Study 6: Jesus, the King, the Kingdom of God, the Temple and the High Priest

Jesus the King

Read Matthew 21:1-11.

1. What does Jesus ask his disciples to do? (vv.1-3)

2. What do the crowds do when Jesus enters the town? (vv.8-10)

3. Why did they do that? Who did they think Jesus was? (vv.9-11)

4. Who does Jesus claim to be? (v.5)

Read Matthew 3:11-17

5. How does John describe the “person who is coming after him”? (vv.11-12)

6. Why does Jesus want to be baptized by John? (vv.13-15)

7. What happens when John baptises Jesus? (vv.16-17)

8. How is Jesus different/the same as the one John describes in vv.11-12?

Kingdom of Heaven

Read Matthew 5:1-12

1. What is the Kingdom of Heaven/Kingdom of God?

2. What are the characteristics of those who belong to the Kingdom of Heaven?

3. Who is Jesus?

Word Box Procession - Parade Baptism – Literally, ‘plunging’ people into water. John the Baptist baptised people in the river Jordan as a unique moment of repentance, preparing them for the coming kingdom of God Chaff – Seed coverings of grain that must be removed Winnowing – Removing chaff from grain Threshing – Separating seeds from plants Persecute – Oppress/Treat someone cruelly

 

Jesus, the Temple and High Priest

Read Matthew 21:12-22

1. What does Jesus do at the temple? Why does he do that? (vv.12-13)

2. What does Jesus do that makes priests and religious leaders angry?

3. Why does he quote from Psalm 8? What does it mean? (v.16)

4. What is Jesus’ message in vv.18-22?

Read Matthew 12:1-14

5. How do you think Jesus views the Sabbath? (vv. 3-6)

6. What does Jesus mean by `I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices’? (v. 7)

7. Who does he claim to be? (v.8)

8. Who is Jesus?

Homework: Luke 24


Matthew’s main purpose is to prove to his Jewish readers that Jesus is their Messiah. He does this primarily by showing how Jesus in his life and ministry fulfilled the Old Testament Scriptures.

Matthew 21:1-11

¹ As Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead.² "Go into the village over there," he said. "As soon as you enter it, you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them to me.³ If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, `The Lord needs them,' and he will immediately let you take them."
⁴ This took place to fulfil the prophecy that said,

  ⁵ "Tell the people of Israel,
  `Look, your King is coming to you.
He is humble, riding on a donkey—
  riding on a donkey's colt.'"[1]

  ⁶ The two disciples did as Jesus commanded.⁷ They brought the donkey and the colt to him and threw their garments over the colt, and he sat on it.
  ⁸ Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him[2], and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road[3].⁹ Jesus was in the centre of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting,

"Praise God for the Son of David!
  Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD![4]
  Praise God in highest heaven!"

  ¹⁰ The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as he entered. "Who is this?" they asked.
  ¹¹ And the crowds replied, "It's Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."

Matthew 1:1

¹ This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham:

Matthew 3:11-17

¹¹ "I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I'm not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.¹² He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire."

¹³ Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John.¹⁴ But John tried to talk him out of it. "I am the one who needs to be baptized by you," he said, "so why are you coming to me?"
  ¹⁵ But Jesus said, "It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires." So John agreed to baptize him.
  ¹⁶ After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him.¹⁷ And a voice from heaven said, "This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy."

Matthew 5:1-12

¹ One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him,² and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes
³ "God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,
  for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
⁴ God blesses those who mourn,
  for they will be comforted.
⁵ God blesses those who are humble,
  for they will inherit the whole earth.
⁶ God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,
  for they will be satisfied.
⁷ God blesses those who are merciful,
  for they will be shown mercy.
⁸ God blesses those whose hearts are pure,
  for they will see God.
⁹ God blesses those who work for peace,
  for they will be called the children of God.
¹⁰ God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,
  for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

  ¹¹ "God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.12 Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.

Matthew 21:12-22, 41-46

¹² Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out all the people buying and selling animals for sacrifice. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves.¹³ He said to them, "The Scriptures declare, `My Temple will be called a house of prayer[5],' but you have turned it into a den of thieves[6]!"
  <sup>14</sup> The blind and the lame came to him in the Temple, and he healed them.<sup>15</sup> The leading priests and the teachers of religious law saw these wonderful miracles and heard even the children in the Temple shouting, "Praise God for the Son of David."
  But the leaders were indignant.<sup>16</sup> They asked Jesus, "Do you hear what these children are saying?"
  "Yes," Jesus replied. "Haven't you ever read the Scriptures? For they say, `You have taught children and infants to give you praise[7].'"¹⁷ Then he returned to Bethany, where he stayed overnight.

¹⁸ In the morning, as Jesus was returning to Jerusalem, he was hungry,¹⁹ and he noticed a fig tree beside the road. He went over to see if there were any figs, but there were only leaves. Then he said to it, "May you never bear fruit again!" And immediately the fig tree withered up.[8]
  ²⁰ The disciples were amazed when they saw this and asked, "How did the fig tree wither so quickly?"
  ²¹ Then Jesus told them, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don't doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, `May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' and it will happen.²² You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it."

Matthew 12:1-14

¹ At about that time Jesus was walking through some grain fields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, so they began breaking off some heads of grain and eating them.² But some Pharisees saw them do it and protested, "Look, your disciples are breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath[9]."
  ³ Jesus said to them, "Haven't you read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry?⁴ He went into the house of God, and he and his companions broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat.⁵ And haven't you read in the law of Moses that the priests on duty in the Temple may work on the Sabbath[10]?⁶ I tell you, there is one here who is even greater than the Temple!⁷ But you would not have condemned my innocent disciples if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: `I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices[11].'⁸ For the Son of Man[12] is Lord, even over the Sabbath!"

Jesus Heals on the Sabbath
⁹ Then Jesus went over to their synagogue,¹⁰ where he noticed a man with a deformed hand. The Pharisees asked Jesus, "Does the law permit a person to work by healing on the Sabbath?" (They were hoping he would say yes, so they could bring charges against him.)
  ¹¹ And he answered, "If you had a sheep that fell into a well on the Sabbath, wouldn't you work to pull it out? Of course you would.¹² And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath."
  ¹³ Then he said to the man, "Hold out your hand." So the man held out his hand, and it was restored, just like the other one!¹⁴ Then the Pharisees called a meeting to plot how to kill Jesus.

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[1] Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey riding on a donkey's colt. (Zechariah 9:9)

[2] 2 Kings 9:13

[3] 2 Maccabees 12:7

[4] The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.
This is the LORD's doing, and it is wonderful to see.
This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Please, LORD, please save us. Please, LORD, please give us success.
Bless the one who comes in the name of the LORD. We bless you from the house of the LORD. (Psalm 118:22-26)

[5] I will also bless the foreigners who commit themselves to the LORD, who serve him and love his name,
who worship him and do not desecrate the Sabbath day of rest, and who hold fast to my covenant.
I will bring them to my holy mountain of Jerusalem and will fill them with joy in my house of prayer.
I will accept their burnt offerings and sacrifices, because my Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations. For the Sovereign LORD, who brings back the outcasts of Israel, says:
I will bring others, too, besides my people Israel." (Isaiah 56: 6-8) 

[6] "`Don't be fooled into thinking that you will never suffer because the Temple is here. It's a lie! Do you really think you can steal, murder, commit adultery, lie, and burn incense to Baal and all those other new gods of yours, and then come here and stand before me in my Temple and chant, "We are safe!"- only to go right back to all those evils again? Don't you yourselves admit that this Temple, which bears my name, has become a den of thieves? Surely I see all the evil going on there. I, the LORD, have spoken! (Jeremiah 7:8-11)

[7] O LORD, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens.
You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength, silencing your enemies and all who oppose you. (Psalm 8:1-2)

[8] The heavens above will melt away and disappear like a rolled-up scroll.
The stars will fall from the sky like withered leaves from a grapevine, or shriveled figs from a fig tree. (Isaiah 34:4)

[9] Deuteronomy 5:14; but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the LORD your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your oxen and donkeys and other livestock, and any foreigners living among you. All your male and female servants must rest as you do.

[10] Numbers 28:9-10; "On the Sabbath day, sacrifice two one-year-old male lambs with no defects. They must be accompanied by a grain offering of four quarts of choice flour moistened with olive oil, and a liquid offering. This is the burnt offering to be presented each Sabbath day, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its accompanying liquid offering.

[11] Hosea 6:6; I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings.

[12] Daniel 7:13-14;As my vision continued that night, I saw someone like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence.14 He was given authority, honour, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal—it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed.