"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW" Chapter Ten by Mark Copeland

                        "THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"

                              Chapter Ten

Following His own call for prayer for more laborers (Mt 9:37-38), Jesus
selected twelve disciples to be His apostles and gave them power to cast
out demons and heal all kinds of disease (1-4).  He then sent them to
preach and heal throughout the cities of Israel with specific
instructions in what has come to be called "The Limited Commission"
(5-42).

POINTS TO PONDER

   *  The twelve men selected to be Jesus’ apostles

   *  Evangelistic principles utilized by Jesus

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - The appointment of the twelve apostles - Mt 10:1-4
   - Instructions for the twelve for the limited commission - Mt 10:5-42

2) List the names of the twelve apostles (2-4)
   - Peter and Andrew, James and John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas,
     Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Labbaeus surnamed Thaddaeus,
     Simon the Cananite, Judas Iscariot

3) What was to be the range of their preaching?  Their message? (5-7)
   - Only to the house of Israel; "The kingdom of heaven is at hand"

4) What miracles were they to perform as they preached?  At what charge?
   (8)
   - Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons
   - No charge for their services ("Freely you have received, freely
     give")

5) How were they to be supported? (9-11)
   - By people willing to receive them into their homes

6) What were they to do if they were not received by a house or city?
   (14-15)
   - Depart, shaking the dust from their feet

7) What did Jesus prepare them to expect? (16-26)
   - Persecution

8) What were they to fear more than persecution? (28,33)
   - Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell; being denied
     by the Lord

9) What did Jesus acknowledge His teachings might do? (34-36)
   - Separate members of the same family

10) What blessings would befall those who assisted the apostles? (41-42)
   - The same reward for their service

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2015

 

"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW" Chapter Nine by Mark Copeland

                        "THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"

                              Chapter Nine

Back in Capernaum, Jesus’ ministry in Galilee continued with both
forgiving and healing a paralytic (1-8).  Matthew the tax collector was
called to be a disciple, who invited Jesus to his home where He was
questioned by the Pharisees and disciples of John (9-17).   Asked by a
ruler to go and raise his dead daughter, Jesus did so, healing a woman
with a flow along the way (18-26).  Afterward Jesus healed two blind men
and a man who was both mute and demon-possessed (27-34).   He then went
about the region, teaching and healing, moved with compassion for the
multitudes that came to Him (35-38).

POINTS TO PONDER

   *  Jesus’ power to forgive sins

   *  His willingness to eat with sinners

   *  His compassion for the lost

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - Five miracles in Capernaum of Galilee - Mt 9:1-8,18-34
   - The call of Matthew and the questions at his house - Mt 9:9-17
   - The itinerant teaching and healing in cities and villages - Mt 9:35-38

2) List the five miracles recorded in this chapter (1-8,18-34)
   - Jesus forgives and heals a paralytic
   - Jesus heals a woman with a flow of blood
   - Jesus restores a ruler’s daughter to life
   - Jesus heals two blind men
   - Jesus heals a man mute and demon-possessed

3) How did Jesus demonstrate His power to forgive sins? (6)
   - By healing a paralytic

4) Who was called to be a disciple and then gave a feast at his house?
   (9-10)
   - Matthew, also known as Levi, author of this gospel (cf. Lk 5:27-29)

5) What two groups confronted Jesus regarding what two issues? (11-17)
   - The Pharisees, concerning eating with sinners
   - The disciples of John, concerning fasting

6) What explanation did Pharisees give for Jesus’ ability to exorcise
   demons? (34)
   - "He casts out demons by the ruler of the demons."

7) What moved Jesus to call for prayer for more laborers? (36-38)
   - Compassion for the multitudes who were like sheep without a
     shepherd

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2015

 

"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW" Chapter Eight by Mark Copeland

                        "THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"

                             Chapter Eight

As Jesus’ ministry in Galilee continues, Matthew describes several
miracles and related events.  Coming down from the mount, Jesus cleansed
a leper (1-4).  Entering Capernaum, He healed a centurion’s servant
(5-13).  Arriving at Peter’s house, He healed his mother-in-law and many
demon-possessed and all who were sick (14-17).  Before crossing the Sea
of Galilee to escape large crowds, Jesus challenged two would-be
disciples (18-22).  After calming the winds and waves of a great tempest
(23-27), He arrived on the other side of the sea where He healed two
demon-possessed men (28-34).

POINTS TO PONDER

   *  The nature and purpose of the miracles performed by Jesus

   *  The cost of discipleship

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - Five miracles in the regions of Galilee and the Gergesenes - Mt 8:1-17,23-34
   - The cost of discipleship - Mt 8:18-22

2) List the five miracles recorded in this chapter (1-4,5-13,14-17,23-27,
   28-34)
   - Jesus cleanses a leper
   - Jesus heals a centurion’s servant
   - Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law (and many others)
   - Jesus calms the wind and the waves
   - Jesus heals two demon-possessed men

3) Before healing the centurion’s servant, what impressed Jesus? (10)
   - The great faith of the centurion who was a Gentile

4) Before healing the servant, what did Jesus foretell? (11-12)
   - Gentiles would enter the kingdom, while many Israelites would not

5) In Peter’s house, who did Jesus heal?  What prophecy was fulfilled?
   (14-17)
   - His mother-in-law, and all the sick that were brought to Him
   - "He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses" - Isa  53:4

6) What two lessons did Jesus teach about discipleship? (19-22)
   - It can mean a life of poverty; it requires precedence over familial
     duties

7) What can we learn about fear and faith, before Jesus calmed the sea?
   (25-26)
   - Fear comes from having little faith

8) Who did the demons acknowledge Jesus to be as He confronted them?
   (29)
   - The Son of God

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2015

 

"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW" Chapter Seven by Mark Copeland

                        "THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"

                             Chapter Seven

The "Sermon On The Mount" continues with Jesus discussing the
righteousness of the kingdom with respect to man’s relation to man, with
a warning regarding judging (1-6), the importance of persistence (7-11),
and keeping "the golden rule" (12).  It concludes with exhortations to
enter the kingdom:  choose the narrow and difficult path (13-14), watch
out for false prophets (15-20), do the Father’s will (21-23), being
doers of the Word (24-29).

POINTS TO PONDER

   *  The nature of judging condemned by Jesus

   *  How Jesus’ "golden rule" differs from that found in other religions

   *  The importance of doing the Father’s will to being saved

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - Righteousness with respect to man’s relation to man - Mt 7:1-12
   - Exhortations to enter the kingdom - Mt 7:15-29

2) What sort of judging is Jesus warning against? (1-6)
   - Not all judging, but hypocritical, censorious condemnation (cf. Jn 7:24)

3) How does Jesus illustrate the need for persistence? (7-11)
   - By literally saying "keep on" asking, seeking, knocking

4) How does Jesus’ "golden rule" differ from that found in other
   religions? (12)
   - Most state it negatively (Don’t do to others what you don’t want
     done to you)

5) Contrast the two "ways" described by Jesus (13-14)
   - The way to life:  narrow gate and difficult way, found by few
   - The way to destruction:  wide gate and broad way, traveled by many

6) How do false prophets operate?  How can we identify them? (15-20)
   - As wolves in sheep’s clothing; by their fruits

7) Who will not enter the kingdom of heaven?  Who will?  (21-23)
   - Many who believed in the Lord, did many great things for Him, but
     practiced lawlessness (i.e., did things without His authority)
   - Those who do the will of His Father in heaven

8) What is the key difference between the wise and foolish listeners?
   (24-27)
   - The wise do what Jesus said, the foolish do not

9) Why were the people astonished at Jesus’ teaching? (28-29)
   - Because He taught as one having authority

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2015

 

Are You Informed About Islam? by Dave Miller, Ph.D.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=8&article=2108

Are You Informed About Islam?

by	Dave Miller, Ph.D.

With the advent of 9/11, our world, and the way we view it, has been forever altered. As you well know, Islam has not only captured international attention, it is expanding its influence and making extensive encroachments into American culture. Over 1,200 mosques dot the American landscape—most built within the last two decades. Influential American authorities, from politicians to public school educators, are promulgating the equal acceptance and pluralistic promotion of Islam in public life. The first Muslim in recent American history was elected to theU.S. House of Representatives and took the oath of office on a Quran (Warikoo, 2007). The Democratic National Committee recently invited a Shi’ite Imam to lead the opening prayer at their winter meeting (“Imam Leads...,” 2007).

The time is here. Christians, and for that matter, Americans, can no longer afford to be uninformed about the threat that Islam poses to Christianity and the nation. It is imperative that Christians recognize the critical need to influence the expanding numbers of Muslim converts in our prisons as well as those entering the country. We simply must “be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15).

Allow me to remind you that Apologetics Press has produced a book that will both inform you about Islam, as well as prepare you to help Muslims see the truth. The Quran Unveiled examines Islam’s holy book with a view toward ascertaining whether it is, in fact, of supernatural origin. If the Quran is from God, it must possess the self-authenticating attributes and characteristics of divine inspiration. If it is not from God, though it may possess certain positive, even valuable, qualities, it must be rejected as disqualified to legislate human behavior in an absolute and ultimate sense.

The Quran Unveiled provides the reader with a meticulous assessment of several significant teachings of the Quran. Here are some of the critical questions answered in the book:

• Does the Quran teach that a man may have up to four wives?
• Does the Quran teach that Christians are “infidels”?
• Does the Quran endorse violence and killing in order to advance Islam?
• Does the Quran teach that Jesus is the Son of God—or simply a human prophet?
• Does the Quran teach that virgins await those who enter Paradise?

Allowing the Quran to speak for itself, The Quran Unveiled provides sufficient evidence to bring the reader to the firm realization that the Quran and the Bible stand in stark contradistinction to each other.

Many people refuse to consider the beliefs of others, and simply stick with those beliefs to which their family and cultural environment exposed them. But in order to grasp the full extent of the chasm that exists between the Bible and the Quran, one should read both thoroughly. Muslims should read the Bible, and Christians should read the Quran. The disparity between the two is monumental.

Apologetics Press continues to pursue its cutting-edge articulation of New Testament truth as it relates to current culture. The Quran Unveiled is one more important resource in the “A.P.arsenal” in our ongoing defense of the Christian Faith and our warfare against the forces of Satan. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. We urge you to secure your personal copy today. Or, if you prefer, we also have available The Islam Seminar DVDs that allow you to view a live lecture and PowerPoint presentation of much of the material contained in the book.

REFERENCES

“Imam Leads Democrats in Prayer of Conversion” (2007), World Net Daily, February 3, [On-line],URL: http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=54085.

Warikoo, Niraj (2007), “Ellison: Quran Influenced America’s Founding Fathers,” Detroit Free Press, January 5, [On-line], URL: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070105/NEWS01/70105032/ 0/NEWS02.

Why Seven Days? by Kyle Butt, M.Div.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=13&article=933

Why Seven Days?

by	Kyle Butt, M.Div.

Have you ever wondered why, all over the world, in civilization after civilization, we find people scheduling their lives based on a seven-day week? The origins of other units of time are easy to understand. For instance, a year is the amount of time it takes for the Earth to orbit the Sun. A day is the amount of time it takes for the Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis. A month is the approximate time between new moons. And seasons are determined based on an equinox or solstice. But no celestial, lunar, or planetary movement or system accounts for our seven-day week.

A brief look back into history shows that the seven-day week has prevailed as the paramount routine for humanity in general as far back as historical records can go. Although some societies and cultures did use weeks other than the seven-day week, it still has stubbornly maintained its preeminence. Today, the seven-day week is universally accepted, even though the French attempted a ten-day week during the French Revolution in 1791, and the Soviet Union, as late as the early 1900s, attempted a five-day week—to no avail.

Where did the seven-day week originate? The most plausible explanation comes from the book of Genesis. The first chapter of Genesis explains that God created the entire Universe is six, literal twenty-four hour days. The beginning of chapter two states, “And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done” (2:2).

Exodus 20:8-11 gives an explanation as to why God framed His creative activity according to a seven-day week. This passage teaches us that God worked six days and rested the seventh day in order to provide a pattern for the Jewish workweek. Because God worked six days and rested on the seventh day, the Jews were instructed to do the same.

In truth, an all-powerful God could have created the Universe in seven seconds, seven years, seven decades, or seven million years. God’s week of seven days, however, was given purposefully to man as a pattern to follow. This pattern has prevailed for several thousand years. The Sun, Moon, and stars were given “for signs and seasons, and for days and years” (Genesis 1:14), but not for the week. The week was instituted specifically by God, based on His creative activity. The seven-day week is yet another testimony to the truthfulness and accuracy of the Genesis account of Creation.

Wrong Must Be Explained by Brad Bromling, D.Min.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=387

Wrong Must Be Explained

by	Brad Bromling, D.Min.

Lyle and Erik Menendez brutally killed their mother and father. The evidence is plain; no one denies it. So, why is it so hard to find them guilty? Their defense attorneys argued persuasively that the brothers endured a nightmarish childhood of sexual and physical abuse, and that they were thus acting out of a kind of insanity that excuses them from first-degree murder charges. The arguments on both sides reduce to the same basic premise: wrong was committed.

The prosecution accused the brothers of murder and appealed to the public’s sense that murder is evil. Likewise the brothers, in claiming they had been mistreated, appealed to a society that abhors child abuse. This was not a matter of arbitrary human laws being violated, it went much deeper. It was a matter of “right and wrong”—a concept that is universal and unique to humanity.

No matter where people are found, they recognize that some things are wrong. Although human groups differ on what they prohibit, they all censor something. C.S. Lewis articulated this point well:

Think of a country where people were admired for running away in battle, or where a man felt proud of double-crossing all the people who had been kindest to him. You might just as well try to imagine a country where two and two made five. Men have differed as regards what people you ought to be unselfish to—whether it was only your own family, or your fellow countrymen, or everyone. But they have always agreed that you ought not to put yourself first. Selfishness has never been admired. Men have differed as to whether you should have one wife or four. But they have always agreed that you must not simply have any woman you liked (1952, p. 5).

This also is personal. When I look inside myself, I find this moral sense that I did not invent. I can find no explanation for it in the world—it must derive from beyond that realm. If there is nothing but matter in the Universe, and matter is the only eternal reality—then how do you explain this moral sense in humanity? Did it arise from rocks, trees, or animals? No, this moral sense is one of the clearest and most personal reminders that there is a God.

REFERENCE

Lewis, C.S. (1952), Mere Christianity (New York: Macmillan).