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BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 17, Day 4: Revelation 13:11-18

December 18, 2024December 13, 2024 by atozmom, posted in BSF Revelation: The Hope 2024/2025

Summary of Revelation 13:11-18

BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 17, Day 4: Revelation 13:11-18

9) The second beast exercised all the authority of the first beast and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast. It performed great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to the earth in full view of the people, which deceived them. It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast. The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed.

10a) To deceive believers.

Moses (Exodus 7:1-5): To make himself known and to rescue His people

Elijah (1 Kings 18:30-39): To show the world and His people that God is the One True God

Jesus (John 11:41-44; 20:30-31; Acts 2:19-21): To show others that God is God, to show others that Jesus is indeed the Son of God who has come to redeem God’s people so that people may have everlasting life. To bring others to God so that they can be saved from eternal damnation.

11a) The mark was on their right hands or on their foreheads, and it was the number 666. The mark allowed them to buy and sell goods.

b) The mark is our name written in the Book of Life, the seal of the Holy Spirit. The benefits are immense. We receive the Holy Spirit so that we can have the mind of Christ, so that we can understand God and His Word and live by God’s laws. It means our sins are forgiven, we can be with God, and we receive eternal life with God in heaven. It means we are redeemed!

c) God protects us by giving us no more temptations than we can handle. He gives us weapons to avoid sin, such as prayer, His word, and the Holy Spirit to guide us. He intervenes when He needs to to keep us safe. He sends others to us with messages from God and to protect us from others. He is so, so good! I have way too many times when God has protected me. He has given me an innate feeling when something is not right, and I have bolted, which has saved me many times!

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 17, Day 4: Revelation 13:11-18

I love the graciousness of God to make Himself known! I love the idea in Ephesians of us being God’s possession. What else could you want besides God to have and hold you?

End Notes BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 17, Day 4: Revelation 13:11-18

This second beast is subordinate to the first beast and comes from the earth, not the sea.

This beast is a false prophet. (Revelation 16:13, 19:20, 20:10)

This makes 3 evil beings we’ve seen (dragon, the beast from the sea, and the beast from the earth) that form a perverse trinity.

It is important that we are made aware of these false prophets and their signs because we don’t know when they will show themselves. We must always be vigilant for them.

We must all be careful because the image of the beast will appear very real to us. It is what is referred to as the abomination of desolation (Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15, and 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).

If you don’t have the mark of the beast, you will most likely die because you can’t buy or sell goods.

Letters were assigned numeric values in ancient times, which is why the beast’s name is 666.

The beast is impersonating Christ. That is all it can do. It has no originality whatsoever.

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BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 17, Day 3: Revelation 13:5-10

December 17, 2024December 13, 2024 by atozmom, posted in BSF Revelation: The Hope 2024/2025

Summary of Revelation 13:5-10

BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 17, Day 3: Revelation 13:5-10

6a) He uttered proud words and blasphemies. He was given the power to wage war against God’s people and to conquer them.

b) All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s Book of Life (unbelievers).

7) The Lamb’s Book of Life is where all of the names of those saved by the blood of Jesus are written. The Book of Life contains the names of all God’s redeemed (Revelation 20:15)

8a) They will face captivity and death. They will need patient endurance and faithfulness to endure their suffering.

b) The world is hard. Circumstances are hard and life is hard. We need God’s word and strength to make it through each and every day. I get through by God’s promise to endure in faith and in Christ so that in the end, I will get to stand with Him. I need all of God’s help (his Word, power, hope, and promises) to succeed in what He has given me to do.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 17, Day 3: Revelation 13:5-10

It’s helpful to know that the beast succeeds only because God allows him to. It’s also helpful to know that believers are spared worshipping the beast by God’s strength.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 17, Day 3: Revelation 13:5-10

42 months is the 3.5 year time frame that Revelation keeps mentioning. The beast rules for the first half of the 7 years but under God’s authority. He is against those that God has saved.

Those who do not worship the beast will be persecuted/killed.

Those who do worship the beast will not be saved. Their names will be omitted from the Book of Life.

All of this happens according to God’s good plans. God is in control, and those who were saved were pre-chosen, too (Revelation 17:8).

John then says to listen up. If you lead others astray, you will pay the consequences for your actions.

God’s people must have faith and endurance to prevail.

Fun Fact: The Book of Life was first mentioned by Moses in the Bible but was also mentioned by Daniel, John, Paul, and Jesus.

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BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 17, Day 2: Revelation 13:1-4

December 16, 2024December 13, 2024 by atozmom, posted in BSF Revelation: The Hope 2024/2025

Summary of Revelation 13:1-4

BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 17, Day 2: Revelation 13:1-4

3) John saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name.The beast resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. What stood out to me the most was the details and the fact that these creatures are given authority by God.

4) The dragon gives the beast his power, throne, and authority like God gives his Son, Jesus, the same. The people worship the dragon because of this like they worship God and ask who is like the beast and who can wage war against it. God and Jesus are extremely close, which the dragon and the beast emulate as well. Note that the dragon and the beast have the same number of horns and heads, so they are similar beings. The beast imitates Jesus because it has been mortally wounded but is healed (just like Jesus was killed and then risen, too). The people are worshipping the dragon along with the beast since the dragon gave the beast authority. This is similar to God and Jesus, too.

5a) The whole world was filled with wonder and followed the beast. People worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like the beast? Who can wage war against it?”

b) Evil influences. Influences of unbelievers. Societal influences. The need to put the world’s things above Godly things. Distractions. An easier like than what God has called you for.

c) Unsure if I stood my ground in Christ that others would see, but I definitely have in my own life and choices for myself, such as doing God’s work and choosing Him over sin’s temptations. The results are that I am stronger in Christ for it all and I am closer to God as well.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 17, Day 2: Revelation 13:1-4

I love the details here and how God is gracious enough to allow us to “see” these things through John.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 17, Day 2: Revelation 13:1-4

Note that the beast is not the dragon. Therefore, this beast is not Satan as we’ve seen in Revelation 12:3. It’s separate from the dragon/Satan.

Note the dragon has the same number of heads and horns as the beast (Revelation 12:3)

Remember horns are a symbol of strength and power in the Bible. Therefore, the beast/dragon would be hard to kill with 7 heads.

The description of the beast also connects with Daniel’s vision Daniel 7 Daniel’s beasts represent governments, so many think that this beast does so as well.

The beast has been wounded, most likely by God, but the beast healed as mentioned here, too (Revelation 13:12 and 13:14)

The dragon and beast will be strong, but not for long.

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BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 17, Day 3: 2 Kings 22:1-23; 20; 2 Chronicles 34

December 27, 2022December 24, 2022 by atozmom, posted in BSF People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided 2022/2023

SUMMARY OF 2 KINGS 22:1-23; 20; 2 CHRONICLES 34

2 Kings 22:

Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. The book of the Law was found in the temple. Josiah tore his robes when he read the book because he knew none of the other kings had followed it.

The Lord responded by saying He would bring disaster on this place and its people, according to everything written in the book the king of Judah has read. ^{17 “}Because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods and aroused my anger by all the idols their hands have made,^[a] my anger will burn against this place and will not be quenched.’ ¹⁸Tell the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord: Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I have spoken against this place and its people—that they would become a curse^[b] and be laid waste—and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I also have heard you, declares the Lord. ²⁰Therefore I will gather you to your ancestors, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place.’”

2 Kings 20:

When Hezekiah became ill, the prophet Isaiah said, “This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.” Hezekiah wept and the Lord promised to add 15 more years to his life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my sake and for the sake of my servant David.’

Hezekiah showed the envoys his riches, and Isaiah prophesied that they would be carried away by Babylon. His son, Manasseh, succeeded him as king.

2 Chronicles 34:

Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He purged Judah and Jerusalem of high places, Asherah poles and idols. ⁴Under his direction the altars of the Baals were torn down; he cut to pieces the incense altars that were above them, and smashed the Asherah poles and the idols. He repaired the temple of the Lord.

The book of the Law was found in the temple. Josiah tore his robes when he read the book because he knew none of the other kings had followed it. He read the book to the people and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord. Everyone in Jerusalem and Benjamin pledged themselves to it. Everyone followed the Lord as long as Josiah lived.

BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 17, Day 3: 2 Kings 22:1-23; 20; 2 Chronicles 34

6a)

2 Chronicles 34:1-2: Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. ²He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.

2 Chronicles 34:3a: In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David.

2 Chronicles 34:3b-7: In his twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of high places, Asherah poles and idols. ⁴Under his direction the altars of the Baals were torn down; he cut to pieces the incense altars that were above them, and smashed the Asherah poles and the idols. These he broke to pieces and scattered over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them. ⁵He burned the bones of the priests on their altars, and so he purged Judah and Jerusalem. ⁶In the towns of Manasseh, Ephraim and Simeon, as far as Naphtali, and in the ruins around them, ⁷he tore down the altars and the Asherah poles and crushed the idols to powder and cut to pieces all the incense altars throughout Israel. Then he went back to Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 34:8: In the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign, to purify the land and the temple, he sent Shaphan son of Azaliah and Maaseiah the ruler of the city, with Joah son of Joahaz, the recorder, to repair the temple of the Lord his God.

7a) He tore his robes and inquired of the Lord about the consequences of those who acted before him.

b) You truly can’t grow with God until you do acknowledge your weaknesses before Him.

8a) Nevertheless, the Lord did not turn away from the heat of his fierce anger, which burned against Judah because of all that Manasseh had done to arouse his anger. 27 So the Lord said, “I will remove Judah also from my presence as I removed Israel, and I will reject Jerusalem, the city I chose, and this temple, about which I said, ‘My Name shall be there.

b) God heard Josiah and postponed punishment: “Therefore I will gather you to your ancestors, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place.’”

Josiah read the Law to the people and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord. Everyone in Jerusalem and Benjamin pledged themselves to it. Everyone followed the Lord as long as Josiah lived.

c) I hope rightly. I hope I repent and turn to His ways and not mine. This is not always the case, I’m sure. I’m unsure on the recent experience.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 17, Day 3: 2 Kings 22:1-23; 20; 2 Chronicles 34

I love reading about the good kings much more than the bad kings. It gives me hope for the human race.

End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 17, Day 3: 2 Kings 22:1-23; 20; 2 Chronicles 34

2 Kings 22:

Josiah followed the Lord. He repaired the temple. According to 2 Chronicles 34, the repair of the temple happened after Josiah committed to the Lord at age 16 and began getting rid of idolatry in Judah. The book of the Law is found and read. Deuteronomy 31:24-27, tells us that there was a copy of the Book of the Law beside the ark of the covenant from Moses on. But, the book had been neglected for so long due to bad kings.

Deuteronomy 17:18-20 says each king was to have a personal copy of the law, and he was to read it.
Deuteronomy 31:9-13 commands the entire law to be read to an assembly of the nation once every 7 years at the Feast of Tabernacles to remind the people of God’s word.

There was apublic reading of the law in Joshua 8:34, during the reign of Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 17:7-9), more than 500 years later, and in the reign of Josiah (2 Chronicles 34:30), more than 250 years after Jehoshaphat. There could have been more readings, too.

A spiritual revival happened, especially in Josiah. He sought the Lord, and the Lord says judgment is coming, but he spares Josiah due to his faithfulness and postpones judgment of the people. We’ve seen this a lot in this study where God takes pity on his people when they repent and postpones judgment (Ahab,1 Kings 21:25-29). This should encourage us.

2 Kings 20:

God extends Hezekiah’s life 15 years when He tells him that he will die (which is kind of God). He does this because he was faithful to the Lord. We know from 2 Kings 18:2 and 2 Kings 20:6 that Hezekiah was 39 years old when God told him he would die soon. This is also recorded in Isaiah 38.

Hezekiah prayed to God, and God answers (something we all should do). God confirmed his prophecy with a sign (another thing God did not have to do but does out of mercy for us).

Next, we see Hezekiah sin by being prideful of his riches that God gave him. He did not testify about God to these envoys either. This is a sin that God addresses. God says they will be taken away to Babylon, but Hezekiah is joyous because it won’t be in his day.

Hezekiah did not finish well. Will you?

2 Chronicles 34:

Josiah was a good king who worked to end idolatry in Judah. He restored the temple and discovered the book of the Law again. Josiah is overjoyed and goes to God. God answers. He will punish his people but not in Josiah’s time. Josiah will be gathered to his people.

Josiah renews God’s covenant and helps the people to follow God’s ways.

Josiah finishes well. Will you?

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BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 17, Day 5: Matthew 16:21-28

December 23, 2021December 18, 2021 by atozmom, posted in BSF Matthew 2021/2022

SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 16:21-28

Jesus begins to prepare his disciples for his death, telling them he must go to Jerusalem, suffer, die, and rise again. Peter rebuked Jesus for saying this. Jesus, in turn, rebuked Peter, calling him Satan and a stumbling block, as well as saying he does not have the things of God in mind but only the things of men.

Jesus tells his disciples that whoever comes after him must deny himself and take up his cross and follow him. This way, they will save their life by losing it. His soul will be saved. Jesus will return in his Father’s glory with angels and reward those according to what they have done. Some will not die before the Second Coming

BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 17, Day 5: Matthew 16:21-28

12)

Must go to Jerusalem
Must suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and teachers of the law
Must be killed
Must rise on the third day

13a) Peter rebuked Jesus for saying this, and he tells him it won’t happen.

b) Jesus’s word is to taken as truth always and not questioned or denied.

c) This is how our faith is. One minute, we’re solid; the next, liquid and drying up quick. Life’s circumstances mainly cause this.

14a) Whoever comes after him must deny himself and take up his cross and follow him. This way, they will save their life by losing it. His soul will be saved.

b) We are expected to not give up anything to gain eternal salvation.

c) Good question. Maybe where I want to live. My job. Those types of things.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 17, Day 5: Matthew 16:21-28

Great words of wisdom from Jesus. I can understand Peter’s feelings, but he still has a lot to learn when he rebukes Jesus.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 17, Day 5: Matthew 16:21-28

Now that the disciples know who Jesus is, it’s time to reveal his entire mission, which is the salvation of the world as predicted by Isaiah (Isaiah 53:3-12).

Fun Fact: This is the first time Christ mentions he will die on the cross to his disciples.

The Sanhedrin consists of the elsters, chief priests, and the scribes.

One moment Peter is divinely inspired by God; the next, he is a messenger of Satan. Jesus would not allow himself to be swayed from his mission. Peter had his eyes on the things of men at this moment rather than the things of heaven.

Peter’s words were rejecting God’s eternal plan for humanity.

“Deny Himself and Take Up His Cross and Follow Me”

Jesus tells his disciples they must die to themselves to follow him. This was a cheery thought.

When we deny ourselves, we surrender to Christ and obey his will, not ours. We live with others in mind. We accept rejection by others and a harder life.

In essence, you will never live until you walk to your death with Jesus. It’s paradoxical and an antithesis to what we would think, but it’s the only way to eternal life.

When you surrender to Jesus, you discover true contentment in your life.

Why gain the world to lose it? Satan couldn’t sway Jesus to do this (Luke 4:5-8)

Jesus may have been speaking of his resurrection, Pentecost, the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD, or his Second Coming when saying some would not see death.

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BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 17, Day 4: Matthew 16:17-20

December 22, 2021December 18, 2021 by atozmom, posted in BSF Matthew 2021/2022

SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 16:17-20

Jesus blesses Simon, saying God revealed to him who he was. He names him Peter, which means rock, and he will build his church that Hades (hell) cannot overcome. Jesus will give Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven and whatever he binds on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever he loosed on earth will be loosed in heaven. He told his disciples not to tell anyone he was the Christ.

BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 17, Day 4: Matthew 16:17-20

9) Jesus blesses Simon, saying God revealed to him who he was.

10a) Jesus will be the rock (the foundation) of the church.

b) He will build his church that Hades (hell) cannot overcome. Whatever he binds on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever he loosed on earth will be loosed in heaven, meaning whoever believes he is the Son of God will be free from sin; those who don’t will be bound forever.

11a) The Gospel frees those from Old Testament laws.

b) In every way (such a broad question with so many answers). Freedom allows me to follow Christ’s path for me.

Conclusion BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 17, Day 4: Matthew 16:17-20

My answers are short here. See more explanation in the End Notes.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 17, Day 4: Matthew 16:17-20

God divinely inspired Peter when he spoke, saying who Jesus was.

Jesus renamed Peter the rock, and he would become a rock for the disciples after Jesus’s death.

“This rock” is Jesus. The church will be built upon Jesus, although some Bible scholars say the rock here is Peter or even the confession itself.

Fun Fact: This is the first use of the word ‘church’ in the Bible. Fitting it is spoken by Jesus.

Jesus was prophesizing the founding of the church.

The Greek word for church, ekklesia, meant group. Thus, the church is a group.

Note Jesus says “my church.” We belong to him.

Hell will not penetrate the church, meaning God’s people will overcome sin, death, and Satan.

Peter the Disciple

Jesus will give Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven. This is why Peter is usually depicted in art with keys. This symbolizes Jesus giving Peter the authority to unlock the Gospel to the world.

This passage is a basis for many images of Peter. There is no doubt that Peter was special. Some think he stands at the gates of heaven, letting people in or blocking their entrance.

He is always listed first when the disciples are listed in the Bible.
He paved the way for the Jews Acts 2:38-39 and the Gentiles Acts 10:34-44 to come to heaven.

Binding and loosing is an idea during that time that pertained to the law. To be bound was to be prohibited and be put under the law. To loose was to permit and be free from the law. Here, Jesus gives Peter and the disciples the power to define the New Covenant church and set the rules.

Sinners would be set free from sin and death (loosed). Those who refuse to believe are bound in sin.

Jesus set the rules for the disciples, which explains them taking the grains in the fields (Matthew 12:1-8).

Peter and the disciples would set the New Covenant, including dietary rules. Still, Jesus was not ready for all to know he was the Christ (probably because the disciples were not ready and he needed more training time).

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BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 17, Day 3: Matthew 16:13-16

December 21, 2021December 18, 2021 by atozmom, posted in BSF Matthew 2021/2022

SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 16:13-16

When Jesus came to Caesarea Philippi, he asked, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” Some say John the Baptist, Elijah, or Jeremiah. When he asked the disciples who they say he is, Simon Peter says he is Christ, the Son of the living God.

BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 17, Day 3: Matthew 16:13-16

6) “Who do the people say the Son of Man is?” “Who do you say I am?” Jesus wants to know if his disciples believe he is Christ.

7a) Some say John the Baptist, Elijah, or Jeremiah or another prophet.

b) Some say he is just another prophet for the most part. Some believe he is Christ, the Son of God. Others believe he never existed at all. Some say he was just an ordinary man.

8a) “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” This answer revealed his faith in Jesus.

b) It’s the crux of Christianity, the way to eternal life, and the way to God and heaven. It’s what forgives us our sins.

c) The same way Peter did!

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 17, Day 3: Matthew 16:13-16

I love how Jesus really wanted to know who his disciples thought he was, but framed it with what others thought first. I also love how Peter is the first to answer.

Learn more about Peter with this great read!

End Notes BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 17, Day 3: Matthew 16:13-16

Caesarea Philippi is a region in Judea that is north of Galilee and that has more Gentiles than Jews. Jesus is most likely looking for a respite from the crowds. It gives Jesus a chance to teach his disciples.

“Who do you say I am?” is the most important question on earth.

Peter most likely speaks for all of the disciples. Now, they truly understand who Jesus is, that he is God, and what his mission is.

Jesus knew they were beginning to understand the Truth, but for them to go spiritually deeper, they had to confess who he was.

Peter’s confession affirms the disciples have reached a new level of faith.

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BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 17, Day 2: Matthew 16:1-12

December 20, 2021December 18, 2021 by atozmom, posted in BSF Matthew 2021/2022

SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 16:1-12

The Pharisees and Sadducees demanded a sign from Jesus. Jesus replied that they say it will be stormy if the sky is red and overcast. He says they can interpret the skies but not the signs of the times. Only a wicked adulterous generaion looks for miraculous signs, and all they will be given is the sign of Jonah.

The disciples forgot to bring bread, so Jesus told them to be on guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Jesus realizes they are confused and says they have little faith because they don’t remember the five loaves for the five thousand or the seven loaves for the four thousand. He wonders why they did not understand he was using yeast as a metaphor, and that he meant to beware the teaching of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.

BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 17, Day 2: Matthew 16:1-12

3a) A sign from heaven in order to test Jesus’s identity.

b) Jesus replied that they say it will be stormy if the sky is red and overcast. He says they can interpret the skies but not the signs of the times. Only a wicked adulterous generaion looks for miraculous signs, and all they will be given is the sign of Jonah. It revealed that they had wicked hearts.

c) Jesus is saying he is sufficient

4a) To beware the teaching (yeast) of the Pharisees and Sadducees

b) The disciples were focused on the literal bread because they had just commented that they had forgotten bread to eat. They had no idea what Jesus was talking about because of this.

c) Jesus realizes they are confused and says they have little faith because they don’t remember the five loaves for the five thousand or the seven loaves for the four thousand. He wonders why they did not understand he was using yeast as a metaphor, and that he meant to beware the teaching of the Pharisees and the Sadducees. He explains what he meant to them.

5) We, like the disciples, are too focused on the literal meaning that we can miss the spiritual meaning behind things, too. I think this comes with time, prayer, and learning to look for the spiritual in things.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 17, Day 2: Matthew 16:1-12

I love how the Pharisees and Sadducees are constantly put in their place by Jesus in a nice way. Great example for us. Great learning from the disciples mistake, too.

Just a book I wanted to share!

End Notes BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 17, Day 2: Matthew 16:1-12

It is worth noting that the Pharisees and Sadducees were normally not friends. They were politically opposed and held different beliefs. Yet, both wanted Jesus dead.

In Matthew 12:38, Jesus had already been asked for a sign, which he refused to give then. As if healing people was not enough. They could read the heavens, but not the Messianic signs. This is a warning to us to not miss the signs of the Second Coming as outlined in Revelation mainly.

Note that signs do not convert people; they will always have hard hearts.

Jesus’s resurrection would be a hard sign to deny. He would disappear like Jonah for three days and nights and then return.

Yeast, or leaven, was compared to sin and corruption as we’ve seen repeatedly in the Bible (Matthew 13:33) Exodus 12:8, 12:15-20).

Note that the disciples were ignornant of what yeast symbolized, they didn’t believe they’d be find if they had forgotten bread since Jesus fed the 5,000, and they forgot all that had happened with regards to this.