her teachers or leaders?

4. What effect did their offence (and lack of faith) have on Jesus’ ministry among them?

5. What might it say about the condition of our faith community today?

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

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 14:1–14

“Seldom in history can there have been such a series of matrimonial entanglements as existed in the Herod family. By (seducing and) marrying Herodias, his brother’s wife, Herod had broken the Jewish law (Lev. 18:16; 20:21) and had outraged the laws of decency and morality. ” (Barclay, 150)

Herod was in essence a governor, but Caesar had bestowed the title of a king to his father, Herod the Great who slaughtered the children of Bethlehem in Matthew 2.

1. Mark 6:14-16 gives us a bit more information about the differing opinions about who Jesus was. What can you tell about the reasoning and the causes behind each of these speculations?

-  He is Elijah (see Mal. 4:5)

-  He is like one of the prophets long ago (by then the Jews had not seen a prophet for over 300 years).

-  John the Baptist (Herod’s speculation)

2. John’s mission was to pave the way for the Messiah (Isa. 40:3ff), but his mission appeared to have been cut short by his confrontation of a gentile queen, the wicked Herodias. Was it worth it? What do you think?

3. Mark gave a slightly different picture of Herod in Mk. 6:20. If you combine Mark’s and Matthew’s accounts, what is your verdict about Herod — his commendable traits and his weaknesses? What was Jesus’ verdict (see Lk. 13:32 and also 23:8-12)? What lesson can one learn from the life of Herod? (This Herod was eventually sent into exile to Gaul by Caesar.)

4. What was Jesus’ reaction to the news of John’s death and why?

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

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 14:14–21

1. What do you think were the motives of the crowd, who had to walk quite a long way to see Jesus?

2. Jesus came to save us from sin. Why would He bother to heal the sick and, in this case, feed the people?

3. How then would you define “compassion” (v. 14)?

4.    Did the disciples recognize the hunger of the crowd? How did they intend to deal with it? Were they wrong? Why? Or why not? What would you have done?

5. Why did Jesus ask for the loaves and fish? Could He not have fed them just the same? What might be the lesson here?

6. Was the looking up to heaven and giving thanks simply a gesture? Why or why not? What might be the lesson here?

7. From the disciples’ perspective, what had it meant to them to have participated in the passing out of the food and the collection of the crumbs?

8. From the perspective of the people, what had it meant to them to have been taught, healed and fed miraculously? What should their response be? (See Jn. 6:14-15.)

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

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 14:22–36

1. Remember, the teaching and the feeding of the people happened and lasted past dinner time. Jesus had to be very tired. (Mark in fact indicated that they were already quite tired even before the crowd showed up). What did Jesus choose to do at the end of a very hectic day and why?

2. The 4th watch was about 3-6 o’clock in the morning, a time when they desperately needed to rest. Did the storm happen by chance? Where was Jesus when the storm was taking place? What can you learn about the storm(s) in your life in this respect?

3. Jesus could have ordered the storm to be calm from the shore, or He could have sneaked into the boat before calming the storm. Why did He choose to walk towards them on the lake?

4. When they turned from fear to joy, why did Peter ask to be able to walk on the water? How did he distinguish himself from the other disciples with this request?

5. What caused him to begin to sink, even with Jesus right in front of him?

6. Did you have any experience that might be similar to that of Peter? How does Jesus’ rebuke speak to you?

7. In connection with your thoughts on question 3 above, did Jesus achieve His purpose?

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