 Questions and Answers - Matthew 1 - 4 |
| Q. When was the Book of Matthew written? | A. 60 A.D. |
| Q. What time period does it cover? | A. Jesus' birth to after His resurrection; 33 years. |
| Q. Which Bible authors immediately preceded Matthew? | A. Malachi, Nehemiah and Esther. The Books of Chronicles spill over into their time period too. |
| Q. What time period lapsed between the eras of Malachi and Matthew? | A. 400 years. |
| Q. How is Jesus introduced in Matthew? |
A. Matthew 1:1 = As the Messiah, a descendant of King David and of Abraham. Note: God promised Abraham his seed would be blessed. Little did he know! |
| Q. Did Matthew explain how Jesus descended from Abraham's bloodline? | A. Matthew 1:2-17 = Yes. |
| Q. Were all these ancestors of Jesus from godly homes? | A. Matthew 1:2-17 = No. They weren't even the best siblings! |
| Q. How? |
A. Let's go down the genealogy Matthew gives here: 1) Jacob tricked his older brother, Esau, out of his birthright (creating the Iraqi nation too) 2) Judah conspired with his brothers to leave Joseph in a pit to torment him because of their great jealousy of their father's love for him (which saved all of them in the end because Joseph became Pharaoh of Egypt) 3) Perez was the son of Judah and Tamar, who was also his widowed daughter-in-law. Sehe pretneded to be a prostitute and tricked Judah into sleeping with her 4) Rahab was a Gentile prostitute who married into the Israelite nation 5) Ruth was a Gentile widow of and Israelite, who married again into the Israelite nation 6) David had Bathsheba's husband assassinated when she became pregnant with his child, then married her after he was dead 7) Rehoboam rebelled against God 8) Abijam rebelled against God 9) Jehoram rebelled against God 10) Uzziah loved God, but was too timid to take down the idols in Judah, so God struck him with leprosy, which he had all his life 11) Jothan loved God, but wouldn't take down the pagan shrines and idols of Israel 12) Ahaz sacrificed his own son on a pagan altar (yet he had a good son, Hezekiah!) 13) Manasseh was the most evil of all the kings 14) Amon (Amos) was evil like his father, Manasseh (yet he had a good son, Josiah!) 15) Jehoiachin was evil (he went into captivity to Babylonia). Consider these last entries: 16) Shealtiel lived in exile 17) Zerubbabel led Israel back home from exile and was promised by God Himself that he was chosen for something special. (cf. Haggai 2:23) Note: Zerubbabel is the final genealogical entry in the Bible, though there are eleven more generations to Jesus recorded in Matthew) |
| Q. Is there any significance thing about this genealogy? | A. Matthew 1:17 = Yes. The genealogical records are exactly 14 generations from one era to another. |
| Q. Explain. |
A. Era 1 = God chose Abraham, the first believer Era 2 = God chose David, the first godly king of Israel Era 3 = From captivity to Messiah. |
| Q. How many generations passed from Adam to Abraham? | A. 20 generations; Noah was of the 10th generation. |
| Q. Who could you divide Abraham's descendants? |
A. From Abraham to Uzziah are 20 generations From Uzziah to Jesus are 20 generations. |
| Q. What can I learn from the way Joseph handled himself concerning Mary, his pregnant fiancee'? |
A. Matthew 1:19 = He protected Mary's reputation, though he thought she was two-timing him. Note: Always remember to love your brother, even if he needs a confrontation. Remember, it is easy to publicly humiliate someone, but that is not what Jesus would do! Do't take offense, but do what is right by God's standards, which bathe us in humility. |
| Q. What else can I learn from Joseph? |
A. Matthew 1:20 = He didn't act right away. He slept on it. And God spoke to him. Note: Never make snap decisions. Rarely is something so urgent that it cannot wait until tomorrow. Ask God about it and consider whether you're acting on His behalf or your own. |
| Q. I slept on a decision. How can I discern the motives of my decisions? | A. Matthew 1:24 = Did you do what God told you to do? How we resolve issues after waiting until morning reflects on our willing surrender to God's answers. If I'm still stressed about my problem, I'll probably make a godless choice anyway. Don't act until there is peace in your heart about the resolution. |
| Q. How did the three wise men know Jesus was born? | A. Micah 5:2-5 = It was prophesied by Micah and other Old Testament writers. A brand new star appeared in the sky and they knew it to be Messiah's star. It led them right to Jesus. |
| Q. Did the Israelites know of Jesus' birth? | A. Matthew 2:3 = Yes. Herod did too. |
| Q. How did God protect the three wise men from Herod? |
A. Matthew 2:12 = God warned them of danger in a dream. Note: Tune into God when you lie down. He talks to us while we sleep! |
| Q. How did Jesus escape Herod's attempt to murder Him? | A. Matthew 2:13 = God spoke to Joseph in a dream, warning him of exactly what Herod was up to. Joseph took his family and fled to Egypt. |
| Q. Why Egypt? |
A. Matthew 2:13 = Because God told Joseph that Jesus would be safe in Egypt. Note 1: God understands world politics better than we do! He also understands the thoughts and intentions of kings—of all mankind! Note 2: Most everyone wants peace, especially in the USA. How we go about achieving it is where we differ. God's right is right; God's wrong is wrong. If we stick to His Word of Truth, we cannot go wrong! |
| Q. Was it prophesied that Joseph and family would return from Egypt? | A. Matthew 2:15 = Yes. In Hosea 11:1. Also, a reference to the returning King is in Hosea 1:11. |
| Q. What did King Herod lose his temper? |
A. Matthew 2:16 = The wise men had outwitted him in not returning to him with Jesus' location. Note: The wise men didn't outwit Herod, God did! If you act with wisdom, listening to God's leading, letting Him guide you in all things, you will look brilliant to the world! But it isn't you who is being brilliant after all, it is God. You simply waited on Him! We are planning a trip abroad to a brand new place. Being away from everything one knows puts one in a very vulnerable position. I am practicing letting God lead in the planning of this trip. If I start getting tensed up, I know I've pushed God aside, so I humbly back off. Believers call this "pushing the flesh back down." The rewards of letting God go first, by faith, choosing peace in all things, is the most rewarding and fruitful place to be. |
| Q. Why did Herod slay those babies? |
A. Matthew 2:17 = That prophecy would be fulfilled. Jeremiah 31:15 was fulfilled by his heinous action. Note: Canyou imagine such a thing? The Israelites were under terrible servitude to Herod, had their hopes up with John the Baptist's announcing the coming King, though they were troubled about having a baby King born at such a badk time in history. Then all their two year olds and under were selectively slaughtered. Such anguish! The only comfort is in God's Word. We have to remember that God is in total control. Remember, He already knows what is going to happen and will turn all events to His ultimate purpose. |
| Q. Did God will that these babies die? |
A. Matthew 2:17-18 = No. God simply knew what Herod was going to do beforehand, even 600 years previous to the event. Note: God is omniscient, which means, He is all-knowing of everything past, present and future. At the same time, God is a God who gives us free will and doesn't interfere with our choices. He is not a holy dictator, that He smashes mere humans every time they commit heinous crimes. So what is God to us? Our Helper, if we ask Him anything in Jesus' name; our Guide, our Protector, but in all things, we must ask His leading. Do you know Who you address when you pray; how much He loves you and wants to be asked? He longs for us to know His Bible. Know it, know God, pray better, love better; be like God in words and actions. Let God mentor you. Pray at all times. God will take care of the rest. |
| Q. Is it normal to mourn the death of a loved one? | A. Matthew 2:18 = Yes. But only for a time. Solomon said that there is a time to mourn. All things of emotional turmoil are temporary. Note: It is a good rule of thumb to mourn a loss for 2 years. Even if it feels like lesser time, you will not be back to normal for two years. In that time, don't make any major decisions, huge lifestyle changes, or change church families. In other words, don't run! Don't let loss ruin your life in bringing instability to it. Read your Bible, pray, remember God knew this was going to happen and remains Captain at the helm, steering your ship. Be thankful, count your blessings and sit still so He can comfort you, heal you. He won't chase you if you run, but waits for you to return (to that half way point)! |
| Q. When did Joseph, Mary and Jesus return to Israel? | A. Matthew 2:19 = After the deaths of Herod and those who wanted Jesus dead. |
| Q. How did Joseph know when that time came? | A. Matthew 2:19 = God spoke to Joseph in a dream and told him. |
| Q. Who succeeded Herod? | A. Matthew 2:22 = Archelaus, Herod's son. |
| Q. Did that unnerve Joseph? | A. Matthew 2:22 = Yes! |
| Q. Where did God take Joseph and family next? | A. Matthew 2:22 = To Galilee, to a town called Nazareth, which is where Joseph and Mary lived before (see Luke). |
| Q. How did God's sovereignty work out here in Nazareth? |
A. Matthew 2:23 = Prophecy was fulfilled. Moses wrote, "He will be called a Nazarene." Note: Nazarene comes from the word netze which means branch, which is 1) a symbol of kings descended from royal ancestors (Ezekiel 17:3,10; Deuteronomy 11:7) 2) of prosperity (Job 8:16) 3) of the Messiah, a branch out of the root of the stem of Jesse (Isaiah 11:1) 4) the beautiful branch (Isaiah 4:2) 5) a righteous branch (Jeremiah 23:5) 6) the Branch (Zechariah 3:8; 6:12) 7) Disciples are branches of the true vine (John 15:5-6) 8) the Babylonians are the branch of the terible ones (Isaiah 25:5) 9) the abominable branch is the tree Judas Iscariot hung himself on 10) the highest branch represented King Jehoiakim, who would be last King of the Israelites until Jesus (Ezekiel 17:3). |
| Q. What other events were happening during this last time of relocating to safety? | A. Matthew 3:1 = John the Baptist was preaching in the Judean wilderness. |
| Q. What was John's message? | A. Matthew 3:2 = "Turn from your sins and turn to God, because the Kingdom of Heaven is near." |
| Q. Was John the Baptist prophesied about? | A. Matthew 3:3 = Yes. Isaiah prophesied John the Baptist's coming as God's messenger (Isaiah 40:3). |
| Q. Did the people accept John the Baptist? | A. Matthew 3:5-6 = Yes. And his message was accepted as well. They repented and were baptized in the Jordan River. |
| Q. Were there fakers amongst the true believers? | A. Matthew 3:7 = Yes. Pharisees and Saducees, who wanted to escape coming judgment, thinking they could if they were merely baptized. |
| Q. Did John the Baptist accommodate them? | A. Matthew 3:8 = No. He told them to prove they were penitent by their lifestyle changes. |
| Q. How do I know if I am really sorry for my sins? | A. Matthew 3:8 = My life in line with God's Word shows that I turned to God, away from sin. |
| Q. What did the Pharisees and Saducees think saved them? | A. Matthew 3:9 = Being a descendant of Abraham. |
| Q. What is true about being a descendant of Abraham? | A. Matthew 3:9 = God can turn rocks into children of Abraham! Proof that one belongs to God is evident in the lives we choose to live. |
| Q. What does God do with unrepentant descendants of Abraham? | A. Matthew 3:10 = He severs their roots with His axe. |
| Q. What is the symbolism here? | A. Matthew 3:10 = Trees that don't produce good fruit make for good firewood, that's all. |
| Q. John the Baptist lived a righteous life. What drove him to such holiness? |
A. Matthew 3:11 = God was coming in the flesh and he knew his place. He was preparing people for the event of history. Note: No mater how popular a preacher gets, his job will always be to point people to God. He prepares people to meet with God, and to know His power. |
| Q. How would Jesus' baptism ministry differ than John's? | A. Matthew 3:11 = Whereas John baptized with water, Jesus baptized with the Hoy Spirit and with fire. |
| Q. What does this Jesus kind of baptism do? |
A. Matthew 3:12 = It takes the wheat and chaff and separates them—wheat to holiness; chaff to death. Finally, God's people will be distinguished, even within the Israelite nation. Jesus would distinguish them Himself! Note: Jesus did a mighty housecleaning job! |
| Q. How long did Jesus live in Galilee? | A. Matthew 3:13 = Until He was ready to start His ministry. |
| Q. How did Jesus launch His ministry? | A. Matthew 3:13 = He went to John at the Jordan River to be baptized. |
| Q. Was Jesus' baptism different than the others who were baptized? |
A. Matthew 3:16-17 = Yes. When Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and setling on Him. A voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with Him." Note: Wouldn't it be cool if our baptism experience was like that? We don't get to see too much of the spiritual world, but we sense it all around us, as God's creatures. The more faith we have, the more we comprehend of spiritual things. Like an atom, the closer we peer into heavenly places, the bigger it gets. (I have seen some of it: It's white; it's gold; and it's very windy.) I can't wait to see it in eternity! |
| Q. How did the Holy Spirit move about in Jesus' life? |
A. Mathew 3:16 = 1) The Holy Spirit came down from heaven and settled on Jesus 2) Matthew 4:1 = The Holy Spirit led Jesus out into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil. Note: The Christian walk begins with facing the enemy who knows your behaviors pretty well. Know your enemy's behaviors too and be the winner. Realize that there is a battle going on for the souls of men. As soon as you pick God's side, all Satan has to do is look you up in his filing system and pull out your faults and weaknesses card for the explicit purpose of bashing your head in with it. Learn from the example set by Jesus. Pray and fast. God's voice rings clear as a bell when you do, and you will be able to withstand temptation. All tests come down to one challenge: will you choose God over your biggest weakness? During the temptation, pray, pray, pray. God will help you endure it and you will grow as a result. |
| Q. How was the perfect God/Man Jesus tempted? |
A. Matthew 4:2 = He fasted forty days and nights, which brought on severe hunger. Guess who offered Jesus solutions to his discomfort? Note: The devil waits until we are vulnerable to bring a carefully selected, but godless solution to a given dilemma. When are we vulnerable? When we feel out of control of our circumstances, and forget to pray. |
| Q. Did the Devil hang around Jesus during His fast? | A. Matthew 4:3 = Yes. And he offered Jesus a terrible solutions. |
| Q. Did Satan succeed in tempting Jesus? |
A. Matthew 4:4 = Yes. But Jesus didn't act on it. Note: We will have temptations. They are for our benefit, that we might toughen up to Hell's games. |
| Q. What was the temptation Satan offered Jesus at this vulnerable time? | A. Matthew 4:3 = To change the rocks into bread, so his hunger would be satisfied. |
| Q. Why was this bad? | A. Matthew 4:4 = The fast was for forty days and nights. The Devil came on that last day. |
| Q. What was the point? |
A. Matthew 4:4 = God provides. Jesus was waiting on God. He wouldn't perform miracles, though He could have, as He was setting an example for us to also wait on God. Note: No matter how talented we are, how brilliant we are, or how rich we are, we have to let God go before us in all things if we are to live to the fullest. Don't be tempted to act prematurely, even in the most precarious situation. Let God lead! |
| Q. So Jesus gave up His power to save Himself and trusted in God completely for His provision in the wilderness? | A. Matthew 4:4 = Yes. |
| Q. What did He say in response to the Devil? | A. Matthew 4:4 = Jesus quoted Moses' words in Deuteronomy 8:3: Life is all about feeding on God's Word. |
| Q. What happened next? |
A. Matthew 4:5 = The Devil took Jesus to the highest point of the Temple. NOte: Jesus let the Devil take Him to the next possible vulnerable spot—another chance to use His power erroneously. Don't be alarmed when you find yourself in a precarious place. Trust God to deliver you. |
| Q. What was Jesus tempted with there? | A. Matthew 4:5 = Testing God by acting in a dangerous way. |
| Q. How did the Devil tempt God? |
A. Matthew 4:6 = By quoting the Scriptures in Psalm 91:11-12: "He orders His angels to protect you. And they will hold you with their hands to keep you from striking your foot on a stone." Note 1: If you jump, Jesus, you won't die, as God's angels will come to the rescue." Notice this second temptation came on stronger than the first. Keep fighting temptation! Be true to God; learn His Word, so that you can do Word battle with Hell, like Jesus did on both occasions. This time Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:16 in response: "Do not test the Lord your God." Note 2: God's plan was for Jesus to show His power in healing and teaching His true followers. It wasn't time to be known as the Son of God. In jumping off the Temple, many would see the miracle of His rescue and the Israelites would have crowned Him King. This King, Jesus, would not have been crucified and resurrected and sin would still reign, as would the Devil. Satan knew of every detail in prophecy. He was focused on interrupting that precious plan to save mankind. Do you know the plan God has to save you? Did you know that Satan has a plan to kill you in answer to God's plan for you? Satan will tempt you to turn on God every way he can think of. He will use the Bible to confound your life's worth, as he did with Jesus, and pull on your heels until you stand up to him, declare your allegiance to God and His plan. This is why we have to make the commitment to God, and remember ever after who we are. There are only two camps. One is below and the other is above. Choose God's camp today! |
| Q. Was the Devil done with Jesus by now? | A. Matthew 4:8 = No way. He then tried to bargain with Jesus. |
| Q. How? | A. Matthew 4:8-9 = By offering Jesus the earth and all that is in it. |
| Q. Could he do that? | A. Matthew 4:9 = He thought he could! |
| Q. What was the catch? |
A. Matthew 4:9 = He wanted Jesus to worship him. Note: Satan was trying to stop the inevitable future, where Jesus resumes control of the world by cleansing it with His blood and being raised from the dead by God Himself. This was Satan's plan. |
| Q. Waht is the irony of this temptation? | A. Matthew 4:10 = Satan is created, as we all are. We all must worship God and serve Him only, because God is Creator. |
| Q. How did Jesus respond? | A. Matthew 4:10 = Jesus ordered Satan to leave, quoting the Scriptures from Deuteronomy 6:13 = "You must worship the Lord your God and serve Him only." |
| Q. Did the Devil finally leave? | A. Matthew 4:11 = Yes. |
| Q. Why? |
A. Matthew 4:10 = Because he was told to. Note: When you feel tempted, feel free to order the Devil out of your presence. Be sure to ask the Holy Spirit to fill your tank too! |
| Q. Are these three temptations common to us? | A. Yes. "No temptation has come to you that is not common to man. God will provide a way of escape that you may be able to endure it." The Book of Romans. |
| Q. So what is this strategy of Hell in a nutshell? |
A. 1) Deuteronomy 8:3 = That man would disregard God's Word and find our own solutions 2) Deuteronomy 6:16 = To get us to live dangerously and in so doing, dare God to rescue us (and cause premature death) 3) Deuteronomy 6:13 = To get us to choose a false god over God Almighty (These are good verses to have in your memory). Here is a simpler way to put the Devil's plan for us: 1) He wants us to abandon the Word of God 2) Live dangerously 3) Abandon God Here are the aforementioned verses that will save you: 1) Deuteronomy 8:3 = "People need more than bread for their life; they must feed on every Word of God." 2) Deuteronomy 6:16 = "Do not test the Lord your God." 3) Deuteronomy 6:13 = "You must worship the Lord your God: Serve Him only." Don't forget to kick the Devil out! |
| Q. Waht happened to Jesus next? |
A. Matthew 4:11 = Angels came and cared for Jesus. Note: This is the best part of enduring temptation. God comes to us when it is time and not a moment before. Endurance is best done quietly, lest you wear out your friends and they run from you. Everyone must pass tests for God. Recognize temptation at once and stay silent, praying and meditating on God's Word. Complaining is just like shaking a fist at God's perfect plan for you, which brings grief to your friends and can even make them sick. We are a people commanded not to take offense—so don't take offense with God either! |
| Q. When did Jesus set out on His ministry? | A. Matthew 4:12 = Right after John the Baptist was arrested. |
| Q. Where did Jesus go first? | A. Matthew 4:12 = He was in Judea, but left for Galilee. |
| Q. Is Nazareth in Galilee? | A. Matthew 4:12 = Yes. |
| Q. Did He go to Nazareth then? | A. Matthew 4:12 = No. He went to Capernaum. |
| Q. Where is Capernaum? | A. Matthew 4:13 = Beside the Sea of Galilee, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. |
| Q. Why Capernaum? | A. Matthew 4:14-15 = To fulfill prophecy from Isaiah 9:1-2. |
| Q. What is special about Capernaum? |
A. Matthew 4:14-16 = 1) Many Gentiles lived there 2) Sitting in darkness 3) And saw a great light 4) It was a lowly place to the world and the first to know Messiah. |
| Q. How did Jesus launch His ministry? |
A. Matthew 4:17 = Preaching, "Turn from your sins and turn to God, because the Kingdom of Heaven is near." Note: In counseling, we forget to begin with exhorting folks to turn from their sins. Counseling will not help if the client isn't treating their weakened condition as rooted in entertaining sin. The world would have us believe that we are entitled to: 1) Harbor unforgiveness 2) Dialogue our problems ti death at the expense of an unfortunated counselor, psychologist, psychiatrist (for an enormous fee!), instead of dealing with the root of the problem—sin. God's Word has every answer the counselor seeks. Yet he draws it out to no reseolve. These professionals have one of the highest suicide rates in the world. If you are in turmoil, repent of being in turmoil! Turn away from it and seek after God henceforth. Forgive. Make a list of folks you have bad feelings about and burn the list, or rip up the paper in tiny pieces and stomp on them. Bless each person, bad good and neutral in your life; and if bad feelings retrn, repent of them again and bless, bless bless. As often as you think of negative things, repent and bless the object of that negative thought. Taht is now your job. "Bless those that persecute you, pray for those who unjustly accuse you..." |
| Q. Repentance of sin is the beginning of a real life? | A. Matthew 4:17 = Yes. |
| Q. Why do Christians share the Gospel with unbelievers? | A. Matthew 4:18-20 = Jesus commissioned them to, at the start of His ministry. |
| Q. What were the apostles like? | A. Matthew 4:18 = 1) Peter and 2)Andrew were commercial fishermen and brothers; 3) James and 4)John were sons of Zebedee, and were also fishermen. |
| Q. Was it just the four apostles for a time? | A. Matthew 4:23 = Yes. |
| Q. How did the apostles learn how to evangelize? | A. Matthew 4:19 = Jesus mentored them and they went all over Galilee, listening to Him preach the Good News, healing every kind of sickness and disease. |
| Q. Had Jesus gain notariety by this time? | A. Matthew 4:24 = Yes. News spread outside of Galilee to Syria. People followed in large crowds from Galilee, the Ten Towns (Decapolis), Jerusalem, from all over Judea, and from east of the Jordan River. |
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