New Testament

Introduction to Matthew 1. Matthew- tax collector. They were hated among their fellow Jews. They worked for Rome, collecting taxes from their countrymen, and extorting additional money from them as they had opportunity. 2. Time written- 400 year gap between the...

I. What Joseph Felt 1:18 A. Emotionally 1. Betrayal 2. Anger 3. Fear about keeping her as his wife. Many implications re. her, him, Jesus 4. Confusion- what did all this mean; how would it work out? 5. Concern for Mary- An unwed mother would likely never be chosen for...

I. Immanuel- “God is with us” A. One Reaction 1. It can bring up such wonderful feelings and thoughts. 2. I.E.- “Everything is going to be O.K., because God is with us” B. A Textual Consideration 1. V. 21 Jesus shall save His people from their sins. That is what His...

I. Why Jesus Came A. Save People From Their Sins Verse 21 1. Jesus- Joshua-Jehovah Shua- Jehovah saves 2. Save- sozo- deliver, protect, heal, preserve, save, make whole. 3. Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God... 4. Romans 6:23a For the...

I. What Joseph Felt 1:18 A. Emotionally 1. Betrayal 2. Anger 3. Fear about keeping her as his wife. Many implications re. her, him, Jesus 4. Confusion- what did all this mean; how would it work out? 5. Concern for Mary- An unwed mother would likely never be chosen for...

I. God Uses People To Reach The World V. 1a A. Jesus Called The Disciples 1. The choosing of these men came from Heaven, not Earth a. Jesus had a specific calling and mission for these men b. No man or woman can create their own calling from God i. Some believe that...

I. Where To Go V. 5, 6 A. These Disciples 1. God revealed Himself first to the Jews. 2. It was His intention that they would manifest Him to the world 3. Jesus called them the lost sheep…they had stayed from relationship with God 4. Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of...

I. John The Baptist A. His Doubts About Jesus Vs. 2, 3 1. John was the forerunner to Jesus, telling people to prepare for His coming 2. John had recognized Jesus as Messiah when Jesus appeared at the Jordan River 3. John 1:32-35 speaks of the sureness that John...

I. Who Jesus Is Talking To A. To Those Who Labor 1. Literally- to toil, to be wearied 2. It may be labor towards an honorable cause, or a dishonorable, sinful cause a. Trying to improve finances to bless your family b. Working hard at some illegal or unethical pursuit...

I. Regarding Physical Needs Vs. 1 & 2 A. The Truth About The Matter 1. Regarding the picking of grain was allowable: Deuteronomy 23:25 2. Regarding the keeping of the Sabbath: Deuteronomy 5:12-15 B. The Pharisees’ View 1. The Pharisees believed Jesus and His...

I. Jesus’ Response To Opposition Vs. 14-17 A. Jesus Departed From Those Who Opposed Him Vs. 14, 15a 1. When faced with this opposition, Jesus chose to depart 2. There is a time to face opposition face to face 3. There is also a time move on to others who will receive...

18 “Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased! Servants are not self directed, but respond to the will of their master Jesus Accomplished His Work By The Power Of The Holy Spirit I will put My Spirit upon Him, And He will...

I. The Demonic World A. Its Existence 1. Satan & demons-their origin-(Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:11-17) 2. Their activity a. Can physically afflict people V. 22 i. Not every affliction has demonic origin, but clearly some do ii. Blindness, muteness, superhuman...

God is the sower, the seed is God’s word, people’s hearts are the different soils I. The Hard Heart Vs. 4, 19 A. The Result Of Hardness 1. The hard foot path cannot receive the farmer’s seed a. It is exposed to the seed, but the seed cannot enter the soil b. The birds...

God is the sower, the seed is God’s word, people’s hearts are the different soils I. The Hard Heart Vs. 4, 19 A. The Result Of Hardness 1. The hard foot path cannot receive the farmer’s seed a. It is exposed to the seed, but the seed cannot enter the soil b. The birds...

I. The Tares & The Wheat-Sin Due To Imitation Vs. 24-30; 36-43 A. The Kingdom (True Church)) Belongs To Jesus Vs. 24, 37, 38a 1. The field represents all mankind 2. Humanity belongs to Jesus by ownership, but not all choose to submit to Him 3. The kingdom of...

If we asked: “Who among us is a seeker of truth?” most people would raise their hand. We like to think of ourselves as people who are interested in the truth Seekers of truth- May study great books of philosophy & religion, & spend thousands of dollars on...

See also 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, 2:1-16 I. Why Jesus Spoke In Parables A. A General Truth Regarding God’s Revelation Of Truth 1. God desires to reveal Himself to mankind a. Verse 9- He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” b. Jesus is inviting his listeners to pay...

I. Prior To Meeting John, Herod’s Conscience Was Unchallenged A. Who Was This Herod? 1. Who was this Herod? We read about many Herods in the N.T. 2. Herod The Great- ordered death of 1000’s of babies after Jesus’ birth a. Herod the Great- two of his sons, who were...

I. Motivation To Serve A. Reasons Why Jesus Might Have Avoided Serving 1. It was a time of great sorrow for Jesus 2. Jesus has just been informed of John’s death a. John was Jesus’ cousin b. John was also a great prophet, being used of God c. Jesus has now lost a...

V. 22 The crowds had wanted to make Jesus king. Jesus had miraculously fed the crowd with a few fishes and loaves of bread. Jesus deliberately broke up the crowd, and did not give in to their desires. He sent the disciples away from the crowd, lest they become...

I. The Setting A. Geographically 1. Jesus has come from the region of Tyre & Sidon: present day Lebanon a. A region of idol worship and a land of Gentiles b. The disciples were probably prejudiced against these people 2. Jesus moves south and east, into the area...

2 Timothy 3 I. Practitioners Of Vain Worship A. Fault Finders, Deceived, Zealous V. 1 2 Timothy 3:3, 13 “…slanderers…deceiving and being deceived…” Mark 7:2 “…they fault…” Matthew 15:14 “They are blind leaders of the blind.” (Deceived & deceiving others) 1. There...

John 8:29 Jesus pleased the Father w/everything He did. His words & deeds were always right John 3:34 Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit, & led by the Spirit in all that He did John 6:4-6 Sometimes, God tests us. Tests show what are inside of us. Bring out the...

I. Profile Of A Spiritual Hypocrite A. What Is A Spiritual Hypocrite? 16:3; Luke 12:1 1. Hypocrite- an actor, a stage player, one who wears a mask, conceals true identity 2. Spiritual hypocrites pretend to want the truth 16:1 a. “They came testing Him”- their...

I. Who Is Jesus? A. Jesus Called Himself The Son Of Man V. 13 1. Jesus is not having an identity crisis; He knows who He is 2. He wants these men to search their hearts & come to their own conclusion 3. They had been with Him a long time, they had heard Him teach,...

I. The Invitation To Follow Jesus V. 24a A. Jesus Frequently Invited People To Follow Him 1. More than follow in a physical, philosophical, ethical sense. 2. Jesus invited people to commit their lives to Him B. The Invitations & Blessings Of Following Jesus 1....

Matt 16:24-26 (NKJV) 24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26...

I. Their History With Jesus A. The Teaching Of Jesus 1. Sermon on the Mount Matthew 5-7 2. Teaching on fasting Matthew 9 3. Teaching re. Sabbath Matthew 9 4. Parable of the Sower Matthew 13 5. The 6 kingdom parables Matthew 13 B. The Miracles Of Jesus Matthew 8-15 1....

I. On The Mountain Top & Down The Hill A. On The Mountain Top 1. They had been on the Mt. with Jesus, & had seen Him transfigured 2. They had seen Moses & Elijah appear w/Jesus, speaking of His upcoming death 3. Peter had suggested that they build three tabernacles,...

I. The Temple Tax A. It’s Origin & Purpose Exodus 30:11-16 1. Intended as a ransom for their souls Ex. 30:12a a. A recognition of the debt owed to God for when He delivered the people from Egypt, & His gracious covering (ransom, kopher ) of their sin & guilt b. Not a...

I. The World’s Path To Greatness A. The Disciples 1. Peter, James & John had just seen Jesus transfigured in glory 2. Jesus had just told the 12 about his coming betrayal and death (Matt. 17:22, 23) 3. In spite of what they had recently seen & heard, they quickly...

I. The Process Of “Gaining Back Your Brother” V. 15 A. “If your brother sins against you…” 1. Brother- The context dictates that it is one Christian sinning against another 2. “Sins”-to miss the mark, to err, be mistaken, to do or go wrong, to wander 3. “Against you”-...

I. Deciding When To Confront An Offender A. “Coverable” Sins 1. 1 Peter 4:8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover (hide, veil) a multitude of sins.” 2. Proverbs 19:11 The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his glory...

I. Jesus’ Teaching Regarding Forgiveness A. Forgiveness Is Commanded V. 21-35 B. Forgiveness Is Reasonable 1. Man wants to limit forgiveness to other men V. 21 a. The rabbis taught that you should forgive up to three times b. Perhaps Peter thought himself super...

I. Receive Little Children 18:5 A. What Does It Mean To Receive? 1. To receive or grant access to, to not to refuse friendship 2. To receive into one's family 3. To receive favorably, give ear to, embrace, make one's own, approve, not to reject B. “In My Name” 1. The...

I. These Men Had Hard Hearts A. Hard Hearts Regarding Jesus V. 3a 1. Testing Him- tempting (KJV) a. To try, make trial of, test: for the purpose of ascertaining what he thinks b. In a bad sense, testing one maliciously, to prove his feelings or judgments 2. Their...

Matt 19:13-15 (NKJV) 13 Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven." 15 And...

I. Asking About Eternal Life Vs. 16, 17 A. It’s Deeper Than You Think 1. It was commendable that this young man asked this question 2. He came running and knelt down. Earnestness & humility (Mark 10:17) 3. He came thinking that the solution wasn’t far from his...

I. Rewards For Followers Of Jesus A. Peter’s Concern V. 27 1. Peter witnessed the conversation between Jesus & the rich, young ruler 2. He heard Jesus’ challenge him to leave worldly loves, & follow Christ 3. He heard Jesus’ offer of eternal life to this young...

I. Herod A. Personal History 1. Herod the King- An “Edomite”, who married into the Jewish race. 2. Edomites: not pure Jews; descendants of Esau; somewhat Jewish re. religion 3. Was given the title “King of the Jews” by Caesar Augustus. 4. Small man/big ego: 4’4” tall...

Regarding the kingdom of God, it has been said… “The way up is down”. To be accurate, the way up is obedience to Jesus, and having a servant’s heart towards all. Some may try to live the lowly life by their own power. Self-directed lowliness is not what Jesus is...

I. Their Needs And Ours A. Physical Blindness And More 1. Physical healing- obviously, he had a tremendous need to be able to see 2. Situational healing- what were their lives like b/c of blindness? a. Broken family and friendships? Hardships on families, etc. b. Lost...

I. Jesus Presents Himself As King Vs. 1-4 A. Jesus Takes Deliberate Steps To Fulfill Scripture 1. When they drew near- Jesus acts in anticipation of His entrance into Jerusalem a. Bethphage/Mt. of Olives is just across the Kidron Valley b. There are about 2 million...

Prior to this moment, the crowds had tried, by force, to make Jesus king. John 6:15 The people had been amazed at his miracle of multiplying the loaves and the fish, and feeding 5000 plus people. But the moment for Jesus’ revealing of Himself as King was not yet come....

I. What This Teaching Isn’t About A. It’s Not About Having A Fruitful Life 1. Christians are to be “fruitful”; called branches in the vine John 15:1-10 a. What’s similar in these passages? i. Both the fig tree and Christians are called to “bear fruit” ii. Jesus...

I. The Components Of The Promise A. To Whom The Promise Was Made-Disciples Luke 14:25-27 1. Jesus is not making this promise to people who will pray selfishly or godlessly 2. This promise is for those who make Jesus the priority of their life B. Faith & Believing...

I. Don’t Resist Questioners V. 23 A. Jesus Received Them 1. He did not tell these men to go away 2. Jesus received many questioners during His ministry a. Rich young ruler b. Nicodemus c. Samaritan woman at the well 3. He taught them, guided them into self...

Regarding parables: 1. Parables are an earthly story which illustrate a heavenly truth 2. Don’t try to establish doctrine based upon every aspect of a parable 3. Understand that a parable is designed to make one or two main points 4. It is difficult to explain every...

What must happen in order for someone to willingly render one’s life to another? 1. The understanding that we don’t belong to ourselves 2. The understanding that we belong to someone else I. Those Opposed To Jesus (Unwilling To Render Themselves To God) A. Desire To...

I. Jesus Answers The Liberal Theologians A. The Sadducees V. 23 1. The Sadducees were formed during the intertestamental period 2. They were equivalent of modern day liberal theologians, i.e., The Jesus Seminar 3. Didn’t believe in the supernatural, angels, miracles,...

I. General Description Of Scribes & Pharisees A. Hypocrites Vs. 13, 14, 15, 23, 25, 27, 29 1. Hypocrite- an actor or pretender; one who wants to conceal their real feeling/motives. Maybe insecurity, pride, selfishness, desire for approval, etc. 2. Not someone who...

These verses are often seen as a series of 8 “woes” Perhaps we might consider the 1st “woe” as the overall description of what these men were doing The next 7 woes are descriptions of their evil actions & attitudes in closing the door to Heaven I. Shutting The Kingdom...

I. Shutting The Kingdom Of Heaven V. 13 A. Fault Of Jewish Leaders- Obstructing Entrance God’s Kingdom B Christians Are To Open The Kingdom Of Heaven Unto Others Turn to Matthew 28:16-20 II. How They Shut The Kingdom Of Heaven A. They Exploited Vulnerable People To...

Setting the stage… Realize the disciples’ mindset as they asked these questions. What was their world like, and what were their expectations? Understand what their line of thinking was, and how they asked erroneously re. the future. They misunderstood the near and far...

I. The Setting (Review) A. The Disciples’ Expectations 1. The O.T. scriptures spoke of a coming Messiah, as Savior for God’s people 2. They expected the Messiah to be a ruling political king. 3. Matthew 20:17-23 Disciples hoped for places of power in the coming...

The Age In Which We Live Review- These verses have a dual and overlapping application. Compare with Luke 21:8-24 They speak of aspects of the conditions in Jerusalem prior to its destruction. They also speak of the centuries that have followed, right up to this...

The Age In Which We Live I. The Events Before The End V. 14- Jesus said that the following events would take place, and then the end would come. NOTE- These events happened in the lives of those 1st century disciples and have happened in the lives of Christians ever...

I. The Last 20 Centuries A. Many Have Claimed To Be Jesus John Lennon- In 1966, Beatle John Lennon announced, "Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. . . . We're more popular than Jesus now." But few people know what was going on inside John Lennon's mind at...

A Brief Chronology 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 The Rapture of the church, any time. Jesus coming for His church. Daniel 9:24-27 The Anti-Christ makes a 7 yr. covenant w/Israel. Many believe a peace treaty, which is a current goal of many in the Middle East and around the...

I. An Apparent Contradiction Regarding Jesus’ Return A. The Desolation Of Abomination: A Time To Count The Days 1. Matthew 24:15 Jesus spoke of an event spoken about by the prophet Daniel 2. Jesus said that the Jews in Judea who see this event need to escape for their...

I. An Apparent Contradiction Regarding Jesus’ Return A. The Desolation Of Abomination: A Time To Count The Days 1. Matthew 24:15 Jesus spoke of an event spoken about by the prophet Daniel 2. Jesus said that the Jews in Judea who see this event need to escape for their...

I. The Parable Of The Servants- Being Found Faithful A. The Faithful & Wise Servant 1. Ruler over a household- Fulfills his responsibility from God 2. Give them food in due season- responsible to care for others 3. Great blessing comes when the master returns...

I. The Master & His Servants Vs. 14. 15 A. The “Traveling” Master 1. Remember the context- the return of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Master in the story. 2. He has gone to a far away country, (Heaven), but will return for His servants John 14:2, 3 2In My Father’s...

Jesus is hours away from being tortured and crucified. The crowds are about to turn against Him, & in a few hours He will not look like a King of Glory. But Jesus sees beyond the cross and the tomb. He sees beyond the centuries of wars, plagues, and people denying...

Introduction- Verses 1 & 2 Vs. 1- “All these sayings”- Everything that Jesus has just taught them in Chapters 24, & 25. Vs. 2- Only 2 days until He dies. The nearness of the cross begins to divide people’s heart even more. 1. The approach towards the cross...

26:1  Jesus has just taught them aspects of the Kingdom. Part of those teachings included that the Bridegroom (Jesus) would be delayed, and that they needed to be ready for His arrival. Those teachings included the idea of a man traveling to a far country who be gone,...

I. Incidental Facts Vs. 17, 18 1. The disciples who prepared the Passover meal were Peter & John. (Luke 22:8) 2. The Jewish day began at sundown. 3. Jesus ate the Passover meal the same day He was killed. He was that Passover Lamb. 4. Certain man- Man carrying...

I. The Setting A. The Garden V. 36 1. After the Passover Meal… a. Luke 22:39 “Jesus went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed” b. He had spent His nights there that week (Luke 21:37); He refused to alter this routine, though He knew it meant that Judas would...

26:47, 48 The Greek language indicates an embrace and a kiss. Much more than the kiss that was a customary greeting. Literally- Tenderly kissed him over and over. This was a seemingly more impassioned display of love. What was Judas feeling? Deep seated hatred? Were...

27:11 When Jesus was tried by the religious rulers, they found Him guilty of blasphemy. (Matt. 26:63-65) According to their laws, Jesus deserved to die. The Jews did not have legal authority to carry out the death sentence. They had to present Jesus to Pilate as one...

I. Judas’ Understanding Of Jesus A. V. 4- “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” 1. Judas saw that Jesus was innocent. 2. If anyone could have put “real” blame on Jesus, it would have been one of the 12. a. They were with Him constantly for 3 ½ years. b. They...

I. God Desires To Reveal Jesus A. They Had A Wrong Idea About Jesus V. 1 1. They thought He was still dead. They had seen Him die. Understandable. 2. They had come to anoint His dead body (see other scriptures) a. Mark 16:1 1Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary...

I. The Great Commission A. Commanded By Jesus V. 18 1. All authority- Jesus has all authority, and He has told us to do this. 2. We may convince ourselves that this is not important. 3. Others may tell us we shouldn’t do this. People, demonic spirits, etc. B. Speak Of...

I. God’s Call To Man V. 1 A. John Came Preaching 1. “In those days…” Jesus is now about 30 years old 2. God is always the Initiator with man a. God the Father - John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him...

John did not want to baptize Jesus. John knew that Jesus had no need of a baptism unto repentance, for Jesus was without sin. John knew that he needed to be baptized by Jesus. Jesus did not deny that John needed to be baptized by Him, but 1st His baptism must happen....

Review 1 John 2:15-17 Temptations Regarding The Body Vs. 1-4 1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. 3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he...

I. General Observations A. Temptation 1. Tempted- peirazō; pi-rad'-zo To test, to scrutinize, assay, examine, to prove, to try. 2. Root word- peira; pi'-rah. To test through the idea of piercing. 3. Thayer’s- to test: to ascertain what one thinks, or how he will...

I. Their Condition A. Living In Galilee Among Ungodly People 1. Also called “Galilee of the nations” 2. Inhabited by Egyptians, Arabians, Phoenicians 3. Region of Galilee- 204 villages with no less than 15,000 people in each 4. A highly populated area, but populated...

I. General Observations A. Areas Of Temptation For Mankind 1 John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and...

I. General Observations A. Temptation 1. Tempted- peirazō; pi-rad'-zo To test, to scrutinize, assay, examine, to prove, to try. 2. Root word- peira; pi'-rah. To test through the idea of piercing. 3. To be tempted doesn’t mean that one is sinning. a. Jesus was...

The 1st three beatitudes speak of man’s spiritual need, and how the realization of those spiritual needs drives a man to God. The 4th beatitude speaks of man crying out to God b/c of his spiritual need, and that God fills that man, first with Himself, and then with...

1And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. This message was to the disciples of Jesus, not to the multitudes. The Declaration of the Kingdom. The nature and the aspirations of the citizens of that Kingdom....

Persecution- to make to run or flee, to pursue (in a hostile manner), in any way whatever to harass, trouble, to be mistreated on account of something (because of a commitment to Jesus) I. Righteous Living Will Bring Persecution A. Jesus 1. Predicted it John 15:20, 21...

I. Salt A. Nature & Purpose Of Salt 1. Salt was created by God 2. Many uses throughout history a. Used as compensation: Slaves were traded for salt, soldiers paid with salt: Hence the saying “He is/isn’t worth his salt”. b. Used to keep roads free of weeds c....

I. Jesus’ Relationship To The Law Vs. 17, 18 A. Jesus Didn’t Come To Destroy The Law Or The Prophets V. 17a 1. Religious leaders wrongly thought Jesus opposed the Law. See Matthew 15:1-9 2. Jesus was not against the Law a. He challenged the wrong interpretation of the...

I. Different Interpretations A. Wrong Interpretation 1. Historically- O.T. written in Hebrew, but the Jewish masses spoke Aramaic 2. They depended upon the Scribes & Pharisees to read & interpret O.T. for them 3. Pharisees cared only about the actual act of...