Opened Scriptures Bible Studies

We continue to follow the Christmas story and the birth of Christ as recorded in Matthew's gospel. We learned about the virgin birth of Christ and about the name Jesus being given by God. We learned about Jesus the bread of life come down from heaven being born in Bethlehem, the city of bread. We learned about a special star God gave as a sign that Messiah was born and of the wise men from the east who came seeking to worship the Christ child. Matthew 2:1-2  Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,  2  Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.  We learned who the wise men were and noted their connections with Daniel the prophet in ancient times. These men connected Daniel's visions of Messiah with the Old Testament prophets such as Amos, Micah and Isaiah. Thus, they were watching for a unique star to...

Matthew chapter fourteen contains the account of John the Baptist's execution by wicked King Herod Antipas. This was followed by the record of Jesus feeding 5,000 men in addition to women and children. All four gospels record this miracle of Christ. It helps to look at the context provided by John, Luke and Mark as it relates to Jesus feeding the 5,000. Before feeding the 5,000 Jesus' disciples returned from preaching the gospel. Mark 6:30-33  And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.  31  And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.  32  And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.  33  And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him....

We are looking at the Christmas story, primarily from the gospel of Matthew. We want to know what happened when Jesus was born and why God became a man. We want to take note of the details because most have heard the account of Jesus' birth, and we can often read over what God wants us to know about His Son's birth. Matthew already told us how Mary was impregnated by the Holy Spirit of God and how the angel of the Lord spoke to Joseph. We noted that Joseph truly loved Mary and was a man of great integrity. The angel of the Lord even told Joseph what name to use for the Son that would be born. His name would be called Jesus, literally meaning Jehovah saves. We are not yet looking into Luke's record of Christ's birth but the wise men were not the first ones to seek Jesus. That honor belonged to simple shepherds in the country near Bethlehem. A host of angels filled the night sky with dazzling light and announced that Christ the savior was born and that they could find Him...

Jesus the Good Shepherd was moved with compassion for the lost sheep of Israel. Matthew 14:13-14  When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.  14  And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.  After learning that Herod executed John the Baptist, Jesus sailed away to a less populated area. He often sought time alone with His disciples to give them instruction and to spend time communing with His Father in prayer. Jesus went by a ship into a desert place  crossing the Sea of Galilee  into a place east of the sea, little inhabited.  Luke said that He went to a place called Bethsaida (See Luke 9:10).  “A desert place” means a place little cultivated, where there were few or no inhabitants.  On the east of the Sea of Galilee was a large tract of country of thi...