This Is Eternal Life – September Study

This is a “September Study.” It’s only 28 days. This is the book of Matthew with a focus on learning who the Father is by looking at the person of Jesus Christ. 

This link will take you to the 180-day full-course version of this study.

This is Bible study with questions and my answers, trying to focus on who God is. The first day explains the impetus behind that. The links throughout are to verses as a way to reference what I’m saying. I’m not doing that when I’m referencing specifically any verses that were in the reading. I, Lee Giles, wrote the Bible study. My husband has gone through it and corrected where he saw fit. We release this together.

Note about the Bible translation used: This is linked to the New Living Translation for ease of reading and understanding. A couple of times I linked to the NASB because of what I see as a more precise translation for better understanding. When it comes to translation, just remember that you could be reading the oldest manuscript in the original language but still miss what God is saying without the help of the Holy Spirit. The Pharisees knew the Scriptures inside and out and completely missed Jesus. There’s more to understanding God’s word than having the best translation.

Lesson 1

  1. When I shared some of our family miracle stories, I kept saying that all we needed was to know God. If we knew God, everything else falls into place. In fact, the Bible defines eternal life as knowing God. In thinking about how I could help people get to know their good Father, I realized that the best way is to study the life of Jesus. The Bible says that Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God. Jesus shows us the Father.
  2. Read Matthew 1:1-17. Read the genealogy of Jesus. We’re trying to learn about Jesus because it’s going to help us get to know God.
  3. What tribe of Israel was Jesus’ family part of? What’s significant about that?
  4. Why is it significant that names like Asa and Uzziah are in his lineage?
  5. Answers  (These are my answers, not the only answers.)
  6. Read Matthew 1:18-end. Remember the goal of each reading is to learn more about who Jesus is so we can get to know our good Father.
  7. A baby is conceived when a piece of the mother comes together with a piece from the father. The piece from the father is called “seed.” The DNA from both, half and half, make up the DNA of the child. Jesus didn’t have an earthly father, but he didn’t have only his mother Mary’s DNA. If He did, He would have been a woman, her identical twin. Jesus’ father was God Himself, by the Holy Spirit. Why was that important that Jesus’ seed was from God?
  8. What does the angel announce is Jesus’ purpose?
  9. What name was Jesus called? What does it tell us about God?
  10. Answers

Lesson 2

  1. Read Matthew 2:1-12. Remember the goal of each reading is to learn more about who Jesus is.
  2. What are some of the titles given Jesus?
  3. Who is He shepherd and king over?
  4. What of today’s scene shows His significance to God?
  5. The wise men worship Jesus. The basic meaning of the word is to bow down before. They bowed down before a baby to show it honor. Jesus was worshiped for His position, not for anything He had done. He was just a baby. He was born to be worshiped.
  6. Jesus was a baby. What does that tell us about God?
  7. Answers
  8. He was also a cause for joy. The wise men rejoice when they find Him.
  9. The gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh certainly must have significance and could even have multiple layers of meaning. Here’s one.
    • Gold could be a symbol of Him as king.
    • Frankincense was an incense and could be a symbol of Jesus as our High Priest.
    • Myrrh was an embalming oil, something you put on someone after they have died. It could be a foreshadowing of His death on the cross.
  10. Jesus was king and ruler and submitted to being born as a baby. The omnipresent God submitted to taking on the limitations of a human body. He became flesh. He never gave up being God, but He also became man.
  11. Answers
  12. Read Matthew 2:13-end.
  13. We’re going to look at this one a little differently. Jesus was God, but He was also a man. Let’s look at this reading to learn about God’s children. What do we see about Jesus’ life and how God cares for Him?
  14. Answers

Lesson 3

  1. Read Matthew 3.
  2. We see Jesus as man and God in these verses; man, as one being baptized, and God, as one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.
  3. Baptism is the death and resurrection of a Christian. It’s the burial of our old life. We are a new creation in Christ, and baptism is the laying down of our old life and the raising up of our life in Christ. And like the Holy Spirit comes to Jesus when He is baptized, so we receive the Spirit when we are washed clean of our sins and given new life in Christ.
  4. His baptism scene is also very significant because we see the Trinity. The word Trinity is never in the Bible anywhere, but it’s the concept of the three-in-one God. The Bible tells us that God is one, but here we also see God in three persons, Jesus the Son, His Father, and the Holy Spirit, all at once.
  5. Now, let’s learn about our Father from what we learn about Jesus as God in these verses. How does John describe Jesus? What are some things we learn about God?
  6. Answers

Lesson 4

  1. Read Matthew 4:1-11, the Temptation of Christ.
  2. The only reason Jesus was able to be a perfect sacrifice, dying on the cross for us, is that He is fully human and fully God. He couldn’t die if He weren’t human. He couldn’t be perfect if He wasn’t God. Here we see the two in action together. Where do we see his humanity, and what can we imitate about it?
  3. In Hebrews, this moment is used to describe Jesus’ empathy for us. God can empathize with being tempted in every way, which is part of our assurance that in Christ we have the power to overcome temptation as well.
  4. Satan makes an appearance here. What do we learn about God from the encounter?
  5. Answers
  6. Read Matthew 4:12-17, the start of Christ’s ministry.
  7. The first part of this section is just talking about where Jesus was. This shows, as before, how Jesus’ life was planned, that He had a destiny. His life wasn’t an accident. God has a purpose and destiny for our lives and is directing our steps if we are yielded to Him. It doesn’t mean we have to even consciously make each choice that we make; He can just move us into the places we need to be in.
  8. What is Jesus’ message to people?
  9. To repent means to change your mind. What would it mean to “repent of your sins and turn to God?”
  10. Answers
  11. Read Matthew 4:18-end, the Ministry of Jesus Begins.
  12. Jesus calls His first disciples. What promise does He give them?
  13. He says He’ll show them how to fish for people. Then what do they see? What does He show them? What happens next?

Lesson 5

  1. Read Matthew 5:1-12, the Beatitudes.
  2. The Beatitudes is the title given to this list of blessings that Jesus pronounces. They don’t match what the world calls blessed, though. Who does God bless and reward?
  3. If we experience persecution, what should our response be?
  4. Answers
  5. Read Matthew 5:13-16, Salt and Light.
  6. We aren’t told to be salt and light. God just says we are salt and light. What is our job?
  7. What does this section tell us brings God praise?
  8. Answers
  9. Read Matthew 5:17-20, Fulfilling the Law.
  10. What do we need in order to enter heaven?
  11. Jesus fulfilled the law for us. He wants us to see our need for Him and His ability to meet our need. We receive His perfect fulfillment of the law by faith. By faith we are credited with righteousness.
  12. Verse 19 shows the difference between those who are seeking to obey all the laws of God and those who don’t think they have to. They both are in the kingdom of heaven. One is called greater than the other.
  13. Answers
  14. Read Matthew 5:21-48, “You have heard it said.” As you read these, think on the high calling of Christ. It is the life He led. It is the life you should be living in the power of the Spirit. If you are falling short of this, repent and take a step toward Christ, what’s referred to as the upward call.

Lesson 6

  1. Read Matthew 6:1-18. It’s hard to keep the focus on Jesus when He’s teaching all these things to us. But, let’s try to think about Jesus as we read this. What is it He wants to get across? What’s the main point of this section?
  2. Stop and pray the Lord’s Prayer specifically. Make it your own.
  3. Answers
  4. Read Matthew 6:19-21.
  5. We are taught it is wise to store up for ourselves. This Scripture says the opposite. We’re specifically told not to store up. How can we store up in heaven instead?
  6. What do we learn about God from His direction about storing up?
  7. Answers
  8. Read Matthew 6:22-24.
  9. What point does God want you to see here?
  10. Answers
  11. Read Matthew 6:25-end.
  12. This end of the chapter tells us how to seek after Jesus and keep our eyes on Him. What do we need to do and not do?
  13. Answers

Lesson 7

  1. Read Matthew 7:1-6 on judging others.
  2. What is the main point here?
  3. Elsewhere in the Bible, believers are told they will judge. This Scripture is a warning about hypocrisy. We need to judge ourselves before pronouncing any judgment on others. There is a warning that we will be judged by the same standard that we judge. That’s a good reason not to judge, but we see Paul pronouncing judgments. It’s not that we’re never to judge what’s right and wrong, but we’re to make sure we are living right.
  4. Jesus will judge all people and nations. What does that reveal about Him?
  5. Read Matthew 7:7-11 on effective prayer.
  6. What does God like about our asking? Why do you think?
  7. What does the comparison to earthly fathers show us about God?
  8. Answers
  9. Read Matthew 7:1-12, the golden rule.
  10. I think this ties into the judging/hypocrite verses. How do you want to be treated? God sums up for us everything He wants us to do. We just have to remember this one rule for life. It says it sums up the Prophets and not just the Law. The law is rules for living, so that makes sense. The Prophets contain promises and warnings for God’s people, much of which is tied to behavior. As if how you treat others is how you will be treated.
  11. Read Matthew 7:13-14 on the narrow gate.
  12. What do we learn about God from this?
  13. Answers
  14. Read Matthew 7:15-29, the true disciples.
  15. There are three sections here, but they are all related. What’s the main point?
  16. Answers

Lesson 8

  1. Read Matthew 8:1-17.
  2. What do we learn about God through watching Jesus?
  3. Answers
  4. Read Matthew 8:18-33.
  1.  Jesus questions the man if he’s really ready to follow Him. We read before that the road is hard. We read here that Jesus is in effect homeless, not that He wasn’t always provided for, but He didn’t live what much of the church calls a “blessed” lifestyle!
  2. What did the disciples do wrong in the boat?
  3. Why do the townspeople ask Jesus to leave town after He does a miracle and frees the men from the demons that had bound them?
  4. Jesus leaves and there is no recorded account of His returning to that area. What does that show us about God?
  5. Answers

Lesson 9

  1. Read Matthew 9:1-8.
  2. What do we learn about Jesus?
  3. Answers
  4. Read Matthew 9:9-13, Jesus calls Matthew.
  5. Who does Jesus call to Himself? Who is God seeking?
  6. Answers
  7. Read Matthew 9:14-17, fasting.
  8. Jesus says they will fast later. Do you ever fast? He also says that new wine goes in new wineskins. If you want the Holy Spirit in your life, you need new life in Christ first; you need your sins forgiven, to be washed clean and made new!
  9. Read Matthew 9:18-34, faith and healing.
  10. What do we see is Jesus’ response to the people who seek Him out?
  11. Answers
  12. We see that people are amazed. They see that Jesus is different from every other magician, shaman, or anyone else who has ever purported to do miracles.
  13. Read Matthew 9:35-end, workers.
  14. What do we learn about God from this section?
  15. Answers

Lesson 10

  1. Read Matthew 10:1-25.
  2. We see Jesus has the authority to pass on His authority. Who does He give authority to? What can they then do?
  3. Who is Jesus sending them out to?
  4. Does Jesus promise “blessing” the way the American church tends to see it?
  5. What promises do they have?
  6. The disciples’ job through all that is to not fear and to endure.
  7. Answers
  8. Read Matthew 10:26-end.
  9. The disciples are told to fear God. When Jesus tells them that, how does He describe God?
  10. What is the promise to those who don’t fear Him but deny Him?
  11. The point isn’t fear, but the overarching command to not fear! He uses the sparrow and our hair to show how tenderly and specifically He cares for them. What does it show us about our good Father?
  12. Jesus came to bring a sword. What does that show us about God?
  13. Answers

Lesson 11

  1. Read Matthew 11:1-19, John the Baptist.
  2. How do we know that John the Baptist knew who Jesus was?
  3. Answers
  4. And  yet, here he is asking if Jesus really was the Messiah. God can handle the questioning. We see it in places like Psalms and in the Prophets, like in Habakkuk. Realize what persecution can do to a man. We see a different result in Acts when those filled with the Spirit are thrown in prison. They don’t turn to questioning, but to praise!
  5. While we can question God as humans with limited understanding, it’s not healthy to stay there. Jesus points John in the right direction, to Scripture. The answer is there. It’s always there.
    • He points John to Scripture, describing the righteous acts He’s performing. We look at what He’s done to see who He is. That’s what we’re trying to do with studying Matthew!
    • If you start with questioning, you need to end with praise. Know who He is and praise Him for it.
  6. Verses 18 and 19 show the judgment of others towards John and Jesus. They were doing opposite things, but they were both accused of doing wrong. God’s people will be misunderstood, judged, persecuted. But, also, I’d like to point out that God’s way of living doesn’t just look like one thing! They were doing opposite things, but both squarely in the will of God.
  7. Read Matthew 11:20-end.
  8. Has your nation repented of its sins and turned to God? Stop and confess the sins of your nation. Pray for a national turning to God. Without it, a nation faces “sorrows.”
  9. Then pray and give your burdens to the Lord. Let Him carry them. He has given you the gift of revealing the Father to you. May you continue to get to know Him, with more and more of His character, nature, and authority being revealed to you day by day as you seek Him and put Him first.

Lesson 12

  1. Read Matthew 12:1-14, the Sabbath.
  2. Men try to condemn others for not following their interpretations of the law. What is it that God desires, not condemnation but what?
  3. What does it mean to show mercy?
  4. Answers
  5. Read Matthew 12:15-21, God’s Chosen Servant.
  6. What is God after? What do these verses saying He’s bringing about?
  7. What is God’s justice? What is He bringing justice for?
  8. Answers
  9. Read Matthew 12:22-end.
  10. There is another reference here of the good and bad tree. Verse 34 gives us one way to know if a tree is good or bad. What is it?
  11. It is followed by a warning about our words. What is it?
  12. The Pharisees want proof that Jesus has authority, as if He hasn’t already proven Himself! Their demand is similar to Satan’s pushing Jesus to prove Himself during the temptation.
  13. Verse 45 describes the compounding of evil in those who don’t fill themselves with God and His Word. Be filled with the Spirit; make your heart and your tree good!
  14. Who is in God’s family?
  15. Answers

Lesson 13

  1. Read Matthew 13:1-30, parables of the farmer.
  2. What can we learn about God from this first section?
  3. Answers
  4. Read Matthew 13:31-end.
  5. What can we learn about God?
  6. What does He want to get rid of?
  7. Answers

Lesson 14

  1. Read Matthew 14:1-12, John the Baptist’s death.
  2. What can we learn about God from this passage?
  3. Answers
  4. Read Matthew 14:13-21, Feeding the Five Thousand.
  5. What can we learn about God from this passage?
  6. Answers
  7. Read Matthew 14:22-33, Jesus Walks on Water.
  8. What do you learn about God from this passage?
  9. Answers
  10. Read Matthew 14:34-end.
  11. In this last little part, it mentions people begging to touch the bottom of His robe, and they are all healed as they do that. Why does God allow them to do that? Why doesn’t He just pronounce them all healed and send them home? It seems like that would be a human inclination to do.
  12. Answers

Lesson 15

  1. Read Matthew 15:1-20.
  2. What can we learn about God from this passage?
  3. Answers
  4. Read Matthew 15:21-31.
  5. What can we learn about God?
  6. Answers
  7. Read Matthew 15:32-end.
  8. Jesus has compassion on the crowd again. The disciples haven’t learned the lesson. Like our little Roma church (see answers under #6 above), they hadn’t made the jump to their first thought being to just trust Jesus.
  9. This is a very similar story to the feeding of the five thousand. Again, they give what little they have and end up with more than they started with.
  10. How much did the people get to eat? What does that teach us about God and how He cares for His children?
  11. Answers
  12. I just want to interject something here. I want you to know that God is a good Father. He can and will meet your needs! We (at least I know this is true in America) work really hard at not needing God. How many kinds of insurances are there? He may bring you (or all of us) to the point of really, truly needing Him for all things. That’s not a bad place to be. That’s certainly not a sad or dangerous or desperate place to be. It can be a very exciting place! A number of years ago our family purposefully (following God’s leading) gave up all income, including raised support, and stepped out onto the water and let God provide for us. We lived off of miracles for a year and a half (with never any debt). Then the Lord provided the perfect part-time job that would cover costs and allow us to set our own hours so that it didn’t interfere with ministry. We always believed we went through that on purpose so that when others were thrown into that position, we would be able to tell them that the Lord reigns! He provides! His love for you cannot fail!
    • It was during that time in our lives that I wrote The King Will Make a Way: An End Times Story for the Last Days Saint. It’s a story to encourage people to never fear and to live wholly for the King! (You can find the PDF in Reading 7 on allinonehomeschool.com.)

Lesson 16

  1. Read Matthew 16:1-12.
  2. What do we see in Jesus here?
  3. Answers
  4. Faith pleases God. Demanding from Him and ignoring everything He’s shown you and that you already know of Him, does not please Him.
  5. Again, Jesus doesn’t just spell it out and say to watch out for the deceptive teaching of the religious leaders. He speaks and prods and questions to get people to realize, to discover for themselves, to have it dawn on them.
  6. Why do we need to be watchful about the teachings of religious leaders, even those who know the Bible seemingly best of all?
  7. Answers
  8. Read Matthew 16:13-23.
  9. Peter is called both blessed and Satan in this section. What was the cause of each?
  10. Answers
  11. Read Matthew 16:24-end.
  12. Here’s the crux of the Christian life: death to self to have life in Christ.
  13. What does it mean to give up your life to save it and to lose your life by hanging onto it?
  14. Answers

Lesson 17

  1. Read Matthew 17:1-13.
  2. What do we learn about God from this passage?
  3. Answers
  4. Read Matthew 17:14-21.
  5. Jesus heals the boy, so we know it was God’s will to heal the boy.
  6. Were the disciples able to heal the boy?
  7. Was it God’s will to heal the boy?
  8. Why wasn’t the boy healed when they tried?
  9. Did Jesus fast and pray at that moment before healing the boy?
    • The verse about prayer and fasting doesn’t appear here in Matthew in all translations. It appears in Mark’s version of the events, though. Some translations say prayer. Some say prayer and fasting. We can get the same principle either way.
  10. Answers
  11. Read Matthew 17:22-end.
  12. What do we see in Jesus in the tax scene? What do we learn about God?
  13. Answers

Lesson 18

  1. Read Matthew 18:1-10. Other translations add verse 11, “For the Son of Man came to save that which was lost.”
  2. There are two parts to this: becoming like a child and welcoming a child, and an expectation of hell for those tempting others to sin.
  3. Let’s start with the good part.
  4. What does Jesus say is necessary in order to get into the Kingdom of Heaven and what does it tell us about God? (We’ve got to keep our focus on Him! It’s very easy to get our focus back on ourselves!)
  5. Answers
  6. We read here another description of who will face “woe” or “sorrow.” Those who tempt others to sin.
  7. Answers
  8. One last thing is that Jesus welcomed the children to Himself. He says to not look down on them. Believe that children can understand and come to Christ!
  9. The point of this whole section was to answer, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.” Of course, Jesus is the greatest! To ask is to show you are missing the Kingdom!
  10. Read Matthew 18:12-14.
  11. What do we learn about God from the lost sheep story?
  12. Answers
  13. Read Matthew 18:15-end.
  14. We read about church discipline, to the point of shunning someone, and then we read about the unmerciful servant. I think they need to be read together in context.
  15. What’s the moral of the last story? Look at the last verse that sums up the lesson. 
  16. Answers
  17. In the church discipline section, we read about someone who sinned against you. Believers have to forgive that person. Church discipline isn’t about you getting justice. It’s about saving the sinner and protecting the church from the “yeast” of sin.
  18. The point of “shunning” is to wake the person up to the seriousness of the sin and bring them to repentance in order to welcome them back. You have to have forgiven them so that you can welcome the person back.
  19. If you were the one sinned against, you have to forgive. You should do that first. Then decide if any other steps are necessary out of love for others, not yourself. Maybe it’s just a case of bearing with one another.

Lesson 19

  1. Read Matthew 19:1-12, marriage.
  2. What does it teach us about God?
  3. Answers
  4. Read Matthew 19:13-end.
  5. What can we learn about God?
  6. Answers
  7. Read Matthew 20:1-16, the vineyard workers.
  8. What can we learn about God?
  9. Answers

Lesson 20

  1. Read Matthew 20:17-28.
  2. Here’s the first and last concept again. He who wants to be first must be what?
  3. Answers
  4. What did Jesus come to do?
  5. Answers
  6. Anytime we are upset that we aren’t being served, we aren’t being like Jesus.
  7. Read Matthew 20:29-end.
  8. Again Jesus shows mercy; He has compassion. He asks what they want. He gives the good gift of Himself. Don’t be the religious people shushing those calling out for Jesus!

Lesson 21

  1. Read Matthew 21:1-17, the triumphal entry and clearing the temple.
  2. What do we see about Jesus in these stories? What do we see of our good Father?
  3. Answers
  4. Read Matthew 21:18-27, the fig tree and authority challenged.
  5. What do we learn about Jesus and His good Father?
  6. Answers
  7. Read Matthew 21:28-32, the two sons.
  8. Who does God consider to be His obedient children?
  9. Answers
  10. Read Matthew 21:33-end, the evil farmers.
  11. This is a parable against the leaders of the Jews who time and again turned against God’s prophets. The Jewish leadership of that time was against Jesus and was about to cause His death. Jesus says the Kingdom of God will be taken away from Israel and given to another. After His resurrection, the apostles start with the Jews but then spread the Gospel everywhere. God hasn’t given up on Israel. Israel is and always will be His people. He has done all this for them. He is even opening the gospel to the Gentiles, in part for the people of Israel! He will turn the nation back to Himself and rule there. In the meantime, every believer gets to become part of Israel. The Church didn’t replace Israel; it became part of it!

Lesson 22

  1. Read Matthew 22:1-14, the great feast.
  2. This is in some ways similar to the story of the evil farmers. The Jews reject Jesus and the gospel is sent far and wide. Then it is reminiscent of some of those parables like the net of fish where they are all collected and bad ones discarded.
  3. What do we learn about God from this story?
  4. Answers
  5. Read Matthew 22:15-33, taxes and resurrection.
  6. Here we see the religious people frustrating Jesus again. They are trying so hard to be right that they are missing God entirely. We need to humble ourselves and remember that our goal isn’t being right but loving God and others. Don’t let your “rightness” keep you from being able to be taught by God. He’s the only one with all truth.
  7. How does Jesus describe God in verse 32 (the very end)?
  8. Answers
  9. Read Matthew 22:34-end, the most important commandment and the Messiah.
  10. Here we have a repetition of the teaching that the law and the prophets is summed up in these two laws. What are they?
  11. Answers
  12. Jesus then teaches that the Son of David is more than just an earthly descendant of David. Jesus will not be an earthly king like they imagine.

Lesson 23

  1. Read Matthew 23:1-36.
  2. What do we learn about our good Father? How does He feel about religious acts?
  3. Answers
  4. Read Matthew 23:37-end.
  5. What are they missing out on? How does He feel about His people Israel?
  6. Answers

Lesson 24

  1. Read Matthew 24:1-28. Let’s try to read this chapter and just read the Scripture and believe what it says and not bring in outside teachings.
  2. God is bringing about His Kingdom on earth. Jesus will reign on earth. Then there will be a new heaven and a new earth where Christ will reign forever. When it’s talking about “birth pains,” He’s referring to bringing forth this new, eternal kingdom on earth.
  3. What do we learn about God?
  4. Answers
  5. Read Matthew 24:29-end. This is a description of the second coming of Christ.
  6. God’s power and majesty are on display. There will be two groups of people. The elect are gathered together to Christ. The rest mourn.
  7. In verse 29, we are told this will happen immediately after the tribulation.
  8. God wants us to be prepared. We are told it will be like the days of Noah. Noah was prepared. The rest were taken away by God’s wrath.
  9. In a similar way, His coming is described like a thief coming in the night and the master catching His lazy servant not doing what he was supposed to be doing. These are warnings to the unbeliever. A thief is a bad thing. Jesus isn’t coming as a thief for His believers. 1 Thessalonians 5:4 tells us that we won’t be surprised by a thief in the night. We’re to be the sensible servant doing what we should be doing!

Lesson 25

  1. Read Matthew 25:1-13, the bridesmaids.
  2. If Jesus is the groom, what can we learn about God?
  3. Answers
  4. Read Matthew 25:14-30, the three servants.
  5. From the end of the story, what do we learn about God?
  6. Answers
  7. Read Matthew 25:31 – end.
  8. What do we learn about our Father?
  9. Answers

Lesson 26

  1. Read Matthew 26:1-5, the plot.
  2. We see a conspiracy afoot. There is backroom planning on how to kill Jesus. When the Bible tells us not to call all things conspiracy that the world calls conspiracy, it’s not because conspiracies don’t exist! There is conspiring in this chapter.
  3. But what else do we see? Who has really done the planning?
  4. Answers
  5. Read Matthew 26:6-16, the anointing and Judas.
  6. Here’s another example of something looking good on the outside but not being pleasing to God. In John’s gospel, we read that Judas was the one who said the money could have been given to the poor. It says that he said it not because he cared but because he used to steal the money. His hypocrisy continues to harden his heart further and further away from God, even though he was sitting in the room with him!
  7. Read Matthew 26:17-35, the last supper, denial prediction.
  8. God has prepared a place for the last supper. He instructs the disciples to say to the man, “The time has come…” What had God revealed to that man? What joy to be the one who gets to provide for the Lord and His disciples in these simple ways.
  9. Jesus predicts betrayal and denial. What do we learn about God through these scenes?
  10. Answers
  11. The act of communion is established here. What does that show us about God?
  12. Answers
  13. Read Matthew 26:36-end.
  14. We see the weakness of humans. We see the strength of Christ, God in the flesh. He surrenders His life. He doesn’t have to be arrested and killed. He could escape if He wanted to. But that’s not His real desire. He loves God. He loves others. He doesn’t love His own life so as to shrink away death. He even loves His enemies. We read in Luke’s gospel how He heals the servant’s ear after one of His disciples cuts it off.
  15. He doesn’t defend Himself. He could have flipped them out telling them things He couldn’t have known as they were slapping Him and daring Him to prophecy. He remains silent. He wasn’t trying to save Himself. His desire wasn’t to save Himself but to save you.

Lesson 27

  1. Read Matthew 27:1-26.
  2. Pilate believed Jesus was innocent and knew Jesus hadn’t committed a crime against Rome deserving of death. Yet, none of that mattered. Why?
  3. Answers
  4. Read Matthew 27:27-44. Jesus is crucified.
  5. The true King of the Jews is mocked. He doesn’t defend Himself. Could you stand up under that? Could you not defend yourself? Could you remain with a heart of love towards others acting in utter ignorance? Where is your heart towards others?
  6. Read Matthew 27:45-end. Jesus dies.
  7. There’s a gut-wrenching cry of, “God, why did you abandon me,” fulfilling yet another of a multitude of prophecies, most of which we’ve not even mentioned. Jesus isn’t killed; He releases His spirit. He laid down His life. It wasn’t taken from Him.
  8. The sky turns dark. The temple curtain is torn! There is an earthquake. There’s a resurrection of many godly men and women! What do we see of God here?
  9. Answers

Lesson 28

  1. Read Matthew 28:1-15.
  2. What do we see of God here?
  3. Answers
  4. Read Matthew 28:16-20.
  5. What do we learn of our Good Father?
  6. Answers