Week of 4/17 Scripture to Memorize: Matthew 4:19 Day 1 ...
Week of 4/17 Scripture to Memorize: Matthew 4:19 Day 1 Read: Matthew 4:18-22 Reflect: What invitation does Jesus offer these fishermen? Consider: Since Jesus is the promised Messiah, He had the right to call men from their normal pursuits of life to follow Him. This was not the first time these men had met Jesus, for the Fourth Gospel relates Jesus’ first meeting with some of the disciples (John 1:35–42). Jesus now called these fishermen to leave their profession behind and to begin following Him permanently.1 Respond: What is our obligation as followers of Jesus if we are going to embrace His vision for our lives—to fish for men? What is standing in the way of you embracing that call more fully? How do your daily habits and routine need to change in order to make room to fish for men this week? Day 2 Read: Matthew 11:28 Reflect: What invitation is offered by Jesus to his followers? Consider: “Unto me” contains all that Jesus has said about himself in the foregoing; and “unto me” means “to me alone” and not to another.2 Respond: Why do you think that Jesus wants us to know His yoke is easy and His burden light? What other yoke and burden might we carry? What “yoke” might a Christian pick up that isn’t the yoke of Christ? Day 3 Read: Matthew 22:4 Reflect: What is the invitation of the king in the parable?
1
Louis A. Barbieri, Jr., “Matthew,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 27. 2 R. C. H. Lenski, The Interpretation of St. Matthew’s Gospel (Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Publishing House, 1961), 456.
Consider: There had to be some mistake; the guests had been invited, and they would surely come. So the king sent other slaves. This time they had a specific message from the king that said, first, that the great feast had been prepared; second, that oxen and fattened beasts had been butchered for the occasion; and third, that all things are ready. Nothing could be more explicit. So, the assurance having been given that everything had been done to ensure that the guests would have a magnificent banquet, the king concludes with “Come to the wedding.”3 Respond: When did Jesus first call you to the banquet? How did you initially respond? With whom in this story do you most easily identify (re-read verses 1-14)? Day 4 Read: John 21:12 Reflect: What is the invitation given by Jesus? Consider: In classical Greek, the verb translated eat here and had eaten in verse 15 means “to eat breakfast.” The only other instance of this verb in the New Testament is in Luke 11:37, where the reference is to the main meal of the day.4 Respond: How were things left between Jesus and Peter prior to Jesus’ crucifixion? When people questioned Peter about Jesus during Jesus’ trial, Peter denied any connection to Him. What does Peter’s rush to join Jesus say about him and his relationship with Jesus, in spite of what happened at the crucifixion? Has shame over a past failure ever prevented you from running to Jesus? Why? Day 5 Read: Revelation 19:17 Reflect: What is the invitation offered? Consider: The word flesh occurs six times in this paragraph. While John’s immediate reference is to the human body, eaten by the vultures, there is certainly a deeper meaning here: man fails because he is flesh and relies on flesh. The Bible has nothing good to say about fallen human nature. Recall the Lord’s words before the Flood: “My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh” (Gen. 6:3). (See also John 3:6; 6:63; Rom. 7:18; Phil. 3:3.) “All flesh is as grass” (1 Peter 1:24) and must be judged. 5 Respond: What emotions are stirred at this invitation? Read verses 11-21. This is the final battle! Jesus delivers on his promise to conquer. How has Jesus been a deliverer for you?
3
Leon Morris, The Gospel according to Matthew, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press, 1992), 548–549. 4 Barclay Moon Newman and Eugene Albert Nida, A Handbook on the Gospel of John, UBS Handbook Series (New York: United Bible Societies, 1993), 629–630. 5 Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 618.
1
Louis A. Barbieri, Jr., “Matthew,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 27. 2 R. C. H. Lenski, The Interpretation of St. Matthew’s Gospel (Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Publishing House, 1961), 456.
Consider: There had to be some mistake; the guests had been invited, and they would surely come. So the king sent other slaves. This time they had a specific message from the king that said, first, that the great feast had been prepared; second, that oxen and fattened beasts had been butchered for the occasion; and third, that all things are ready. Nothing could be more explicit. So, the assurance having been given that everything had been done to ensure that the guests would have a magnificent banquet, the king concludes with “Come to the wedding.”3 Respond: When did Jesus first call you to the banquet? How did you initially respond? With whom in this story do you most easily identify (re-read verses 1-14)? Day 4 Read: John 21:12 Reflect: What is the invitation given by Jesus? Consider: In classical Greek, the verb translated eat here and had eaten in verse 15 means “to eat breakfast.” The only other instance of this verb in the New Testament is in Luke 11:37, where the reference is to the main meal of the day.4 Respond: How were things left between Jesus and Peter prior to Jesus’ crucifixion? When people questioned Peter about Jesus during Jesus’ trial, Peter denied any connection to Him. What does Peter’s rush to join Jesus say about him and his relationship with Jesus, in spite of what happened at the crucifixion? Has shame over a past failure ever prevented you from running to Jesus? Why? Day 5 Read: Revelation 19:17 Reflect: What is the invitation offered? Consider: The word flesh occurs six times in this paragraph. While John’s immediate reference is to the human body, eaten by the vultures, there is certainly a deeper meaning here: man fails because he is flesh and relies on flesh. The Bible has nothing good to say about fallen human nature. Recall the Lord’s words before the Flood: “My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh” (Gen. 6:3). (See also John 3:6; 6:63; Rom. 7:18; Phil. 3:3.) “All flesh is as grass” (1 Peter 1:24) and must be judged. 5 Respond: What emotions are stirred at this invitation? Read verses 11-21. This is the final battle! Jesus delivers on his promise to conquer. How has Jesus been a deliverer for you?
3
Leon Morris, The Gospel according to Matthew, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press, 1992), 548–549. 4 Barclay Moon Newman and Eugene Albert Nida, A Handbook on the Gospel of John, UBS Handbook Series (New York: United Bible Societies, 1993), 629–630. 5 Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 618.
