11:1-19 How did Jesus answer John’s question? Where was John at the time?
11:20-24 Why was Jesus so angry with Chorazin and Bethsaida?
11:25-28 To whom do the teachings of Jesus appeal? (verses 25, 28)
12:1-21 What did the Pharisees criticize Jesus for?
12:22-37 What did the Pharisees accuse Jesus of after He cured the blind and mute demoniac? What does Jesus call them in response?
12:38-45 Who would “rise up” and condemn the scribes and Pharisees for their disbelief? To what does He compare them in verses 43-45?
12:46-50 Who does Jesus consider as his family?
13:1-23 What is at least one lesson you learn from the Parable of the Sower?
13:10-17, 34-35 Why did Jesus speak in parables?
13:24-30, 36-43 What is the lesson of the Parable of the Weeds (Tares)?
13:31-33 What are the lessons of the Parable of the Mustard Seed and Parable of the Yeast (Leaven)?
13:44-53 What other things does Jesus compare with the kingdom of heaven?
13:54-58 How was Jesus treated in his hometown?
[NOTE: If you prefer a printed version of these questions, you can view the entire study guide here. It should open as a Google Doc. Just click on “File” and choose “Print (PDF).” If you have a problem, let me know.]
For Discussion:
11:4-19 What tributes does Jesus pay to John, even in the way He answers John’s question in verses 4-7?
12:9-13 How do this story and the lessons Jesus draws from it relate to the incident in 12:1-8?
12:33-37 It appears this is a continuation of the previous verses. How does this teaching about good trees/good fruit and bad trees/bad fruit relate to the Pharisee's recent accusation?
13:18-23 a) Is it really a listener's fault if he or she doesn't understand the message? b) Is it a listener's fault if he or she has had an unstable family life and has never learned to persevere? Shouldn't we keep on trying until people see the value of being stable Christians? c) How do we know whether or not we're bearing fruit? If we're not, does that mean we're not good soil?
Questions: 12:1-8 The disciples knew the "rule" of no working on the Sabbath. Shouldn't they have prepared for it? I think that was what the Jews normally did. The Lord even told them to in Ex. 16:5,22. 12:9-14 I don't follow Jesus' reasoning in verse 11... The sheep fell into the well on the Sabbath, but [I'm assuming] the man's hand had been deformed for some time. Couldn't it have waited one more day? Not trying to be difficult...just wondering... Beverly
Beverly, I'm not sure they were breaking the intent of the Sabbath. The Sabbath laws were designed to keep people from "working" on the Sabbath, which, in the case of the cornfield, would mean they were harvesting the crop. The disciples were walking through someone's cornfield, plucking the corn off and rubbing it between their hands to take off the grain, taking only what they could eat, because they were hungry. This was not considered harvesting, according to Deuteronomy 23:25, as long as they didn't take a sickle to it. Exodus 16 is talking about the gathering of manna on the Sabbath, which would not only have to be gathered but processed for baking. God didn't condemn David when he ate the showbread, because he and his companions were hungry. The Pharisees wouldn't dare condemn David, yet they condemned Jesus -- not because they cared about the law, but because they were always out to ensnare him. Over the years, they had begun imposing Sabbath laws that were stricter than required. The People's New Testament commentary gives an example of how minute their restrictions became: "If on the Sabbath a Jew put out a lamp from fear of the Gentiles, or robbers, or on account of an evil spirit, he was guiltless; if to save oil, he was guilty."--Milman's Jews, Vol. 2, p. 480. Could putting out a lamp really be called "work"?
Re: 12:9-14. Jesus had no need to wait another day to heal the man, because to heal him wasn't breaking the Sabbath -- just as pulling out the sheep wasn't breaking the Sabbath. As God, He knew the purpose of the Sabbath, and states here that it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath. Also note again the Pharisees' reasoning for objecting, "that they might accuse Him." Also, how much effort did it take for Jesus to say "Stretch out your hand"? I just noticed -- they challenged Jesus on this before He healed the man! It's as if they knew He could do it, and were just daring Him to!
Questions:
ReplyDelete12:1-8 The disciples knew the "rule" of no working on the Sabbath. Shouldn't they have prepared for it? I think that was what the Jews normally did. The Lord even told them to in Ex. 16:5,22.
12:9-14 I don't follow Jesus' reasoning in verse 11... The sheep fell into the well on the Sabbath, but [I'm assuming] the man's hand had been deformed for some time. Couldn't it have waited one more day?
Not trying to be difficult...just wondering...
Beverly
Beverly, I'm not sure they were breaking the intent of the Sabbath. The Sabbath laws were designed to keep people from "working" on the Sabbath, which, in the case of the cornfield, would mean they were harvesting the crop. The disciples were walking through someone's cornfield, plucking the corn off and rubbing it between their hands to take off the grain, taking only what they could eat, because they were hungry. This was not considered harvesting, according to Deuteronomy 23:25, as long as they didn't take a sickle to it. Exodus 16 is talking about the gathering of manna on the Sabbath, which would not only have to be gathered but processed for baking. God didn't condemn David when he ate the showbread, because he and his companions were hungry. The Pharisees wouldn't dare condemn David, yet they condemned Jesus -- not because they cared about the law, but because they were always out to ensnare him. Over the years, they had begun imposing Sabbath laws that were stricter than required. The People's New Testament commentary gives an example of how minute their restrictions became: "If on the Sabbath a Jew put out a lamp from fear of the Gentiles, or robbers, or on account of an evil spirit, he was guiltless; if to save oil, he was guilty."--Milman's Jews, Vol. 2, p. 480. Could putting out a lamp really be called "work"?
ReplyDeleteRe: 12:9-14. Jesus had no need to wait another day to heal the man, because to heal him wasn't breaking the Sabbath -- just as pulling out the sheep wasn't breaking the Sabbath. As God, He knew the purpose of the Sabbath, and states here that it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath. Also note again the Pharisees' reasoning for objecting, "that they might accuse Him." Also, how much effort did it take for Jesus to say "Stretch out your hand"? I just noticed -- they challenged Jesus on this before He healed the man! It's as if they knew He could do it, and were just daring Him to!
ReplyDeleteAnyone else have any thoughts on this?
Thanks, Cheryl!
ReplyDelete