Today’s passage: Matthew 11:1-19

Helpful thoughts:

• It is not ironic that right after Jesus spoke to His disciples of picking up their crosses and following Him that John the Baptist is reported to be in prison. (And, he is in prison because his ministry was a success!)
• Jesus comforts and assures John the Baptist by pointing his attention to the prophet Isaiah (35:5, 61:1) and encourages him to believe.
• Jesus taught the crowds who John the Baptist was:
  • He was strong in his conviction (Not shaken by the wind)
  • He was selfless (Not wearing “soft” clothing)
  • He was more than just a prophet (Jesus quotes Malachi 3:1 and refers to Malachi 4:5-6 in calling him “Elijah”)
• The crowds were unlike John the Baptist
  • They were like spoiled children (Sitting around “in the marketplace”) who complain when they don’t get what they want
  • They criticized people and looked for fault when they were unwilling to accept the truth

Questions to consider:

1. Why was John’s imprisonment not a failure?  What was God’s mission for Him?  Did he succeed?
2. Do you think John the Baptist would have liked everyone talking about him?  Why or why not?  What was his goal?
3. Will people always be kind in their response to our message?
4. How does the fruit of our ministry (People’s live being changed for the glory of God) vindicate or justify the message?  What is still happening even when there are other people who would not agree and fight against God?  Does being mean, pointing fingers, and using big words make the Gospel not true?

Today’s passage: Matthew 10:40-42

Helpful thoughts:

• When we think of who “you” is (“Whoever receives you”), we need to look back at the rest of chapter 10.
• This is the reception of a person who is defined by their following of Jesus and is proclaiming the Gospel.
• People who receive that kind of person, cannot do so without also receiving what they stand for/live for.
• Both people share the reward!
• “These little ones” are disciples as well.  Serving those who are young in the faith is a great ministry!

Questions to consider:

1. Can you think of some ways our church has “received” and partnered with other Christians over the years?  Praise God!
2. What does the fact that God not only saves us, but also rewards us for living for Him by His grace make you think about the goodness and kindness of God?
3. How does a focus and passion for the glory of God and the spread of the Gospel impact your relationships with other believers?

Today’s passage: Matthew 10:34-39

Helpful thoughts:

• There is a war going on, right now.
• If you are in Christ, you are on the Lord’s side.
• This passage, among many others, reminds us that we are not the center of the universe (or even our church or our own homes).  It’s not about you.
• Jesus calls us to love Him supremely, no matter the cost.

Questions to consider:

1. Why isn’t it wrong to call other people our enemy?  What has Jesus commanded us to do to our enemies?
2. Why is the pull so strong to put our family and friends before Jesus?  If we deny Jesus to make our own mother or father happy, what are we doing? Who are we trying to truly benefit?  Is that love?
3. What does it mean to take up your cross and follow Jesus?

Today’s passage: Matthew 10:26-33

Helpful thoughts:

• Carried over from yesterday’s passage, becoming more like Christ will result in opposition.
• Jesus gives three ways to NOT be afraid:
  • Speak with holy boldness (“in the light” and “on the housetops”)
  • Keep an eternal perspective (vs. 28)
  • Remember your heavenly Father
• People who know you for a period of time will know that you are a Christian if you are following Jesus.

Questions to consider:

1. What is our source of courage?
2. What is the message that must be proclaimed?  How would we acknowledge Christ before men?
3. What is being valued and worshiped in the heart of a Christian who tries to hide their faith?  What would confession and repentance look like?

Today’s passage: Matthew 10:16-25

Helpful thoughts:

• Jesus sends out His sheep into the wolves’ territory.
• Jesus does not call His children to be willfully ignorant of the nature of man.
• When a disciple would endure persecution, Jesus promises that the Spirit would minister through them.  They won’t be left alone.
• The Pharisees accused Jesus of casting out demons by the prince of demons in 9:34.

Questions to consider:

1. Does God ever send His children into places that are not physically safe? (See verse 16)  Does He expect His children to be careless in the danger? (See verses 16-17)
2. Who is doing the persecuting of these disciples specifically, the Gentiles or Israel?  Should we be surprised when our main opponents seem to be coming from within? (See Acts 20:29-30)
3. What is the problem with the fear of people’s rejection keeping us from sharing the Gospel?  What does this passage promise will be true?  Is it an appropriate goal for a Christian to be completely un-hated?

Today’s passage: Matthew 10:1-15

Helpful thoughts:

• Jesus “called” or “summoned” His disciples.  The commander has called together His own to give them their orders.
• The disciples did nothing of their own authority.
• The command to not go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans was only temporary, for this particular time and task.
• Jews would shake the dust off their feet before returning from a Samaritan or Gentile town to make sure not to bring in any trace of the dust on their sacred home land.  Jesus was commanding the disciples to turn that around.  Paul and Barnabas would later do the same when the Jews rejected the Gospel.
• Jesus’ instruction to the disciples will continue through to the end of this chapter.

Questions to consider:

1. To whom in Israel did Jesus command the disciples to go?  Who would the disciples have been looking for with the commands Jesus gave them, the cream of the crop or the down and out?
2. Was this mission meant to result in the personal wealth of the disciples?
3. How were the disciples told to respond when the message was rejected?  Should we be concerned for our own reputation/personal rejection or for the soul of the individual hearing the Gospel?

Today’s passage: Matthew 9:35-38

Helpful thoughts:

• There were around 20 cities and an estimated 3 million people in Galilee during this time.  This was the “size” of the crowds Jesus would have been thinking about.
• The wording for the compassion that Jesus had for the crowds/the lost indicates a physical sickness.  He was literally sick to His stomach or aching.  He was emotionally and physically effected.
• As well-educated or wealthy as any of the people might have been, Jesus saw them as harassed and helpless.
• With the great harvest field in mind, and right before their eyes, Jesus calls on His disciples to…pray.

Questions to consider:

1. Why does it make more sense to have compassion on the lost instead of being frustrated with them?  What is their condition?  Why are we any good at all?
2. Why is it significant that Jesus is commanding the disciples to pray for laborers and not just to pray for the lost?
3. Who could you pray for today?  (Please pray for our church – A body of laborers!)

Today’s passage: Matthew 9:27-34

Helpful thoughts:

• These two blind men are the first in the Gospel of Matthew to publicly say who Jesus is in calling Him the “Son of David.”
• It says the two men were crying aloud, so anyone else who was in the crowd would have been able to hear their claim of belief.
• Notice, the two men asked for mercy.  Then Jesus asked them if they believed He could give that to them.  They professed their faith (“Yes, Lord”) and then he healed them.  So, it is quite possible these men were both saved from their sin AND healed of their blindness simultaneously.
• This passage shares the healing of the blind and the deaf/mute, pointing back to OT prophecy of the Messiah and preparing for Jesus’ encouragement of John the Baptist later in the Gospel.

Questions to consider:

1. Compare and contrast the blind men and their response to Jesus and the Pharisees.
2. Why do you think Jesus told the men not to spread the news?  Why do you think it was so hard for them not to share?  What would they have been sharing specifically? (Hint: It wasn’t their blindness being healed)
3. Since the Pharisees couldn’t deny the miracles, they had to deny the source of power…Why were the Pharisees against Jesus?  What were they unhappy about?  What was most important to them?

Today’s passage: Matthew 9:18-26

Helpful thoughts:

• There are two displays of faith in today’s passage.
• The woman was considered “unclean”.  For her to reach out and touch someone who was “clean” was unacceptable.  But remember, when Jesus touches, He makes things clean.
• Jesus now shows that He has authority even over death.
• His great authority was a comfort to those who had faith.

Questions to consider:

1. How does Jesus’ interest in individuals over the crowds help you to think about relationships? How might that affect our idea of multiplication in the Great Commission?
2. Why does Jesus’ authority as God the Son give comfort to those who have faith? Why would it be troublesome to those who don’t believe?
3. How does Jesus’ power over death help us to see death differently?

Today’s passage: Matthew 9:14-17

Helpful thoughts:

• These are disciples of John the Baptist.
• Remember the Hosea reference from yesterday?  Israel (God’s people) was the bride, and God is the groom.  Jesus is telling these disciples of John who He is!
• Before Christ came, people were fasting while looking forward to the coming of the King.  So, it was no longer time to fast for that reason.
• Jesus is also making another statement in mentioning new cloth and new wine skins.  A new time has come.  There will be new reason to fast.

Questions to consider:

1. What seems to be the reason for fasting?  Is it just supposed to be a ritualistic practice?
2. Why is it appropriate for us to fast now?  To what should we be looking forward?
3. What are some things you are looking forward to when Jesus makes all things new?