A Fool’s Errand (Matthew 22:15-33)

The leaders of Israel are trying as hard as they can to silence Christ. They perceive Christ to be a trouble maker rather than the Lord of life. They do not see the kingdom and all they want to do is undermine Christ. The pharisees send their disciples to do their dirty work only to further expose themselves as hypocrites. The Sadducees try to finish the job only to expose their ignorance. How does one view the mission and ministry of Christ? Where is the hope of the gospel?

Kingdom Entrance (3) (Matthew 22:1-14)

The ultimate destiny is for God’s people to dine in the Lord’s presence. I hope that when that glorious day comes we would be joyful and feel privileged to dine with the great king. However, we find that there are people who would rather not go to the king’s banquet. Why do they not want to go? Why is this such a problem?

Kingdom Entrance (2) (Matthew 21:23-32)

How does one enter the Lord's kingdom? This is a very important question. We can fall into an American trap and assume that we are worthy because we have done enough to pull ourselves up by our boot straps. This is contrary to what Christ is teaching in his parable. He is teaching us something about the tragedy of Israel’s history that communicates a tragedy about humanity: we do not want God. However, God comes to His people. How does this give us assurance that we can draw near to our God?

Kingdom Entrance (Matthew 21:23-32)

Christ returns to Jerusalem after cleansing the temple and cursing a tree.  He is going to face the leaders of Israel and we can imagine that this is going to be tense.  Christ tells them that it is the prostitutes and the tax collectors who enter into the kingdom of heaven.  Does this mean that in order for us to gain entrance into the temple that we have to be a tax collector or a prostitute?  What is the point of Christ calling this to the leader’s attention?

Seventy Weeks (Daniel 9)

Daniel is in exile and desires to return to the Lord.  He is at the timing for the fulfillment of Jeremiah's 70 year prophecy.  While he is praying he receives a vision from Gabriel regarding 70 weeks.  Do we take these weeks literally or do the weeks communicate a bigger picture?

Kingdom Cleansing (Matthew 21:18-22)

Christ is on his way back to Jerusalem on the dawn of a new day.  The previous day ended with Christ expressing an unfavorable opinion of the holy city, and so has a night of rest changed his perspective?  We notice that Christ curses a fig tree while returning to Jerusalem.  Why would Christ bother to curse a tree and then talk about faith?  What does faith have to do with the fig tree, and why is Christ cursing the fig tree?

Temple Cleansing (Matthew 21:12-17)

Our Lord arrives in Jerusalem with a remarkable reception.  The people praise him as the Lord he is, they throw down their cloaks, and it seems that Christ is able to take the city by storm.  However, Christ runs through the temple overturning tables, and driving people out of the temple.  Why does Christ react this way?  What does the temple tell us about the state of God’s people in this time?

The Humble and Majestic King (Matthew 21:1-11)

So often we view the cross of Christ in a sentimental way.  We do not see the radical absurdity of Christ’s mission in the way that he establishes the kingdom.  We see Christ humbling himself while seated on a donkey, but have we taken the time to think about the backdrop of Christ entering into Jerusalem on a donkey? How does Christ riding on a donkey demonstrate his humility and exaltation?

The Unconventional Kingdom (Matthew 20:1-16)

Christ is making his way to Jerusalem.  It would seem that as Christ travels to Jerusalem that all is on schedule, the kingdom will be the kingdom of glory where Christ secures his place in history.  Our expectation would be Christ sitting on David’s throne establishing the kingdom that David failed to establish. If this is the case then why does Christ talk about suffering?  What does Christ’s suffering have to do with the kingdom?

The Poverty of Riches (Matthew 19:16-30)

Christ interacts with a man who is neither warm nor cold in terms of his relationship toward Christ.  The man affirms Christ’s authority, but he makes this affirmation as someone who wants to attain God’s affection.  This is a man who is above the rest because he is blinded by his blessing as Matthew informs us that this is a wealthy man with great possessions.  So does blessing necessarily mean one is a follower of Christ?  Does blessing necessarily mean that one is in rebellion against God?  How does one find their place in the the Lord’s kingdom?

Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage (2) (Matthew 19:10-15)

The disciples hear Christ teach about marriage and they figure out that Christ is pretty serious about the marriage commitment.  They ask the logical question: if marriage is so serious then why get marred?  It would seem to make more sense not to marry at all, but to remain single.  So, is it really better not to marry?  Is marriage only for the weak?  Is it sinful to be single?

Cross Ethics (4) (Matthew 18:21-35)

Our Lord concludes the second sermon on the mount with a parable that answer’s Peter’s question: how many times do we forgive?  Christ speaks of us bearing our cross before the Lord by showing this forgiveness.  What is the standard of forgiveness and how does this depth of forgiveness assure us of Christ’s mercy? 

Cross Ethics (3) (Matthew 18:15-20)

Christ commands us to confront Christians who offend us or we see in sin.  This is an obligation for us under Christ’s cross or christian ethics.  However, Christ also commands us to have our concern fixated on the log that is in our own eyes before considering the spec in another’s eye.  So, how do we maintain a consistent application of these two commands?  How do we live out the cross ethic for the honor and glory of our God without being a busy bodied people?

Cross Ethics (3) (Matthew 18:15-20)

Christ commands us to confront Christians who offend us or we see in sin.  This is an obligation for us under Christ’s cross or christian ethics.  However, Christ also commands us to have our concern fixated on the log that is in our own eyes before considering the spec in another’s eye.  So, how do we maintain a consistent application of these two commands?  How do we live out the cross ethic for the honor and glory of our God without being a busy bodied people?

Cross Ethics (2) (Matthew 18:6-14)

We can say that not caring about the little people is just a contemporary problem.  However, if you look at the Old Testament and Israel’s ideal call they were a nation to be in the forefront to care for the widow and the orphan.  Are these the only little ones that Christ is expressing his concern?  Can we be a little one?  What does it mean that the Lord cares for the little ones?  Does it mean that as the little ones we have a free pass to sin because others made us stumble?  What does the cross teach us about living out the Gospel for our Lord?  

Cross Ethics (2) (Matthew 18:6-14)

We can say that not caring about the little people is just a contemporary problem.  However, if you look at the Old Testament and Israel’s ideal call they were a nation to be in the forefront to care for the widow and the orphan.  Are these the only little ones that Christ is expressing his concern?  Can we be a little one?  What does it mean that the Lord cares for the little ones?  Does it mean that as the little ones we have a free pass to sin because others made us stumble?  What does the cross teach us about living out the Gospel for our Lord? 

Cross Ethics (Matthew 17:22-18:5)

The motto for today is that one needs to be assertive, significant, and popular to have any value.  There are so many books and videos about how to rise to the top to achieve success.  This is not an American problem, but we find that this is a human problem that we struggle to put to death.  How do we put this to death?  How does Christ encourage us to walk in Christ as His redeemed people?

Cross Ethics (Matthew 17:22-18:5)

The motto for today is that one needs to be assertive, significant, and popular to have any value.  There are so many books and videos about how to rise to the top to achieve success.  This is not an American problem, but we find that this is a human problem that we struggle to put to death.  How do we put this to death?  How does Christ encourage us to walk in Christ as His redeemed people? 

What about Elijah (Matthew 17:9-21)

Christ affirms that the scribes are correct to say that Elijah needs to arrive in history before the Messiah.  So when did Elijah arrive in history?  Why is Elijah so significant?  Then Christ talks about a little faith.  So, what does Elijah have to do with a little faith?

Veiled Victory (Matthew 16:13-20)

Christ is the messiah who enters history to save us from our sins.  He is our redeemer who brings in the kingdom.  Why does Christ promise such a strong kingdom that will go beyond human history, but then tell his disciples not to tell anyone about his kingdom?  What kind of kingdom can this be?  Is this a kingdom that will go beyond human history?