Matthew - Week 30

Report What You Have Seen 

READ 

Matthew 11:4-6 

4 Jesus told them, “Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen—5 the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.” 6 And he added, “God blesses those who do not fall away because of me.” 

John the Baptist was in prison and having doubts about whether Jesus was really the Messiah. He sent some disciples to ask Jesus if He was the one who was expected. This passage contains Jesus’ answer for John’s disciples to take back to him. Jesus told of the works He had been doing that gave evidence He was the promised Messiah. Jesus said God blesses those who don’t lose faith in Him. 

REFLECT 

Read one of the Gospels and see the miracles Jesus performed. This will encourage you. 

RESPOND 

Talk with a fellow believer and agree to choose one of the Gospels to read through searching for the miracles Jesus performed. Talk about what a great Savior He is. 

What Were You Expecting 

READ 

Matthew 11:7-8 

7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began talking about him to the crowds. “What kind of man did you go into the wilderness to see? Was he a weak reed, swayed by every breath of wind? 8 Or were you expecting to see a man dressed in expensive clothes? No, people with expensive clothes live in palaces.” 

Jesus reminded the crowds of what John the Baptist was like. He was not weak nor was he dressed in expensive clothes. Jesus wanted them to think about John’s message; not about what he looked like. Cultures differ greatly on opinions of how a pastor/preacher should dress. Jesus wanted the focus to be on the message of John the Baptist, not on his appearance. 

REFLECT 

Have you sometimes been so distracted by the way a presenter dresses that you do not hear his message?  

RESPOND 

Read the account of God choosing David to be the next king to succeed Saul. It is found in 1 Samuel 16:6-13. Talk with a friend about what lessons you can draw from this passage. 

More Than a Prophet 

READ 

Matthew 11:9-10 

9 “Were you looking for a prophet? Yes, and he is more than a prophet. 10 John is the man to whom the Scriptures refer when they say, ‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way before you.’” 

Jesus said John the Baptist was a prophet, but that he was more than a prophet. Jesus referred to the prophecy in Malachi 3:1 that promised a forerunner for the Messiah. John the Baptist had been a partial fulfillment of prophecy in this regard.  

REFLECT 

Are you impressed with the working out of the plan of God concerning John the Baptist and Jesus? 

RESPOND 

Take the time now to read Malachi 4, which is the last chapter in the Old Testament. It was written before a period of 400 silent years until more revelation came in the New Testament. Note especially Malachi 4:5-6. 

Forcefully Advancing 

READ 

Matthew 11:11-12 

11 “I tell you the truth, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he is! 12 And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people are attacking it.” 

John the Baptist had announced the King and the kingdom, and yet the least person “in the Kingdom of Heaven” would be considered greater than John. Although the Kingdom of Heaven was being announced by John the Baptist, many were opposing it. They were rejecting Jesus as the promised Messiah and King. 

REFLECT 

By trusting in Jesus as Savior, you will have the privilege of being in the Kingdom of Heaven. John the Baptist had announced it but he was not in it yet. 

RESPOND 

Matthew used the expression “Kingdom of Heaven” 13 times in his Gospel. He used the expression the “Kingdom of God” five times. The Jewish people thought the name Yahweh was so special they would not even pronounce it. This is the name that most translations render as LORD (note the all caps). In either case, the Kingdom of Heaven or the Kingdom of God is a kingdom that originates with God.  

Looking Forward 

READ 

Matthew 11:13-15 

13 “For before John came, all the prophets and the law of Moses looked forward to this present time. 14 And if you are willing to accept what I say, he is Elijah, the one the prophets said would come. 15 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!” 

Some debate whether John the Baptist would have fulfilled the prophecy in Malachi 3:1 about Elijah coming if the nation would have accepted Jesus as Messiah. John the Baptist denied being Elijah when he was asked (see John 1:21). By Jesus’ comment, it seems He was saying that John the Baptist had come in the spirit and power of Elijah.  

REFLECT 

Some things in the Bible are difficult to understand. One would have to be God to completely understand everything about God and some of the things He has said. 

RESPOND 

Talk with a friend about the Bible having some things you do not understand. Then look at Revelation 1:3. Many are troubled by the things they do not understand in the book of Revelation. Verse 3 offers a blessing to those who read, hear, and obey what is in the book. One will learn that God wins in the end, and in the meantime He blesses those who honor Him and brings judgment on those who do not.