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jesus makes a fig tree wither www.atozmomm.com matthew 21:18-22

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.

Great for strengthening your prayer life!

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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give up your treasure on earth to follow jesus matthew 19 www.atozmomm.com

BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 20, Day 5: Matthew 19:16-30

by atozmom, posted in BSF Matthew 2021/2022

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:

  1. Blessings here in this life
  2. Future rewards in heaven
  3. Eternal life

We will be surprised by who is first in rewards in heaven, Jesus says.

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Friday Digest BSF Matthew Lesson 19

by atozmom, posted in BSF Matthew 2021/2022

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IN MATTHEW 18 BSF LESSON 19

  • We are to depend on God as a child does
  • Always put others before ourselves
  • What we do or what we don’t do matters
  • Avoid sin and do not tolerate it
  • We must go after the lost sheep, too
  • An unwillingness to repent cannot be tolerated
  • Every event in your life is by God’s design

TAKE AWAY: Forgiving others is the least you can do in light of God’s forgiveness of our sins.

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BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 18, Day 5: Matthew 17:22-27

by atozmom, posted in BSF Matthew 2021/2022

SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 17:22-27

Jesus tells the disciples more about his impending death after they arrive back in Galilee. He tells them he will be betrayed, killed, and then he will be raised on the third day. His disciples are filled with grief at this news.

Jesus arrives in Capernaum. He is questioned if he has paid the temple tax. Peter (of all people) is asked if Jesus paid the temple tax. He replies yes. When Jesus sees him again, he asks Peter who does the kings collect their taxes from? Peter answers from others. Jesus says he (the Son) is exempt from paying the temple tax, but he tells Peter to go and catch a fish, open its mouth, and there he will find four-drachma coins to pay the tax so as to not offend anyone.

BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 18, Day 5: Matthew 17:22-27

13a) That he would die.

b) They grieved. Jesus’s death should be a cause of joy for all.

c) I’ve grieved most of my moves to other locations, mainly because I did not want to move in the first place. Yet, there was a plan in all things, even in death.

14) Sometimes it’s best to not rock the boat and go along with what is asked of you.

15) So many. Every day, my needs are met. I’m encouraged in my job and my life

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 18, Day 5: Matthew 17:22-27

I don’t remember the temple tax story, so I liked that best of all. Sometimes you just have to do the right thing. Period.

map of Caesarea Philippi www.atozmomm.comEnd Notes BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 18, Day 5: Matthew 17:22-27

Jesus usually paired his death with the hope his resurrection brought. The disciples were so grieved that they couldn’t comprehend the meaning of Jesus’s death until much later.

The temple tax is a tax every Jewish man paid. Jesus was not obligated to pay the tax since he was a priest (the Most High Priest in fact).

Jesus did not want to rock the boat, so he paid it. Plus, he wanted to set a good example for others. It’ good to think about and serve others, rather than ourselves.

Jesus used this tax to once again explain his deity to his disciples.

Obviously, the very fish that Peter caught that had money in its mouth would be a miracle from God.

Trying to catch one fish was something Peter, a fisherman, never did in that day. Instead, fishermen used nets to catch a lot of fish, so he was probably baffled by Jesus’s instructions. Still, you obey. I mean, it’s Jesus.

Jesus paid the price for all of us, as he does here for Peter in this example. Cool, isn’t it? It’s like Jesus never gives away an opportunity to foreshadow his true purpose on earth.

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transfiguration of christ by Giordano

BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 18, Day 3: Matthew 17:6-13

by atozmom, posted in BSF Matthew 2021/2022

SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 17:6-13

Peter, James, and John fell down to the ground when they heard God speak, afraid. Jesus came and touched them. He told them to not be afraid. When they looked up again, everyone was gone except Jesus. Jesus told them to tell no one about his Transfiguration until he has been risen from the dead.

The disciples were confused again, so they asked Jesus why Elijah must come first. Jesus explained that Elijah has already come, but no one recognized him (meaning Elijah was in the work of John the Baptist).

BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 18, Day 3: Matthew 17:6-13

7a) Peter, James, and John fell down to the ground when they heard God speak, afraid.

b) Jesus came and touched them. He told them to not be afraid. He comforted them, cares about them, and understands their fear.

c) I think when I learned that not everyone went to heaven as a kid. I realized it was His will, and not mine. Also, when I learned as an adult the true meaning of Romans 1:20. We are responsible for our eternal salvation, not God. I still walk in his ways and understand a bit more every day.

8a) Malachi predicted Elijah (identified as John the Baptist by Jesus in this passage) would precede Jesus. Luke 1:17 says how John the Bapist will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous — to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

b) John the Baptist told everyone to repent and turn to the Lord. Yet, he too was persecuted, imprisoned, and then killed.

c) Jesus uses the present tense. “Elijah comes and will restore all things.”

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 18, Day 3: Matthew 17:6-13

What a moment! I wonder how I’d react if God appeared in a cloud to me? Everyone in the Bible is afraid. I wonder if I would be, too.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 18, Day 3: Matthew 17:6-13

Note it was when God spoke that the disciples fell on their faces. They were cool with seeing Jesus transfigure, two dead guys alive, and God appear in a cloud, but the second God spoke, they were afraid.

The Transfiguration is yet another confirmation of Jesus’s divinity that the disciples needed. Mankind constantly needs to be reassured.

It is significant and fitting that only Jesus remains. This is truth for all of us. Jesus is there always; others may come and go from our lives, but not Jesus.

Not many would believe the Transfiguration story, so Jesus did not want more people doubting him.

Now the disciples were confused since clearly Jesus came before Elijah since he had just appeared. First, Malachi was most likely referring to the Second Coming when Jesus would come a final time. Second, as Jesus explains, Elijah had come already in the work of John the Baptist who ministered in the spirit and power of him. (Luke 1:17).

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Friday Digest BSF Matthew Lesson 14

by atozmom, posted in BSF Matthew 2021/2022

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IN MATTHEW 13 BSF LESSON 14

  • Jesus is king
  • God is our treasure, and we are His treasure
  • Jesus is the greatest prize
  • God’s plan will be accomplished on His schedule
  • Jesus reigns in our hearts
  • God gives us fruitfulness and blessings
  • Following Christ brings us treasures in our lives
  • Use what you do understand of God’s Word to grow personally and spread the Gospel
  • Value what God values
  • Grace saves you
  • Do the work God has prepared for you in advance

TAKE AWAY: Following Christ is the most important thing you will ever do in your life.

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