Do You Reject God's Invitation? (Matthew 22:1-14)

“The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son." (Mt 22:2). This is the 3rd of 3 polemic parables confronting the rigid legalistic political ecclesiastical establishment.

1. The Parable of the Two Sons (Mt 21:28-32).
2. The Parable of the Tenants (Mt 21:33-46).
3. The Parable of the Wedding Banquet (Mt 22:1-14). This 3rd parable is about:
   1. God's invitation (Mt 22:1-4, 8-10).
   2. Excuses we make (Mt 22:5-7).
   3. Preparation for God's kingdom (Mt 22:11-14).

Do Prostitutes Go to Heaven? (Matthew 21:28-32). Outline.

Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of heaven ahead of you” (Matthew 21:31b).

1. The setting: To whom is Jesus speaking (Mt 21:23)? Why did they question his authority (Mt 21:9-10, 12-13, 15)? What prompted Jesus to tell them this parable [and the next 2] (Mt 21:24-27, 32, 38-39; 22:4, 5-6)? [These 3 parables are polemic parables.]
2. Who does the father and the 2 sons represent (Mt 21:28a, 31, 32; Lk 15:1-2)?
• What does this parable teach about the difference between words/promises, and actual obedience?

Is Forgiveness Nonnegotiable? (Matthew 18:21-35)

Can You Always Forgive From Your Heart? Peter...asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to 7 times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not 7 times, but 77 times" (Mt 18:21-22).

What if You Don't Forgive? “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart” (Mt 18:35).

• Can you always forgive from your heart (Mt 18:21-22)?
• What if you don't forgive (Mt 18:34-35)?

How "Happy" are You? (Matthew 5:3) [Makarios]; Outline of Matthew

"Happy are those who are poor in spirit, for it is to them that the kingdom of heaven belongs" (R. T. France).

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Mt 5:3, NIV).

"God blesses the beggars in spirit because theirs is Heavens' Empire" (Scot McKnight).

Looking at his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God" (Lk 6:20).

1. Is The Sermon on the Mount [SotM] addressed to the crowds or to the disciples (Mt 5:1-2; 7:28-29)? 
2. What does the word "blessed" [Greek makarios] mean (Mt 5:3a; 11:6; 13:16; 16:17; 24:46)?

Are You Willing to Die to Follow Jesus? (Matthew 16:21-27)

Is Jesus inviting you to die? Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me" (Mt 16:24).

"If anyone sets his will on coming after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross..." (Leon Morris).

If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself…” (CEV).

• "The center of salvation is the Cross of Jesus, and the reason it is so easy to obtain salvation is because it cost God so much"? Oswald Chambers.
• The cross is the climax of Jesus' work as the Messiah, the true King of the world.

How Do You Know that You Know Jesus? (Matthew 16:13-20)

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” (Mt 16:15)

• If Jesus asked you directly “Who do you say I am?” how would you answer in your own words—not with a memorized statement or verse or gospel trophe, but from your current experience and relationship with Him?

Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven" (Mt 16:17).

• How Do You Know that You Know Jesus? Has your understanding of Jesus been shaped more by culture, family, tradition, or popular opinion than by personal revelation from God?

Do You Feel Entitled or Unworthy? (Matthew 15:21-28)

"He replied, 'It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs'" (Mt 15:26).

• Can you be humble and humorous when humiliated?
• Do You Feel Entitled to Wonder Bread or Leftover Crumbs?

1.   Why is the location of this encounter significant (Mt 15:21)?

2.   What does she reveal about her understanding of Jesus (Mt 15:22)? Like her, what burdens do you carry for others?

Walk on Water (Matthew 14:22-33)

“But Jesus immediately said to them: 'Take courage! It is I. [ego eimi {Gk}] Don’t be afraid.'” “'Come,' he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus” (Mt 14:27, 29). [Walk on Water.]

• Peter becomes frightened and begins to sink, not the other way around.

Compassion and Responsibility (Matthew 14:13-21)

"When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick" (Mt 14:14). "You give them something to eat" (Mt 14:16).

• How can I know the depth of God's compassion and of my responsibility?

1.   What preceded this miracle (Mt 14:13, 8-12)?

• How might Jesus have felt (Isa 53:3)?
• What does his response (Mt 14:14) show about him (Mt 9:36; 15:32)?
• Have you experienced Jesus’ love and compassion (Jer 31:3)?
• Do you serve others when you’re hurting?

The Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 13:24-43)

"The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field" (Mt 13:24).

1. How did Jesus explain The Parable of the Weeds (Mt 13:24-25, 30, 36-39, 40-43)?
2. How is the kingdom of heaven like a man who sows good seed (Mt 13:24, 3, 19, 37; 4:17)?
• Are you like the "the man who sowed good seed" (Mt 13:24, 37)? How (Lk 9:60; 1 Cor 1:22-23; 2:2, 2)?
  
3. Do you "write off" some people as a "weed" (Mt 13:28)?
   
• Do you judge and decide who is "in" and who is "out" (1 Sam 16:7; Jn 7:24)?

Lofty Love is to Love God and Others (Matthew 22:36-40)

Full quote below.

"Teacher, which is the greatest cpmmandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Mt 22:36-40).

Jesus' core teaching is that love for God and love for neighbor are the inseparable foundation of all Scripture (Mt 22:37-40).

Paradox (Matthew 10:37-42)

Full quote below.

"Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it" (Mt 10:39).

1. Priority / Allegiance / Exclusivity /Preeminence. Why does Jesus' command you to love Him more than your family (Mt 10:37; 22:37-38; Dt 6:5; Lk 14:26)?
   
• Does this contradict the command to "Honor your father and mother" (Exo 20:12)? Why or why not?

Live Free Without Fear (Matthew 10:26-33)

Live Free, Leave Fear. 12th Sun in Ordinary Time.

"So do not be afraid of them..." (Mt 10:26). "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body..." (Mt 10:28). "So don't be afraid..." (Mt 10:31).

• What do you (people) fear?
• Being lonely? Disliked? Unpopular? Critized?
• Not loved? Honored? Acknowledged? Recognized? Given credit?
• Being insignificant? Ignored? Betrayed? Taken for granted?

Give Up Your Donkey, Your Cloak and Your Expectation (Matthew 21:1-11)

"If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them..." (Mt 21:3).

• "Discipleship means following the man on the donkey all the way." Donald English, United Methodist minister.

1. What “donkey” (possession, privacy, time, comfort) is God asking you to release for His use (Mt 21:1-2)? Why is this difficult?
• How dare God demand this of you (Mt 21:3; Dt 10:14; Ps 24:1; 50:10-12; Jer 10:23; 1 Cor 6:19-20)?

Overview of Lent

John 4:5-29 [Week 3; 3/8/26]

Week 1: Overcoming  (Mt 4:1-11 Jesus’ Temptation). 1st Sun of Lent (2/22/26).

• Read Mt 4:4,7,&10.  How did Jesus overcome temptation?  How did Jesus succeed where we had failed?  Even though we are not perfect like Jesus, how can we learn overcoming faith?  How can fasting help us seek Jesus?

Week 2: Mercy  (Jn 3:1-17 Jesus Helps Nicodemus). 2nd Sun of Lent (3/1/26).

• Read Jn 3:16-17.  How did Jesus show patience and mercy to a self-righteous Pharisee named Nicodemus?  What does it mean to be “Born Again”, and why do we need Jesus’ mercy to embark newly on a spiritual journey to God’s kingdom? (Gn 12:1-4)

Be Happy Attitudes (Matthew 5:1-12)

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Mt 5:3). "How blissful the destitute, abject in spirit..." [...a poor man or beggar, but with the connotation of one who is abject: cowering or cringing.]

1. How were "the crowds" and "(h)is disciples" different (Mt 5:1; 7:24-25; Jn 8:31).
• What is the repeated theme and emphasis of what Jesus taught (Mt 5:2, 3, 10, 12; 4:17; 6:10)?

Come (Matthew 11:28)

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Mt 11:28).

“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” Augustine, Confessions.

1. What does Jesus' invitation mean to you (Mt 11:28)? If you are not invited, can you freely come to God (Isa 59:2)? 
• Why does Thomas Kempis say, "You are the Holy of Holies and I am sinful trash"?
• Why might you become "weary and burdened" (Isa 40:31; Eph 4:18, 19; Col 1:21)?
• What does it mean that Jesus "will give you rest" (Jn 14:27; Phil 4:7; Rom 5:1; Isa 26:3)?
• Why are people who seek rest still restless (Gen 4:7, 14; Job 3:26; Isa 59:8)?

Day 12 Advent, 12/15/23: A Friend of the Socially Unacceptable (Mt 11:19)

"The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners'" (Mt 11:19).

The flute symbolizes joy, and the dirge symbolizes mourning. By complaining that their playmates did not participate in their games (Mt 11:16-17), the children were saying that they were not happy or sad but unresponsive or indifferent. Jesus uses this parable as a rebuke to the Bible teachers and Pharisees. They complained about both John the Baptist and Jesus. John's fasting was too strict, rigid and legalistic (Mt 11:18), while Jesus' dining habits were too lenient, liberal and socially unacceptable (Mt 11:19). But in reality, they judged and rejected the teachings of both John and Jesus based on their own criteria, biases, expectations and preferences.

Day 13, 12/16/23: The Son of Man is Going to Suffer

"...the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands" (Matthew 17:13).

Jesus tells his disciples that John the Baptist fulfilled the prophecy of Elijah's return as Jesus' forerunner (Mt 17:10-13; Mal 4:5-6). And as they did unjustly to John [beheading], they would do to him (Mt 17:12; 16:21). The reason John was executed was because he proclaimed repentance (Mt 3:1-2), the message of "turning your life over to a higher power."

Day 11 of Advent, 12/14/23: A Gentle Forcefulness (Mt 11:12)

Violent men forcefully take hold of the Kingdom of Heaven. My preferred translation of the ambiguous Matthew 11:12 is from the 1984 NIV (which differs from the current 2011 NIV): "From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful [violent] men lay hold of it." ["...the enforcers snatch it" (Scot McKnight's translation)]

I've shared often that I have a Type A personality, which is ABCD: aggressive / aggravating, brutal / blunt, confrontational / confounding and doggedly determined (i.e. stubbornly stone headed, as my pastor had told me decades ago!). Last week a friend said that he prefers a Type C (Christ) personality, which I interpret as "consecrated and conformed to the character of Christ." Yes, I desire Type C, but unfortunately my Type A within me dies hard, or even refuses to die as it resurfaces time and again.