Matthew 13: 1-23

The Parable of the Sower

Jesus often used parables to communicate important information to those that were willing to listen. One of these was the Parable of the Sower.

As a group, review v 3-10. 

1. Why would Jesus use this illustration from human life to share His Message? 

-If you were a farmer in that time, would you have felt sympathetic to the loss of crop that the farmer in the parable experienced?

-Do you think that the farmer was careless in how he scattered his seed? Or, would you have thought the farmer to be wise in that he was scattering his seed in all possible soils to obtain the most possible yields?

2. Review vs 10 and 11

Jesus' disciples wonder aloud why Jesus spoke to the people in parables.

-Why did He? Would it not have been easier to just say what was on His mind?

-Why was the knowledge of the Kingdom of Heaven given to only a few? Does this seem fair?

3. Review vs 13-14

-How does one see without seeing? Or, hear without understanding?

-Is this something that people do on purpose? Does it happen over time?

-Do you know people that suffer from this problem? Are you one of them?

4. Review v 15

-How does a person's heart become calloused? Is this a life-long problem? Will their hearts ever be receptive to the Message that they are struggling to see or understand?

-Would you know if you have a calloused heart? 

Review Jesus' interpretation of the Parable of the Sower in verses 18-23

1. Who is the farmer? What is the seed? 

2. The seed that falls along the path and is eaten by the birds is comparable to a person that hears the Message, doesn't understand it, and the evil one snatches away what was sown.

-What does this look like? Does this happen often?

-If this person is someone in your life, what should our responsibility be in this scenario?

3. The seed that fell on rocky places did not have a secure root and the plants were scorched by the sun. Jesus compared this seed to a person that hears the Message with much joy in the beginning, but because there is no root, trouble or persecution in his life leads them away.

-Do you know someone like this? 

-Do you recall the joy that they had when they first heard the Message and accepted Christ in their life? 

-In their enthusiasm, did they think that troubles would cease because of their new relationship with Christ? Were they surprised that they were persecuted because of their new relation with Christ?

-Is there anyway to determine if the Message hasn't taken root?

-What should our responsibility be in this scenario?

4. Some seed fell among thorns and these thorns choked the plants. Jesus compared this to the one that heard the Message, but worries of this life and the things of this world made him unfruitful.

-Do you know someone like this?

-Was this an immediate loss or did the "thorns" choke the person over time?

-What should our responsibility be in this scenario?

5. Finally, Jesus noted that some seed fell on good soil and created a bountiful crop. He compared this to a person that hears the Message and understands it.

-What is the "good soil" of this parable? Is there anyway to create a lot of it? 

-Why didn't the sower put all of the seed in "good soil?"

-How do we know if the person that has received the Message has seen it and understood it?

-What should our responsibility be in this scenario?

Teacher: Troy Nesbitt

Matthew 13: 1-23

Matthew 12: 38-50

The Sign of Jonah

In response to their request for a miraculous sign, Jesus calls the Pharisees and teachers of the law wicked and adulterous.

1. Review vs 38 and 39

-Why was it so important for the Pharisees and the teachers of the law to see a miraculous sign from Jesus?

-What kind of sign would they have considered a miracle? Why didn't they consider the healing of all diseases and sicknesses, a "miraculous sign?"

-In your opinion, was it really due to a lack of evidence that they did not place their faith in Christ?

-If you were unwilling to submit your life to the King, would it matter what sign you were given?

2. Jesus reminded the Pharisees that the people of Nineveh heard Jonah's message and repented of their sin. He added that the Pharisees were in the presence of someone greater than Jonah and they did not repent.

  He also noted that the Queen of the South listened to the wisdom of Solomon. Jesus added that the Pharisees were in the presence of someone greater than Solomon and they did not listen.

-How would you have responded upon hearing this?

-Will our generation be condemned by those that heard the Message and repented? Will our generation be condemned for not listening to the Message?

(Related reading: Jonah 3:4-10 and 1 Kings 10:1-10, 13)

3. Review vs 43-46

The generation of people that first heard Jesus' message showed much interest in His teachings. However, they chose not to enter the Kingdom of God and their "final condition was worse than the first."

-As we study the message of the King, what has your response been?

-If your response has been to be excited about His miracles and encouraged by His message- but you hardened your heart and haven't invited Him in to occupy it- what will your final condition be?

Jesus Mother and Brothers

Jesus, again, distances Himself from those that appear holy and righteous on the outside. He refers to his true followers as His family- those that are doing the will of our Father.

1. Are you in His family?

2. Or, are you on the outside looking in? Will you be shocked at the day of judgement to see God's true family...from a distance?

Teacher: Paul Sabino

Matthew 12: 38-50

Matthew 12:22-37

Jesus and Beelzebub

The Pharisees witnessed Christ healing a demon-possessed man and felt that it was due to the prince of demons that Jesus was able to drive the demons out...

1. Review vs 24
-Who or what is Beelzebub?
-Why would the Pharisees allege that the devil gave Jesus authority to cast out demons?

2. In verses 25-30, Jesus questioned why someone who controls a kingdom would support someone else dividing it? He then presented an example of a strong man that has control over his home- the only way that the house would be burglarized, would be if the strong man was tied up.
-Is the world divided into God's Kingdom and the Devil's Kingdom? Why would the devil support someone dividing his kingdom?
-Who is the strong man in this example?
-If Jesus is casting out demons, what has he done to the strong man?

3. Review vs 30
-Who is being "gathered" or "scattered" in Jesus' statement?
-Are you a "gatherer" or a "scatterer?"

4. In verses 31- 33, Jesus discussed blaspheming the Holy Spirit and it being an unforgivable sin. Let's take a few moments and discuss this...

A. What is blaspheming?
-How were the Pharisees blaspheming against the Holy Spirit?

B. As a group, read: 1 John 1: 9
-Does this verse somehow contrast what Jesus is saying?

C. Why would blaspheming against the Holy Spirit be unforgivable?
-When a person sees clear evidence provided by the Holy Spirit, (in this case a real miracle,) yet is so against it that he rejects it, is he blaspheming the Holy Spirit?
-Is it unforgivable, because the person who would blatantly say these things would also not seek forgiveness?

5. In verses 33-38, Jesus explained that a fruit tree can be seen as alive and healthy by the fruit it bears. He used this example to illustrate that someone who has a sinful heart will yield fruit in the same manner.
-Do you think this is valid?
-Can your actions and words give a reasonable image of what your heart looks like?
-If someone was to inspect the "fruit" of your life, what would they say? What comes from the overflow of your heart?

Teacher: Jeff Dodge
Matthew 12: 22-37

Matthew 12: 1-21

The Lord of the Sabbath

When the Commandments were given to the Israelites, God said that the Sabbath, or the Seventh day, was to be kept holy. He advised them that no work should be done on the seventh day, even during the harvest season. 

The Pharisees saw that the disciples were picking some heads of grain- perhaps, technically, this was a form of harvesting- and they questioned Jesus, accordingly. 

1. Why did God want the Sabbath to be holy?

-So, if YOU have to work on Sunday- are you not keeping the Sabbath holy?

-Can you not work on Sunday and still not keep the Sabbath holy?

(Suggested reading: Exodus 20: 8-12, 34:21)

2. Review vs 2.

-What do you think is the motivation behind the Pharisees criticism of the disciples? Is it because of their "reverence" for God and His Commandments?

3. Review Jesus' response in vs 3-6

-Why was Jesus reminding the Pharisees of these events? 

(Suggested reading: 1 Samuel 21: 3-6)

4. Review v 7

-What does "I desire mercy, not sacrifice," mean?

-Why would Jesus say this to the Pharisees? Was their version of God's Law unmerciful?

Teacher: Troy Nesbitt

Matthew 12: 1-21