Following Jesus 101: Matthew Bible Study Challenge – Week 3 Recap

Happy Monday Saints! Praise God we made it through the 3rd Week of reading the Gospel of Matthew. This week going forward, I’ve decided not to add “How can I apply today’s word to my life?” on my recaps. I feel that this question is personal between you and God and should be written in your journal that I provided as a keepsake or promise to Him.

If you didn’t get a chance to start this challenge from the beginning Click Here and join us!

Here’s my recap for our Bible Study Week 3 challenge….

 Matthew 10:1-42

What did I learn from today’s word?

Jesus gives his disciples the authority to cast out spirits and to heal diseases and raise the dead.  The 12 were Simon Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James (Son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon (the Zealot) and Judas (who betrayed Jesus).  Jesus told them to go to Israel, which was God’s lost sheep, to announce that the Kingdom was near.  If anyone doesn’t want to listen to shake it off and move on.  Jesus sent them out as sheep among wolves. He also told them that they would be persecuted in His name, because they were his followers.  He wanted them to tell unbelievers who he was.  Jesus said that the Holy Spirit will speak for them if they didn’t know what to say.  Jesus told them that family will betray each other. He says don’t be afraid because people can kill our bodies, but not our soul.  Everyone who acknowledges God on earth will be acknowledged in Heaven.  If you cling to life you’ll lose it, but if you give up life, you will find it.  If you give to the least of Jesus followers, you will be rewarded.

 Matthew 11:1-30

What did I learn from today’s word?

John the Baptist was in prison, but heard about everything Jesus was doing.  He sent his disciples to ask if he was the Messiah.  Jesus told them to tell John all that they’ve seen. He’s making the blind see, he’s healing the sick and raising people from the dead.  Jesus asked the people what did they expect to see?  Did they expect a man dressed in expensive clothes or a prophet?  Jesus told them, John was sent ahead of him as a messenger.  But even the least of believers is greater than John.  Jesus tells unbelievers what will happen if they didn’t repent, even after he performed miracles.  He said they will go to the place of the dead.  Jesus prayed and thanked God that he hid things from the clever and revealed to those who are childlike.  No one knows God except Jesus and no one knows Jesus except God. Jesus says come to him if you are weary and heavy burdened and he will give rest.  For his yoke is easy and burden is light.

Matthew 12:1-50

What did I learn from today’s word?

As Jesus and his disciples walked through grain fields, the disciples were hungry and ate some grain.  The Pharisees protested and accused them of harvesting on the Sabbath.  But Jesus said, David ate the sacred loaves of bread that only priests are allowed to eat and the priest are on duty on the Sabbath.  Jesus told them He is the Sabbath!  They asked if he would heal on the Sabbath, when Jesus saw a man’s hand deformed.  Jesus asked if there sheep fell in a well, wouldn’t they save it?  How much more valuable are we?  The law permits others to do good on the Sabbath.  Then Jesus healed the man’s hand.  Jesus continued healing and told people not to tell anyone.  Jesus then healed a demon possessed man, who was blind and couldn’t speak.  The Pharisees believed that Jesus power was from Satan.  Jesus said you can’t fight and divide against yourself.  Anyone who isn’t with God opposes God and is against him.  The only sin that’s unforgiving is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.  Whatever is in your heart determines what you will say.  We must give an account on judgment day.  Jesus said that anyone who does the will of God is your brother, sister and mother.

Matthew 13:1-58

What did I learn from today’s word?

Jesus told many stories in the form of parables.  He told a parable about a farmer who planted seeds.  Some fell on the footpath and birds ate them.  Others fell on shallow soil, but they sprouted and wilted away.  Others fell among thorns, but choked out the plants.  Others fell on fertile soil and produced one hundred times as much.  Jesus spoke in parables because believers are permitted to understand secrets of Heaven, and others are not.  The hearts of people are hardened and ears can’t hear and eyes are closed, so they can’t turn to Jesus for healing.

The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message and don’t understand.  The seed on the rocky soil are those who hear and have joy, but don’t last, as soon as they have problems or persecuted for believing God’s word.  The seed among thorns are those who hear, but are crowded out by worries of life and the lure of wealth.  The seed that fell on good soil are those who truly hear and understand Gods word and produce a harvest a hundred times as much.  Jesus also used parables about wheat and weeds. When the wheat and weeds grow together, after the evil one slipped the weeds in, the harvesters will sort out the weeds and burn them.  The harvesters are the angels who will sort out the evil doers on judgement day to be burned in the lake of fire for eternity.  Jesus always spoke to them using parables.  He said he would explain things hidden since the creation of the world.

 Matthew 14:1-36

What did I learn from today’s word?

Herod the ruler of Galilee, heard about Jesus and thought he was John the Baptist raised from the dead.  Herod had imprisoned John as a favor to his wife Herodias, because John told him it was against Gods law to marry his former brother’s wife.  Herodias’ daughter performed a dance that pleased Herod.  Her wish was to have John’s head on a platter. Because Herod made a vow in front of others, he complied.  After it happened, John’s disciples told Jesus.  The crowds followed Jesus as he left and he had compassion on them and healed them.  As it got late, the people were hungry.  Jesus fed over five thousand people, including women and children, with five loaves of bread and two fish.  Jesus told his disciples to get back on the boat to cross to the other side as he prayed.  A strong wind and waves came and the disciples were afraid.  Then Jesus came toward them walking on the water.  He said don’t be afraid and to take courage.  Peter said he wanted to come to Jesus on the water and Jesus allowed it.  Peter walked on water until he became afraid.  Jesus grabbed him and told him he had little faith and to never doubt him.  When they arrived back on land the people met them and Jesus continued healing them.

Matthew 15:1-39

 What did I learn from today’s word?

Jesus teaches about inner purity.  Some Pharisees and teachers of religious law arrived from Jerusalem to see Jesus.  They asked why his disciples didn’t do a ceremonial washing of hands before eating.  Jesus told them they violated the commandments of God and were hypocrites with man-made ideas.  Jesus told the crowd that whatever comes out of your mouth, comes from your heart. From the heart comes evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying and slander.  These things defile you and not unwashed hands.  Every plant not planted by God will be uprooted.  Jesus then heals the demon possessed daughter of a gentile woman, after he left Galilee and went to the region of Tyre and Sidon, because of her faith.  Jesus returned to Galilee and continued healing the large crowd who followed.  He fed four thousand people after they had been with him for three days with seven loaves of bread and a few fish.

Tell us your thoughts about Week 3 in the comments below! We would love to hear from you 🙂

Don’t forget to meet me back here next Monday (God willing) for our Week 4 challenge recap!

God loves you and so do I,

Wanda

Related materials

• Following Jesus 101: Gospel of Matthew – Bible Study Challenge – Intro & FREE Stuff
• Following Jesus 101: Matthew – Bible Study Challenge – Week 1 Recap
• Following Jesus 101: Matthew – Bible Study Challenge – Week 2 Recap