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BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 8, Day 2: Matthew 7:1-6

by atozmom, posted in BSF Matthew 2021/2022

SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 7:1-6

Jesus is still speaking his sermon on the mount. Do not judge others, and you won’t be judged. Quit being a hypocrite and judging others for it. Do not give your valuables to others who may trample them and tear you to pieces.

BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 8, Day 2: Matthew 7:1-6

3a) Just that — Don’t judge others and think you are better than them when you are not.

b) Discernment by definition is “the ability to judge well” or in Biblical thinking “perception in the absence of judgment with a view to obtaining spiritual guidance and understanding.” God helps you arrive at the best decision. Romans says that discernment is knowing the right thing to do and doing it. You will be able to know God’s will and be able to do it, too. Philippians says discernment is knowing what is best in order to do good and avoid sin. Hebrews says God blesses wise discernment.

c) Galatians says that believers should help those who have been caught in sin with a spirit of forgiveness. If you know about God, you must share it with others. Ephesians reminds us to be gentle, humble, and patient with others in love. Christians are to support one another, forgive each other, and help each other to be better discerners and walkers in God’s word.

4) You must be merciful because you yourself have faults, too, and are in need of mercy. James reminds us to speak and act as though you will be judged.

5) I judge others when they do behavior I think is not right. I have to remember that I probably do the same things, am a sinner, and I’m in need of mercy, too.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 8, Day 2: Matthew 7:1-6

I love being reminded about how wrong judging is and to not do it. It’s such a human thing to do, to think better of yourself than others, but in God’s eyes, we are all the same. We need to look at others as such, too.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 8, Day 2: Matthew 7:1-6

You will be judged the same way you judge others. That being said, approving of others’ behavior is not the same as judging. This verse does not say you have to approve, only not to judge and/or treat others differently because of what they do, say, or believe.

Can you judge others’ behavior? Yes. But you must do so in the same manner that you want to be judged. Since a lot of people judge others by different standards than they judge themselves, it is often best not to judge at all.

Jesus uses an example to drive home his point. A plank is much larger than a speck. We are often blind to our own faults, but can see the smallest faults in others. In short, we are hypocrites. First, fix your own faults before you worry about others’.

Still, Jesus said we must use discernment to not give precious things to those who will not appreciate them. Or, do not give unbelievers holy things.

Bible scholars say that pearls are precious items. Do not give them to those who don’t want to receive them.

In sum, don’t give all of your precious strength and valuables to those whom God has not prepared to accept him. Look for those who are ready to receive Christ.

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BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 7, Day 3: Matthew 6:5-13

by atozmom, posted in BSF Matthew 2021/2022

SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 6:5-13:

Pray to God unseen so you are not trying to impress men in order to give the impression you are righteous. Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. Pray the Lord’s prayer. Forgive those who sin against you, and God will forgive you for your sins.

BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 7, Day 3: Matthew 6:5-13

6) Pray to God not to be seen or to please others, but instead isolate yourself so it’s just you and God alone together. Do not pray just to pray many words. God knows what you need. Honor God, pray for daily needs, forgiveness, and help with sin.

7) God is holy and sacred.

God’s sovereign will be done in my life.

Give us our needs for the day.

Forgive our sins and let us forgive others

Help us to resist the devil and overcome sin.

8 ) It teaches me to honor God and acknowledge all of the good he does in my life and to ask for forgiveness of my sins.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 7, Day 3: Matthew 6:5-13

I love how Jesus instructs us, and we aren’t left to our own devices. The Lord’s prayer is a great prayer example given to us to follow, so you don’t have to guess. On those days when you don’t know what to pray, this is a wonderful go-to.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 7, Day 3: Matthew 6:5-13

PRAYING

You should not pray to be seen. They insult God. Praying on street corners and in public without the right heart is not what Jesus wants.

Instead, pray in your room. This Greek word for “room” was a storeroom where treasures were kept.

Pray with meaning and not with words to impress God. Instead, let your words be few Ecclesiastes 5:2:

God knows our wants and our prayers before we speak them. We pray not to communicate these to Him, but instead to show God our hearts and desires and increase our faith in God.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

It’s important to remember that the Lord’s prayer is just a model that shows relationship, reverence, trust, and dependence on God.

  1. Recognize who you are praying to (Our Father in Heaven). Jews of the day rarely used “Father” for God as it was too intimate for them. God is in heaven, holy and glorious. Our Father includes everyone.
  2. God’s name, kingdom, and will above all else.
  3. List your needs — bread, forgiveness, and strength to resist temptation. Debts here refers to our sins. We all face temptation (James 1:13),, but we all have ways out.(1 Corinthians 10:13).
  4. Praise God. Many Bible scholars agree the last line of the Lord’s supper was added later on since most early transcribers omitted it.

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BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 6, Day 5: Matthew 5:38-48

by atozmom, posted in BSF Matthew 2021/2022

SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 5:38-48

Jesus says that previously an eye for an eye was the rule, meaning if someone did you harm, you do them harm back. However, Jesus says the opposite. If someone does you harm, do not resist them. Give and lend to those who ask.

Jesus says to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Love and greet everyone. God handles the evil.

BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 6, Day 5: Matthew 5:38-48

11) To not retaliate and to not resist. He teaches to respond in kindness, to love your enemies, and pray for those that persecute you.

12a) Most people want revenge and retaliation when they have been wronged. It can consume them.

b) Unsure. Unsure if I’m persecuted or if I have enemies.

13a) My goal is to strive to be like Jesus. Obviously, we can’t be perfect, but it’s a goal nevertheless. And goals are good things to have.

b) Galations 5:16 says to live by the Spirit and you won’t gratify the desires of a sinful nature. Ephesians 4:22-24 tells us to put on our new selves in Christ. Philippians 2:12-13 says that it is God who works in you for his purposes. The idea of “being perfect” is just to do good in your life and in others’. Use the power of Jesus to do so.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 6, Day 5: Matthew 5:38-48

I had not remembered Jesus’s call to be perfect here. While I love shooting for goals, this is one we all will never reach. However, getting better every day is a good goal to have.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 6, Day 5: Matthew 5:38-48

You’ll find “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” here (Exodus 21:24). This command had been corrupted over time, which is why Jesus is clarifying it here. He says to let God be our defender when people insult us or do us wrong. Should you resist evil? Yes. However, the everyday slights and offenses shoulbe let go immediately and ignored. You just give it weight when you respond.

Jesus is using the slap here to mean insult. Obviously, if someone hits you, you defend yourself.

The cloak here is confusing. It’s referring to a Law that says that the outer cloak you were wearing could not be taken (Exodus 22:26; Deuteronomy 24:13).

Going the extra mile in Jesus’s time referred to the fact that Roman soldiers could command a Jew to carry their pack for one mile. This is where our saying comes from that now means to go above and beyond expectation. Read more HERE

Love Your Neighbor

Love your neighbor is an ancient Mosaic law (Leviticus 19:18). However, the teachers of the time were adding on to hate your enemies. The Bible never says this. Instead, Jesus says love your enemies who are our neighbors, too. Respond to your enemies in love, which is what God would do.

Christians are called to be better than others because of the power of the Holy Spirit. Our responses speak volumes about our relationship with God.

To be perfect, we need God’s righteouness (Romans 3:21-22) Keeping God’s laws makes up righteous.

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BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 4, Day 5: Matthew 4:12-25

by atozmom, posted in Uncategorized

SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 4:12-25:

John the Baptist was thrown in prison, so Jesus returned to Galilee from Nazareth. He went to Capernaum in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali to fulfill Isaiah’s words. Jesus preaches how the kingdom of heaven is near. Jesus began to call his disciples. He first called Simon Peter and his brother, Andrew, who were fishermen on the Sea of Galilee. He next called james and John who were in a boat with their gather, Zebedee.

Jesus began to travel through Galilee, preaching the Good News and healing people of diseases and sicknesses. Large crowds began to follow him and bring their sick to him to be healed.

BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 4, Day 5: Matthew 4:12-25

12 ) Capernaum in Galilee, fulfilling Isaiah’s words that the future king would come from there.

13 ) John the Baptist baptized people in the Jordan River who came from all over Judea.

14a ) Jesus called and they immediately followed him without question. They dropped everything they were doing in the moment.

b ) It’s best to answer God’s call immediately. Life is too short to delay.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 4, Day 5: Matthew 4:12-25

We’re about to embark on an exciting journey with Jesus as he begins his work. What I would give to have walked with him.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 4, Day 5: Matthew 4:12-25

Matthew begins his telling Jesus’s ministry in Galilee. John tells the story of an earlier ministry of Jesus where he himself baptized people and where we get the story of the Samarian woman at the well John 3:22 and 4:1-2.

Galilee was a very populuous area for Biblical times, which is probably why Jesus began there. He could make the biggest impact there. It was very fertile and had many wealthy citizens. Both Jews and Gentiles lived here side by side. In ancient times, there were nine cities that had 15,000 or more people who lived on the shore of the Sea of Galilee.

Remember that the people of Nazareth, his hometown, rejected him because they had seen him grow up ordinary  (Luke 4:16-30), which is why he chose Capernaum. Plus, the disciples were there too, as we see. Jesus was the light in this region as Isaiah predicted.

Jesus waits until John the Baptist is put into prison to begin his ministry.

Do note that the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God seem to be the same thing. Bible scholars believe Matthew used the phrase “kingdom of heaven” because the Jewish people never wrote out the word “God.”

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 A Purpose

Jesus didn’t just randomly call his disciples. The Bible records other places where he encounters them  (John 1:35-42 and Luke 5:3). Undoubtedly, Jesus knew who he would call ahead of time. Jesus calls most of the disciples when they were doing something. Jesus needed doers and action-takers.

Most rabbi had disciples so this was not unusual behavior on the part of Jesus. This is how rabbis taught other rabbis.

Just like we have guest speakers at church, they did so in ancient times, too.

Healing shows that Jesus could overcome the consequences of sin (which was death to the body).

FUN FACT: This is the first time the Bible mentions demon-possessed. It shows Jesus’s ultimate authority over the evil in the world. While Old Testament people were troubled by spirits 1 Samuel 18:10, 19:9), this is the first time it is mentioned of removing an evil one from the body.

Large crowds followed Jesus. He is successful.

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BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 3, Day 5: Matthew 3:13-17

by atozmom, posted in BSF Matthew 2021/2022

SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 3:13-17

John the Baptist baptizes Jesus who came from Galilee to the Jordan River. John said that Jesus needed to baptize him, not the other way around. Jesus told him he needed to be baptized to fulfill all righteousness. When Jesus was baptized, heaven opened up and the Spirit of God came down upon him. A voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

BSF STUDY QUESTIONS LESSON 3, DAY 5: MATTHEW 3:13-17

12 ) Jesus came to earth as a human partly to show others how to live. He was baptized to show that Christians should be baptized as well.

13a) That the Spirit would come down from heaven as a dove and remain, baptizing with the Holy Spirit.

b) He was praying.

14 ) We are here only because of God. We are here to do His will, not ours. If we were doing our will, we’d all be sinners, doing whatever we pleased in utter chaos. Instead, we work to please our God, our Creator, as a form or worship and honor for what He has given us and done for us.

15) It is important as Jesus showed us how to live and what to do. Baptism is a special day when you accept Christ into your life publically. If Jesus did it, we should, too. Here, Jesus being baptized also legitimizes John’s baptisms of the people since it was outside of Jewish tradition.

CONCLUSIONS BSF STUDY QUESTIONS LESSON 3, DAY 5: MATTHEW 3:13-17

map of jesus' baptism www.atozmomm.comI love how God opens up the heavens, showing his pleasure. God gives us many signs of how to live, as well as signs of reassurance that we are walking with Him. God does so much just for us. Try to digest that thought today. Great stuff!

END NOTES BSF STUDY QUESTIONS LESSON 3, DAY 5: MATTHEW 3:13-17

John questions Jesus because Jesus had no sin so therefore had nothing to repent of. Yet, Jesus knew this was the right thing to do. This one act allowed Jesus to identify with mankind. This is the official beginning of Jesus’s ministry. It’s an important sign to all that Jesus is here.

God showed all sinners that Jesus was identifying with them, not being cleansed of any sin. It was important that God show everyone this was His Son and that Jesus was different, so he sent the physical sign of the dove for all to see. Jesus now has the power of God (he always did, since he is God, but this is official for humans, like a ceremony). It was also important that John the Baptist, now hugely popular with the people, recognize Jesus as the Savior. John 1:32-33

Note Noah sent a dove that returned with an olive branch from the ark. Doves in the Bible represent peace, love, gentleness, and hope for a better future.

God set his stamp of approval upon Jesus. Here, we see the Holy Trinity together in the Bible: God in heaven, Jesus on earth, the Holy Spirit coming down between the two. Beautiful picture, isn’t it?

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BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 3, Day 3: Matthew 3:5-10

by atozmom, posted in BSF Matthew 2021/2022

SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 3:5-10

The people heeded John’s words from Jerusalem to Judea and the Jordan. They confessed their sins and were baptized by John in the Jordan River. He called out the Pharisees and the Sadducees, telling them to repent, too.

BSF STUDY QUESTIONS LESSON 3, DAY 3: MATTHEW 3:5-10

6) Acts 3:19: Repentance is turning to God to be forgiven for your sins.

Acts 20:21: Repentance is turning to God with faith in Jesus Christ.

Acts 26:20: Repent is turning to God and showing this in their deeds.

James 5:16: Confession is admitting your sins and praying for healing.

1 John 1:9: Confessing your sins allows you to be forgiven and purified.

Confession is admitting your guilt. According to Zondervan’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, confession is “to openly acknowledge the truth in anything, as in the existence and authority of God or the sins of which one has been guilty. Confession of sin before God is recognized as a conditon of forgiveness.”

Repentance is sincerely regretting it. According to Zondervan’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, repentance is “a profound change of mind involving changing of the direction of life from that of self-centeredness or sin-centeredness to God or Christ centeredness. God’s forgiveness is only available to those who are repentant, for only they can receive it.”

7) Joel 2:13: Return to God with your heart and with actions.

Matthew 3:8: Produce fruit when you repent.

Acts 26:20: Repent is turning to God and showing this in their deeds.

Romans 2:4: God’s kindness to you leads you to repentance.

2 Corinthians 7:10-11: Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldy sorrow brings death.

8a ) I think I’m kinder to others, more helpful, more giving as I realize my shortcomings.

b ) This is a tough one. I’m sure there is, but all I can think of right now is just how I need to be kinder to my family and others. Lord, help me to be kinder to my family and others and forgive me for my sins and hard heart.

CONCLUSIONS BSF STUDY QUESTIONS LESSON 3, DAY 3: MATTHEW 3:5-10

This was a lot of looking up, but worth it. It’s important to turn your heart and not just your words to God. Out of this, actions follow, too, as does His forgiveness. Pick up this great Bible resource, Zondervan’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, today.

END NOTES BSF STUDY QUESTIONS LESSON 3, DAY 3: MATTHEW 3:5-10

John the Baptist played a huge role in preparing the Jewish people to accept Jesus as their Savior. In fact, the famous historian Josephus talked a great deal about John the Baptist, even more so than Jesus. His influence was widespread. It was also the first time Jews were baptized in large numbers because they thought all they needed was the blood of animals to cleanse them.

Baptism illustrates perfectly the confession of sin and the action that follows it. You are doing something by being baptized; you are repenting. Today, when Christians are baptized, not only are we confessing our sins and our need for a Savior, but we are also being baptized into Christ  (Romans 6:3).

John the Baptist gets his name from these actions, partly because Jewish baptisms were rare up until this point. Baptism has previously only been used for those adopting the Jewish faith, not for those born into it.

Confessing of sins was new, too. Confession was rare.

WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH THE PHARISEES AND THE SADDUCEES?

The Pharisees and the Sadducees were the leadership and the law of the Jewish people. They believed if you kept the law, you would be righteous and get to heaven. They thought they were righteous for this. In reality, they were flawed humans like the rest of us, power hungry and hypocrits.

John yelled at the Pharisees and the Sadducees because they were there for appearances only; their hearts were not changed.

The wrath is God’s wrath, which is what all of humanity deserves. You must flee from it.

The Pharisees and the Sadducees believed they were saved because they upheld the law. John says this is false. They must repent with their hearts, not just follow the law. Everyone can go to hell without Jesus. The Jews believed at that time they could not go to hell because they had God.

The ax laid at the root of the trees is marking the trees for cutting, and without fruit, the trees will be cut down.

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BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 2, Day 4: Matthew 2:13-18

by atozmom, posted in BSF Matthew 2021/2022

SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 2:13-18

An angel of the Lord appears to Joseph and tells him to go to Egypt for Herod is searching for Jesus to kill him.  Mary, Joseph, and Jesus all fled in the middle of the night. They stayed there until Herod died. Herod had all of the boys in Bethlehem and the surrounding area under the age of 2 killed in an effort to kill Jesus. Hosea prophesied this.

BSF STUDY QUESTIONS LESSON 2, DAY 4: MATTHEW 2:13-18

9 ) The threat to his crown

10a ) God sends an angel of the Lord to protect Jesus and his family. Joseph obeyed immediately, fleeing in the middle of the night. When God calls, you answer. There is no room for hesitancy.

b ) God’s people frequently flees to Egypt for protection, like during the famine. This is for protection and survival. Jesus will redeed us from sin like Moses did the ancient Israelites when he led them out of Egypt to the Promised Land. Hosea predicted this so this shows the legitimacy of the Bible.

11a ) Killing innocent children.

b ) Proverbs 21:30 “There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.” The insecurity of my future. Nothing happens without God and it being in his plan.

12 ) Matthew uses this verse to portray Rachel weeping over Herod’s slaughter of all baby boys in Bethlehem. But God answers, showing He is there and is planning redemption.

CONCLUSIONS BSF STUDY QUESTIONS LESSON 2, DAY 4: MATTHEW 2:13-18

I don’t remember this either. It amazes me to what lengths mankind will go to to try to circumvent God. They lose every time.

Great book on angels!

END NOTES BSF STUDY QUESTIONS LESSON 2, DAY 4: MATTHEW 2:13-18

Joseph, Mary, and Jesus fled 225 miles to Egypt at God’s warning. In ancient times, a lot of Jews lived in Egypt, and Herod had no control there. Bible scholars believe this was right after the Magis left. This was a long journey in ancient times, which shows again that God doesn’t usually take the easy way. In fact, God often uses ordinary means.

We can only guess at how long the family stays in Egypt; we are not told. Some say months; others say years.

Herod’s fear turns to murdering children. God weeps for them.

We should expect opposition too as we follow Jesus. Instead of lamenting it, use God’s strength to grow stronger in faith and overcome. The prophecy from Hosea 11:1 is fulfilled here, as God calls his son out of Egypt to save the world.

Ordering the death of innocent children was completely in line with Herod as a cruel leader that we know him to be. At that time, there would not have been many children tpu to death since Bethlehem was a small town. In ancient times, whole towns and peoples would be wiped out on a regular basis due to war, which may explain why this event is not recorded elsewhere in history. In truth, this was an everyday occurence, so there was nothing special about it.

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BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 2, Day 3: Matthew 2:9-12

by atozmom, posted in BSF Matthew 2021/2022

SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 2:9-12

The Magi went on their way after talking to King Herod. They followed the star until they saw where it had stopped over the place where Jesus was. They saw Jesus with Mary and worshipped him. The Magi gave Jesus gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh. They did not report back to Herod (having been warned in a dream), so they returned home a different way.

BSF STUDY QUESTIONS LESSON 2, DAY 3: MATTHEW 2:9-12

6 ) The Magi followed the star until they saw where it had stopped over the place where Jesus was. God wanted to make it clear who the real King was to them. God is gracious, indeed.

7a ) You should go to great lengths to worship Jesus and God. The Magis traveled very far on a long journey to see this King and give him gifts and worship. You and I, too, should go to great lengths to worship him.

7b ) Remembering all that Jesus did for me, all of my blessings, and praising him for those blessings and my life.

8 ) The Magi were warned in a dream to not to go back to Herod. This ensured Herod would not find Jesus and kill him.

CONCLUSIONS BSF STUDY QUESTIONS LESSON 2, DAY 3: MATTHEW 2:9-12

This is a great example of ignoring what your leaders tell you when it puts others in harm’s way. The Magi did not trust Herod, and since they were from another country, they were not obligated to follow his orders. Also, this is a great example of going out of your way to worship the One, True King.

END NOTES BSF STUDY QUESTIONS LESSON 2, DAY 3: MATTHEW 2:9-12

The star continually guided the Magi. This indicates that it was obviously from a supernatural power (God himself). It shows God’s care for them. And, it gives us hope that God will guide us with signs, too.

Bible scholars debate is this is where the idea of the halo comes from with the star’s light falling upon Jesus’s head.

Jesus is a child here, so at least six months old. Matthew mentions Jesus first, as fitting a king (which breaks with ancient tradition). And, note that Joseph is no where to be found. This was so that Magis would not think Joseph was the father of the child.

The fact that the Magi offered three gifts gave rise to the notion of three Magi.

Even though the Magi gave the gifts to Jesus, the parents would use them — and indeed they did. It wasn’t cheap to flee to Egypt (coming up). God provides all that we need, when we need it.

When compared to the shepherds’ visit (Luke 2:15-20), you’ll see that they offered what they could — their hearts — instead of expensive gifts. We need to offer what we can.

Note God’s control over the entire situation (every situation, in fact), as well as his control over Herod. He guides the Magi to the precise location of Jesus. Moreover, they worship him with expensive gifts. God sends a dream (one of five dreams in Matthew 1-2) that will protect Jesus from the Enemy.

The Magi themselves relentlessly pursued Jesus and worshipped him when they arrived. So must we.

God is great and actively working in your life. Seek Him today!

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BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 1, Day 5: Matthew 1:1-25

by atozmom, posted in BSF Matthew 2021/2022

SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 1:1-25

Matthew lists the genealogy of Jesus in these 17 verses. You’ll find a mix of characters here, from prostitutes, such as Rahab to kings, such as David and Solomon.  Most of the names are simply that — names of people whom the Bible does not talk about. However, God chose all to be a relative of Jesus. How cool is that?

Consider that there were 14 generations from Abraham to David, from David to the time of the Babylonian exile, and from the exile to the Messiah. Why the number 14? Matthew leaves out generations in order to create this numeric lineup. The letters of the Hebrew alphabet represented numbers, too. The letters in David’s name add up to 14, which is used to show that Jesus was the son of David, but also that Jesus is greater than David.

Mary became pregnant while betrothed to Joseph. Joseph, knowing that he was not the father, wanted to divorce Mary but in a quiet way. An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph as he slept and reassured him that Mary is faithful. Mary’s child she carries is from the Holy Spirit and is to be named Jesus, meaning “the Lord saves.” This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah in Isaiah 7:14.

Joseph believed the angel. He took Mary as his wife but did not lie with her until after the birth of Jesus.

BSF STUDY QUESTIONS LESSON 1, DAY 5: MATTHEW 1:1-25

14a ) Matthew emphasizes how Jesus is from the line of David as it was foretold in the Old Testament. The angel mentions how Jesus will be from a virgin birth and called Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14).

b ) God has a plan and he wants to make sure his people knew exactly who Jesus was.

15 ) Their families could have ostracized them and kicked them out of their faith. They could have been social outcasts. Their reputations could have been tarnished, making it hard to make a living in Old Testament times.

16 ) Anytime you lay down yourself and your wants for others costs you something. In truth, I don’t have any earth-shattering examples, but just following him and doing the right thing can be hard and difficult at times, alienating others, too.

CONCLUSIONS BSF STUDY QUESTIONS LESSON 1, DAY 5: MATTHEW 1:1-25

In chapter 1 of Matthew, we get a sense right away of what this book is all about. We will be following Jesus’s birth and life all to the end, and we will be meeting people who aren’t exactly high society. We see how Christianity is right for everyone. Fabulous!

END NOTES BSF STUDY QUESTIONS LESSON 1, DAY 5: MATTHEW 1:1-25

I’m super excited to be studying with you all again this year! Every year is like family, and I can’t wait to see what you all learn! In addition, do comment and share when led. Welcome to BSF’s Study of Matthew! Contact me with questions!

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BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 1, Day 4: Luke 1:26-38

by atozmom, posted in BSF Matthew 2021/2022

SUMMARY OF LUKE 1:26-38

Luke records how the angel of God reassured Mary, too. We are told that the angel, Gabriel, went to Nazareth in Galilee to a virgin named Mary. Gabriel told Mary that the Lord was with her and that she is highly favored. However, Mary was afraid, but the angel said that God has favored her and chosen her to bear His son to be named Jesus. He will inherit the throne of David and will reign over God’s people for eternity.

The Holy Spirit will come upon her. Her relative, Elizabeth, will have a child (John the Baptist) in her old age for nothing is impossible with God. “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered, and the angel left.

BSF STUDY QUESTIONS MATTHEW LESSON 1, DAY 4: GOD’S PLAN FOR MARY: LUKE 1:26-38

11a ) Gabriel told Mary that the Lord was with her and that she is highly favored. The angel said that God has favored her and chosen her to bear His son to be named Jesus. He will inherit the throne of David and will reign over God’s people for eternity. The Holy Spirit will come upon her. Her relative, Elizabeth, will have a child (John the Baptist) in her old age for nothing is impossible with God.

b ) The Holy Spirit. Because it is God’s child, his Son, the Savior of the World.

12 ) “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be as you have said,” she told the angel Gabriel upon hearing she would bear God’s Son.

13 ) How I can see everything working in my life that He planned, not me. To impact my little corner of the world as He sees fit. Everything has come to this moment.

CONCLUSIONS BSF STUDY QUESTIONS MATTHEW LESSON 1, DAY 4: GOD’S PLAN FOR MARY: LUKE 1:26-38

I love how we can have the same stories from different points of view. So great! God is good!

END NOTES BSF STUDY QUESTIONS MATTHEW LESSON 1, DAY 4: GOD’S PLAN FOR MARY: LUKE 1:26-38

Curiously enough, no writer of the Old Testament ever mentioned the town of Nazareth. This tells you how insignificant it truly was. Until this moment when God chooses the human parents of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. They live in Nazareth. Here, we get the term “Jesus of Nazarth” plus the Nazarenes, or followers of Jesus.

One could say we are all favored, blessed, and have the Lord in the form of the Holy Spirit with us.

Mary’s mind turns to the practical when asking how she will have a baby when she has never had sex. Does this show a lack of faith? No. It simply is a question that most of us would ask. How will this happen?

“Overshadow” has the same meaning as cover with a cloud what God appeared in (Exodus 16:10, 19:9, 24:16, 34:5, 40:34) and when Jesus was transfigured (Matthew 17:5, Mark 9:7, Luke 9:34). The cloud is God or the Holy Spirit.

The example of Elizabeth strengthened Mary’s faith in the the angel’s words.

Mary will face scrutiny from man for her pregnancy. Yet, God’s words are stronger.

Fun Fact: Note in no other culture does a virgin birth occur.

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A great book about Mary! Happy Reading!

 

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