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A Shepherd for Israel READ Matthew 15:23-24 23 But Jesus gave her no reply, not even a word. Then his disciples urged him to send her away. “Tell her to go away,” they said. “She is bothering us with all her begging.” 24 Then Jesus said to the woman, “I was sent only to help God’s lost sheep—the people of Israel.” In contrast to Jesus who was compassionate, the disciples seemed often to be impatient and uncompassionate. They wanted this woman sent away who was begging for help for her daughter who was possessed by a demon and was being severely tormented. Jesus wanted her to know His primary mission was to the people of Israel who were God’s lost sheep. REFLECT Have you sometimes been impatient with others asking for help? Do you think Jesus would have been? RESPOND Although Jesus had compassion, read John 3:35-36 to see at whom God is angry. The God of love will not always withhold His judgment. The Persistent Gentile READ Matthew 15:25-26 25 But she came and worshiped him, pleading again, “Lord, help me!” 26 Jesus responded, “It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.” The woman would not stop pleading with Jesus to help her daughter. Jesus explained why He resisted and used a term the Jewish people used in referring to Gentiles. He was certainly testing her faith to see what she would say. REFLECT Have you felt at times the Lord may be testing you to see if you really trust Him or not? How did your experience turn out? RESPOND With a friend, read about some of the heroes of the faith in Hebrews 11. See specifically verses 17 and 18 about the way God tested Abraham. God does not test us to this extreme, but He tests us at times to reveal to us our limitations. Read John 6:1-13 to see how He tested Philip. Great Faith READ Matthew 15:27-28 27 She replied, “That’s true, Lord, but even dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall beneath their masters’ table.” 28 “Dear woman,” Jesus said to her, “your faith is great. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed. The woman responded wisely to Jesus’ reference to the Gentile dogs. The woman admitted her unworthiness but referred to the little dogs under the table. This was different than the scavenger dogs usually thought of. Jesus recognized her great faith and granted her wish for her daughter who was instantly healed. REFLECT Think of this as another time when Jesus healed at a distance by just speaking the word. RESPOND Consider when Jesus healed at a distance by reading John 4:46-54. Jesus is not limited in His ability. He Healed Them All READ Matthew 15:29-30 29 Jesus returned to the Sea of Galilee and climbed a hill and sat down. 30 A vast crowd brought to him people who were lame, blind, crippled, those who couldn’t speak, and many others. They laid them before Jesus, and he healed them all. This is another occasion when Jesus healed all the ailing in a large crowd. Such events are hard to be understood but they can be believed. To Jesus, these occasions were not an interruption; they were opportunities to minister to the needs of others. He had compassion on the crowds. REFLECT Think of the times when you have been exhausted from the day’s activities. Do you feel like helping others at that time? Jesus did. RESPOND Visit with a fellow believer about how to understand an interruption in your schedule may be God’s way of showing you a new opportunity. Read Galatians 6:9-10 as a reminder. See interruptions as opportunities to do good. Praise and Amazement READ Matthew 15:31 31 The crowd was amazed! Those who hadn’t been able to speak were talking, the crippled were made well, the lame were walking, and the blind could see again! And they praised the God of Israel. Imagine how excited everyone was to be healed. One would have thought all would be convinced that Jesus was the promised Messiah, but not the Jewish leaders. These leaders also knew they needed to get rid of Jesus before everyone believed in Him because of His miracles. REFLECT If you would have been an unbeliever in the time of Jesus, would His miracles have convinced you He was the promised Messiah? Why do you think the religious leaders were not convinced? RESPOND Read Mark 6:1-3 to see what those in Jesus’ hometown thought when they knew about His miracle-working power. Even those who knew Him well did not believe in Him.

Nothing Left to Eat READ Matthew 15:32 32 Then Jesus called his disciples and told them, “I feel sorry for these people. They have been here with me for three days, and they have nothing left to eat. I don’t want to send them away hungry, or they will faint along the way.” The huge crowd was a concern to Jesus. They had brought people to be healed and had been with Him for three days. Now they had nothing left to eat. Jesus did not want to send them away hungry as they might be so weak they would collapse along the way. REFLECT Are you impressed that Jesus was concerned about the people’s physical needs as well as their spiritual needs? RESPOND With another believer, read Matthew 14:13-21 to refresh your thinking about Jesus feeding 5,000 men, plus, women and children. This will show similarities and contrasts to what you are about to read in Matthew 15. Seven Loaves and a Few Small Fish READ Matthew 15:33-34 33 The disciples replied, “Where would we get enough food here in the wilderness for such a huge crowd?” 34 Jesus asked, “How much bread do you have?” They replied, “Seven loaves, and a few small fish.” Again, Jesus puts His disciples to a test by asking them a question. When they wondered where they would ever get enough food in the wilderness for the crowd, He asked how much bread they had. Only seven loaves and a few small fish surely seemed to the disciples as if Jesus should know how impossible it was for those to be of any help in feeding the huge crowd. REFLECT Does it sometime seem that your ability is insignificant in doing what you believe Jesus wants you to do? Could this be about the nudge to share your faith with an unbeliever? RESPOND From the past experience of Jesus feeding the 5,000, what would you expect now when confronted with a similar situation? Would you have thought of this had you been with the disciples at this time? Talk with a believer about remembering God’s help in the past to encourage you to trust Him at the present. Dinner Is Served READ Matthew 15:35-36 35 So Jesus told all the people to sit down on the ground. 36 Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, thanked God for them, and broke them into pieces. He gave them to the disciples, who distributed the food to the crowd. Jesus thanked God for the few loaves and fish—an amount the disciples thought horribly inadequate. Then He broke them in pieces and gave the pieces to the disciples to distribute. One wonders what the disciples were thinking as they had all this food to distribute from the small contribution they made. Surely they were amazed again at the miracle-working power of Jesus. REFLECT Have you sometimes been surprised at how God has worked in and through you? Be sure to share this experience with someone. RESPOND Talk with a fellow believer about Jesus not needing the little we can offer Him, but He uses what we have. Share with each other how Jesus has used something you have and multiplied it to help others. Perhaps He used your example to encourage someone else to do more than you could. Baskets of Food READ Matthew 15:37-39 37 They all ate as much as they wanted. Afterward, the disciples picked up seven large baskets of leftover food. 38 There were 4,000 men who were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children. 39 Then Jesus sent the people home, and he got into a boat and crossed over to the region of Magadan. This is similar to Matthew 14 when Jesus fed the 5,000. This time there were 4,000 men in addition to women and children. As previously, when everyone had eaten all they wanted, there were basketsful left over. Having fed the large group, Jesus sent them home, and He got into a boat and left the area. He went to the area of “Magadan,” which seems to be a variant spelling of “Magdala” where Mary Magdalene was from. Mark 8:10 reveals it also went by the name “Dalmanutha.” REFLECT Had you been among the disciples, do you think it would have caused you to realize that Jesus would be able to feed any amount of people He chose to? RESPOND Share with a friend Mark 10:23-27 to see what Jesus said about all things being possible with God. Proof of Authority READ Matthew 16:1 1 One day the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus, demanding that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority. The Pharisees and Sadducees wanted Jesus to show them some miraculous sign. His previous miracles, however, never convinced them that Jesus was the Messiah. The Pharisees believed in the supernatural but the Sadducees did not. Their minds were already made up concerning Jesus and nothing He could do would change their thinking. The Sadducees did not believe in heaven or anything miraculous; they were only joining with the Pharisees to trap Jesus. REFLECT Have you met people whose minds are made up and they do not want to listen to any reasoning that is contrary to their thinking? This can be true about spiritual truths. RESPOND Read Acts 23:6-10. This passage reveals how the apostle Paul, when he was on trial before the Jewish Sanhedrin, used the different beliefs of the Pharisees and Sadducees to his advantage.

Forecasting READ Matthew 16:2-3 2 He replied, “You know the saying, ‘Red sky at night means fair weather tomorrow; 3 red sky in the morning means foul weather all day.’ You know how to interpret the weather signs in the sky, but you don’t know how to interpret the signs of the times!” The Pharisees and Sadducees asked Jesus to prove His authority by showing them a sign. Here was His answer. Jesus reminded them they could tell what kind of weather was coming by looking at the sky. Even though they could forecast the weather with its signs they couldn’t interpret the signs of the times. REFLECT Think of the prophecies in the Bible that tell of the two advents of Jesus to earth. He came as a babe in Bethlehem the first time and He will come as King of kings and Lord of lords the second time. The religious leaders of His time were ignorant of these. RESPOND Visit with a fellow Christian about the need to understand the signs of the times. As encouragement, read 1 Chronicles 12:32 that tells of those in the Old Testament who knew the signs of the times. The Only Sign READ Matthew 16:4 4 “Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign, but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah.” Then Jesus left them and went away. He had told about the sign of Jonah before, but now Jesus repeats it. He emphasized this was the only sign He would give the Pharisees and Sadducees—whom He described as part of “an evil, adulterous generation.” In the Bible, “adultery” is also seen as spiritual adultery—turning from the true God to a false one. As Matthew was inspired to write this Gospel, he abruptly adds that Jesus left them and went away. REFLECT Think how sad it is when those living in the presence of Jesus had Him walk away. That will be true eternally for those who die rejecting Jesus as Savior. RESPOND Read Matthew 12:38-40 to see what Jesus had previously told the Pharisees and religious leaders about the sign of the prophet Jonah. The Yeast of the Pharisees READ Matthew 16:5-7 5 Later, after they crossed to the other side of the lake, the disciples discovered they had forgotten to bring any bread. 6 “Watch out!” Jesus warned them. “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 7 At this they began to argue with each other because they hadn’t brought any bread. The disciples had forgotten to bring food with them and they were greatly concerned about what they would eat. Jesus reminded them to be cautious about the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees. They missed Jesus’ point completely and began to argue with each other as they worried about what they would eat. One wonders what they were arguing about: was someone supposed to be in charge of bringing food? REFLECT Have you been guilty of missing something Jesus is trying to teach you from the Bible because you are worried about some problem? RESPOND “Yeast” or “leaven” is used regarding false teaching. Read Galatians 5:7-10 to see how Paul referred to it eventually spreading though everything. “Leaven” is not used regarding good things in the Bible. It's Not About Bread READ Matthew 16:8-11 8 Jesus knew what they were saying, so he said, “You have so little faith! Why are you arguing with each other about having no bread? 9 Don’t you understand even yet? Don’t you remember the 5,000 I fed with five loaves, and the baskets of leftovers you picked up? 10 Or the 4,000 I fed with seven loaves, and the large baskets of leftovers you picked up? 11 Why can’t you understand that I’m not talking about bread? So again I say, ‘Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.’” For the disciples who could only think of physical food at the time, Jesus reminded them of what He had done in the past. They were the ones who had distributed the food He had miraculously provided to feed the two huge groups. Now in the boat with Him could they seriously be worrying about enough physical food to eat? Jesus was referring, however, to the false teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. REFLECT When faced with a difficult situation, do you think about other times when you faced difficult times and the Lord provided a way for you? RESPOND Work with a believer and make some notes about times when God intervened for you in the past. Then make a commitment to each other to look at your list the next time you face a difficult test. Understanding READ Matthew 16:12 12 Then at last they understood that he wasn’t speaking about the yeast in bread, but about the deceptive teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. At last the disciples understood what Jesus was trying to tell them. He was using something physical they knew about to warn them of something spiritual. The Pharisees and Sadducees had taken the Old Testament Scriptures—the only Bible they knew at the time—and added their own opinions to them. This was the legalism of their day. REFLECT Does this warn you not to add your ideas to the Bible? This means you need to know what the Bible actually teaches. RESPOND Read 2 Timothy 2:15-19 to be reminded of accurately understanding and teaching the Bible. Some even thought the resurrection was past until they were corrected.

The Son of Man READ Matthew 16:13-14 13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” Caesarea Philippi was north of the Sea of Galilee. Here Jesus questioned His disciples to learn what others were saying about Him. Their answers were similar to what you would hear if you asked people today who they think Jesus is. Some think Jesus was a good person or a great teacher or even “one of the other prophets,” but they don’t recognize Him as the eternal Son of God. REFLECT Have you ever asked a person, “What do you think of Jesus?” This would be a good question to ask in your witnessing about Him. RESPOND With a fellow believer, make a decision to ask some people who they think Jesus is. Then share with each other what you heard. Also talk about if this led to more openings to talk about Jesus. The Son of the Living God READ Matthew 16:15-16 15 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” This reveals Jesus’ direct question of the disciples. Regardless of what others think; He wanted to know what they thought. Peter, often a spokesman for the others, said He was the Messiah. “Messiah” is a Hebrew word; “Christ” is a Greek word. Both mean “anointed one.” Peter further described Jesus as “the Son of the living God.” REFLECT Think of Jesus’ method as one you could use. Ask a person what others say about Jesus then ask the individual what he or she thinks about Him. RESPOND Use this example from Jesus to share with others that it does not really matter what others say about Jesus; each one must personally stand before Jesus to give account. Read Romans 14:11-12 to see a biblical basis for this. Upon This Rock READ Matthew 16:17-18 17 Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. 18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.” This has been a controversial passage. Peter’s name meant “rock,” a masculine word. When Jesus said, “upon this rock,” a different word was used in another gender. “Peter” referred to a little rock or stone; whereas “upon this rock” referred to a huge boulder or bed-rock. With the various opinions, it seems the one that fits the context best is that Jesus was building the Church upon Himself. The powers of “hell” is actually “hades” and referred to the place of death. Not even death could keep Jesus from building His Church, which would take place after His death on the Day of Pentecost. REFLECT Think of what Jesus has accomplished by building His Church, of which every believer is a part today. RESPOND Read 1 Corinthians 10:1-5 to see how Jesus was referred to as a “rock” in Old Testament times. See also 1 Peter 2:7-8 where Peter referred to Jesus as “the rock.” Keys of the Kingdom READ Matthew 16:19 19 “And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.” The understanding of the Greek text helps explain this verse. The Perfect tense referred to something already completed with a continuing effect. The New American Standard Bible translates this verse according to the Greek tenses, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” No believer can bind and loose someone; only God can do that. The believer can announce, however, that what has been bound and loosed in heaven has been done on earth. REFLECT Think of the privilege you have of telling a believer he or she has been loosed from their sins by trusting in Jesus as Savior. It is sobering to have to remind them they are still bound in their sins if they have not believed in Jesus. RESPOND Read John 20:23 for a verse similar to Matthew 16:19. The same explanation from the Greek text applies to this verse also. You can announce someone’s sins have been forgiven or not forgiven depending on whether the person has believed in Jesus as Savior. A Stern Warning READ Matthew 16:20 20 Then he sternly warned the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. Some see this as a turning point in the ministry of Jesus. He told His disciples to no longer go to the nation of Israel with the message that He is the Messiah. The leaders had many opportunities to hear and believe and had rejected the message. There was no need to make any more appeals to them. Jesus will now turn His view toward the cross and His death for the nation and for the entire world. REFLECT Have you known of some who have rejected Jesus as Savior and there is no need to tell them again of His saving grace? RESPOND Read some Old Testament passages that refer to this type of problem. See Proverbs 1:24-26 and Hosea 8:2-4. Pray for your friends to turn to Jesus before it is eternally too late and not to harden their hearts against Him. See 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 that says today is the day of salvation.

Looking Ahead to Jerusalem READ Matthew 16:21 21 From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead. Jesus described what He was facing, but it must have been a shock to the disciples. Some had followed Him because they thought He would be King and now He is talking about His death. A dead king is not what they were expecting. He assured them, however, that He would rise from the dead on the third day. Surely this was too much for the disciples to understand. REFLECT It is easy now to be hard on the disciples for not understanding what Jesus said. What would you have thought had you been one of the disciples at that time? RESPOND Talk with a fellow believer about those Jesus predicted would cause Him terrible suffering and wanted Him put to death—the religious leaders. Some today are against religion, so was Jesus in His day. “Religion” is mankind’s impossible attempt to reach up to God; “Christianity” is God reaching down to man in the person of Jesus. A Human Point of View READ Matthew 16:22-23 22 But Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things. “Heaven forbid, Lord,” he said. “This will never happen to you!” 23 Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.” Some consider Peter to have been the first pope. He certainly failed the test here; he did not believe what Jesus said. Jesus viewed Peter’s opinion as coming from Satan himself. Understandably, Peter was only seeing things from the natural point of view and not from God’s point of view. Peter’s comments reveal that the disciples still did not understand what Jesus was telling them so close to His trial and death—and resurrection. REFLECT Does your heart go out to Peter and the other disciples? What they were hearing from Jesus was beyond anything they could think of or had ever heard. RESPOND Consider some things that are difficult to understand. Read 2 Corinthians 5:20-21. Do you understand how that is possible? The test is whether you believe it and place your trust in Jesus as Savior. The Worth of a Soul READ Matthew 16:24-26 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. 25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 26 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” Notice the word Jesus used when He asked if any of the disciples wanted to be His “follower.” Some know about Jesus—Judas Iscariot did, but he was not a follower. Knowing information about Jesus does not save one from condemnation, only trusting in Him as Savior does. Even the wealthy who had so many possessions really had nothing if they had not believed in Jesus. REFLECT Do not be impressed with a person’s earthly possessions or even how much one knows about the Bible. If a person has not trusted in Jesus there will be eternal separation from God at death. RESPOND Talk with a friend about Jesus’ comment about one taking up his cross. A cross in that day was the symbol of death, and the Roman Empire often used this cruel form of punishment. Taking up the cross would include not only the suffering and shame that went with it but even being willing to die for Jesus. Read Hebrews 12:1-4 that reminds believers about Jesus enduring the shame of the cross for them. The Glory of the Father READ Matthew 16:27-28 27 “For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds. 28 And I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.” Observe that no one escapes meeting God face to face. Their eternal destination depends on their relationship with Jesus. Believers will stand before Jesus to be judged for their works as believers (see 1 Corinthians 3:10-15). Unbelievers will stand before the Great White Throne judgment and be judged for their works as Christ-rejecters (see Revelation 20:11-15). What did Jesus mean when He said that some of those present would see Him coming in His Kingdom? Read on to the next lesson. REFLECT If you have trusted in Jesus you will someday be rewarded as a believer. Those not believing in Jesus will be judged according to their works, which seems to indicate different degrees of punishment. RESPOND With a fellow believer, read the two passages above that describe the judgments of believers and unbelievers. Use one to encourage believers and the other to warn Christ-rejecters. Transformed on the Mountain READ Matthew 17:1-2 1 Six days later Jesus took Peter and the two brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. 2 As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. This answers the perplexing statement of Jesus in Matthew 16:28. Remember there were no chapter divisions when this was originally written so one would go directly from the last verse in Matthew 16 to the first one in Matthew 17. This passage also reveals that Peter, James and John had become especially close to the Lord Jesus. As they watched, Jesus’ appearance completely changed similar to the way it will be when He comes to set up His kingdom. REFLECT Think of the tremendous privilege it was for these three disciples to be a part of this experience. How would you have felt to be part of this time? RESPOND Read Revelation 1:12-16 to see the vision of Jesus that the apostle John described. This introduces the message to the seven churches of Revelation.

Moses, Elijah and Jesus READ Matthew 17:3-4 3 Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus. 4 Peter exclaimed, “Lord, it’s wonderful for us to be here! If you want, I’ll make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” Notice that Moses and Elijah began talking to Jesus. The Bible does not record what they said or why it was these two specific people from the Old Testament that were the ones who appeared. Peter was so excited he didn’t know what to do so he made a suggestion to Jesus. Peter wanted to make three shelters, one for Jesus, one for Moses and one for Elijah. REFLECT Would you not have also been excited had you been in Peter’s place then? RESPOND Even though this was a great spiritual moment, Peter was thinking of earthly matters as he suggested building shelters for Jesus, Moses and Elijah. Talk with a Christian friend about how difficult it is to switch our minds from earthly to heavenly matters. Read 2 Corinthians 4:18 to be reminded of focusing on eternal matters. My Dearly Loved Son READ Matthew 17:5-8 5 But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.” 6 The disciples were terrified and fell face down on the ground. 7 Then Jesus came over and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 And when they looked up, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus. Peter’s suggestion of building shelters for Jesus, Moses and Elijah was interrupted by the voice from heaven. The heavenly Father spoke and said to listen to His Son, Jesus. The disciples fell face down from this brush with God Himself. Apparently they remained there until Jesus touched them and told them to get up and not be afraid. As they looked up, Moses and Elijah were gone. REFLECT Think of what a scary time this was for the disciples. Peter’s suggestion about building shelters was likely what they were thinking also. What would you have thought if you heard a voice from heaven as they heard that day? RESPOND God speaks to us today through His living Word, the Bible. It is the only book that God has written by using men to record His message. As you read the Bible, think of it as God speaking directly to you. A Theological Question READ Matthew 17:9-10 9 As they went back down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” 10 Then his disciples asked him, “Why do the teachers of religious law insist that Elijah must return before the Messiah comes?” Jesus instructed Peter, James and John not to tell anyone about this experience until after He had risen from the dead. Israel had rejected Him as Savior so there was no need any longer to tell them. The disciples knew about the teaching of the religious leaders that Elijah would first come before the Messiah so they wondered why. REFLECT Notice that the disciples were like us in that they wanted explanations for what they did not understand. RESPOND With a friend, read Malachi 4:5-6 to see the promise of Elijah that was what the disciples were wondering about. A Theological Answer READ Matthew 17:11-13 11 Jesus replied, “Elijah is indeed coming first to get everything ready. 12 But I tell you, Elijah has already come, but he wasn’t recognized, and they chose to abuse him. And in the same way they will also make the Son of Man suffer.” 13 Then the disciples realized he was talking about John the Baptist. Although sometimes answers are not given to one’s questions, Jesus answered the disciples wondering about Elijah coming before the Messiah. Jesus said that “Elijah has already come.” How was this possible? Jesus explained he wasn’t recognized; rather he was abused similar to what He would be. Then the disciples understood He was referring to John the Baptist. REFLECT Think how special it was that the disciples had Jesus to answer their questions. We do not have that, so many questions we have might be left unanswered. If one keeps reading in the Bible, however, the answer may be revealed. RESPOND Read Luke 1:11-17 to see about the birth of John the Baptist and it being said he would have “the spirit and power of Elijah.” A Desperate Father READ Matthew 17:14-16 14 At the foot of the mountain, a large crowd was waiting for them. A man came and knelt before Jesus and said, 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son. He has seizures and suffers terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 So I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn’t heal him.” It seems wherever Jesus went there was a large crowd waiting and some who needed healing. This father came and knelt before Jesus, revealing his respect and honor of Him. He pleaded for his son who had seizures and sometimes would fall into a fire or the water. He leveled a serious charge at the disciples when he said he brought his son to them and they could not heal him. REFLECT Think how desperate a parent would be in this situation because of the burns and near drowning his son must have experienced. Perhaps you have had a similar experience with a child. Why do you think the disciples were not able to heal him? RESPOND With a friend, read Mark 9:14-18 and Luke 9:37-40 to see what other Gospel writers recorded about this incident. You can understand how desperate this father was to get help for his son.

Demon Rebuked READ Matthew 17:17-19 17 Jesus said, “You faithless and corrupt people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” 18 Then Jesus rebuked the demon in the boy, and it left him. From that moment the boy was well. 19 Afterward the disciples asked Jesus privately, “Why couldn’t we cast out that demon?” This was Jesus’ answer after the man with the suffering son said he brought him to the disciples but they could not heal him. Jesus asked for the boy to be brought to Him and he was healed immediately. Now the disciples asked privately why they could not heal the boy. They must have been able to heal many others. Why not this boy? REFLECT Have you sometimes wondered why God has not done the same for you in a new situation that He had done before? Were you trusting God or in a particular method? RESPOND With a fellow believer, read Hebrews 10:21-23 to see the importance of trusting in God and accepting Him to do whatever is best in your situation. By fully trusting in God your request may not be answered the way you think it should be. Not Enough Faith READ Matthew 17:20 20 “You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.” This is Jesus’ answer to the disciples’ question about why they could not cast out the demon in the boy. His statement must have meant the disciples did not really believe God would do it. God has promised to do what is according to His will, but they didn’t believe God in this situation. REFLECT Have you studied the Bible to see what matters are God’s will? RESPOND Join with another believer in reading the following passages: 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8; 5:14-22 and 2 Peter 3:9. These passages reveal what God’s will is. Believers should pray for that which is according to God’s will. This is intended when one concludes a prayer with “In Jesus’ name.” Filled with Grief READ Matthew 17:22-23 22 After they gathered again in Galilee, Jesus told them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies. 23 He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead.” And the disciples were filled with grief. (You may have noticed that we skipped over Matthew 17:21. This verse is not found in the earlier manuscripts so most modern translations omit it.) Jesus told the disciples again about His coming death and assured them He would be raised from the dead. The first of His words gripped their hearts, but they seemed to overlook the last statement that He would be raised from the dead. Understandably, their hearts were filled with grief. REFLECT Have you sometimes responded wrongly to a message because you didn’t catch the full message and meaning? The disciples had reason to grieve, but they also had reason to rejoice. RESPOND Nehemiah 8:8-12 is an example of the Israelites who at first wept over what was read to them from the Scriptures. The people had recently returned from captivity in a Gentile nation and needed to have interpreters give them the meaning of the Hebrew Scriptures, which at first they misunderstood. Nehemiah 8:8 is considered a key verse for expository preaching. That is, speaking that exposes what the Scriptures say and gives their accurate interpretation. The Temple Tax READ Matthew 17:24-25 24 On their arrival in Capernaum, the collectors of the Temple tax came to Peter and asked him, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the Temple tax?” 25 “Yes, he does,” Peter replied. Then he went into the house. But before he had a chance to speak, Jesus asked him, “What do you think, Peter? Do kings tax their own people or the people they have conquered?” The temple was supported by tax from the Jewish people. As usual, tax collectors were out to get all they could so they asked Peter if Jesus paid the temple tax. Peter answered “Yes.” In the house, however, Jesus asked him the question about who pays tax; one’s own people or strangers? At that time kings taxed others but they did not tax their own family. This made the point that the temple was the house of God that Jesus as King should not have to pay taxes and neither should His followers. REFLECT Think about finding a source that would help you learn about the customs of people during the time Jesus was on earth. Such a source would give you even more understanding of the Scriptures. RESPOND Talk with a friend about being on the alert to find information to help you understand the customs Jesus faced while on earth. Computer research may help as well as hearing of others who specialize in Bible times and customs. Fishing for Silver READ Matthew 17:26-27 26 “They tax the people they have conquered,” Peter replied. “Well, then,” Jesus said, “the citizens are free! 27 However, we don’t want to offend them, so go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a large silver coin. Take it and pay the tax for both of us.” Although Jesus made the point that He and His followers should not have to pay the temple tax, He instructed Peter to do it anyway. Jesus even gave specific instructions about where Peter would find the money. (There is no record in Scripture that Jesus carried any money with Him.) Jesus instructed Peter to take the money he found and pay the temple tax for both of them. REFLECT Even though Philippians 2:6-7 indicates Jesus emptied Himself of the divine privileges He had with the Father in eternity, He occasionally used His knowledge while on earth. RESPOND This passage demonstrates the omniscience of Jesus—He had all knowledge but seldom used it in His human state. Jesus knew which fish in the sea would have the exact amount of money in its mouth and that it would be the first fish Peter caught.

The Greatest READ Matthew 18:1 1 About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” This is an interesting question from the disciples. One could imagine many things about the Kingdom of Heaven, but few would wonder who will be the greatest in that kingdom. One wonders what was on their minds as they asked this question. REFLECT In all of your thinking about heaven, have you wondered who will be the greatest there? What comforts you most as you think about eternity? RESPOND This is one of those times when you should want to read further to see what Jesus would answer. Talk with a fellow believer about how to handle difficult questions when teaching others. As someone has said, “The only stupid question is an unasked question.” You never want to discourage a person from asking questions, however. Humble as a Child READ Matthew 18:2-4 2 Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. 3 Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. 4 So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.” This may not have been what the disciples expected when they asked Jesus who would be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus taught them with an object lesson. The disciples may have been showing pride by asking the question, but Jesus used a little child to tell them how humble one needed to be to be called the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. REFLECT Thank the Lord for all those working with children and teaching them the need to trust in Jesus for salvation. Often, if a person is not reached then, it becomes harder for that individual to trust in Jesus. RESPOND You and other believers need to pray for those in children’s ministry. Perhaps you are in such yourself. Think of the blessing of helping to change a life for eternity. A Large Millstone READ Matthew 18:5-6 5 “And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. 6 But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.” This is a serious warning for those who harm children. God will execute severe judgment on anyone who causes a child to sin. The world today seems filled with sins against children, such as sex trafficking and child pornography. Someday God will severely judge those guilty of forcing children into such behavior. REFLECT Think how terrible the judgment will be against those who cause children to sin. RESPOND Pray and work with others about what can be done to lessen the sins against children. Is there something your local church can do? Tempters and Tempted READ Matthew 18:7-9 7 “What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting. 8 So if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand or one foot than to be thrown into eternal fire with both of your hands and feet. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.” This passage connects a member of the body with what is used in sinning. Jesus was not prescribing self-mutilation, however, because His teaching during His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) reveals sin begins in the heart, and cutting off a member of the body would not change the heart. REFLECT Think how important it is that people change their behavior if they are tempting others to sin. RESPOND With a fellow believer read and think about James 1:12-16. To “tempt” is to “test” and God never tests people to do evil. The devil tested Jesus as recorded in Matthew 4:1-11. The devil wanted Jesus to sin. Jesus was fully God as well as fully man so there was nothing in Him to cause Him to want to yield to the devil’s test. Guardian Angels READ Matthew 18:10 10 “Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father.” What a precious verse this is to parents. Especially to those parents who have lost children. It is comforting to know that their angels in heaven are in the presence of the heavenly Father. These must be those commonly called, “Guardian Angels.” REFLECT What questions do you have about the ministry angels have to children and to you? RESPOND Read some passages that tell of angels. Luke 16:22 tells of them carrying a believing beggar to heaven. Hebrews 1:6 indicates they are to worship Jesus. Hebrews 1:13-14 says angels are to care for those who inherit salvation.

Not One Should Perish READ Matthew 18:12-14 12 “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? 13 And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away! 14 In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish.” (You may have noticed that we skipped over Matthew 18:11. This verse is not found in the earlier manuscripts so most modern translations omit it.) Jesus continued to talk about the little ones. He told a parable about a shepherd who had 100 sheep and one was lost. Leaving the 99, he went to look for the lost one. When the lost one is found the shepherd rejoiced over that one more than those not lost. Notice it is not the heavenly Father’s will that any of the little ones perish. REFLECT As you pray for children to trust Jesus as Savior, you are praying something that is God’s will. RESPOND Ask others to pray with you for little ones among your families and friends who have children who need to trust Jesus as Savior. Dealing with Offenses READ Matthew 18:15-17 15 “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. 16 But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. 17 If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.” This passage tells how to handle an offense if one is made against you by another believer. 1) you should go privately to the person and explain the offense; 2) if he or she does not listen to you; take one or two others as witnesses and go to the person again; 3) if the individual refuses to listen to you and the witnesses, take your problem to the church; 4) if the person will not accept the church’s decision; treat the individual as an unbeliever. REFLECT Have you ever been in a situation where this practice needed to be followed? How did it turn out? RESPOND It is difficult to handle situations as described in this passage, but it is necessary if you wish to follow biblical instructions. Pray about having the courage to follow these directions when a serious problem arises between you and another believer. Forbidden and Permitted READ Matthew 18:18 18 “I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.” This passage is similar to Matthew 16:19 and John 20:23. Matthew 16:19 has been previously explained. Notice how the New American Standard Bible translates this verse: “Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” As mentioned earlier, this translation more accurately brings out the nuances of the original Greek language. The believer can announce what has already taken place in heaven. REFLECT Think of the privilege you have of telling a person if he or she has confessed sin it is forgiven in heaven. Think also of the sadness to have to tell some that if they have not trusted Jesus as Savior their sins are not forgiven. RESPOND With another believer, look at Matthew 16:19 and John 20:23 and examine the surrounding verses. An individual verse should not be taken out of context to learn of its true meaning. Where Two or Three Gather READ Matthew 18:19-20 19 “I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. 20 For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” This passage is often taken out of context. Remember that the surrounding subject has been referring to church discipline when two believers cannot solve their problems. Where two or three are gathered together and ask the heavenly Father for guidance, they should remember the Lord is there among them. This should encourage them to move ahead with their decision. REFLECT Have you thought about the passage in this way? Will it change your view about how to use these two verses? RESPOND Another passage about church discipline is 1 Corinthians 5:1-13. The entire passage gives reasons for exercising discipline. Consider this passage carefully.

Seventy Times Seven READ Matthew 18:21-22 21 Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” 22 “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!” The previous verses dealt with one believer offending another one. Now Peter wants to know how often he should forgive such a person. Some translations indicate Jesus’ answer not as 70 times 7 but as 77 times. There is a large difference between 490 times and 77 times. It is likely Jesus was stressing there was no limit to the times one should forgive, based on how much he had been forgiven. This seems to be the point of the parable He told that follows this verse. REFLECT Have you had to forgive someone and found it difficult to forgive again for the same offense? RESPOND Talk with a fellow believer about the matter of forgiving others. Express to each other why you sometimes find it so hard. Settling Accounts READ Matthew 18:23-25 23 “Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. 24 In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. 25 He couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold—along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned—to pay the debt.” Jesus then told a parable to His disciples. It presented a debtor who owed a tremendous amount to the king. The king ordered that the debtor, his family, and everything he owned be sold to pay the debt. Listening to the parable, the disciples surely wondered what this poor debtor would do. REFLECT Have you faced a serious debt and could sympathize with the debtor in this story? Others you know likely have. RESPOND With a friend talk about the enormous debt some can owe because of gambling. Some have lost their families and all they own because of not knowing when to stop this addictive habit. No Lesson Learned READ Matthew 18:26-28 26 “But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’ 27 Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt. 28 But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment.” The debtor begged for forgiveness and promised to pay his debt. The king had pity on him and accepted his plea. Then this same debtor found someone owing him less than he had owed the king and he had no pity on him. Not only did he demand payment, he demanded “instant payment.” REFLECT Have you experienced someone owing you something? Have you had pity on the person and shown understanding? RESPOND Discuss with a friend about how unreasonable this man was who had been forgiven so much but would not forgive someone who owed him less. Thrown in Jail READ Matthew 18:29-30 29 “His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it,’ he pleaded. 30 But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full.” Just as the debtor had pleaded with the king to forgive his debt, this man’s debtor pleaded the same and promised to pay it. Having no mercy the creditor had the man arrested and imprisoned until the debt was paid in full. Nothing is said about how he could repay the debt if he was in prison. Every point in a parable does not have to have a direct meaning. A parable is like an illustration that has a main point. In this instance the main point was about forgiveness. REFLECT As you read the parables Jesus told, do you search for the main point He made without trying to make every detail relate to something significant? RESPOND With a fellow believer, read the parables in Luke 15 about the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. What do you think is the main point in these stories? The Evil Servant READ Matthew 18:31-35 31 “When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened. 32 Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. 33 Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ 34 Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt. 35 That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.” Other servants knew about the different treatment this debtor had received from the king and how he mistreated his own debtor. When the king was made aware of this, he rebuked his debtor who had no mercy on someone who owed him far less money. The main point of the parable is seen in verse 35 as Jesus said, “That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.” REFLECT Think of the impact Jesus’ statement in verse 35 had on the disciples. What kind of impact does it have on you? RESPOND Examine the words of Ephesians 4:31-32. As a believer in Jesus are you living by these statements? Determine to honor the Lord in your life in everything you do.