Bible Studies

Reading assignment for this lesson: Matthew 19:1-30, 20:1-34, 25:14-30, Mark 10:1-52, Luke 18:15-43, 19:1-27, 22:24-27

Matthew and Mark tell of Jesus leaving Galilee for the last time and making his way toward Jerusalem. He traveled through the region of Judea "beyond the Jordan", known as Perea. Along the way, He taught us how to use time, money, abilities and other gifts we have been given.

1. When people brought children for Jesus to bless, the disciples tried to send them away.
a) What did Jesus say in response?
b) What is it about children that makes them welcome in the kingdom of God? (See Matthew 19:13-15, Mark 10:13-16, Luke 18:15-17, Matthew 11:25-26, 18:2-4.)

2. Questions 2 - 6 refer the story of the rich young man (Matthew 19:16-30, Mark 10:17-31, Luke 18:18-30).

Jesus mentioned some of the Ten Commandments to the man, and the man said he had kept them all. Which Commandments did Jesus leave out of the list? (See Exodus 20:1-17.)

3. Which of the Ten Commandments had the man violated, at least in spirit? (See Matthew 6:24.)

4. Jesus said, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God" (Matthew 19:24). Does that mean we must give away all our possessions to the poor to be saved? (See Isaiah 58:10-11, Luke 12:15, Romans 12:6-10, 1 Timothy 6:9-10, 6:17-19, James 5:1-6, 1 John 3:17.)

5. What misunderstanding did the disciples reveal when they asked with surprise, "Then who can be saved?" (See Deuteronomy 28:1-8, Luke 12:15, 1 Timothy 6:17-19.)

6. What did Jesus mean when he replied, "For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible." (See Matthew 18:2-4, 1 Timothy 6:17.)

7. Questions 7 - 8 refer to the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16). The landowner represents God, the workers represent the faithful, and the vineyard represents the kingdom of God.
a) Why were some of the workers grumbling when they got paid?
b) What does that say about people who repent and come to God late in life?

8. How should we interpret Matthew 20:15-16?

9. Jesus predicted His death for the third time in Matthew 20:17-19, Mark 10:32-34 and Luke 18:31-34.
a) What new information did He give to the disciples this time? (See Matthew 16:21, 17:22-23, Mark 8:31, 9:31, Luke 9:22, 9:44.)
b) How did the disciples react to Jesus' predictions of His death?

10. Peter, James and John made up the inner circle of Jesus' disciples.
a) What did James and John want from Jesus?
b) What lesson did Jesus teach in His reply to them? (See Matthew 20:20-28, Mark 10:35-45, Luke 22:24-27.)

11. Jesus restored the sight of the blind beggar Bartimeus (two men in Matthew) at Jericho, 20 miles northeast of Jerusalem. What quality did the blind man have that led Jesus to heal him? (See Matthew 20:29-34, Mark 10:46-52, Luke 18:35-43.)

12. Tax collectors in first century Israel were agents of the hated Roman Empire. If that weren't bad enough, they often cheated the people by collecting more than was due and keeping the excess for themselves. They were considered traitors to their people and were among the most despised people in Israel.
a) How was the outcome of Zacchaeus' encounter with Jesus different from the rich young man's encounter? Why? (See Luke 19:1-10.)
b) How do the stories of the rich young man and Zacchaeus illustrate Jesus' saying that, "Many who are first will be last, and the last will be first" (Mark 10:31)?

13. Questions 13 - 15 refer to the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) and the Parable of the Pounds (Luke 19:11-27). Talents and pounds (minas in some Bibles) were large denominations of money. The modern word "talent", meaning a natural power of mind or body, comes from the lesson of this parable.
a) What did the first two servants do right in these parables?
b) What did the third servant do wrong?

14. What is the main lesson of these parables? (See Romans 12:3-8, 1 Peter 4:10, 2 Peter 1:5-8.)

15. a) In what ways do you use your time, talents and wealth in God's service?
b) What things could you do in God's service that you are not doing now?