Opened Scriptures Bible Studies

  Matthew chapter fifteen concludes with three different miracles done by Jesus. This would serve as an exclamation point to the Pharisees who denied that Jesus was the Son of God.  No religious hypocrites could say a word against such mighty works done in such a public way. Jesus  traveled to a desolate place needing rest from the constant pressures of ministry. Matthew 15:21  Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.  Mark 7:24  And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid.  Jesus left the land of Gennesaret and traveled to the coast, near two major cities of the ancient Phoenician realm. He did not enter their land, but merely traveled nearby while staying in the confines of Israel. Mark's gospel adds some detail for us. Jesus and His disciples traveled to this remote area seeking some rest and respite from the co...

Here is where to find indexes containing all Bible lessons posted on this blog since its inception in 2019. I hope this will help you find lessons on a particular book of topic that we have studied through. An index for all lessons posted from 2019 through 2021, was published on  September 7, 2022. An index for all lessons posted in 2022, was published  J anuary 24, 2023. An index for all lessons posted in 2023 was posted on  February 28, 2024.  The index for all lessons posted in 2024 was published on January 21,2025.   In this chapter of Matthew's gospel, hateful Pharisees attacked Jesus' disciples because they ate food without washing their hands. This was an illegal act according to the foolish traditions of the elders. We explained how traditions of elders were held in higher regard than the scriptures that God gave. Jewish religious leaders falsely claimed Moses received an oral tradition in addition to the stone tablets from God. This oral tradi...

Spiritually blind Pharisees led people astray by false teaching and they would all fall into a ditch. Matthew 15:14  Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.  Jesus said to  "let them alone"  and not be troubled at their rage.  This is the idea of giving them up to their own destructive path since they chose to stay on the broad way that leads to eternal condemnation (See Matthew 7:12-14). The Pharisees were corrupt trees that could only produce evil fruit (See Matthew 7:15-20). They were those who built their homes upon sinking sand that cannot endure (See Matthew 7:24-27). Thus, the Pharisees are spiritually blind leaders who lead a group of blind followers and who will inevitably fall into a deep ditch. Jesus did not mean that we do not confront error, for He confronted error each time that He encountered it. We must confront error like Jesus did, using the truth of scripture to refut...

Mary complied with the law of Moses regarding her purification after childbirth. Luke 2:22-24  And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;  23  (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)  24  And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.  Luke continues his record of Jesus' birth and the Christmas story. The words "Days of her purification" refer to thirty-three days that followed seven days of her uncleanness, forty days in all.  God commands ritual purification for the woman only after childbirth. Leviticus 12:1-7  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,  2  Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman conceive seed, and bear a man child, then she shall be unclean seven days; as in ...

Jesus showed that what truly defiles us are words we speak or post because they show what is in our heart. Matthew 15:10-11  And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:  11  Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.  In our last post, we noted how the Jesus addressed the issue of our tongue. We looked at why our tongue is such a hard issue for us to deal with.  We thought about how this applies to words we post on social media as well as words we say to one another. Jesus continues teaching us about why our words and what we speak or post must have a filter so that we do not dishonor God. We must be regenerated by God's Spirit so  that we can have a new heart from God  and He can set a guard at our mouth. Religious hypocrites were angry when Jesus confronted corrupt traditions and vain worship. Matthew 15:12-13  Then came his disciples, and said unto ...