Larry Sibley - Matthew: People of the Kingdom

Matthew
P UBLISHED B Y W ATER B ROOK P RESS
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Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible: new International Version NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

eISBN: 978-0-307-80842-4

Copyright 1988, revised edition 1994 by Larry Sibley

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system without written permission from the publisher.

Published in the United States by WaterBrook Multnomah, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House Inc., New York.

v3.1

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

As you open the New Testament, the first book you find is the Gospel of Matthew. When the various parts of the New Testament were being gathered, Matthew was placed at the top of the list, perhaps because it has such a good balance of narrative and teaching about Jesus and his work. Three books, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, are called synoptic Gospels because they summarize the events of Jesus life and death while teaching us their meaning.

Mark, probably the first to be written, is action-packed, moving abruptly from event to event. Luke shows an emotional, people-oriented side of Jesus and adds a whole section of narrative not found in the other two. Matthew has arranged Marks material a bit differently, stressing those aspects that would especially help Jewish Christians in their growing discipleship.

In a sense, the author of Matthew is anonymous, since there is no indication in the book who actually wrote it. However, early church tradition indicates that the apostle Matthew, a tax collector when he was called to follow Jesus, was the author of the book that bears his name. There is no reason to doubt the accuracy of this tradition.

The main theme that runs through the book of Matthew is the kingdom of God. Early in the book Jesus lineage is linked to David, the great Old Testament king of Israel. Foreign visitorsMagi, or Wise Mencome to worship Jesus, the baby king of the Jews, who is contrasted with King Herod. John the Baptist announces that the kingdom of heaven is near, and Jesus echoes this truth as he begins to preach. This studyguide offers a broader overview of Matthew, and many of the questions will lead you to discover how this kingdom theme is developed.

The concept of a kingdom is politically foreign to many of us in the twentieth century. The British monarchy is one remaining example, but this is largely ceremonial and does not give us a true picture of what a kingdom is. Submission to a king, or any human authority, is a point of tension or confusion for many of us. We tend to think that democracy and shared authority, or mutual dependence, are better models for our life together.

As you read this gospel and study together, ask God to help you discover how to submit to our king, Jesus Christ. Ask him also to teach you more about relationships with other human beings, as we learn to live as people of the kingdom of God.

HOW TO USE THIS STUDYGUIDE

Fisherman studyguides are based on the inductive approach to Bible study. Inductive study is discovery study; we discover what the Bible says as we ask questions about its content and search for answers. This is quite different from the process in which a teacher tells a group about the Bible and what it means and what to do about it. In inductive study God speaks directly to each of us through his Word.

A group functions best when a leader keeps the discussion on target, but this leader is neither the teacher nor the answer person. A leaders responsibility is to asknot tell. The answers come from the text itself as group members examine, discuss, and think together about the passage.

There are four kinds of questions in each study. The first is an approach question. Used before the Bible passage is read, this question breaks the ice and helps you focus on the topic of the Bible study. It begins to reveal where thoughts and feelings need to be transformed by Scripture.

Some of the earlier questions in each study are observation questions designed to help you find out basic factswho, what, where, when, and how.

When you know what the Bible says you need to ask, What does it mean? These interpretation questions help you to discover the writers basic message.

Application questions ask, What does it mean to me? They challenge you to live out the Scriptures life-transforming message.

Fisherman studyguides provide spaces between questions for jotting down responses and related questions you would like to raise in the group. Each group member should have a copy of the studyguide and may take a turn in leading the group.

A group should use any accurate, modern translation of the Bible such as the New International Version, the New American Standard Bible, the Revised Standard Version, the New Jerusalem Bible, or the Good News Bible. (Other translations or paraphrases of the Bible may be referred to when additional help is needed.) Bible commentaries should not be brought to a Bible study because they tend to dampen discussion and keep people from thinking for themselves.

. Read and study the Bible passage thoroughly beforehand, grasping its themes and applying its teachings for yourself. Pray that the Holy Spirit will guide you into truth so that your leadership will guide others.

. If the studyguides questions ever seem ambiguous or unnatural to you, rephrase them, feeling free to add others that seem necessary to bring out the meaning of a verse.