Opened Scriptures Bible Studies

This chapter begins with Jesus' disciples arguing among themselves about who would be the greatest of them in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus brought their sinful pride into the light so that He could address it.  He was very blunt, saying unless your heart is humble like a child, before God and man, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. Thus, Jesus used a little child to illustrate this truth and to show His disciples that they must be converted or turned away from pride to Christ. Jesus compared His disciples to little children who will go forth preaching the gospel of the kingdom to the world. Those who receive them and heed the message will be blessed. Those who reject Christ, ignore the gospel and live for self will suffer judgment. Those who actively hinder preachers of the gospel or who intend to harm them, will suffer severe judgment. Jesus speaks about sin in the next paragraph and in context, it seems that He is speaking about those who  seek to entice Christians into...

A pride fueled dispute among the disciples of Christ was addressed. Matthew 18:1  At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?  This chapter begins with Christ's disciples asking another question of their Master after Matthew sets the time and place for us. The words "At the same time" means that this question was posed right after Christ and Peter spoke about the temple tax and after Peter caught a fish and found money to pay for both of them. Mark's gospel adds some context to help us see why this question was asked by Jesus' disciples. Mark 9:33  And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?  When they arrived at the home they were going to stay in at Capernaum, Jesus first asked them a question. Jesus asked them  " What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?"  Jesus did not ask this question because He di...

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.  An index for all lessons posted in 2024 was posted on January 21, 2025 An index for all lessons was posted in 2025 was posted on January 24, 2026. Matthew 17:24-27  And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?  25  He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?...

Jesus' disciples needed to grasp that His suffering, death and resurrection were planned by His Father. Matthew 17:22-23  And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:  23  And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.  This is the third time Jesus has foretold His suffering, death and resurrection (See Matthew 16:21-23; 17:12). To betray someone means to deliver them over to an enemy in a treacherous manner.  A traitor, or betrayer, is one who makes use of trust that the betrayed person put in him for the purpose of delivering him up to the hands of enemies. Why this emphasis upon the betrayal, suffering death and resurrection of Jesus Christ? Because this truth is central to the core of the gospel of Christ and these men were going to be used of God to preach that gospel. If Messiah was not betrayed, if He had not suffered, bled and died and i...