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BSF Matthew Lesson 20 Additional Bible Resources: Mens’ Warm Clothes Addition!
Tag: bsf matthew lesson 20
Friday Digest BSF Matthew Lesson 20
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IN MATTHEW 19 BSF LESSON 20
- God hates divorce
- Divorce is never God’s plan
- God brings man and woman together and no one can break that bond
- Some remain single; God has control over that, too
- God wants us to be content and fulfilled
- God accepts, loves, and honors everyone
- Love nothing more than you love God
- God can do the impossible
- God helps us value what He values
- Surrender to Jesus, and all will be yours
TAKE AWAY: Be willing to sacrifice everything for Jesus.
BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 20, Day 5: Matthew 19:16-30
SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 19:16-30
A rich man asks Jesus what he must do to reach eternal life. Jesus said to obey the commandments. The man asked which commandments and Jesus answered, “Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.”
The man says he has done that, but what does he lack? Jesus told him to sell all of his possessions, give the money to the poor, and then follow him to have treasure in heaven. The man went away sad as he wasn’t going to do this.
Jesus said it’s hard for a rich man to enter heaven. The disciples ask who then can enter heaven. Jesus said with God all things are possible. Peter asks Jesus what the disciples will receive. Jesus says they will sit on 12 thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel when he sits on his throne. Those who have left everything for Jesus will inherit eternal life and receive 100 times as much. But many who are first will be last and vice versa.
BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 20, Day 5: Matthew 19:16-30
13) Heaven cannot be earned. By pointing out what matters most — the treasures you build in heaven not the treasures you build in your own life are what matter.
14a) That it’s not about possessions — it’s about following Jesus first with your heart. He has to put God first and be willing to sacrifice everything for Jesus and God.
b) Money and his possessions
c) It’s clear-cut what you must do to get to heaven. The rules apply to everyone across the board. Everyone is equal in God’s eyes.
15a) You must be willing to give up everything you own to follow Jesus and enter God’s kingdom.
b) Everyone can be saved who leaves everything for him.
c) Those who have left everything for Jesus will inherit eternal life and receive 100 times as much. But many who are first will be last and vice versa.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 20, Day 5: Matthew 19:16-30
It’s quite simple to get to heaven but people complicate it — be willing to give everything up and put Jesus first in your heart to receive eternal life. Period.
Great read!
End Notes BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 20, Day 5: Matthew 19:16-30
Note you can’t earn eternal life as the rich man thinks — it is freely given.
All three gospels are clear that this man was rich, which is the point of the story. Luke says he was a ruler.
Jesus is called good by the man, but Jesus says the only good one is God. So if Jesus is good, then he is God. God requires perfect obedience, which only Jesus was able to keep.
Mark Mark 10:21 tells us that Jesus had compassion on the man because he could see his heart did not follow him 100%. He was concerned with earning heaven, not with accepting Jesus’s gift of grace and love.
Jesus lists 5 of the 10 Commandments found in Exodus 20:1-17. These are the easiest to follow and relate to how we should treat others.
The man knew something was lacking (sacrifice), but could not identify it. So many of us need someone else to tell us important things, too. An outside perspective can help.
The man thought he had to do something; all he had to do was accept Jesus’s doing — the cross.
The Meaning of The Rich Young Man
The message is clear:
- We are to put God first in everything and be willing to give up everything in order to do so. For the rich man, his riches were the obstacle to God. Jesus calls him to be his disciple (Matthew 4:19; 8:22; 9:9; Mark 2:14); the man cannot get over his pile of riches.
- Note this command is not for everyone; it’s for this man whose riches were his hindrance to God, his idol. Many who are rich do God’s work with their money.
- Everyone’s hindrance to God is different. Yours is what you must give up.
Riches are a hold up for many because they make us happy in this life; we need to be happy in eternal life.
The camel analogy was immediately known to the disciples and those of that time as being obviously impossible.
Wealth was seen as God’s blessing upon you, so the disciples were shocked that Jesus was saying to give that up.
The rich still enter heaven since everything is possible with God. God can turn a person’s heart from riches to Him.
Again, Peter’s heart is in the right spot, but he bumbles over it. Yes, the disciples will have a special place in heaven, but doing things for God for the sole purpose of that right spot is not what God wants. The disciples helped build the church, too. (Ephesians 2:20). We’ll all have a home (Revelation 21:14).
Everyone who sacrifices for Jesus will be rewarded here and in heaven richly. This is different for everyone, from riches to contentment and happiness.
Rewards include:
- Blessings here in this life
- Future rewards in heaven
- Eternal life
We will be surprised by who is first in rewards in heaven, Jesus says.
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BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 20, Day 4: Matthew 19:13-15
SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 19:13-15
Here Jesus rebukes his disciples for rebuking those who brought him little children to bless. Jesus tells his disciples that the kingdom of heaven belongs to children.
BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 20, Day 4: Matthew 19:13-15
11a) For Jesus to place his hands on them and pray for them.
b) No one valued children in ancient times, and they probably thought Jesus was wasting his time.
c) Jesus cares for everyone, no matter who they are, big or small.
12a) They treat children as if they don’t understand such things. They belittle them when God allows them to understand more than adults sometimes.
b) Unsure. I just stay on the lookout for those God places in my path to influence in some small way.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 20, Day 4: Matthew 19:13-15
Jesus changed everyone’s beliefs about the world, including how children held little value. Great stuff!
End Notes BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 20, Day 4: Matthew 19:13-15
All children should be brought to Jesus to be blessed.
Here, we see the laying on hands as we see elsewhere in the Bible (Acts 6:6, Acts 8:17, Acts 9:17, 1 Timothy 5:22, 2 Timothy 1:6). Note Jesus does this, which means we should if we are comfortable doing so as well.
Children are worthy, as are all of us.
BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 20, Day 3: Matthew 19:7-12
SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 19:7-12
The Pharisees keep pressing Jesus, asking why Moses command a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away. Jesus said that Moses allowed divorce because their hearts were hard, but it was not that way from the beginning. Jesus said that any man who divorces his wife except for marital unfaithfulness and marries another commmits adultery.
The disciples ask then if it’s better not to marry then. Jesus says marriage is not for everyone. Some are eunuchs by birth or made that way and some have renounced marriage because of the kingdom of heaven.
BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 20, Day 3: Matthew 19:7-12
6a) The Pharisees keep pressing Jesus, asking why Moses command a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away.
b) Jesus said that Moses allowed divorce because their hearts were hard, but it was not that way from the beginning. Jesus said that any man who divorces his wife except for marital unfaithfulness and marries another commmits adultery.
7) Malachi 2:13-16: This says that the Lord has made man and wife one in flesh and spirit. He says to not break faith with your wife. Here, God says He hates divorce.
1 Corinthians 7:10-16: Here Paul says a wife must not separate from her husband, but if she does, she must remain unmarried or be reconciled to him. A husband must not divorce his wife. If one spouse is not a believer, you should still remain married so that your children will be holy. Yet, if an unbeliever leaves their spouse, let them do so because a believing man or woman is not bound in this circumstance.
Ephesians 5:21-33: Here Paul says to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives are to submit to their husbands and respect them. Husbands are to love their wives as he loves himself. A man will leave his parents and be united to his wife as one flesh.
8 ) God is and will always be the ultimate father and spouse. He is always there even if the other spouse is not. He understands mankind is broken, and He forgives.
9) The disciples ask then if it’s better not to marry then. Jesus says marriage is not for everyone. Some are eunuchs by birth or made that way and some have renounced marriage because of the kingdom of heaven.
10) The church can encourage them that marriage will come in God’s timing. If you are not married, God is there and fills that gap. Everything is God’s plan.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 20, Day 3: Matthew 19:7-12
I love these passages so much. Such great review on the covenant of marriage as God intended.
Great read!
End Notes BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 20, Day 3: Matthew 19:7-12
The Pharisees wrongly believe that God commanded divorce. In reality, God permitted divorce, which Jesus sets straight.
Divorce is only permitted when someone is sexually unfaithful. They can then remarry, too.
Paul adds that God permits divorce if a believing spouse is left by an unbelieving spouse (1 Corinthians 7:15).
Any other reason (abuse, conflict, irreconcilable differences, addiction, and more) spouses can separate but not remarry.
You have to be divorced in the eyes of God in order to remarry; otherwise, you are committing adultery.
You cannot break your promise; only God can.
Don’t try to undo the past or feel guilty for it. Live your life the best you can according to God’s will.
The disciples wonder if people shouldn’t marry since marriage is such a big responsibility.
Jesus says those who can accept celibacy should, but you should not burn with passion 1 Corinthians 7:7-9 Then, it’s better to marry.
Eunuch here may mean those who are called to not marry, either by birth, childhood trauma, or for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. Castration was common in ancient times for male servants in households. However, this does not apply to most of us today.
Some people will remain single for different reasons, Jesus says. You love them, too.
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BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 20, Day 2: Matthew 19:1-6
SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 19:1-6
Jesus leaves Galilee and travels to Judea to the other side of the Jordan River. He healed many. Pharisees came to test Jesus again and asked him if it was lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason. Jesus answered that God made man and woman to be one, and a man will leave his parents and be united with his wife. What God has joined let no man separate.
BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 20, Day 2: Matthew 19:1-6
3) Pharisees came to test Jesus again and asked him if it was lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason. Matthew tells us they are testing Jesus. They are also looking for ways to trap him, to get him to say the wrong thing, so then they can accuse him of blasphemy and either throw him in jail or even kill him. They were also seeing which side of the law he fell on — if he supported the Mosaic law or not.
4a) Jesus is showing the Pharisees he knows and understands Scripture. He also is answering their question with God’s words, so they cannot counter him at all. He is ensuring his answers will not provoke the Pharisees so he can continue his earthly ministry. Jesus is emphasizing that marriage is from God, not man and man’s arbitrary rules.
b) God intends for man and woman to be together once they commit to a marriage; divorce was never God’s idea. Yet, He allows it because He understands we are broken. God commands a man to leave his parents, never his wife. Jesus is pointing this out to the Pharisees that their rules are wrong.
5) Because that is our ideal and what we should strive for every day of our lives. Does it always happen? No. But we can move towards God’s plan one small step at a time every day. That is all we can do and all that God asks of us.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 20, Day 2: Matthew 19:1-6
I love studying about God’s plan for marriage. It’s so relevant in today’s world.
Great read!
End Notes BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 20, Day 2: Matthew 19:1-6
We only have a bit of Jesus’s ministry recorded in the Gospels. It’s safe to say that Jesus had many more adventures, healed many more people, and went to many more places that what is recorded here. Jesus made waves wherever he went — and for good reason. He is now headed towards Jerusalem and his ultimate destiny — the cross.
In ancient times, you were expected to get married and have many children. Remember, first the earth was not as populated as it is today. Next, people needed one another to work together; the idea of being independent did not exist. Family was highly valued and sacred. Finally, children were depended upon to help procure food and help the family survive. Jews were encouraged to marry and have many children — it was considered breaking the law of procreation if not.
Because the Pharisees had interpreted the Bible with the eye of man and not God, men could divorce their wives over the most frivolous things.
The “for any reason” is what is up for debate here. Mosaic law permitted divorce Deuteronomy 24:1, but what was up for debate was the reasoning. One school of thought believed divorce was only for adultery, while another taught it was for anything.
For Jesus, divorce is about marriage, which is why he talked about marriage. The emphasis on what God meant marriage to be is from the very beginning of time with Adam and Eve. Note that polygamy was never allowed either. The Bible clearly stated one man and woman, or two, are to come together as one. Polygamy was allowed but was never meant to be long term. Marriage is for our good.
In sum, what God has joined was never meant to be broken by man.
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