Matthew 1 - 14 Walking With Jesus - Sunday School Member Quarterly Fall 2021 - Morningside Baptist Church Valdosta GA
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Sunday School Member Quarterly
Fall 2021
Matthew 1 – 14
Walking With Jesus
Sunday School Lessons for Adults and Youth
Written by John O. Yates
2604 Bemiss Road, Valdosta, GA 31602
(229) 242-1426 www.morningside.ws
Sunday School – 9:00 each Sunday MorningSunday School Member Quarterly, Fall 2009,
Matthew 1 – 14.
Copyright © 2009, John O. Yates, July 2009. All rights
reserved.
Revised and updated 2021
for the Fall 2021 quarter.
Unless otherwise noted, all scripture quotations are taken
from the King James Version of the Bible.
Soli Deo Gloria!
2 Sunday School Member Quarterly, Fall 2021, Matthew 1 - 14Sunday School Lessons
September through November 2021
Matthew 1 – 14
Walking With Jesus
THE BIRTH AND EARLY MINISTRY OF JESUS
Sept 5: Unquestioning Obedience (Matthew 1 – 2) .................... 8
Sept 12: The Baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3) ............................... 12
Sept 19: The Beginning of Jesus’ Ministry (Matthew 4) ........... 15
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT
Sept 26: It’s the Thought that Counts (Matthew 5) .................... 18
Oct. 3: The Cure for Worry (Matthew 6) ................................. 21
Oct. 10: Proper Judgment (Matthew 7) ...................................... 24
JESUS’ PERFORMED MIRACLES AND TAUGHT THE PEOPLE
Oct. 17: Jesus Christ the Omnipotent (Matthew 8) .................... 27
Oct. 24: Jesus’ Power and Authority (Matthew 9) ..................... 30
Oct. 31: Ministry in the Face of Opposition (Matthew 10) ........ 33
Nov. 7: Jesus Rebuked the Indifferent (Matthew 11) ................ 36
Nov. 14: The Plot to Kill Jesus (Matthew 12) ............................. 39
Nov. 21: Why Did Jesus Teach in Parables? (Matthew 13) ........ 42
Nov. 28: More Parables and Miracles (Matthew 13 – 14) ............ 46
Supplementary Materials
Daily Bible Reading Guide ........................................................ 4
Coming Next Quarter ................................................................. 5
Map of Judea and Galilee ......................................................... 6
Introduction to Matthew 1 – 14 ................................................ 7
How to Become a Christian ...................................... Back Cover
Morningside Baptist Church – Valdosta, GA 3Daily Bible Reading Guide Read the following scripture passages each day and complete the learning activities in this book each week. This will prepare you for Sunday School class, and God will bless you as you read, study, and memorize His Word. Week of August 30 – September 4 Mon: Matthew 1; Tues: Matthew 2; Wed: Isaiah 7:1-16; Thurs: Micah 5; Hosea 11; Fri: Matthew 1; Sat: Matthew 2 Week of September 6 – 11 Mon: Matthew 3; Tues: Mark 1:1-11; Wed: Luke 3:1-22; Thurs: Memorize Matthew 3:8; Fri: John 1:15-34; Sat: Matthew 3 Week of September 13 – 18 Mon: Matthew 4; Tues: Mark 1:12-28; Wed: Luke 4:1-37; Thurs: Memorize Matthew 4:4; Fri: Deuteronomy 6:1-16; Sat: Matthew 4 Week of September 20 – 25 Mon: Matthew 5; Tues: Luke 6; Wed: Exodus 20:1-17; Thurs: 1 John 3; Fri: Deuteronomy 5; Sat: Matthew 5 Week of September 27 – October 2 Mon: Matthew 6; Tues: Luke 11:1-13; Wed: Philippians 4; Thurs: Memorize Matthew 6:33; Fri: Luke 12:16-34; Sat: Matthew 6 Week of October 4 – 9 Mon: Matthew 7; Tues: Luke 6:37-49; Wed: Romans 2; Thurs: Memorize Matthew 7:21; Fri: 1 Corinthians 5; Sat: Matthew 7 4 Sunday School Member Quarterly, Fall 2021, Matthew 1 - 14
Week of October 11 – 16
Mon: Matthew 8; Tues: Luke 7:1-10; Wed: Mark 5:1-21;
Thurs: Luke 8:22-40; Fri: Romans 1:1-20; Sat: Matthew 8
Week of October 18 – 23
Mon: Matthew 9; Tues: Mark 2:1-17; Wed: Luke 8:40-56;
Thurs: Colossians 1; Fri: Matthew 28:16-20;
Sat: Matthew 9
Week of October 25 – 30
Mon: Matthew 10; Tues: Mark 6:1-13; Wed: Luke 9:1-11;
Thurs: Memorize Matthew 10:39; Fri: 2 Corinthians 11;
Sat: Matthew 10
Week of November 1 – 6
Mon: Matthew 11; Tues: Luke 7:19-35; Wed: Malachi 3;
Thurs: Memorize Matthew 11:28; Fri: Malachi 4;
Sat: Matthew 11
Week of November 8 – 13
Mon: Matthew 12; Tues: 1 Samuel 21:1-6;
Wed: Mark 3:22-35; Thurs: Memorize Matthew 11:29;
Fri: Luke 11:15-32; Sat: Matthew 12
Week of November 15 – 20
Mon: Matthew 13:1-23; Tues: Mark 4:1-20;
Wed: Isaiah 6:1-10; Thurs: Memorize Matthew 11:30;
Fri: Luke 8:4-15; Sat: Matthew 13:1-23
Week of November 22 – 27
Mon: Matthew 13:24-58; Tues: Matthew 14;
Wed: Mark 6:32-52; Thurs: John 6:1-21;
Fri: Matthew 13:24-58; Sat: Matthew 14
Coming Next Quarter
(December 2021 – February 2022)
Matthew, Part 2
Morningside Baptist Church – Valdosta, GA 5Map of Judea and Galilee 6 Sunday School Member Quarterly, Fall 2021, Matthew 1 - 14
Introduction to Matthew 1 – 14 Author: The Apostle Matthew Date: Approximately A.D. 50 The Apostle Matthew (also known as Levi) was a tax collector (a publican). Tax collectors in ancient times were notoriously dishonest, enriching themselves by overcharging the people. Like other publicans in Judea and Galilee in the First Century, Matthew was a Jew who collected tax money for the hated Romans. Because of their dishonest work and their association with the Romans, tax collectors were hated and shunned by other Jews. The Gospel of Matthew is a Jewish Gospel: it was written by a Jew, it was written to other Jews, and its subject is the Jewish Messiah. Jesus is presented as the Son of David and promised king. The “kingdom of heaven” is a common theme in Matthew. Matthew’s Gospel contains three great sermons preached by Jesus: the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5 – 7), the Sermon by the Seaside (Matt. 13), and the Olivet Discourse (Matt. 24 – 25). The first half of the Gospel of Matthew describes Jesus’ ministry in Galilee. Beginning in Matthew 4:12, all of His activity took place around the Sea of Galilee (see the Map of Judea and Galilee on page 6). Jesus and His disciples walked almost everywhere they went, so as you embark on this study of Matthew 1 – 14 you will have the opportunity to “walk” with Jesus from Nazareth to Capernaum and all along the shores of the beautiful Sea of Galilee. Morningside Baptist Church – Valdosta, GA 7
September 5, 2021 Matthew 1 – 2
Unquestioning Obedience
One of the goals of military basic training (boot camp) is to teach
new recruits to obey orders. They are taught to respond to
commands immediately, without questioning or arguing. They
spend hours learning to perform drills and march in formation in
order to train them to obey commands immediately.
Unquestioning obedience is not a popular concept in our modern,
freethinking, individualistic society. Most of us resist authority to
some degree – we just don’t like being told what to do. This
tendency to disobey causes many problems in families, schools,
and work places. What about you? Do you rebel against authority,
or do you generally obey without questioning?
Matthew 1 and 2 describe the birth and early life of Jesus Christ.
We will deal with Jesus’ birth in this lesson, but we are also going
to focus on another character who seldom receives much attention:
Joseph. You see, when God gave Joseph instructions, he obeyed.
Matt. 1:1 “The book of the generation of _________
__________, the son of _________, the son of
Abraham.”
Son of David is a messianic title, revealing that Jesus Christ is the
promised Messiah. Verses 2-17 detail the legal ancestry of Jesus,
through His stepfather, Joseph.
Matt. 1:18 Mary and Joseph were espoused. That meant they
were legally bound together but they had no physical
contact. What happened?
Matt. 1:19 Joseph could have had Mary stoned to death for her
assumed immorality, but what did he plan to do?
8 Sunday School Member Quarterly, Fall 2021, Matthew 1 - 14Matt. 1:20 What happened while he thought about these things?
What did the angel tell Joseph to do?
Matt. 1:21 What did the angel say about the baby?
Matt. Why was all this done (see also Isaiah 7:14)?
1:22-23
Matt. 1:24 What did Joseph do when he awoke?
Did Joseph argue or question God’s instructions?
What do you suppose onlookers in Nazareth thought when Joseph
married a pregnant girl? They undoubtedly assumed that he was
the father of the baby. Joseph obeyed God, even when doing so
damaged his reputation. He was willing to endure public ridicule
in order to obey God. Would you have done the same?
Matthew 2:1-12 tells the familiar story of the wise men coming to
visit baby Jesus. They first went to King Herod asking where the
King of the Jews was to be born. Herod questioned the Jewish
religious leaders, who quoted Micah 5:2, which said Christ (the
Messiah) would be born in Bethlehem. Herod told the wise men to
find the child and then bring word back to him of the child’s
whereabouts. Herod wanted to kill the baby. The wise men found
Jesus and worshiped him, but then God warned them not to return
to Herod.
Matt. 2:13 Who appeared to Joseph?
What did he tell Joseph to do?
Where were they to go?
Why were they to do this?
Matt. 2:14 What did Joseph do when he awoke?
Morningside Baptist Church – Valdosta, GA 9Matt. 2:15 How long did the young family remain in Egypt?
This was done to fulfill the prophecy found in Hosea 11:1. Joseph
had never been to Egypt before. Now, based purely on God’s
command, he took his young wife and her baby into that unfamiliar
place. Joseph obeyed God even when doing so meant going
into the unknown. Would you do that?
When King Herod realized the wise men left the country without
reporting back to him, he became very mad. He sent his soldiers to
kill all the baby boys, 2 years old and under, in and around
Bethlehem. This fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah 31:15
Matt. 2:19 Joseph and his family were in Egypt. Who appeared
to him after Herod died?
Matt. 2:20 What did he tell Joseph to do?
Matt. 2:21 What did Joseph do?
Joseph and his family had settled in Egypt. He was a skilled
carpenter. The Egyptians were always building something, so
work was plentiful. Joseph left this comfortable situation to return
to Israel. Joseph obeyed God even when it meant leaving his
comfort zone. Are you prepared to do the same?
Matt. 2:22 Along the way Joseph learned that Herod’s wicked
and cruel son was now king. He was afraid to return
to Israel. Why did he turn north and settle in
Galilee?
Matt. 2:23 “And he came and dwelt in a city called
____________: that it might be fulfilled which was
spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a
____________.”
Concluding Thoughts: The Bible doesn’t tell us a lot about
Joseph, the man who served as Jesus’ earthly father. The most
important characteristic we can glean from Matthew 1 and 2 is that
10 Sunday School Member Quarterly, Fall 2021, Matthew 1 - 14Joseph was a man of unquestioning obedience. When God gave Joseph instructions, he obeyed. Joseph obeyed God even when doing so damaged his reputation (Matt. 1:20-25). God completely changed Joseph’s plan for his life. He was a fine, moral young man, but people in Nazareth assumed he had fathered an illegitimate child. He accepted that stigma (which was much greater in that day than it is today) in order to obey God. Joseph obeyed God even when doing so meant going into the unknown (Matt. 2:13-15). He led his young family into the unknown of Egypt. For a Jew, Egypt did not evoke pleasant thoughts. Joseph took his family to Egypt because God told him to. Joseph obeyed God even when doing so meant leaving his comfort zone (Matt. 2:19-21). When God told Joseph to return to Israel, he immediately uprooted his family and made the move. Finally, Joseph’s obedience was used by God to keep baby Jesus out of harm’s way (Matt. 2:22-23). If Joseph had not obeyed, he might have taken Jesus into a dangerous place, or turned back and remained in Egypt. Instead, he obeyed God and settled in Galilee. If today’s lesson were about you instead of Joseph, would it reveal such a positive testimony of obeying God? Does God know you exhibit unquestioning obedience to His Word? If not, you should confess your sin and renew your commitment to obey God. Project: Obey God in everything He tells you this week. How can you know what God is telling you? By reading His Word. Do the Daily Bible Readings (found on page 4) each day this week. Morningside Baptist Church – Valdosta, GA 11
September 12, 2021 Matthew 3
The Baptism of Jesus
We use ceremonies to mark special events. Ceremonies such as
graduations and weddings celebrate achievements and milestones
in life; but they also do some other important things: they
announce to the world the beginning of a new era in life, and they
recognize the new status of those involved.
For example, when young people complete high school, the
graduation ceremony celebrates their achievement, announces that
they are embarking upon a new phase of life, and recognizes their
new status as full-fledged adult members of society. Another
example of this can be seen in the wedding ceremony. While it is
certainly a celebration, more importantly it announces that the new
husband and wife are embarking upon a new era of life together as
a couple, and recognizes their new status as a married couple and
as persons who are no longer single adults.
The same can be said of baptism in the modern church: it
celebrates a new life in Christ, announces the beginning of a new
era of life for the person being baptized, and recognizes his or her
new position and status as a child of God. This week’s lesson is
about the baptism of Jesus Christ, but first we are going to learn
about a strange and unusual-looking character.
Matt. 3:1 Who was preaching in the wilderness of Judea?
John was Jesus’ cousin, the son of Mary’s cousin Elisabeth.
Matt. 3:2 What was John’s message?
Matt. 3:3 This verse quotes Isaiah 40:3. John was God’s
messenger sent forth to prepare the way for the
coming of His Son (see also Mal. 3:1).
Matt. 3:4 John had a rough and rugged appearance that
reminded the Jews of Elijah (2 Kings 1:8).
12 Sunday School Member Quarterly, Fall 2021, Matthew 1 - 14Matt. 3:5 People from all over came to be baptized by John.
Matt. 3:6 What did these people do when they were baptized?
For these people, baptism was an outward symbol of their heart’s
desire to turn away from their sin.
Matt. 3:7 The large crowds attracted the attention of the
Pharisees and Sadducees, respected Jewish religious
leaders. John asked them a question: “O generation
of __________, who hath __________ you to
________ from the _________ to come?”
Matt. 3:8 What did he tell them to do?
It’s easy to say you have repented, but that’s not enough. If you
have truly repented your behavior will be different.
Matt. 3:9 The Jews were proud that they were Abraham’s
descendants. What did John say God could do?
Matt. 3:10 What did he say would happen to those who don’t
bring forth good fruit (the result of true repentance)?
Matt. 3:11 What did John baptize with?
What did he say the one who comes after him
(Jesus) would baptize with?
Matt. 3:12 What did he say Jesus would do?
Matt. 3:13 What happened next?
Matt. 3:14 What did John say?
Matt. 3:15 How did Jesus answer?
Matt. 3:16 Jesus never sinned (Heb. 4:15) and therefore had no
need to repent, but through baptism He identified
Morningside Baptist Church – Valdosta, GA 13completely with the sinful people He came to save.
What happened when Jesus came up out of the
water? “The heavens were __________ unto Him,
and He saw the __________ of God descending like
a ________, and lighting upon Him.”
Matt. 3:17 What happened next?
What did God say?
All three members of the Trinity were physically manifested at
Jesus’ baptism: the Father spoke audibly from heaven, the Son was
baptized, and the Spirit was visible in the form of a dove.
Concluding Thoughts: As noted earlier, Jesus never sinned so He
did not need to repent like the others whom John baptized. What,
then, was the significance of Jesus’ baptism?
Like the ceremonies mentioned in the introduction to this lesson,
three things happened when John baptized Jesus in the Jordan
River. First, it celebrated a significant achievement and milestone:
God had come to dwell among men in human flesh, completely
identifying with the sinful humans He came to save. Second, it
announced to the world the beginning of a new era: Jesus’ public
ministry. We know very little about Jesus’ life before His baptism,
but from that time onward His ministry was on public display.
Finally, Jesus’ baptism included a miraculous public affirmation of
His status as God’s Son. God announced to the watching world
that Jesus was His Son, who had His complete approval.
Have you accepted the saving message of Jesus Christ? If not,
please read the verses printed on the back of this book, confess and
repent of your sins, and place you trust in Jesus Christ.
Project: Memorize Matthew 3:8. Your behavior should be
different if you have truly repented of your sins.
14 Sunday School Member Quarterly, Fall 2021, Matthew 1 - 14September 19, 2021 Matthew 4
The Beginning of Jesus’ Ministry
The beginning of a new endeavor is often marked by celebration
and fanfare. The new president takes office amid elaborate
ceremony and celebrations that continue for many hours. A new
business will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony and grand opening
sale. The wedding ceremony is followed by a joyous reception
with friends and a honeymoon trip for the newly married couple.
Last week’s lesson ended with John the Baptist baptizing Jesus in
the Jordan River. It was an important event marking the beginning
of Jesus’ public ministry. God the Father and God the Spirit both
“showed up,” publicly affirming Jesus Christ as the Son of God.
In Matthew 4 you will learn about the beginning of Jesus’ ministry.
Was the beginning of this important ministry marked by fanfare
and celebration? Read the following verses to find out.
Matt. 4:1 Where did the Spirit lead Jesus?
Why did the Spirit lead Him there?
Some people mistakenly believe that the Spirit of God will never
lead us into difficulty, but that is not true. Jesus needed to face and
overcome the devil’s temptation in His flesh before He could begin
preaching, teaching, and ministering to others. The same may be
true for us, too.
Matt. 4:2 What did Jesus do in the wilderness?
Matt. 4:3 The tempter (the devil) challenged Jesus to prove He
was the Son of God. What did he tell Him to do?
Matt. 4:4 How did Jesus answer?
Morningside Baptist Church – Valdosta, GA 15Every time Jesus was tempted He quoted scripture. This time He
quoted Deuteronomy 8:3. Have you memorized some scripture to
use when facing temptation? If not, start today.
The devil tempted Jesus two more times (verses 5-11). He
challenged Jesus to prove His identity by putting God to the test,
and he offered Him all the world’s power and wealth if He would
worship him. Both times Jesus responded by quoting scripture.
Matt. 4:12 Where did Jesus go?
Matt. 4:13 In what city did He dwell?
Capernaum (see the map on page 6) was Jesus’ “home base” for
most of His ministry. This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 9:1-2.
Matt. 4:16 What did Jesus bring to the people of that region?
Matt. 4:17 What message did Jesus preach?
Matt. 4:18 Who did Jesus see by the Sea of Galilee?
Matt. 4:19 What did He tell them to do?
Matt. 4:20 How did they respond to Jesus’ call?
Matt. 4:21 Who else did He call?
Matt. 4:22 What did they do?
Jesus began His ministry in Galilee, preached repentance, and
called His first four disciples.
Matt. 4:23 Notice the three activities that made up Jesus’ early
ministry: “And Jesus went about all Galilee,
____________ in their synagogues, and
_____________ the Gospel of the kingdom, and
___________ all manner of sickness and all manner
of disease among the people.”
16 Sunday School Member Quarterly, Fall 2021, Matthew 1 - 14Teaching is instruction: simply imparting facts and truths to those
who are listening. Jesus did a great deal of teaching. Preaching
refers to a herald making a proclamation or announcement. The
message of Jesus’ early preaching was the same as that of John the
Baptist: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Healing
involves meeting peoples’ physical needs; we call it ministry.
Matt. 4:24 Jesus’ fame spread. What did people do?
How did Jesus respond?
Matt. 4:25 People came from many miles away to hear Jesus
and to be healed by Him.
Concluding Thoughts: The beginning of Jesus’ ministry was not
marked by a ribbon cutting ceremony, a grand opening sale, or an
extravagant party. His ministry began with hardship, deprivation,
and temptation. He fulfilled Old Testament prophecy by settling in
Capernaum, and He preached a hard message of repentance. Next
He called His first disciples. Jesus’ early ministry consisted of
teaching, preaching, and healing (ministering to physical needs).
If you are a believer you have a ministry. You don’t have to be a
pastor or have the title of “Reverend” before your name. The word
minister means to be a servant. If you are God’s child, you, like
Jesus, have a ministry.
What can we learn from this lesson? First, we should remember
that serving the Lord involves hardship and temptation. Second,
we can’t face temptation in our own strength: we need God’s
power and we need His Word. Third, we should serve the Lord
like Jesus did, through teaching, preaching (announcing the truth),
and ministering to the physical needs of others.
Project: Memorize Matthew 4:4. Prepare yourself for temptation
by memorizing God’s Word. Teach, preach, and minister to those
around you.
Morningside Baptist Church – Valdosta, GA 17September 26, 2021 Matthew 5
It’s the Thought that Counts
How many times have you heard that expression? When someone
says they meant to send you a birthday card but never got around
to it, you say, “It’s the thought that counts.” When you fail to
bring a gift to the party, the guest of honor says, “That’s all right;
after all, it’s the thought that counts.” We use that expression to
excuse our failure to carry out an appropriate action. It means that
our intention is more important than our actions.
Chapters 5, 6, and 7 of the Gospel of Matthew contain the most
famous sermon of all time: the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus dealt
with many different subjects in this sermon, but the over-arching
thrust of His message is that true righteousness is an inward
matter of the heart, which cannot be achieved by performing a
set of approved actions. In this lesson from chapter 5 Jesus will
teach us that it really is “the thought that counts.”
Matt. 5:1-2 Multitudes were following Jesus. What did He do?
Matt. 5:3 “Blessed are the ________ in __________: for
theirs is the kingdom of __________.”
The word blessed means happy and fortunate. The poor in spirit
are those who realize they are spiritually destitute. Such humble
people turn to Jesus for salvation and therefore go to heaven.
Matt. 5:4 “Blessed are they that _________: for they shall be
_____________.” Those who mourn experience
godly sorrow and grief because of their sins. God
will forgive and comfort those who sincerely repent.
Matt. 5:5 “Blessed are the ________: for they shall inherit the
_________.” Meekness is strength under control.
Meek people are teachable, do not defend their sin,
and surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
18 Sunday School Member Quarterly, Fall 2021, Matthew 1 - 14Matt. 5:6 “Blessed are they which do __________ and
__________ after _________________: for they
shall be __________.”
Verses 3-6 describe salvation. When a person realizes he is
spiritually poor and sincerely mourns over his sin, he meekly turns
to Jesus Christ for salvation. God then gives that person a hunger
for righteousness and holy living. These verses also focus on
inward attitudes rather than outward actions.
Matt. 5:7 What will those who are merciful obtain?
Matt. 5:8 What did He promise those who are pure in heart?
Matt. 5:9 What will people say about the peacemakers?
Matt. 5:10 What did Jesus say about those who are persecuted
for righteousness’ sake?
Matt. 5:11 Who did He say was blessed?
Matt. 5:12 What should be our attitude when we are
persecuted?
Who else were similarly persecuted?
Jesus went on to say we are the salt of the earth and the light of the
world. He said He did not come to do away with the Law but to
fulfill it. Then He said more about our thoughts.
Matt. 5:21 What does the Old Testament forbid (Ex. 20:13)?
Matt. 5:22 What puts us in danger of judgment?
The Jewish religious leaders of Jesus’ day prided themselves on
obeying the Ten Commandments in their outward actions, but
Jesus said hatred in the heart is just as bad as committing murder.
Matt. 5:27 What else is forbidden (Ex. 20:14)?
Morningside Baptist Church – Valdosta, GA 19Matt. 5:28 “But I say unto you, That whosoever ___________
on a woman to ________ after her hath committed
____________ with her already in his _________.”
Again, Jesus said the inward attitude of lust is as bad as actually
committing adultery. Jesus understood that our thoughts reveal
who we really are, even if we restrain our actions to appear to be
respectable, upstanding persons. Some time later Jesus said, “For
out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries,
fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies” (Matt. 15:19).
In the remainder of chapter 5 Jesus gave more instructions about
righteous living. He spoke about divorce, making meaningless
oaths, retaliation, and loving our enemies. He summed up His
teaching in the following verse.
Matt. 5:48 “Be ye therefore ___________, even as your
__________ which is in heaven is ___________.”
Concluding Thoughts: How can anyone possibly be right with
God? Jesus Christ set a tremendously high standard for personal
righteousness. Not only must we control our actions, we must also
control our thoughts. He said it’s the thought that counts.
As a matter of fact, Jesus pointed to the scribes and Pharisees, the
most legalistic and righteous-acting people of His day, and said,
“That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of
the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the
kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:20).
Who, then, can get right with God? Only those who realize their
spiritual need, humble themselves before God, turn from their sins,
and surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ (Matt. 5:3-6). All of
this happens on the inside, not through outward actions. If you’d
like to get right with God, read the verses on the back of this book,
confess your sins, and ask Jesus to come in and save you.
Project: Examine your thoughts and attitudes every day.
20 Sunday School Member Quarterly, Fall 2021, Matthew 1 - 14October 3, 2021 Matthew 6
The Cure for Worry
Do you ever worry? Worry is one of the most common sins
among God’s people. It is a somewhat secretive sin – others may
not know you are worried, but you certainly do! Worry is the
opposite of trust. Simply put, if you trust God you will not worry,
and in those areas in which you worry you are not trusting God.
We worry about many things, but two of the most common are
what others think of us and what the future holds. Do people
have a good opinion of me? Do they think I am a good person?
Will I have enough money to provide for myself in the future? In
an uncertain economy, people wonder if they will be able to afford
food, clothing, and a place to live. These are common worries.
In this lesson Jesus addressed those worries. He gave us a cure for
such worries. If you were sick and a cure was available, wouldn’t
you want it? Of course you would! Read the following verses to
learn how Jesus said we can free ourselves from worry. You will
also discover a great pattern for prayer.
Matt. 6:1 “Take heed that ye do not your alms before
_______, to be ________ of them.”
The word alms refers to acts of compassion, kindness, or charity
done for someone else. If we do such actions to be seen of men
what will God not give us?
Matt. 6:2 Some religious hypocrites actually blew trumpets
before they did good deeds so others would notice.
What reward do they receive?
Matt. 6:3-4 What happens when we do our deeds of kindness
and charity in secret?
Matt. 6:5 What did the hypocrites do when they prayed?
Morningside Baptist Church – Valdosta, GA 21Matt. 6:6 What happens when we pray in private?
Jesus went on to tell His followers not use “vain repetitions” when
they prayed (verses 7-8). We don’t need to repeat a bunch of
meaningless babble to try to impress others. Prayer should be
sincere communication between a needy child and his Heavenly
Father. Next Jesus gave us a pattern for prayer.
Matt. 6:9 “Our Father which art in Address God
__________”
“Hallowed be thy ______” Praise God
Matt. 6:10 “Thy ___________ come. Submit to God’s
Thy ________ be done in sovereignty and will
earth, as it is in heaven”
Matt. 6:11 “Give us this day our Ask God to meet your
_________ bread” needs
Matt. 6:12 “And ___________ us our Ask God to forgive
debts, as we forgive our your sins
debtors”
Matt. 6:13 “And lead us not into Ask God to protect
______________, but you
deliver us from ________”
Matt. 6:16 What did the hypocrites do when they fasted?
Matt. What happens when we keep our fasting secret?
6:17-18
In the first half of the chapter Jesus addressed the problem of
worrying about what others think of us. The hypocrites of Jesus’
day were so concerned about what others thought that they did all
their religious activities in public, so people would think they were
righteous. What is the solution for worrying about what others
think? Do your praying, fasting, and almsgiving in private, not for
public display. When you do, you won’t have to worry about what
others think. Also, God will reward you.
Matt. 6:25 What worries did Jesus address next?
22 Sunday School Member Quarterly, Fall 2021, Matthew 1 - 14Matt. 6:26 Why shouldn’t we worry about food?
Matt. 6:28 Why shouldn’t we worry about clothing?
Matt. 6:30 How can we know God will take care of us?
Matt. 6:31 “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we
_______? or, What shall we _________? or,
Wherewithal shall we be ___________?”
Matt. 6:32 Why shouldn’t we worry about those things?
Matt. 6:33 “But seek ye _________ the ___________ of God,
and His _________________; and all these things
shall be _________ unto _______.”
Jesus told us not to worry about the future. He said not to worry
about having enough money to provide for our food and clothing.
Jesus said the heathen (lost people) worry about these things.
What is the solution to worrying about the future? Remember that
God will take care of you. After all, He provides for the birds and
plants and you are much more valuable than them. Seek God first
and He will certainly provide for your future needs.
Concluding Thoughts: Worry is a common problem. We are all
prone to worry about what others think of us, and to worry about
the future. When those worries come your way, remember the
cure for worry you have found in this lesson. Don’t do private
religious activities in public, and trust God to care for your needs.
The Bible says it this way: “Be careful for nothing; but in every
thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your
requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which
passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds
through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6-7).
Project: Memorize Matthew 6:33.
Morningside Baptist Church – Valdosta, GA 23October 10, 2021 Matthew 7
Proper Judgment
Matthew 7 begins with some very familiar words: “Judge not, that
ye be not judged.” How many times have you heard that verse
quoted by someone trying to prove that it is never right to evaluate
the moral behavior of others? Here’s the way it usually goes. Sam
and Bill are discussing the spiritual needs of Gary, one of their
class members. Sam says: “I am very concerned for Gary’s
spiritual condition. I had heard that he believed in social drinking,
but the other day I saw him in a restaurant, and sure enough, he
was drinking an alcoholic beverage.” Bill then replies: “I don’t
think we have the right to condemn Gary’s behavior; after all, the
Bible says ‘judge not, that ye be not judged.’”
Is that the proper application of Matthew 7:1? Are we never to
judge the rightness or wrongness of someone else’s behavior? Is
that what the verse really means? If we are permitted to evaluate
the moral behavior of others, what basis of judgment may we use?
You will find answers to those questions as you study Matthew 7,
the final chapter of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.
Matt. 7:1 The word judge means to separate or distinguish. It
is used in the legal world to refer to trying, passing
sentence, and condemning someone to punishment.
Matt. 7:2 What standard will be used to judge (evaluate) our
moral behavior?
Did Jesus forbid us from evaluating the behavior of others? No;
He simply said when we do we make ourselves subject to the same
evaluation. Far from forbidding all judgment, Jesus described in
the remainder of this chapter five different types of judgment.
Hypocritical Judgment
Matt. 7:3 What did Jesus ask?
24 Sunday School Member Quarterly, Fall 2021, Matthew 1 - 14A mote is a tiny speck. It is hypocritical to judge a tiny speck of a
fault in someone else’s moral character while ignoring a huge
beam of a fault in your own. It is often easier to notice the faults
of others than to honestly admit our own.
Matt. 7:5 What should we do first?
What will that enable us to do?
“Cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye” – the point of this
judgment is correction, not condemnation. It is hypocritical to
condemn others for the same things we do ourselves.
Discerning Judgment
Matt. 7:6 Is it wise to give holy things to dogs or cast pearls
before swine?
What may happen to us if we do?
In verses 7-11 Jesus encourages us to pray, realizing that our
Heavenly Father wants to give us good things. In verse 12 He
stated the Golden Rule. That is a good basis for judgment.
Matt. 7:13 What happens to those who enter the wide gate?
Matt. 7:14 Where does the narrow gate lead?
Discerning judgment tells us not to carelessly throw holy things to
dogs. It also teaches us which gate is best for eternity.
Fruit Judgment
Matt. 7:15 Why is it difficult to spot false prophets?
Matt. 7:16 How can we identify them?
Matt. 7:17 What kind of fruit grows on “good” trees?
What grows on “corrupt” trees?
Morningside Baptist Church – Valdosta, GA 25Matt. 7:18 “A ________ tree cannot bring forth ________ fruit,
neither can a ___________ tree bring forth
________ fruit.”
Matt. 7:20 How can we identify false prophets?
Self Judgment
Matt. 7:21 Will everyone who calls Jesus “Lord” enter heaven?
Who will?
Many will claim that their good works qualify them for heaven, but
true salvation comes from a personal relationship with Jesus
Christ. It cannot be earned by doing good works (Titus 3:5).
Matt. 7:23 What will happen to counterfeit Christians?
Wise Judgment
Matt. 7:24-25 To whom did Jesus compare those who hear His
words and do (obey) them?
Matt. 7:26-27 What about those who hear but don’t obey?
Concluding Thoughts: Jesus did not forbid us from “judging”
others (evaluating their spiritual condition based upon their moral
behavior). He warned against hypocritical judgment (condemning
others while doing the same things ourselves), but He plainly told
us to inspect the fruit of others. True Christians can be identified
by the good fruit they bear, just as we can recognize false teachers
by their evil fruit. Fruit inspection is proper judgment.
Jesus also told us to judge and examine ourselves. Lip service will
not get you to heaven, but a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ
will. If you don’t have such a relationship, confess your sin and
place your faith (trust) in Jesus Christ. Please do it now.
Project: Memorize Matthew 7:21. Use proper judgment.
26 Sunday School Member Quarterly, Fall 2021, Matthew 1 - 14October 17, 2021 Matthew 8
Jesus Christ the Omnipotent
The word “omnipotent” is a combination of two Latin words. The
word “omni” means all and the word “potent” means power or
force. When you put them together they mean “all power.” The
dictionary defines the word omnipotent as follows: “Having
unlimited or universal power, authority, or force.”1
Jesus Christ is God; therefore He is omnipotent. He has unlimited
power, authority, and force. He has power over physical illness,
the forces of nature, and even unseen spirit creatures.
Ancient kings often had titles attached to their names, such as
Alexander the Great, Richard the Lion-Hearted, or even Ivan the
Terrible. As you study Matthew 8 you will find that our Lord may
aptly be called Jesus Christ the Omnipotent.
Jesus Has Power to Heal Through Touch
Matt. 8:1-2 After finishing the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus came
down from the mountain. Many people followed
Him. What did the leper want?
Matt. 8:3 “Jesus put forth his ________, and ___________ him,
saying, I ________; be thou clean. And immediately
his leprosy was ____________.” Look at verse 14.
Matt. 8:14 What did Jesus find when He entered Peter’s house?
Matt. 8:15 What did Jesus do?
What happened?
Jesus had power to heal diseases with the touch of His hand.
1
The American Heritage College Dictionary, Copyright © 1993 by Houghton
Mifflin Company.
Morningside Baptist Church – Valdosta, GA 27Jesus Has Power to Heal Through the Spoken Word
Matt. 8:5 Jesus entered Capernaum (see the map on page 6).
A centurion was a Roman military officer.
Matt. 8:6 What did the centurion tell Jesus?
Matt. 8:7 What did Jesus offer to do?
Matt. 8:8 Why didn’t the centurion want Jesus to come to his
house?
What did he ask Jesus to do?
Matt. 8:9 Why did this man understand authority?
Matt. 8:10 Why did Jesus marvel at the centurion?
Matt. 8:13 What did Jesus tell the centurion?
What happened to his servant?
Not only could Jesus heal with His touch, He also had power to
heal someone a long distance away with just His spoken word.
Jesus Has Power Over the Spirit World
Matt. 8:16 What did Jesus do for those possessed with demons?
Verses 28-43 tell about another such incident.
Matt. Two demon-possessed men approached Jesus. What
8:28-29 did they ask Him?
Matt. What else did they ask Him?
8:30-31
Matt. 8:32 What happened when Jesus said, “Go”?
Jesus Christ has power over physical disease and evil spirit forces.
Verses 23-27 tell about another realm of His power.
28 Sunday School Member Quarterly, Fall 2021, Matthew 1 - 14Jesus Has Power Over the Forces of Nature
Matt. Jesus and His disciples got into a boat to cross the
8:23-24 Sea of Galilee. What happened?
Matt. 8:25 What did the disciples say when they woke Jesus?
Matt. 8:26 “And He saith unto them, Why are ye ___________,
O ye of little _________? Then He arose, and
rebuked the _________ and the _______; and there
was a great ________.”
Matt. 8:27 How did the disciples react to this miracle?
Concluding Thoughts: Jesus Christ has incredible, unlimited
supernatural power. In this lesson you have seen that Jesus
demonstrated His power in the following realms:
• Jesus has power to heal through touch (v. 1-3, 14-15)
• Jesus has power to heal through the spoken word (v. 5-13)
• Jesus has power over the spirit world (v. 16, 28-34)
• Jesus has power over the forces of nature (v. 23-27)
Jesus can overcome physical disease, spiritual oppression, and
even the powerful forces of nature. Since He has that much power,
He can certainly handle whatever needs you might have.
Remember, however, that just because Jesus has this power does
not mean He is obligated to use it the way we want. The leper told
Jesus, “If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.” Jesus was willing
in that instance, so He healed the leper; but there were other lepers
in Israel who were not healed. In the same way, Jesus calmed the
storm on the sea, but allowed other storms to go unchecked.
Take time right now to thank Jesus Christ for His omnipotence.
Take your needs to Him in prayer. Trust Him to do what’s best.
Project: When your situation seems hopeless, call on Jesus Christ
the Omnipotent.
Morningside Baptist Church – Valdosta, GA 29October 24, 2021 Matthew 9
Jesus’ Power and Authority
What comes to your mind when you think of the word “authority?”
You might think of a corporate CEO, a general in the armed forces,
or even the president of the United States. Those people have a
great deal of authority, but their authority is still limited. The CEO
must answer to the stockholders and there are higher ranking
officers to whom the general must answer. Even the president, the
most powerful man on earth, has limits to his authority; there are
some things he cannot do and he still must answer to the voters.
During His earthly ministry Jesus Christ performed many miracles
that demonstrated His great power and authority. In last week’s
lesson you learned that Jesus is omnipotent: He has unlimited
power. In this lesson you will learn about Jesus’ authority.
Matt. 9:1 Jesus sailed back across the Sea of Galilee to
Capernaum (see the map on page 6).
Matt. 9:2 Some people brought a paralyzed man to Jesus.
What did He tell the man?
Matt. 9:3 The scribes thought Jesus was blaspheming –
claiming to do something only God can do.
Matt. 9:5 “For whether is __________, to say, Thy sins be
___________ thee; or to say, Arise, and ________?”
Matt. 9:6 What did Jesus do to prove He had power
(authority) to forgive sins?
Matt. 9:7 What did the paralyzed man do?
Matt. 9:8 What caused the crowd to marvel?
This incident proves that Jesus has authority to forgive sins.
30 Sunday School Member Quarterly, Fall 2021, Matthew 1 - 14Next, Jesus saw a tax collector named Matthew. Tax collectors
were Jews who worked for the Romans. The Jews hated them.
Matt. 9:9 What did Jesus tell Matthew to do?
How did Matthew respond?
Matt. Matthew hosted a great dinner at his house so his
9:10-11 lost friends could meet Jesus. The Pharisees thought
it was terrible that Jesus ate with such sinners.
Matt. 9:12 What did Jesus say about that?
Matt. 9:13 Who did He say He had come to call?
In verses 16-17 Jesus used a parable to teach that He didn’t just
patch-up old lives, but gives new life. Jesus demonstrated that He
has authority to interrupt your life and make it new.
Next, a certain ruler asked Jesus to bring his dead daughter back to
life. As Jesus was going to do this, a sick woman touched the hem
of His garment. What did He say to the woman (verse 22)?
Jesus arrived at the ruler’s house and found the people mourning.
Matt. 9:25 What did Jesus do?
Matt. Two blind men followed Him. What did He ask
9:27-28 them?
Matt. What did Jesus do?
9:29-30
Jesus has authority to heal sickness and raise the dead.
Verses 32-33 show that Jesus has authority to cast out demons.
Matt. 9:35 “And Jesus went about all the cities and villages,
__________ in their synagogues, and ___________
the gospel of the kingdom, and ___________ every
sickness and every disease among the people.”
Morningside Baptist Church – Valdosta, GA 31Matt. 9:36 How did Jesus feel about the multitudes?
Why?
Matt. 9:37 What did He say was plentiful?
What did He say were few?
Matt. 9:38 What did He tell us to do?
Who will send forth the laborers?
Verses 35-36 reveal Jesus’ compassion. His heart was moved by
the physical and spiritual needs of others. He inconvenienced
Himself to help others. Are you willing to do that?
Since Jesus Christ is Lord, verse 38 reveals that He has authority
to send forth laborers. Are you willing to go if He calls you to go
out into the harvest fields?
Concluding Thoughts: Just as we learned last week that Jesus has
all power, this week we have learned that He has all authority.
• Jesus has authority to forgive sins (v. 1-8).
• He has authority to interrupt our life and make it new (v. 9-17).
• He has authority to heal sickness and raise the dead (v. 18-31).
• He has authority to cast out demons (v. 32-33).
• Jesus has authority to send forth laborers (v. 37-38).
Jesus has all authority. There is nothing in the universe outside
the realm of His authority. He is sovereign Lord of all.
That’s a wonderful truth, but here’s one that probably means more
to you personally: Jesus has compassion on those with physical
and spiritual needs. That means Jesus Christ cares about you!
Project: Take your needs to the Lord, and read the Bible every day
(see the Daily Bible Reading Guide on pages 4 and 5).
32 Sunday School Member Quarterly, Fall 2021, Matthew 1 - 14October 31, 2021 Matthew 10
Ministry in the Face of Opposition
Jerry was a new believer. He was very enthusiastic about
spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ; he wanted to tell everyone he
could how to be saved through faith in Jesus. He helped his class
with outreach and participated in church visitation every week.
Soon, however, Jerry became discouraged. First, he was insulted
by some of his friends to whom he tried to witness. Other friends
simply avoided him. Next, some people he went to visit slammed
the door in his face. Before long Jerry realized that most of the
people in his class were unwilling to go visiting with him. Some
of them even told him to calm down about outreach because he
was embarrassing them. Eventually Jerry stopped witnessing.
Jerry faced opposition when he tried to minister for the Lord.
Some came from outside, but some also came from within. In this
chapter Jesus tells us how to face opposition when we minister.
Matt. 10:1 What power (authority) did Jesus give His disciples?
Matt. 10:5 Where did He tell them not to go?
Matt. 10:6 Where did He want them to go?
In verses 7-15 Jesus told His disciples what to preach, what
ministries to perform, and how He would provide for their needs.
Matt. 10:16 “Behold, I send you forth as _________ in the midst
of __________.”
Matt. 10:17 What did He say men would do to them?
Matt. 10:19 Why didn’t they need to worry about what to say?
Matt. 10:20 Who did He promise would speak through them?
Morningside Baptist Church – Valdosta, GA 33Matt. 10:21 Jesus said opposition and persecution might even
come from within their own families!
Matt. 10:22 Why would they be hated?
Jesus warned that opposition would come when they ministered in
His name. We shouldn’t be surprised when this happens to us.
Matt. 10:24 “The ____________ is not above his __________.”
The Jewish religious leaders accused Jesus of being empowered by
Beelzebub (the devil – see Matt. 12:24). He told His disciples not
to be surprised when people said the same of them.
Matt. 10:26 “________ them not therefore.”
Matt. 10:28 Who should we not fear?
Who should we fear?
Jesus said the Father cares about every little bird that falls to the
ground, and He even knows how many hairs are on our head.
Matt. 10:31 “________ ye not therefore, ye are of more
_________ than many ____________.”
Matt. 10:32 What will Jesus do for those who confess Him
before men?
Matt. 10:33 What about those who deny Him before men?
Matt. 10:34 What did Jesus say He would bring to earth?
While salvation unites believers, it causes division between saved
people and the world. Sometimes that division even reaches into
the closest human relationships within the family (verses 35-36).
Matt. 10:37 How much should we love Jesus?
34 Sunday School Member Quarterly, Fall 2021, Matthew 1 - 14Matt. 10:38 “And he that taketh not his _________, and
followeth after me, is not __________ of me.”
Matt. 10:39 What will happen to those who are willing to lose
their lives for Jesus’ sake?
Matt. 10:40 When others receive us (and our testimony), who
are they actually receiving?
Matt. 10:41 How can we receive a prophet’s reward?
Matt. 10:42 “And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of
these __________ ones a cup of cold ________ only
in the name of a ____________, verily I say unto
you, he shall in no wise _______ his __________.”
Concluding Thoughts: Jesus sent His disciples out to preach and
minister in His name. When He did, He also warned them to
expect opposition. Using the most vivid language, Christ said He
was sending them out like helpless lambs among hungry wolves.
He told them to expect attacks, even from within their own family.
He also told His disciples they must love Him more than their own
families, and to be ready to give up their lives for His sake.
Jesus not only gave these dire warnings, He also made some great
promises. He promised to give power to those who minister for
Him (v. 1), provide for their needs (v. 9-13), give them words to
speak (v. 19-20), and provide victory over fear (v. 26-31). He also
promised to speak for them before His Father in heaven (v. 32) and
to give them rewards for their service (v. 42).
Like His First Century disciples, Jesus has called us to minister for
Him. When we do, we can expect opposition. Are you willing to
serve Him in spite of the attacks that might come your way?
Project: Memorize Matthew 10:39. Tell someone this week how
he or she can receive Christ as Savior. Minister in Jesus’ name.
Morningside Baptist Church – Valdosta, GA 35November 7, 2021 Matthew 11
Jesus Rebuked the Indifferent
In last week’s lesson Jesus sent His disciples out to preach and
minister in His name. He warned them that they would face
opposition and hostility for the Gospel. He gave them warnings,
instructions, and promises for ministry in the face of opposition.
While you and I may face opposition or persecution for the Gospel
at any time, that is not the biggest problem we encounter. Most
people we interact with in our daily lives are not actually hostile to
the Gospel of Jesus Christ: they simply don’t care. They are
indifferent to Jesus, the message of the Gospel, and the stiff
requirements He set forth for following Him.
In this week’s lesson you will discover that Jesus rebuked those
who were indifferent to Him and His message. Think about it: the
people of Jesus’ day witnessed incredible miracles and powerful,
life-changing teaching, but most of them just didn’t care!
Matt. 11:1 What did Jesus do after sending out His disciples?
Matt. 11:2-3 John the Baptist was in prison (Matt. 4:12). He
heard about the amazing works of Christ, so he sent
two of his followers to Jesus. What did they ask?
Isolation, mental abuse, and physical deprivation caused John to
doubt something he previously knew – that Jesus was the Messiah.
Matt. 11:4 What did Jesus tell them?
Matt. 11:5 What did He want them to report to John?
Jesus then spoke to the multitudes about John the Baptist.
Matt. 11:9 “But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea,
I say unto you, and ________ than a ___________.”
36 Sunday School Member Quarterly, Fall 2021, Matthew 1 - 14Jesus then quoted two very important verses from the book of
Malachi. First was Malachi 3:1.
Matt. 11:10 What did He say about John?
Jesus said all the prophets and the Law foretold the coming of the
Messiah, but His generation was the only one to see it fulfilled.
Matt. 11:14 What else did He say about John?
Malachi 4:5-6 said a prophet like Elijah would come before the
Messiah. Jesus said John was the fulfillment of that prophecy.
The people Jesus addressed saw the fulfillment of two important
Old Testament prophecies. They also saw Jesus’ miracles.
Matt. 11:16 What did He compare them to?
Matt. 11:17 Were they content or discontent?
Matt. 11:18 What did they say about John?
Matt. 11:19 What did they say about Jesus?
Jesus rebuked the indifference of the crowd. He said they were
immature, idle, and dissatisfied. They criticized John for denying
himself and then criticized Jesus for eating. They were spiritually
indifferent. They wanted to see the show when Jesus performed a
miracle, but they didn’t want to be wholehearted disciples.
Matt. 11:20 Who did He rebuke next, and why?
Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum were cities near the Sea of
Galilee where Jesus performed miracles. Tyre and Sidon were
known for idolatry. Sodom was known for sexual immorality.
Matt. 11:21 What did He say Tyre and Sidon would have done if
He had performed His miracles there?
Morningside Baptist Church – Valdosta, GA 37Matt. 11:23 What did He say would have become of Sodom if
He had done His mighty works there?
Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum witnessed Jesus’ amazing
miracles and heard His life-changing teaching, but they didn’t care.
They were indifferent to the fact the Son of God was in their midst.
Matt. 11:25 From whom were these spiritual truths hidden?
To whom were they revealed?
Matt. 11:26 Why did God do this?
Matt. 11:27 Who can truly come to know God the Father?
Matt. 11:28 “________ unto me, all ye that __________ and are
heavy _________, and I will give you ________.”
Concluding Thoughts: Jesus rebuked the spiritual indifference of
most of the people who heard His message and saw His miracles.
Certainly, some believed Him, but most did not. They weren’t
actually hostile toward Jesus (next week you will learn about some
who were), but they were indifferent. They didn’t care about
Christ or His works. As a result their lives were never changed.
Spiritual indifference is still common today. Tens of millions of
Americans claim to be Christians, but only a relatively small
number attend church or allow Christ’s message to impact the way
they live. Most only call on God when they face danger or
disaster. They simply don’t care that much about Jesus Christ.
What about you? Are you a committed disciple of Jesus, or are
you just part of the crowd that follows to see the show? Would
you like to stop being spiritually indifferent? Ask Christ to touch
your heart with spiritual life. Ask Him to give you a real desire for
Him and His Word. Don’t live another day cold and indifferent.
Project: Memorize Matthew 11:28. Love and obey Jesus Christ.
38 Sunday School Member Quarterly, Fall 2021, Matthew 1 - 14November 14, 2021 Matthew 12
The Plot to Kill Jesus
Murder is a terrible crime. Murders are sometimes motivated by
drugs or alcohol. Sometimes they are the result of jealousy or
domestic violence. They are often motivated by greed. Regardless
of the motive, murder is a terrible, heart-wrenching event.
From time to time we hear about high-profile murder cases in the
news. Investigators gather evidence and interview witnesses.
They sometimes speculate about the motive. Eventually they tell
us about the perpetrators’ plot to carry out the murder. Those of us
who are not violent by nature are amazed at the intricate, cold-
hearted planning that goes into some murders. We wonder how
seemingly decent people can spend such time and effort making
detailed plans to kill another human being.
In this lesson you will learn about the plot to kill Jesus. His death
will not come until chapter 27, but here in chapter 12 you will
discover the beginning of the plot to kill Jesus.
Matt. 12:1 Jesus and His disciples walked through a grain field
on the Sabbath day. The hungry disciples picked
some grain and ate it. This was completely
permissible under Jewish law (see Deut. 23:25).
Matt. 12:2 The Pharisees saw this. What did they say to Jesus?
Jesus reminded the Pharisees of a time when King David and his
hungry soldiers ate the “shewbread” – bread that was set aside for
worship ceremonies in the Tabernacle (1 Sam. 21:1-6). He also
said that while the Sabbath was to be a day of rest, no one thought
the priests were guilty for working in the Temple on the Sabbath.
Matt. 12:6 “But I say unto you, That in this place is one
___________ than the __________.” To whom do
you think Jesus was referring?
Morningside Baptist Church – Valdosta, GA 39The Jews considered the Temple to be holy. In their minds it was
the dwelling place of God. The only thing greater than the Temple
was God Himself. Jesus Christ clearly claimed to be God!
Matt. 12:8 What else did He say about Himself?
Jesus went into their synagogue, where He found a man with a
withered (paralyzed) hand.
Matt. 12:10 What did the Pharisees ask Jesus?
Why did they ask this?
Jesus exposed their hypocrisy (verse 11) by stating that none of
them would hesitate to rescue their trapped sheep on the Sabbath
day. He said it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath (verse 12).
Matt. 12:13 What did Jesus do?
Matt. 12:14 “Then the Pharisees went out, and held a _________
against ______, how they might __________ Him.”
This verse marks the beginning of the Pharisees’ plot to kill Jesus.
From this point on everything they asked or did was designed to
try to gather more supposed “evidence” with which to accuse Him.
Jesus left the area and multitudes followed Him.
Matt. 12:22 What did Jesus do for the demon-possessed man?
Matt. 12:23 “And all the people were __________, and said, Is
not this the son of _________?”
This was a messianic title. The people wondered if Jesus was, in
fact, the Messiah. His miracles caused them to believe.
Matt. 12:24 The Pharisees were still watching everything Jesus
did. What did they say about Jesus?
The Pharisees accused Jesus of using Satan’s power to cast out
demons. Jesus said this was ridiculous, since a house or kingdom
40 Sunday School Member Quarterly, Fall 2021, Matthew 1 - 14You can also read
