Study questions help

[jr001]

Hello

I have a book with study questions about the gospels and there are a couple of questions I am really stuck on and wondered if anyone could shed any light for me?

They are all about Matthew

1. Matthew 1-2: 'Can you think of any contemporary examples of people who ignore Jesus' Jewishness and message, and mold him into an expression of their own religion or worldview? (Hint: Jesus as an "ascended master" - Hinduism; or Jesus as a revolutinary Marist.)'

2. 'An important aspect of Jesus' ethical teaching is found in Matthew 23:23. According to Jesus, all scripture is God's Word, and all will be fulfilled (see Matthew 5:17-18); therefore, there are such things as moral absolutes. Yet here Jesus clearly acknowledges that some matters of the Law are weightier than others. What are these weighter matters?'

3. 'Why would some people be apprehensive or angered by what Jesus did?' (Regarding the miricles in Matthew 8-9).

4. 'How would Jesus' miricles enhance His proclamation of the kingdom of God being "at hand" (Matthew 4:17 KJV).'

5. Matthew 10:32-33 'According to Jesus, how important is it for christians to publicly identify themselves with christ? Why do you think this identificatin is so important to Jesus?'

Any input will be greatly appreciated



(I wasn't sure where to put this thread so I hope this is right).

 

[Alive_Again]

2. 'An important aspect of Jesus' ethical teaching is found in Matthew 23:23. According to Jesus, all scripture is God's Word, and all will be fulfilled (see Matthew 5:17-18); therefore, there are such things as moral absolutes. Yet here Jesus clearly acknowledges that some matters of the Law are weightier than others. What are these weighter matters?'

He spoke of them being of the law, of which tithing was an important part. Giving is still important, but then it was commanded to give strictly by percent of everything involving your increase.

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Matt 23:23

3. 'Why would some people be apprehensive or angered by what Jesus did?' (Regarding the miricles in Matthew 8-9).

Because it was not the way "we do things around here!" He seemed to transgress the law, but actually fulfilled the spirit of that law. So they looked to things like not washing your hands ritually, as commanded by the law. Also, and the real culprits are "relgious spirits", or devils that afflict people who's heart is in the outward form and not toward God. The knowledge of God changed as Jesus revealed the Father to us. The "religious" were offended by His methods.

Note that the rulers wanted to kill Lazarus after he was resurrected from the dead. It upset the status quo and angered the religious spirits in them.

4. 'How would Jesus' miricles enhance His proclamation of the kingdom of God being "at hand" (Matthew 4:17 KJV).'

The enemy steals, kills, and destroys. Everything that sin brought about in the way of corruption (kingdom of darkness) was corrected (or at least the opportunity was there to be corrected) by the Kingdom of God. He destroyed the works of the enemy. By it being "at hand", it was available and was extended to you. It was "nigh".

5. Matthew 10:32-33 'According to Jesus, how important is it for christians to publicly identify themselves with christ? Why do you think this identificatin is so important to Jesus?'

Jesus said it was vital. We don't hid our light under a bushel, and He went as far as to say that if we deny Him before men, He will deny us before God and His angels. I think we can identify with Him in more ways than just labels or even words. Our acts of love speak even when our lips are silent.

 

[asiyreh]

1. Matthew 1-2: 'Can you think of any contemporary examples of people who ignore Jesus' Jewishness and message, and mold him into an expression of their own religion or worldview? (Hint: Jesus as an "ascended master" - Hinduism; or Jesus as a revolutinary Marist.)'

Best example is Islam. Christ is accepted as another prophet, but definitely not the revealed God. He was basically a good man that taught the righteousness of God.
They'll twist stuff like Thomas confession of Christ as "My Lord and My God" and accuse Thomas here of... well basically cussing, would be the best way to describe it. See John 20:28

2. 'An important aspect of Jesus' ethical teaching is found in Matthew 23:23. According to Jesus, all scripture is God's Word, and all will be fulfilled (see Matthew 5:17-18); therefore, there are such things as moral absolutes.

Dr. William Lane craig, is a master at this argument, the argument from objective moral values. I'm sure you can get some quotes.

We know that Christ knew the Law even as a very young child in the temple the religious scholars were astounded at this. We infer from this that he always new the Law and kept it his whole life, thus satan had nothing on him. When he died he literally completed the Law. He checked all the boxes. He fulfilled the Law.

Yet here Jesus clearly acknowledges that some matters of the Law are weightier than others. What are these weightier matters?'

Read the verse from the quote Alive_again gave you above. Matthew 23. I'd love to have heard Christ preach that. The topic is absolutely serious but I think it's one of the funniest in the scriptures. Love to have seen that.

3. 'Why would some people be apprehensive or angered by what Jesus did?' (Regarding the miricles in Matthew 8-9).

Having miracle working abilities was seen as a confirmation from God that a prophet was speaking. This is why the Jewish leaders said it was of satan. The Lord however said that a house is not divided against itself in this respect.
Christ's message stood in stark contract to groups such as the pharisees, his miracles were like confirmations from God lending his views divine creditably.

4. 'How would Jesus' miricles enhance His proclamation of the kingdom of God being "at hand" (Matthew 4:17 KJV).'

See above... also I believe this fulfilled some prophecies describing the figure of the Jewish Messiah.

5. Matthew 10:32-33 'According to Jesus, how important is it for christians to publicly identify themselves with christ? Why do you think this identificatin is so important to Jesus?'

Let's assume for a second Christianity is real. If so, and you oppose Christ, then who do you belong to? See john 8:44

Any input will be greatly appreciated



(I wasn't sure where to put this thread so I hope this is right).

General theology is probably best, but here's fine. You'll probably just start a fight in there, with all these questions you're bound to start something.

 

[jr001]

Thank you to both of you for your responses, they have really helped to clear my mind. The day I wrote this post I had been studying the Bible (mainly Matthew) for 14 hours on and off so by the end of the day I had such headache! lol. Both of your responses make sense and now I can carry on with the rest of my study questions without a headache! Thanks

 

[BeforeThereWas]

He spoke of them being of the law, of which tithing was an important part. Giving is still important, but then it was commanded to give strictly by percent of everything involving your increase.

Remember, however, that the Law defined the tithe as the increase from producing fields, orchards, vineyards, flocks and herds. NEVER did the Law command wage earners hand over a percentage of their wages to the Levites. Also, NEVER did the Law command carpenters (hint, hint), fishermen (hint, hint), clothiers, shoe makers, money changes, et al hand over a percentage to the Levites.

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Matt 23:23

Yes. In relation to the tithe, Jesus was addressing a people who were still under the Law.

Additionally, Jesus never paid a tithe because He owned no producing lands, orchards, vineyards, flocks or herds, even though He told one of the men whom He had healed to go and offer up the burnt sacrifices in accordance with the Law.

BTW