Matthew 4 New King James Version (NKJV)
Bible Study
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Satan Tempts Jesus
4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. 3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”

4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”

5 Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written:

‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’

and,

‘In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’”

7 Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’”

8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”

10 Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”

11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

Jesus Begins His Galilean Ministry
12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:

15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles:
16 The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light,
And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death
Light has dawned.”

17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Four Fishermen Called as Disciples
18 And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

21 Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.

Jesus Heals a Great Multitude
23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. 24 Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. 25 Great multitudes followed Him—from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.

DISCUSSION:
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Matthew 3 New King James Version (NKJV)
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
Chapter 3

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
Make His paths straight.’”[a]

4 Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him 6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, 9 and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.[b] 12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

John Baptizes Jesus
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?”

15 But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.

16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He[c] saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “ This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

DISCUSSION:

3:2  Matthew was written in Greek.  Can you search for the Greek translation of our word "repent" and share it's meaning?
3:2 Another fulfilled prophecy!  In your own words, how do you describe what the "kingdom of heaven at hand" means?  Why would John tell the people this?

3:3 How long before this verse was it that Isaiah gave this Prophecy?  Why do you suppose God waits so long before His warning until it comes to pass?  If a person lived to be 70 how many generations is this before Gods warning was fulfilled?
3:3 What other Prophet in the OT prophesied this scripture other than Isaiah?

3:4 Malachi in the OT prophesied that Elijah would come to tell the people about the coming of Christ, what is the significance of the mention of what John was wearing to give proof to the people that John was the coming messenger?
3:4 What does John's diet confirm?

3:6 Do you feel baptism and confession of sins are still an important act of repentance today?
Explain- 

3:7 Who were the Sadducee what did they believe?
3:7 Who were the Pharisees what did they believe?
3:7 Research the behavior of a brood of vipers and then describe how it parallels John's remark.

3:8 What are the fruits that are worthy of repentance?

3:9 What is the significance of John bringing Abraham up to the Pharisees and Sadducee's?

3:10 What fire is John referring to? 
3:10 What is the "good fruit" John is referring to specifically?  Is this an action or faith? Explain
3:10 Does this reflect a loving God? Explain

3:11 What does John share that his water baptism is for?  Is it an act of repentance or a preparation for repentance?  
3:11 When is the Holy Spirit first mentioned in the Bible?
3:11 Would the people understand what the Holy Spirit was at this time?  Explain
3:11 What does it mean baptize you in the Holy Spirit and Fire?  Could fire signify 2 different meanings here?

3:12 What is a winnowing fan?  What does it do?
3:12 Is John explaining or solidifying his statement about being baptized by the Holy Spirit and Fire in this verse?
3:12 Who does the wheat symbolize?
3:12 Who does the chaff symbolize?
3:12 Would a loving God burn up the chaff with an unquenchable fire?  
3:12 Is this symbolic of the first or the second coming of Jesus or both?  Explain

3:13 Why did Jesus come to be baptized?

3:14 How did John know Jesus was the Messiah at this very moment?

3:15 Even though John knew Jesus was the Messiah it appears that even John did not have full knowledge of God's will and if in charge was going to deny God's will.  Does this solidify the importance of following God instead of even God's messengers?

3:16 If Jesus was born without sin and no sin was found in him, what was the significance of the need for Jesus to be baptized?

3:17 This is a beautiful depiction of the trinity.  Explain the trinity in your own words based on this scripture.
3:17 What is the significance of this event, prior to yesterday at this time in Jesus's life.

3:18 Who is the voice in heaven?
3:18 Was the voice audible for all or just Jesus?
3:18 What were the significance of each of the three statements the voice in heaven made?

Matthew 2 New King James Version (NKJV)
Wise Men from the East
Chapter 2 
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”
3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:
6 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;
For out of you shall come a Ruler
Who will shepherd My people Israel.’”[a]
7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”
9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12 Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.
The Flight into Egypt13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.”
14 When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, 15 and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”[b]
Massacre of the Innocents16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:
18 “A voice was heard in Ramah,
Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children,
Refusing to be comforted,
Because they are no more.”[c]
The Home in Nazareth19 Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.” 21 Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.
22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. 23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”

​DISCUSSION:
2:1 - What is the purpose of the information of the location of the birthplace of Jesus Christ?
2:1 - What was the occupation of "wise men"?
2:1 - What type of king was Herrod?

2:2 - What is the OT scripture that points to the fulfillment of this NT scripture?

2:3 - Why would King Herod be "troubled when the "wise men" asked the question, "where is he who has been born 'King of the Jews'?

2:4 - What does this scripture tell us about science and spiritual coming into agreement?

2:6 - What is the OT scripture that points to the fulfillment of this NT scripture?

2:7 - What might the significance be of Herod's question?

2:11 - What would have been the approximate time from the birth of Jesus until the "wise men" came upon his house?
2:11 - Why do think the "wise men" offered gifts of, gold, frankincense, and myrrh?

2:12 - Do you believe that dreams can have spiritual meanings?

2:13 - Who do you believe is an angel of the Lord?

2:14 - This is the second time Joseph received a word, through a dream from the an angel of the Lord, do you recall what was the first message?

2:15 We see here that yet another prophecy came to pass.  What Prophet did the Lord speak through in the OT to share this information with His people?

2:16 What led Herod to killing the male children in Bethlehem?

2:17 How long before this took place did Jeremiah the Prophet prophesy this event? 

2:19 How many times now has this an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream?

2:22 What type of ruler was Archelaus?

2:23 Where in the OT was Jesus prophesied to be called a Nazarene?

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