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24 BSF Matthew Week 24, Day 4

My Daily Journal:

What does it mean to mourn? Why will all peoples of the earth mourn? Won’t this be a joyful time of Christ’s second return?

English is such a limited language that we sometime can’t see the way words were used. In Greek, the word used for mourn in this passage and in Revelation 1:7 is kopto (Strong’s G2875). It does translate to mourn or lament. It, like the Hebrew word used in Zechariah 12:10, caphad (Strong’s H5594) does mean to weep, wail, lament, and the beating of the chest in grief.

But here is what is interesting. This is the same word used in Mark 11:8, “Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields.” Did you catch it? It is that last part, “which they had cut.”

When Jesus returns it will be a parallel to his arrival into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. But this time, instead of palm branches, it will be all people of the world themselves who, every one of them, fall down at His feet on His triumphant entry back into the world.

My Answers:

8.
a.
False prophets appear and perform great signs to deceive, sun will darken, moon not give light, stars will fall, heavenly bodies shaken, sign of the Son of Man appear in heaven, all people of earth will mourn.

b.
Zech: pour out spirit of grace and supplication, look and mourn the one they pierced
Matt: sign will appear and all the people of earth will mourn when they see Him coming on cloud
Rev: Look – every eye will see Him, all peoples will mourn because of Him

c.
No one knows, not even the angels nor the Son – only the Father

9.
The signs are visible, evident and known, not deeply clouded in mystery to make them invisible in the present. When you see the signs of spring, you know summer will follow. (Rom 1:19-20)

24 BSF Matthew Week 24, Day 3

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal

The tipping point. Like when water is cooling and it reaches 32F/0C. Everything changes. Like when the maximum weight a bridge can carry is exceeded. Everything changes. So it will be.

As christians living in a fallen world, we see a study decline around us. Today the gospel, the good news, is still being preached. Today missionaries are reaching out to people across the world and here at home who have never had the opportunity to truly hear and understand the promise of salvation in Jesus Christ. But while that is going on, we also see an increasing moral decline. We see blatant sin becoming not only the norm but something people celebrate and endorse. We see a slow slide.

But Jesus explains it will only be a slow slide to a point, and then it will tip. There will be a tipping point, an abomination that causes desolation. A time when the last vestige of hope for a better existence on this world is extinguished.

The bible is filled with “do not fears.” Over an over again in both new and old testaments believers are told “do not be afraid.” But when that event occurs that tips the boat, Jesus tells all those still in Judea to get out, don’t look back, don’t return. As in the days of Lot, but this time instead of a redeeming storm on a sinful city, the storm is one of increased sin and dread.

New and expectant mothers always hope for a better life for their children, but in those days, that hope is gone.

But even within this time of dread, God has not given up or relinquished control. And as bad as things will get, the time will be cut short by the triumphant return of the promised one. There will be no mistaking the real deal, no need to seek Him out in a room or in the wilderness. When Christ comes again every one know.

My Answers:

6.
a.
‘the abomination that causes desolation,’spoken of through the prophet Daniel

b.
flee to the mountains, do not return

c.
Daniel, Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11

7.
a.
How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers!

b.
Because they will be cut short for the sake of the elect

24 BSF Matthew Week 24, Day 2

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

From the old testament scriptures and prophecies, the faithful were expecting a Messiah who would rule as King. As Jesus approaches His final days it has become important for clarification.

There are only 3 possibilities.

1. The scriptures and prophecies were wrong

2. The followers understanding and interpretation of the scriptures and prophecies was wrong

3. Jesus was not the Messiah

Jesus clarified that the prophecies are true and all will be fulfilled, through Him. However, instead of this happening in a single event, as followers thought they understood, He explained to them about His second coming. This was in no way a contradiction or a change to anything in the scriptures, it was, instead, an illumination on a perspective that they had not previously understood.

They had put their faith and trust in the physical church; the building (temple), the infrastructure of the pharisees and teachers of the law, the courts and offerings. So Jesus started with that. It would all be destroyed, but His word would live forever.

My Answers:

3.
a.
2. not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.

b.
when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?

c.
End of the age = That Christ’s reign as King and Lord would not be a continuation, but a new beginning

d.
70 AD

4.
a.
1. Persecution of the believers, trials and betrayal (12-19); 2. Desolation of the temple, flee (20-21); 3. Time of punishment(22-24) 4. Signs in the Heavens and the return of the Son of Man (25-28)

b.
Until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled

5.
a.
(from Luke) seize, persecute, handed over to synagogues and prison, trials, betrayal, everyone will hate you, dread, distress, tramples, faint with terror, apprehension, (from Matt): False christs, wars, rumors of war, nation rise against nation, famines, earthquakes, persecution, death, hatred, false prophets, deceit, wickedness, love of most will grow cold.

b.
this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations

c.
Missionaries have reached almost every unreached group – Local/International Missions

23 BSF Matthew Week 23, Day 4

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

This discussion reminds me so much of my golf game.

The religious leaders were trying to pull Jesus off into the weeds to trip Him up. Everything they asked Him about was on the far fringes of the course of life. That is where they played, going from patch of weeds to patch of weeds.

Jesus wasn’t afraid of the weeds, but His response was always the same. The solution is not to go from weed-patch to weed-patch, but to get the game back on the fairway. Return to the scriptures. Return to the power of God. Return to right thinking and right living.

No where is that more evident than in Matthew 22:42. The leaders are gathered. They had plotted and planned and asked questions, all attempting to get Jesus into their weeds. And now, Jesus asks them a question. But Jesus question isn’t in the weeds. It isn’t on the fringe. It is at the very heart of the green. What do you think about the Messiah?

That is the core question, isn’t it? That is the question all of religion hinges on. We know we need a savior. What do you think about the Messiah? In the game of life, that is the hole-in-one shot, that is where we should play.

My Answers:

8.
a.
What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?

b.
Shows that while He was a descendent of David, he was Lord, the son of the Living God

c.
To address Him as my Lord and Master, not only in word but in action

9.
a.
what the teachers and Pharisees who sit in Moses’ seat say to do

b.
Do not do what they do

c.
done for people to see

d.
To be humble and ensure the honor and glory are God’s alone

10.
To be humble, to not take on titles belonging to God (Rabbi, father, instructor)

23 BSF Matthew Week 23, Day 3

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

I was really struck by how I, like the lawyer who asked the question of Jesus about which is the most important commandment, sell myself short.

We prioritize. We are taught to identify which are the big rocks, the most important tasks, and put them first. Eat that frog, don’t sweat the small stuff. I’ve read the books and I understand how that approach can help navigate the pressures of life on this earth.

If I do my lesson each day and spend some quiet time in prayer, I think I’m doing pretty good. But I’m not “holy”. That approach would not qualify me to be a “treasured possession” of God. God wants “All”.

All my heart, all my soul, all my mind, all my strength. Not just 20 minutes of my heart and mind, but all. Yes, we trip and fall and veer off path – we sin.

The lawyer asking the question of Jesus was on this path. I can’t keep all the commandments all the time, so which one or ones are the most important and I’ll prioritize those first. What is the minimum passing grade, Jesus? What is the least I have to do?

But God says, you will sin, but then repent and give it all back to me. If you fall down, that does not mean you have reached the final destination, you just tripped. Get up and keep going.

What would a day look like if every calorie I burned reflected God’s strength. What if every thought was directed to His glory? What if my heart and soul fully reflected His love for 1440 minutes in a row? That would be holiness. I am not capable of that but God is capable of that. Ask and He can move mountains. Why do we settle for “doing pretty good” when we are created to be so much more?

My Answers:

6.
a.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul mind (and strength)

b.
Look out for yourself first, charity begins at home,

c.
We protect our own life – we feed and clothe ourselves and see to our needs of comfort and security. These same basic instincts, through love, should extend to others.

d.
Why would someone do this without a belief in God, how would anyone understand true love?

7.
a.
Heart: Having no love that you put before God, that you would not give up for Him
Soul: Pledging not just this life but eternity to Him, we are souls with a body, not bodies with a soul.
Mind: To think first of God, even above self, to trust in Him above reason
Strength: Physical ability – not just philosophical or spiritual, but real

b.
Start my day with God. End my day with God. Take better care of my heart, soul, mind, strength. They belong to God, I am just the steward, the renter.

c.
made holy by God, chosen, treasured possession, based on love and commitment of God

22 BSF Matthew Week 22, Day 5

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

Luke 19:47 says “Every day he (Jesus) was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him.”

So, despite the fact that His life was threatened and the head people were not only plotting and discussing but were trying to kill him, here He is. Jesus didn’t shy away. Jesus didn’t hide. Jesus didn’t adjust His schedule to not be as predictable. He went to the temple and taught “Every Day.”

I struggle to do my bible study every day. I used to struggle to pray every day. But even though I have improved in that area, there are numerous days that the only time the words Jesus and God cross my lips is in my private prayer time. Days can go by without another living person hearing those names in my vocabulary.

Our lesson today references us into Revelation. The book of Revelation opens with a blessing and a warning to Hear and Heed. But we don’t. Even those of us who hear, fail to heed the call to spread the good news of the gospel daily. We, like the invitees to the banquet, busy ourselves with daily life, work, and other matters. None of which are as important or lasting.

What if we each made a point to mention Jesus to someone at least one time daily? What if we not only prayed and did our study daily, but taught daily, both by our words and our actions? In other words, what if we not only were fed, but fed others daily = we consisted not only of leaves but also of fruit every day!

I believe if that became more of a core of our daily life, the other distractions would fade away. I believe we would move from being just invitees to being the members of the household, the servants who diligently prepared the feast and setn out the invitees. Who did more to honor the master?!

My Answers:

11.
a.
The invitation to be saved through the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ, to put all trust in faith in him

b.
Apostles martyred, prophets were martyred, believers were persecuted

c.
Any of the times the Jews were exiled, particularly the destruction of the temple in 70AD

d.
The common people, gentiles, jewish sinners, greeks, romans, the ends of the earth

e.
garments of salvation, robe of righteousness (from God through faith in Christ)

f.
Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth

12.
a.
Busy in the everyday business of life, focus on the physical on self

b.
Do not be too busy to hear and heed God’s invitation – it doesn’t turn out well!

c.
Yes, I wear the robes of salvation of my Lord. I am not worthy by anything of my own, but in Jesus

d.
God would welcome all, but we are given choice and few choose to trust only Him

22 BSF Matthew Week 22, Day 4

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

I think it is interesting that the bible says that Jesus is the cornerstone and capstone. It doesn’t say that He “can be” the cornerstone and capstone, it says He is. The foundation has been laid. The cornerstone is in place. The capstone will be put in place.

All of that is fact.

But that doesn’t mean we have to build on lives on that foundation. That is the choice. We can build anything we want. A shack, a tent, an ice-palace. But unless we build on the foundation of faith, the foundation of the apostles with Christ as the cornerstone, our building will not last. It may season a few storms of this life, but it won’t survive past.

The cornerstone doesn’t go away. Imagine if there was a large perfectly square and level stone right outside your front door, right in the center of your driveway. If your house isn’t built with Christ as the cornerstone, that doesn’t mean He goes away. He is in the way of you living the way you want. You can never ignore Him. He is Immutable. Unmovable. A fact.

But step back – recognizing that stone is in each of our lives. If you had such a stone on your property, you would not be so stubborn. You would build on it. You would not be so blind or in denial that you think you could just ignore it, it is a rock, the Rock.

We are called to build. We are given the gift of a foundation and cornerstone. It is only logical to build on that firm foundation.

My Answers:

9.
a. God, heavenly Father
b. The nation of Israel and the people of Judah
c. Jews, teachers of the law
d. Prophets
e. Jesus
f. The Romans destroyed the temple of Jerusalem in 70 AD
g. His share of crop at harvest time

10.
a.
Psalm 118:22, 23

b.
1 Peter: precious to believers, stumble by disobey the message
Romans: pursued not by faith but by works = stumble
1 Cor: Christ crucified=stumbling block to Jews, foolishness to non-believers

c.
They build their life and faith on something other than the foundation of Jesus and the apostles

d.
builders, who build in faith on the roots of Jesus to produce fruit and offer the first fruits back to God

22 BSF Matthew Week 22, Day 2

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

On any fruit tree the leaves are what feed the plant and the fruit is what feeds others and prepares the next generation. But how many people do we know at church who are all leaves? I know during a period of my life my main focus in deciding what church to go to was what am I getting out of it.

Jesus did not have any frustration with the fig tree because it had leaves. A healthy plant needs to be fed. But His frustration was that it only had leaves. When we approach spiritual life with a complete focus on what is in it for me, we model the same hypocrisy.

My Answers:

3.
a.
may you never bear fruit again

b.
Immediately the tree withered

c.
They had nourishment to grow, but no fruit – They pretended to be what they were not

4.
a.
with faith, command and move mountains, don’t receive reward in the act – trust in God. Bear fruit!

b.
Forgive others (cleanse yourself) so that God may forgive you

21 BSF Matthew Week 21, Day 2

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

There is an old joke:

There once was a rich man who was near death. He was very grieved because he had worked so hard for his money and he wanted to be able to take it with him to heaven. So he began to pray that he might be able to take some of his wealth with him.

An angel hears his plea and appears to him. “Sorry, but you can’t take your wealth with you.” The man implores the angel to speak to God to see if He might bend the rules.

The man continues to pray that his wealth could follow him. The angel reappears and informs the man that God has decided to allow him to take one suitcase with him. Overjoyed, the man gathers his largest suitcase and fills it with pure gold bars and places it beside his bed.

Soon afterward the man dies and shows up at the Gates of Heaven to greet St. Peter. St. Peter seeing the suitcase says, “Hold on, you can’t bring that in here!”

But, the man explains to St. Peter that he has permission and asks him to verify his story with the Lord. Sure enough, St. Peter checks and comes back saying, “You’re right. You are allowed one carry-on bag, but I’m supposed to check its contents before letting it through.”

St. Peter opens the suitcase to inspect the worldly items that the man found too precious to leave behind and exclaims, “You brought pavement?!!!”
(thanks to ahajokes.com)

I thought it was so fitting that Jesus used the analogy of a camel. A camel is a beast of burden. But we don’t recognize that the things we carry around with us are truly burdens in the economy of heaven and the things we can see as burdens are true joy. Wealth, prestige, pride, are all burdens that we can’t take with us. They are not going to fit through the portal of the grave, the eye of the needle. But the things I find myself grumbling about having the discipline to do every day, like praying, studying the word, testifying to others, teaching, leading, investing time in worship – these all carry through and bring everlasting joy.

My Answers:

3.
a.
People with wealth have a very difficult time putting God first in their lives. There is so much energy required to maintain and build wealth. Anything we are unwilling to give up is something we value more than God.

b.
Nothing is impossible for God – no matter how hard hearted, while it may seem impossible for them to change – don’t give up on God

4.
a.
100 times as much

b.
Eternal Life

5.
a.
homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions

b.
Rom: children=heirs with Christ, if share in suffering also share in His glory
2 Tim: Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Jesus will be persecuted
1 Pete 2: Blessing is in unjust suffering, undeserved but endured for God
1 Pete 4: do not be surprise by “fiery ordeal”, rejoice in sufferings so overjoyed in His glory

6.
Through the joy of communing with other believers. Through the work He gives us to do, such as bringing others to Christ. Through the blessings of prayer, study, teaching, leading, worship

21 BSF Matthew Week 21, Day 5

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

Blindness:

I recently finished reading the book Cross Roads by Wm. Paul Young. Many of you may know Young as the author of The Shack.

One of the things the book reminded me of is that God is always present. When we don’t see God it isn’t because God isn’t there, God is everywhere, OmniPresent. Instead it is because our vision is veiled by our own sin.

The past few weeks lessons have been lessons in what it means to be a Christ Follower. We are called to be humble, unselfish, compassionate and serving others. The opposites of those, prideful, selfish, uncaring and either self-serving or desiring to be served by others are all too “natural” characteristics in a fallen world. Each of these things in our lives is like a blindfold causing us to fail to see God in His full presence and glory.

In my divisions I included the story of the 2 blind men in this section because I think the whole message of the entrance into Jerusalem was about Jesus coming to heal the blind and lame.

The blindfolds of blindness have different characteristics in the story. Some are physically blind, but clearly see the character of Jesus. Some see Jesus triumphant entry into the city, but are blind to His real mission and message of salvation, Some see Him healing others but refuse to accept they themselves are blind.

Notice in both situations of Jesus healing physical blindness, there was another component. In the temple He healed the blind and lame. See, seeing is not enough, it is just the first part. Getting up and following Him is the only proper response to having the blindfolds removed.

How is sin clouding your vision of God? Are you asking for your blindness to be removed? If you have seen the light, are you still lying on your mat?

My Answers:

11.
a.
Jesus wouldn’t steal, so it must have been arranged. It wasn’t just that Jesus knew the owner, but that the owner knew Jesus!

b.
A very large crowd

c.
Pharisees Luke 19:39

d.
Zach 9:9 – See, your king comes to you,
righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Psalm 118:26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord

13.
a.
House of prayer

b.
John: Destroy temple and raise it up in 3 days
1 Cor: Bodies are temple of H/S
Eph 2: In him the whole building is raised, body of Christ = the church

c.
forgives sin, purifies us of all unrighteousness, thoroughly washed and renewed through Holy Spirit