Opened Scriptures Bible Studies

  We ended our last post by noting the madness of both Pharisees and scribes who watched Jesus heal a man with a mighty miracle. Instead of rejoicing that their Messiah came to them with healing in His wings, they immediately plotted to kill Jesus! Pharisees and scribes consumed by madness seek to kill Jesus but He withdrew from them. Matthew 12:14-15  Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.  15)  But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;  When Jesus learned of what the Pharisees and scribes were doing, He withdrew Himself from that place. The words "The Pharisees held a council against him" shows that Satan seeks to hinder the work of God wherever he can and he will use people whose hearts are full of rage and hate to do his diabolical work. Mark adds that the Herodians also took a part in this plot.  They were a political party connec...

Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath and Sunday, therefore it should be held in highest esteem by Christians. Matthew 12:1-2  At that time Jesus went on the Sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.  2)  But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the Sabbath day.  As we move to the next paragraph in this chapter of Matthew's gospel, I call your attention to verse two. "When the Pharisees saw it" which refers to Jesus' disciples plucking grain from the fields they passed through because they needed nourishment. Pharisees and scribes said that they violated God's law but Jesus demonstrated that necessary things like food preparation and eating are necessities that are lawful and good on the Sabbath day. Jesus also showed them that the Levitical priests did servile work in preparing, offering and clean up so doing sacrifices on the Sabb...

Pharisees and scribes condemned Jesus' disciples for violating their traditions. Matthew 12:1-2  At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.  2)  But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.  One theme that will emerge more and more as we progress through Matthew's gospel is growing hostility from scribes and Pharisees directed at Jesus. Jesus gave many instructions in His Sermon on the Mount that were designed to bring the Jews back to God's original intent for the law. In Jesus' time, scribes, rabbis and Pharisees enforced many man made rules and interpretations of God's law. These "traditions of men" were placed on equal or higher authority than the inspired scripture from God. Mark 7:6-9  He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as i...

We have covered a lot of ground so far in our study of Matthew's gospel. In chapters one and two, we have the birth and genealogy of Jesus Christ. In chapter three we have the ministry of Christ's forerunner, John the Baptist, the baptism of Jesus with the Father's declaration concerning His Son, and the Spirit of God descending upon Jesus. In chapter four Jesus was tempted by the Devil followed by Him beginning, His public ministry, and calling His disciples. In chapters five through seven, we have the Sermon on the Mount or as some say, the King's manifesto of how the kingdom of heaven will operate. In chapter eight, we find Jesus healing a leper, the centurions loyal servant casting out demons and calming a storm. In chapter nine, Jesus healed a man sick with palsy, called Matthew to follow Him, and explained to John's disciples why Jesus' disciples did not fast. Also in chapter nine, Jesus healed the woman from an ongoing issue of blood, and raised the certa...

T he first part of chapter eleven saw Jesus sending His disciples out followed by our Lord also traveling to preach the gospel. At one village John's disciples came to Jesus with a question as to whether or not He was the Messiah.  Jesus answered their question by reminding them of His teaching and of His mighty miracles, both proving beyond a reasonable doubt that He is Christ, Israel's Messiah. We noted that many Jews were hoping for a military type of Messiah who would overthrow Roman rule so that Israel could be a sovereign nation. Yet, the prophets message was that there would be a suffering Savior, before the Messiah came in power and glory to rule the nations.  Our Lord then commended the character and ministry of John the Baptist. Pharisees and scribes rejected John's austere life and rejected Jesus' non austere life.  Matthew 11:16-19  But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows...