Reading Scripture: New Testament In A Year

Christ has the authority to forgive sins, and his healing ministry testified that. Do you believe that he is able?

Read from:

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®)

© 2001 by Crossway,

a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

All rights reserved.

Jesus mentions fasting another number of times in the book of Matthew. What is fasting, and how do you do it?

The disciples ask a question as they watch Jesus command the wind and waves – "what sort of man is this that the wind and sea obey him?" Christ cares and has authority to help us.

Matthew 8 - Jesus Has Authority

**Notes and Outline**

Entering into the stories

6 Stories

I. Jesus Cleanses the Leper

- Christ is able to help us

- Christ is willing - has good will

- Christ cares for us

II. The Centurion

- Man under authority

- "Say the Word"

- v.10-11 - God's heart is for Israel and the nations

III. Peter's Mother and the Oppressed

- touch

- healing of the demono possessed sick

- x. Is. 53

- Jesus takes the root of sin

IV. Disciples Follow Jesus

V. Jesus Calms the Storm

VI. Casts out demons into the pigs

Read from:

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®)

© 2001 by Crossway,

a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

All rights reserved.

Christ calls us to the moment of decision in following him. We can take his way or the way of the world.

## Matthew 7 - Two Ways

I. 2 more isolated teachings

1. ​ Judge not
2. ​ Ask

II. Summary of the Law

III. Exhortations to Obedience - 2 Ways

Truth: Christ is the Judge

- I Never Knew You

- Entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven

Applications:

- Do what Christ says

- Know Christ

- Ask - as God's children

Read from:

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®)

© 2001 by Crossway,

a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

All rights reserved.

What do you worry about? What are the things that consume your mind and heart? Let God be the pursuit of your heart and he'll take care of your life.

Read from:

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®)

© 2001 by Crossway,

a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

All rights reserved.

Do you sense a poverty in your spirit? That you lack or righteousness that God requires? Does this make you hunger and thirst for God? Jesus said blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.

Notes and Outline

***Context*** - Goes up on a mountain... again, in the history of the people of Israel, after the wilderness wanderings they come to Mount Sinai and receive the law of God - the 10 commandments and other commands... Here we see Christ as the Prophet like Moses... x. Deuteronomy 18:15,19 - "The Lord your God will raise up for you prophet like me from among you, from your brothers - it is to him you shall listen....and whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him."

### I. The Beatitudes

- I see a progression in the "Blessings"

- The first 4 seem to show blessings towards the spiritually poor and spiritually humbled and hungry

- the next 5 seem to display the blessings of the one who is made like Christ - merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemaker, the persecuted... the Ones who Christ has filled!

### II. Salt and Light - Commissioning

- Christ's followers/disciples are salt in light in the earth...

### III. Christ's Law v.17-48

1. v.17-20 - Christ came to fulfill God's law in us.

Righteousness from the heart = Right standing with God that flows out into right living with God.

The law required not outward but inward righteousness...

You have heard it was said, but I say to you...

- Anger and Murder v.21-26

- Lust in the heart and adultery v.27-30

- Divorce - break our vows

- Oaths - always being true and genuine in our words

- Not Resisting the Evil person - v.38-42

- Loving your enemies v.43-48

- You must therefore be \*perfect - as your heavenly father is perfect.

in seeking to keep Christ's commands, we are confronted with our own poverty... our sinfulness... we can feel like hypocrites... like tasting salt makes you thirsty, following Jesus and keeping his commands should humble us and help us realize how we need righteousness, we need Christ's help and his righteousness, we need Christ's empowerment and spirit.

**Truth** - Christ's law calls for inward righteousness. It is the fulfillment of and expresses the spirit of the Old Testament Commands.

**Truth** - People will feel their own failure and shortcomings...

Come to Christ in your hunger! Your sorrow! Your poverty! He promises to fill you!!!! we must hunger and thirst for righteousness.

- Jesus says Blessed Are you, yours is the KOH

- Blessed are you, for you shall be filled. Christ can fill you with his righteousness - right-relationship with God that translates into right living before God...

**Truth**: Living as Sons of your Father in heaven - Our righteousness flows out of being loved by our Father God!

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®)

© 2001 by Crossway,

a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

All rights reserved.

All of us know what it is like to be tempted. The good news is that that Christ does as well and where we have failed, Christ has succeeded, and he is able to come to the aid of those were tempted.

Notes and Outline

### I. Jesus tempted in the wilderness v.1-11

- the tempter - Satan - fallen angel, enemy of God and his people

- 40 days/40 nights - fasting

- Jesus is living out the History of Israel

- The descendants of Abraham were led out of slavery in Egypt into the wilderness to be tested for 40 years.

- Satan gives 3 challenges, "If you are the Son of God"

- daring him to manifest his power as God's Son

- But Christ responds by quoting Deuteronomy

- Book of God's law given to God's people in the wilderness.

### II. Jesus begins his public ministry

- moved to Capernaum, territory of the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali.

- Prophecy of Isaiah - the dark region being blessed by a great light coming

- Preached Message - the KOG is at hand. - Baton-passed from John the Baptist.

- v.18-22 - Jesus calls Peter, Andrew, James and John

- follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

- the custom of the rabbi - to call followers to take on his message and way of life. imitate him - the student would basically become like his teacher

- v.23-25 - Jesus' ministry

- 1. Preaching the gospel of the KOG ^e026ad

- 2. healing every disease and every affliction

- 3. heal those oppressed by demons

**Truth**: Where God's people had failed in their temptations, Christ has succeeded. "Christ lived the life that I should have."

**Application**

- [ ] Hebrews 4:15 - For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

2:18 - For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted."

- [ ] How to respond when you are weak and tempted?

- [ ] Look to the Son of God for help.

- [ ] Speak the Word of God

- [ ] Christ calls us to follow him

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®)

© 2001 by Crossway,

a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

All rights reserved.

More of the book of Matthew on Monday!

Do you struggle to make changes in your life? Christ has come to enable our repentance and give us the Holy Spirit. He washes our hearts and enables genuine change.

Chapter 3 Outline

*Two main sections*

I. Ministry of John the Baptist v.1-12

- Preaching \*Repent for the KOG is at hand.

- Repent - turn around, change your mind.

- reason - KOG is at hand.

- Coming of the place where God reigns and rules as King.

- The King is coming!

- Isaiah 40:3 - ***John's role was to prepare the way for the King through calling for repentance - turning away from our sins and turning back to God, confessing and being baptized.***

- garments - camel's hair and leather belt - recalls an OT prophet Elijah who also called people to turn away from sin and back to God.

- Pharisees - religious leaders, separatists, emphasized scripture, but had an inclination towards pride and hypocrisy.

- Sadducees - political leaders of Israel and thinkers, didn't believe in the resurrection or angels.

- Bear fruit in keeping with repentance! - If you say that you are turning to God, show it by your actions! Do it from the heart!

- The one who comes after - the Mightier One

- Baptize in the Holy Spirit

- And Fire - 2 main beliefs

- Empowerment - image of pentecost where the HS comes on Jesus' disciples with POWER, fire showed on each of their heads...

- Judgment - hell-fire

- I'm inclined to this because of the next verse - Winnowing fork

II. Baptism of Jesus v.13-17

- Baptized by John - not because he needs cleansing for forgiveness of sins, but "to fulfill all righteousness" - this is right.

- v.16 - Spirit descending like a dove -

- Acts 10:38 - God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and power!

- Hear voice of God, "This is my son, in whom I am well-pleased"

- Picture: the three person of the Trinity in Christian Doctrine - God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. These three are one.

___

Truth: Christ is the Son of God, who baptizes in the Holy Spirit and Fire.

And because Christ is the King with the winnowing fork, we need to genuinely repent - turning to God and turning to Christ. "Come Clean"

When we turn to Christ, he enables our repentance by giving us the Holy Spirit. Christ's Spirit helping us and moving in us enables us to bear fruit in keeping with Repentance.

"Wise men still seek Him"