Tag: bsf questions answers lesson 22

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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 22, Day 5: Zechariah 14:10-21

by atozmom, posted in BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026

Summary of Zechariah 14:10-21

Jerusalem will be raised up high and inhabited. The Lord will send a plague on Jerusalem’s enemies. Their flesh will rot, and they will fight against each other. Their animals will face a similar fate.

All nations’ inhabitants who have survived will go up year after year to worship the Lord and celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles. If they do not, they will receive no rain, and they will face a plague. Everything will become holy to God.

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 22, Day 5: Zechariah 14:10-21

13) The Lord will send a plague on Jerusalem’s enemies. Their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, their tongues will rot in their mouth, and they will fight against each other. Their animals will face a similar fate. He will gather the wealth of the surrounding nations for His people. All nations’ inhabitants who have survived will go up year after year to worship the Lord and celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles. If they do not, they will receive no rain, and they will face a plague.

14a) All nations’ inhabitants who have survived will go up year after year to worship the Lord and celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles. If they do not, they will receive no rain, and they will face a plague. Life in God’s kingdom is centered on universal worship. Former enemies must journey annually to Jerusalem to honor the King at the Feast of Tabernacles. It is a reality of absolute lordship: obedience brings refreshing rain, while refusal brings drought and plague, ensuring every nation acknowledges God’s supreme reign.

b) The inscription “Holy to the Lord” will mark even common horse bells, erasing the sacred-secular divide and rendering every ordinary activity as holy as temple worship.

c) We withhold His influence by compartmentalizing life—labeling career, entertainment, or finances as “secular” zones off-limits to God. By refusing to consecrate the “mundane”—unlike Zechariah’s vision where even common pots become holy—we deny His lordship over daily choices, keeping parts of our hearts locked against His transforming presence.

15) For those who do not turn to God, their days will be rough. But this is the reality of judgment. God will finally reign supreme everywhere. Everything will be holy. This is wonderful, not exactly challenging!

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 22, Day 5: Zechariah 14:10-21

I love getting glimpses of what my life will be like in the future. Gives me hope.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 22, Day 5: Zechariah 14:10-21

Jerusalem will finally be a safe place. All the mountains will be flattened since Jerusalem will have no enemies. Jerusalem will become wealthy again.

Egypt was not dependent on water, but it will face the same punishment as others.

“Holiness to the Lord” was what was inscribed on the metal band on the high priest’s headpiece (Exodus 28:36).

The pots were the cooking utensils used for sacrificial meat. Sacrifices may still be a thing in the millennium, but not for sins.

Everything will be made holy in Jesus’ reign and reflect His purposes.

Zechariah’s entire book points to Christ.

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

The Restoration of the City (Verses 10–11)

The Scene: The geography surrounding Jerusalem is flattened into a plain (from Geba to Rimmon), causing Jerusalem to stand high and prominent above the surrounding landscape. The Meaning: This symbolizes the city’s spiritual and political elevation. The curse is permanently lifted (“there shall be no more ban of destruction”), and the city will be inhabited in absolute safety.

The Judgment on the Enemies (Verses 12–15)

The Plague: God strikes the armies that attacked Jerusalem with a terrifying supernatural decay—their flesh, eyes, and tongues rot while they stand on their feet. The Panic: A “great panic from the Lord” seizes them, causing them to turn on one another. The Plunder: The wealth of the surrounding nations (gold, silver, and garments) is gathered in abundance, reversing the earlier plundering of Jerusalem.

The Feast of the King (Verses 16–19)

The Requirement: The survivors from the attacking nations undergo a conversion. They are required to make an annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) and worship the King, the Lord of hosts. The Consequence: If a nation (e.g., Egypt) refuses to come, they receive “no rain” and suffers the plague. This establishes God’s rule as absolute and enforceable over all global powers.

The Pervasive Holiness (Verses 20–21)

The Bells: The inscription “Holy to the Lord”—which was previously reserved strictly for the golden plate on the High Priest’s turban (Exodus 28:36)—is now engraved on the bells of horses (common animals of war/labor).

The Pots: The ordinary cooking pots in Jerusalem become as sacred as the holy bowls used at the Altar. The Removal of the “Canaanite”: There will no longer be a “Canaanite” (often interpreted here as a merchant/trader or an unclean person) in the house of the Lord. The transactional nature of religion is gone; everything is pure worship.

Conclusion

Zechariah 14:10–21 describes the sanctification of the secular.

The book concludes not just with Israel’s safety, but with the total erasure of the line between the “sacred” and the “common.” In God’s final Kingdom, holiness is not confined to the Temple or the priesthood; it saturates the geography, the economy, and the daily tools of life (horses and pots). The end of history is the presence of God filling all things.

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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 22, Day 4: Zechariah 14:1-9

by atozmom, posted in BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026

Summary of Zechariah 14:1-9

God will gather all the nations of the world to fight against Jerusalem. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city. Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations. On this day, God will make a path for His people to escape. It will be a day like no other, with no day or night. Living waters will flow out from Jerusalem, and the Lord shall reign forever as the One, True Lord on earth.

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 22, Day 4: Zechariah 14:1-9

10)  All the nations will be gathered against Jerusalem. The city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city. Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations. On that day, his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. The people will flee by my mountain valley, for it will extend to Azel. Then the Lord will come, and all the holy ones with him.

11) The Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. There will be neither sunlight nor cold, frosty darkness. Living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half of it east to the Dead Sea and half of it west to the Mediterranean Sea.

12a) The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day, there will be one Lord, and his name the only name.

b) The Lord can live and rule and reign in my heart each and every day. We don’t have to wait for His physical presence, for we have His spiritual presence. Put Him first today.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 22, Day 4: Zechariah 14:1-9

I love how God always wins and how He is always in control. He brings enemies against us, but then empowers us to win. So, so good, and a truth many of us need right now in our lives.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 22, Day 4: Zechariah 14:1-9

This is an End Times prophecy.

Jesus will come with all the saints, the armies of heaven,  Revelation 19:14.

Prophecies like this one is part of the reason Israel was looking for a different kind of king than Jesus when he came to earth.

God Himself will be the light.

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

The Siege and the Savior (Verses 1–5)

The Crisis: The prophecy opens with a grim scene. God gathers all nations to battle against Jerusalem. The city is captured, plundered, and half the population goes into exile. It appears all hope is lost.

The Intervention: Just when defeat seems total, the Lord Himself goes forth to fight against those nations.

  • The Touchdown: His feet stand on the Mount of Olives (east of Jerusalem).

  • The Earthquake: The mountain splits in two from east to west, creating a massive valley.

  • The Escape: This new valley provides a supernatural escape route for the Jewish people to flee the destruction, just as they fled the earthquake in the days of Uzziah.

The Cosmic Shift (Verses 6–7)

Unique Day: The natural order of the universe changes. There is no longer a distinct “day” or “night,” nor cold or frost. It becomes a time of continuous, supernatural light—”at evening time it shall be light.” This signals the end of the old age and the beginning of a new creation order.

The Living Waters and The King (Verses 8–9)

Life Flows: “Living waters” (a symbol of spiritual life and abundance) flow out from Jerusalem, half to the Dead Sea (East) and half to the Mediterranean (West). Unlike seasonal streams, these flow continuously, in summer and winter.

Universal Rule: The climax of the passage is the establishment of the Kingdom.

  • “The Lord will be king over all the earth.”

  • Monotheism becomes the global reality: “On that day the Lord will be one and his name one.” All rival gods and idols are eliminated.

Conclusion

Zechariah 14:1–9 depicts the ultimate reversal.

It begins with Jerusalem completely vulnerable and defeated by the nations, but ends with Jerusalem as the source of life for the world and God reigning supreme over those same nations. The passage teaches that God’s final victory often comes at the moment of seemingly greatest defeat. He intervenes personally to rescue His people, alter the physical world, and establish His eternal Kingdom.

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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 22, Day 3: Zechariah 12:10-13:9

by atozmom, posted in BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026

Summary of Zechariah 12:10-13:9

God will pour out a spirit of grace and supplication on His people. They will mourn when they realize they pierced Jesus and grieve. But, the people will be cleansed on that day. Idols will be banished and not remembered. The sheep will scatter when the shepherd is struck. Some of the people. will be struck down, but there will be a remnant who will be God’s people.

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 22, Day 3: Zechariah 12:10-13:9

7a) A spirit of grace and supplication and a fountain that will cleanse the people from their sins and impurity.

b) One has to have a truly repentant heart in order to receive the grace and blood of Jesus and be cleansed of one’s sins. Sorrow over sins is just part of forgiveness and then a renewed desire to do better.

c) Jesus had to die to save all of us because all of us sin.

8 ) Both predict the future national salvation of Israel. Romans promises that “all Israel will be saved” after the Gentile fullness. Zechariah describes the event that fulfills this: God pouring out a spirit of grace, causing the nation to recognize their Messiah (the “pierced one”), mourn in repentance, and receive cleansing. No.

9a) It was in God’s will for Jesus to sacrifice himself for all of humanity. This passage reveals the crucifixion as God’s sovereign plan, not a tragedy. God commands the sword against His “Associate” (Jesus) to strike Him, intentionally scattering the flock to refine a faithful remnant. This mirrors Isaiah 53:10, confirming it “pleased the Lord to crush Him” to secure salvation for His people.

b) God has forgiven all of my sins, each and every day. He has mercifully blessed me and given me a desire to do His will. I have passed this on to my kids so that they, too, can work for God’s kingdom.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 22, Day 3: Zechariah 12:10-13:9

Great passage of God’s grace through His son, Jesus Christ.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 22, Day 3: Zechariah 12:10-13:9

God’s grace will allow His people to turn to Jesus.

This is good news, as we learn that all of God’s people will turn to Christ Romans 11:26.

The mourning at Hadad Rimmon refers to the people’s mourning when King Josiah died  (2 Kings 23:29 and 2 Chronicles 35:20-25).

Because God’s people will turn to Him through Jesus, they will be cleansed and forgiven of their sins.

The analogy of God as a fountain for His people is common in the Bible.

God will also cleanse His people of idolatry and false prophets, 2 common ways Israel sinned against God and were led astray.

False prophets would be ashamed, and even their family would condemn them.

The Shepherd in verse 7 is Jesus, and God is the one who commands the Shepherd to be struck.

Jesus’ sacrifice was God’s plan, and they worked together to do so.

The sheep will be scattered refers to the disciples. Jesus quoted this phrase from Zechariah 13:7 in Matthew 26:31.

This seems to say that only 1/3 of the Jewish people will survive the Tribulation. Interestingly, this group includes the 144,000 of Revelation 7 and Revelation 14 as Jesus establishes his millennial rule on earth.

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

The Spiritual Awakening (12:10)

Following the physical victory, God pours out a “spirit of grace and supplication” upon Jerusalem. This triggers a profound revelation: they will “look on me, the one they have pierced,” recognizing their historical rejection of the Messiah (God Himself).

The National Repentance (12:11–14)

This realization leads to deep, bitter mourning, comparable to the grief over an only child. It is a solemn, segregated sorrow where families mourn privately and separately (men and women apart), indicating that this is a genuine, individual conviction of heart, not just a public ceremony.

The Cleansing from Sin (13:1–6)

In response to this repentance, a “fountain” is opened to cleanse the people from sin and impurity. God ruthlessly purges idolatry and false prophecy from the land. The rejection of deception becomes so intense that false prophets are ashamed of their visions, and even parents would condemn a son who speaks lies in God’s name.

The Shepherd Struck and the Remnant Refined (13:7–9)

God commands the sword to strike “My Shepherd” (the Man who is My Associate), causing the sheep to scatter. This initiates a severe refining process: two-thirds of the land is cut off, while the remaining third is brought through the fire. This refined remnant calls on the Lord, finally restoring the covenant bond: God says, “They are my people,” and they respond, “The Lord is our God.”

Conclusion

While the previous section dealt with physical deliverance, this section details Israel’s spiritual restoration. It demonstrates that true salvation requires recognizing the wounded Messiah, deep repentance, and a painful refining process that ultimately restores the intimate, reciprocal relationship between God and His people.

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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 22, Day 2: Zechariah 12:1-9

by atozmom, posted in BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026

Summary of Zechariah 12:1-9

God promises to defend Jerusalem against its enemies “on that day” when all the nations are against them. Judah will defeat all of its surrounding enemies. All the nations that attack Jerusalem will be destroyed.

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 22, Day 2: Zechariah 12:1-9

3) He says that this is a prophecy (so it will come true). He describes the ultimate power of God, who created all of the earth, heavens, and mankind. He is in control.

4) This refers to Jesus’ Second Coming

5)

The key places: The key places are Judah and Jerusalem, the two places where the Final Battle will be and where Jesus will establish his kingdom on earth. Jerusalem is the epicenter, described as an immovable “heavy stone” and a “cup of reeling.” Judah (the countryside) acts as the “firepot,” saved first, so the capital cannot boast superiority.

The circumstances of the battle: Judah’s enemies are coming against them. A massive coalition of “all the nations of the earth” surrounds Jerusalem to lay siege. The city faces imminent destruction from a united, global military force intent on removing it.

The Lord’s response and the outcome of the battle: God will punish His people’s enemies all those who attack His people. God strikes the enemy armies with panic and blindness while supernaturally empowering His people. Judah consumes the nations like fire, ensuring Jerusalem remains intact while the attackers are destroyed.

God’s relationship to His people and personal interest in the world: God will save His people as a testimony to His promises to them. God reveals Himself as the sovereign Creator who forms the human spirit. He is intimately vigilant (“I will keep a watchful eye”), defending the weak and fiercely validating His covenant bond.

6) Always, I find the strength deep within that can only come from God when I face opposition or challenges in my life.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 22, Day 2: Zechariah 12:1-9

I love Biblical prophecy! So powerful!

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 22, Day 2: Zechariah 12:1-9

The book of Zechariah offers the best description of the End Times in the Old Testament.

Fun Fact: Jerusalem is the most named location in the Bible, mentioned over 800 times. Here, Jerusalem is mentioned more than 20 times in Zechariah 12-14. Jerusalem is special, indeed.

“On that day” refers to the End Times. You’ll also see it as “the day of the Lord” elsewhere.

God will protect Jerusalem against all of her enemies.

God will supernaturally empower His people in those days to overcome their enemies.

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

The Siege and the Defense (Verses 1–4)

God declares Himself the Creator of the heavens and the human spirit, establishing His absolute authority. He prophesies that Jerusalem will become a “cup of drunkenness” and a “heavy stone” to all surrounding nations. When the nations of the earth gather to lay siege against Jerusalem, they will only hurt themselves (intoxicated/staggering and physically crushed), while God strikes their armies with panic and blindness.

The Victory of Judah (Verses 5–8)

The leaders of Judah will recognize that their strength comes solely from the Lord. God will make these clans like a “firepot in a woodpile,” consuming their enemies on all sides. Crucially, the Lord will save the “tents of Judah” (the countryside/common people) first, before the house of David (the royalty/city), to ensure no class or group can boast over another.

The Empowerment (Verse 8)

On that day, God will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem so supernaturally that even the weakest among them will be as strong as King David, and the house of David will be like God Himself (like the Angel of the Lord) in leadership and power.

Conclusion

Zechariah 12:1–9 establishes that the physical deliverance of Israel in the end times will be an exclusively divine act. It serves to humble human pride and demonstrate God’s zeal for His covenant people. The victory is designed so that the glory belongs to God alone, not to military prowess or political strategy.

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BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 22, Day 4: Isaiah 43:19 & Others

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

ISAIAH 43:19

“See, I am doing a new thing!
    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland.”

BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 22, Day 4: Isaiah 43:19 & Others

9a) Suffering makes you realize that you are not in control of your life, so you turn to the One who is for help to get through your troubles and get at least a sense of normalcy.

b) There have been many difficulties in my life, from bankruptcy to moves and more. Every time, I grow closer to Him and His ways and path for my life.

c) I am inspired by all those throughout history that have suffered for a cause or for the kingdom, from the apostles who were martyred to Christians today who refuse to compromise on the Words of the Bible. It inspires me to be a better person.

10)

Numbers 32:23: He draws us to Him when we fail to do things His way or follow His Word.

Psalm 40:17: He uses financial difficulties (or poor in spirit), so we depend on Him.

Psalm 118:13-14: He uses our setbacks to grow us towards Him.

Jeremiah 9:7: He tests us to refine us and draw us closer to Him.

Zechariah 13:9: He refines us by fire in our lives so we call upon Him.

11a) Pride. Self-aggrandizement. The need to be right and be in control. The shame we feel admitting we failed.

b) God shows others through me that you don’t have to be perfect; you are great even in your weaknesses.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 22, Day 4: Isaiah 43:19 & Others

Great study on suffering. We only need to turn to God to come through on the other side.

End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 22, Day 4: Isaiah 43:19 & Others

God will make our way. We just have to trust Him.

Our job is to remain faithful through suffering and grow from it. To trust Him through the pain and hard times.

His will and work are accomplished through our pain.

He will complete His work in us.

In hard times, we recognize the truth — that God upholds us every day.

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BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 22, Day 3: Genesis 3:19; Job 5:7; and Psalm 109:21-22 & Others

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

SUMMARY OF GENESIS 3:19; JOB 5:7 & PSALM 109:21-22

Genesis 3:19: “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”

Job 5:7: “Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward.”

Psalm 109:21-22: “But you, Sovereign Lord, help me for your name’s sake; out of the goodness of your love, deliver me. For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.”

BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 22, Day 3: Genesis 3:19; Job 5:7; and Psalm 109:21-22 & Others

6a) Since the Fall, humans have and will suffer as part of the Fallen condition. Yet, the glory that awaits us makes our sufferings pale in comparison.

b) Human suffering tests us and strengths us. It also grows us closer to God. It can also be the work of Satan or of God who wishes for others to see his work through others’ pain and suffering.

c) That God’s ways are not our ways. He is higher than us, and He has a purpose for pain and suffering that most of the time we do not understand why. Our lot is to walk the path He has laid out for us, whether we like it or not.

7) God does all things. He is in control. Yet, He is with us and will strengthen us. God keeps us humble.

8 ) Our troubles achieve for us eternal glory, and we are being renewed in God each and every day. We will once again reign with God in Eden. When life is tough, we know that there is much more beyond this world, so we can persevere and endure, waiting on God’s timing.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 22, Day 3: Genesis 3:19; Job 5:7; and Psalm 109:21-22 & Others

I love how there’s always a purpose in our suffering, even when we can’t see it. We just have to trust that God has it.

End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 22, Day 3: Genesis 3:19; Job 5:7; and Psalm 109:21-22 & Others

Trouble comes to us as a judgment from God. Since all men sin, they deserve the trouble that befalls them.

Jesus bore these sins for us as our Redeemer.

The plain fact of the matter is that no one knows why we suffer because God’s ways are not our ways. He knows why we suffer, and it’s up to us to discover the purpose in our suffering and to rely wholeheartedly on Him in the midst of it.

It’s an on-going challenge to resist sin; yet, it’s an opportunity to experience God’s strength

Suffering can be as discipline, from Satan coming against us, or from living in a fallen world. It’s how you respond that matters most.

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BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 22, Day 2: Isaiah 26:16; 43:2 & Others

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

SUMMARY OF ISAIAH 26:16, 43:2

Isaiah 26:16: Lord, they came to you in their distress; when you disciplined them, they could barely whisper a prayer.

Isaiah 43:2: When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.

BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 22, Day 2: Isaiah 26:16; 43:2 & Others

3)

Israel: 2 Kings 17:1-23: They have done evil in my eyes and have aroused my anger from the day their ancestors came out of Egypt until this day. The kings did evil. They worshiped other gods 8 and followed the practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before them, as well as the practices that the kings of Israel had introduced. The Israelites secretly did things against the Lord their God that were not right. From watchtower to fortified city they built themselves high places in all their towns. 10 They set up sacred stones and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every spreading tree. 11 At every high place they burned incense, as the nations whom the Lord had driven out before them had done. They did wicked things that aroused the Lord’s anger. They worshiped idols. They never turned from their evil ways. They disobeyed all God’s commands repeatedly.

Judah: 2 Kings 25:1-21: they have done evil in my eyes and have aroused my anger from the day their ancestors came out of Egypt until this day. God allowed Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to march against Jerusalem with his whole army. The people starved and were taken captive by Babylon. The temple was destroyed. The sons of Zedekiah were killed. All the buildings were burned and destroyed. The people were exiled to Babylon.

4a) God sent his Son to redeem His people. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.

b) He preserved a remnant. The people were freed from exile and allowed to return home to Jerusalem. God still watched over His people and protected them. He was always with them. He gave them hope with prophets and with prophecies, such as that of Jesus. The people knew there was more to life than just this.

5a) The same question I always have: why didn’t the people see their evil ways before the exile? Why didn’t they return to the Lord sooner?

b) God is always with His people and us no matter our sufferings. Even in our darkest days and in the midst of punishment sent by God, He is there. This gives me comfort during my struggles.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 22, Day 2: Isaiah 26:16; 43:2 & Others

Great passages on how God is still with His people and offers hope despite their suffering.

End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 22, Day 2: Isaiah 26:16; 43:2 & Others

We don’t have to fear if we have the Lord in our lives. We should remember the three sons who did not burn when thrown into the fire for their refusal to worship idols. (Daniel 3:19-25).

No matter our fires, God is just a prayer away.

God’s judgment of Israel and Judah revealed His sovereignty, upheld His purposes, and showed His glory.

Your strain is designed to accomplish His gain.

There is more for us if we believe.

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BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 22, Day 4: Matthew 21:33-46

by atozmom, posted in BSF Matthew 2021/2022

SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 21:33-46

Jesus tells the Parable of the Tenants. A landowner rented out his vineyard. When it was time to collect the rent, he sent his servants to do so. The tenants beat one servant, killed another, and stoned a third. The landowner sent other servants who were treated the same way. Finally, he sent his son who was killed, too. Jesus asks what will the landowner do when he goes to his tenants. The response is he will kill them and rent out the land to others.

Jesus said that the stone that was rejected will be the capstone, quoting Psalm 18:22-23. He says the kingdom of God will be taken from them (the priests and teachers of the law) and given to a people who will produce fruit (Gentiles). The chief priests wanted to arrest Jesus but couldn’t because everyone saw him as a prophet.

BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 22, Day 4: Matthew 21:33-46

10) The landowner is God. The tenants is Israel. The servants are the Old Testament prophets. The heir is Jesus. The vineyard is the land of Israel.

11a) Jesus is the cornerstone of Christianity. Faith in Jesus is the key to the kingdom of heaven. 1 Corinthians 1:23 says Jesus is a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles. Jesus is the stumbling stone to many to God. Those who reject Jesus will never gain the kingdom of heaven, which is Jesus’s message to the religious leaders. Those who accept Jesus (the Gentiles in Jesus’s parable) will bear fruit and gain heaven.

b) Every way. People reject Jesus’s message in every aspect of their lives, picking and choosing what to believe and what not to believe.

12) It makes life harder, that’s for sure. When people don’t do the right thing.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 22, Day 4: Matthew 21:33-46

The message is one of how without Jesus, you are lost and do harm to others indiscriminately like how the religious leaders are persecuting and will kill Jesus. There are severe consequences for doing so.

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End Notes BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 22, Day 4: Matthew 21:33-46

The belief of the tenants was if they killed the heir, then they would be able to take over the vineyard for themselves. Instead, the owner would judge and destroy them.

The Old Testament uses the vineyard to represent Israel  (Deuteronomy 32:32, Psalm 80:8, Jeremiah 2:21, and especially Isaiah 5:1-7).

Note how the owner (God) expects his son (Jesus) to be respected. Instead, the Son is killed. (a foretelling of his own death).

The message to the chief priests is clear — they can expect severe judgment for rejecting Jesus. The leaders have shown no fruit.

Leadership would now be given to the apostles and eventually to the Church (both Jewish and Gentiles).

Jesus asks the leaders if they’ve ever read the Scriptures. They are probably much offended by this since they obviously have.

The leaders answer to Jesus’s question has them condemning themselves.

Jesus is clearly laying out the consequences of rejecting him, and he is telling them that he is the chief cornerstone from Psalm 118.

We see the cornerstone here, too:  Daniel 2:34, 44-45 Isaiah 8:13-15  Isaiah 28:16,

Jesus is telling the leaders to expect to lose their leadership to others. You can either be broken by submission to God or broken by judgment.

Jesus shows grace to the leaders by giving them multiple opportunities to come to him. Instead, the reject him and kill him.

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BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 22, Day 3: Matthew 21:23-32

by atozmom, posted in BSF Matthew 2021/2022

SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 21:23-32

Jesus is questioned again by the chief priests and the elders while he was teaching at the temple courts about his authority. Jesus in turn asked them to answer one question first which was if John’s baptism was from heaven or from man. The elders conferred and couldn’t draw a good conclusion so they said they didn’t know. Thus, Jesus declined to answer their question since they could not answer his.

Jesus told the parable of the two sons. The father asked both sons to go to the vineyard to work for him. One said no, but went later in the day. The other son agreed to work, but never went. Jesus asks which of the two did what his father wanted. They answered the first. Jesus then says the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of heaven ahead of many for they believed John who showed the way of righteousness.

BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 22, Day 3: Matthew 21:23-32

6a) They asked Jesus: “By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?” Jesus told them they must first answer a question he poses. Then he will answer their questions.

b) They were only taking into account the politics of their answer and what the people would think. They did not care what the real answer was to Jesus’s question. Since they couldn’t decide which answer would be better viewed by the people and would be “right” to say, they said they did not know. They did not care about the will of God.

7a) Probably in every aspect of my life. Really too many to say precisely.

b) Jesus has authority over the entire world. It should not be questioned.

8 ) The first son said no but had regrets and went later. This represents those who have accepted Jesus. The second son said yes but never went. The second son represents many Christians who and answer God’s call of “Will you follow me?” and they say “I will,” but in their hearts, they are not believers.

9) I’m more the first. My initial reaction is no because it’s usually something uncomfortable, but in the end, I follow. Human nature and sin prompt us to immediately say no.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 22, Day 3: Matthew 21:23-32

I love the Parable of the Two Sons. How many of us do this? We say yes to God with no intention of following through.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 22, Day 3: Matthew 21:23-32

Remember that the previous day Jesus had just cleansed the temple by throwing out the money lenders and price gougers. The priests were curious what right he had to do those things.

The answer to the question Jesus posed the religious leaders is the answer to the question of Jesus’s authority. The answer “men” would upset the crowd who revered John. The answer “heaven” would have shown them to be hypocrites since John believed Jesus to be the Messiah.

When the leaders failed to acknowledge Jesus’s authority, they rejected God at the same time.

God will reveal truth; all you have to do is ask.

Jesus knew this was another trap by the religious leaders. He had no compassion for them.

The Three Parables of God’s Judgment

  1. The Parable of the Two Sons
  2. The Parable of the Tenants
  3. The Parable of the Wedding Banquet

Remember a parable is a story that aims to reveal truth in an understandable way. Jesus’s parables are merciful to the receptive and informative of your fate if you reject him. At each parable, the religious leaders could have repented. They did not.

The Parable of the Two Sons

Since the sons lived in the father’s household, it was expected they work for him. He asked the sons individually, not collectively. He addressed them as son.

The first son said no but had regrets and went later. (This represents all of humanity).

The second son said yes but never went. (This represents the teachers of the law who profess obedience to God, but don’t accept Christ).

Both rejected the father’s authority (the father is God in this story).

The second son represents many Christians who and answer God’s call of “Will you follow me?” and they say “I will,” but in their hearts, they are not believers. You will forever be lost without acceptance.

Actions are what matter, not your words.

Tax collectors and prostitutes were regarded as the lowest class. This should have made those who don’t follow Jesus repent.

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BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 22, Day 2: Matthew 21:18-22

by atozmom, posted in BSF Matthew 2021/2022

SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 21:18-22

Jesus is on his way back to Jerusalem. He was hungry and hoped to find fruit on a fig tree. When he found none, he told the fig tree to never bear fruit again, so it withered. The disciples were stumped (no pun intended), so Jesus explained what had happened. Jesus told them if they have faith and do not doubt, mountains will throw themselves into the sea on command, too. If you believe, you’ll receive whatever you ask for in prayer.

BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 22, Day 2: Matthew 21:18-22

3) Jesus was hungry, but when he found no fruit to eat, he told the fig tree to never bear fruit again, so it withered.

4a) The fig tree was supposed to have fruit for it had leaves. The fig tree reprenents those who are all show, but no actions.

b) They do not believe so they don’t bear fruit. They were all show with no real faith at all.

5a) Jesus told them if they have faith and do not doubt, mountains will throw themselves into the sea on command, too. If you believe, you’ll receive whatever you ask for in prayer. He encouraged them to ask and it will be given and they will bear fruit because of it. The miracle was an act of prayer with faith. He encourage his disciples to have this kind of faith, trusting that God will answer.

b) It both challenges me to have faith and helps me to ask for things in prayer and have faith, too.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 22, Day 2: Matthew 21:18-22

This is an often-forgotten story of Jesus hidden in this chapter that serves to remind us to have faith in God to answer our prayers.

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End Notes BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 22, Day 2: Matthew 21:18-22

This is one of two destructive miracles of Jesus. We read about the first one when Jesus cast out demons into pigs Matthew 8:30-32

Note Jesus does not harm humans.

The fig tree represents those in Israel who do not accept him. Outwardly, they look like they are followers of God. Inwardly, they are not and thus they bear no fruit. Jesus knows their hearts.

Here, he judges the tree, as he will you and me. Those who fail can expect death.

Take away: Pray with faith to receive.

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