How do sum up what you believe?

(90) The First Commandment – Summing Up

Today we sum up the “testing” of Jesus – kind of like examining the sacrificial lamb for flaws. The Pharisees, Herodians, and Sadducees have found nothing wrong. So now the scribes try. The scribe in question may well be keeping records for the Pharisees, and his question may be honest, though the Pharisees seek to remove any records of what Jesus offers.

1.       Read Mark 12:28, Matthew 22:34-36. What’s the biggest difference between the way the question is asked in Matthew and in Mark?

a.       What was Jesus’ emphasis when he talked about commandments?

2.       Read Mark 12:29-30, Matthew 22:37-38, Deuteronomy 6:4-5, 5:6-7 How does the “greatest” commandment differ from the “first” commandment?

a.       What does that tell us about God’s priorities?

3.       Read Mark 12:31, Matthew 22:39-40, Leviticus 19:18. Are you surprised to find this is in Leviticus?

a.       Given the huge number of laws in Leviticus, how do this and the Deuteronomy verse sum up God’s law?

b.       How do they sum up the prophets (Matthew 22:40)

4.       Read Mark 12:32-34. How far is “not far” from the kingdom of God?

a.       What keeps us close to the kingdom?

The Pharisees were listening—they may have sent the scribe to ask the question. But now Jesus asks his own question.

1.       Read Mark 12:35, Matthew 22:41-42, Luke 20:41 Is Jesus trying to trip them up or guide them forward?

a.       How can we tell the difference?

2.       Read Mark 12:36-37, Matthew 22:43-46, Luke 20:42-44, Psalm 110:1. The verse in Psalms might be read: Yahweh says to my Adoni, (notice the capitalization in some Bibles) ,so let’s look at who this Adoni is:

a.       Read Psalm 110 How might each of its verses apply to Jesus?

b.       In Mark, the common people hear Jesus gladly. In Matthew the Pharisees can’t answer him. How significant might this difference be, given that Matthew is writing for Jewish believers?

c.       Who did David write the psalm for? Who would have read or sung it, and when?

d.       Imagine the Levites singing “The Lord God said to my master, ‘Sit at my right hand…’” We already know that prophecy can have more than one application. If we’ve read Leviticus we probably know law can have more than one application too. What about praise/psalms? Could this psalm have two meanings?

e.       If the Pharisees were genuinely convinced, they went on to order the death of someone they knew was the Messiah. But Jews today don’t find this argument convincing. Do you suppose the leaders were really convinced, or just that Matthew thought they were?

Did you remember, before reading this, that the two passages we’ve just looked at came so close together?

Jesus has summed up the law, and the prophets, and the psalms. Can you paraphrase the combined message of these two passages? How do you “sum up” your faith?


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Meeting a ghost?

 Last week our group followed Mary and Cleopas (or possibly some other unknowns) on the road to Emmaus and met a rather familiar stranger. They rush back to tell the disciples who they've seen, and, of course, no one quite believes them. The same old story. Until suddenly... (112) Meeting the Risen Lord The risen Jesus appears to the others as well. 1.       Read Luke 24:36-37 Does it surprise you that Jesus’ disciples believe in ghosts? a.       Are wrong beliefs evil, or simply incorrect? 2.       Read Luke 24:38 Why were the disciples afraid? Why might they have been doubtful or unwilling to believe? a.       When something good happens, do we sometimes doubt? b.       What about when something bad happens? 3.       Read Luke 24:39-40, John 20:19-20   What’s so important about Jesus’ wounds? a.       What’s so important about Jesus saying “Peace”? b.       Do we have peace? What does peace enable us to do? 4.       Read Luke 24:40-43 What’s so special about Jesus’ eating? a.   
Read more

What happens when that stranger turns out to be a friend?

 It's been a "long and winding" year, but we're getting back to those Gospel Bible studies at last, and here's the next in the series: (111) Some Very Important Meetings Last time (yes, I know, a long long time ago) we read Mark’s cryptic comment that the risen Lord had appeared to “two of them.” This time we’ll join those two, travelling from Jerusalem after the crushing of all their hopes – having heard rumors of resurrection, but clearly not believing them. 1.       Read Luke 24:13-18, John 19:25 Who is traveling, where and why? a.       Some traditions say Clopas was the brother of Joseph, making Mary the “sister” of Jesus’ mother Mary.   Clopas’ son Simeon becomes Bishop of Jerusalem after the destruction of the city in 70 AD, which might make him Jesus' cousin. But what difference does all this make to how we view the story? b.       Was Jesus’ face hidden by supernatural means, or natural? How easily would you recognize someone if you knew they
Read more

A Prayer for Open Hearts and Doors

  O Lord May all your people be Transparent witnesses; may we, Instead of closing, open doors That all around us, evermore May see Our God is love not hate; Our God is watching, ever waits To mend our hearts and bodies heal And souls replenish, futures seal To Him To hope, to love, to more Than any dream; Lord we implore That you would free our hearts to sing Till lives with holy mercy ring Restored.
Read more