MATTHEW

(Answers)





CHAPTER 1

  1. Judah.
  2. Fourteen generations.
  3. He was a just man. He knew she had done no sin. He did not want her to become a public example.
  4. Savior.
  5. He had turned his hand to help them once again through sending His son, Jesus.
  6. After Jesus was born.

CHAPTER 2

  1. In a house.
  2. That Herod would seek to destroy Jesus.
  3. In Bethlehem of Judah.
  4. Nazareth.
  5. He sought to kill Jesus by killing all the males 2 years old and younger.
  6. The women who cried for their children that were killed are the descendants of Rachel.

CHAPTER 3

  1. The one who prepared the hearts of the people to turn back to the Lord.
  2. Locusts and wild honey.
  3. Repent - be sorry for your sins. (Change your hearts and your ways).
  4. The Pharisees and Sadducees.
  5. a. They must live righteously to show that their repentance is real. b. Yes.
  6. Always doing, as much as depends on you, justness, righteousness, and holiness before God and man.
  7. The word of God was coming forth and would denounce the ways of the leaders, priests, and people.
  8. They will be cut down and destroyed.
  9. a. Through the coming of Jesus, we receive the Holy Spirit and the truth of God. Those who follow and obey will grow to spiritual cleanliness. b. As fire removes the impurities in gold, so will we be pruned and chastened through the word of God and our trials and tests.
  10. The wheat is the true believer who serves God. The chaff is the one who does not serve God, he is worthless like the husks of the wheat stalk and will be destroyed.
  11. So John would know who was the Lamb and Son of God (see Jn. 1:33) and to show obedience to God before the people.
  12. God.

CHAPTER 4

  1. 40 days and 40 nights.
  2. a. He tried to make Jesus use His power to provide for himself, to test God's laws of nature and to worship the ways of Satan for glory and power. b. No.
  3. Simon Peter and his brother Andrew.
  4. Not to live by your own wisdom and will but by the wisdom and will of God through His word and Spirit.
  5. We must not ask God to prove Himself; this is dishonoring Him.
  6. To repent of their ways.

CHAPTER 5

  1. a. The humble. b. The brokenhearted. c. Those who are satisfied with what God gives them. d. Those who are hurt at any unrighteousness. e. Those who are giving. f. Those who hunger sincerely for the ways of God. g. Those who try to resolve problems rather than make them worse. h. Those who are ridiculed, put down, or oppressed for doing right by God.
  2. Rejoice and know our reward to come is great.
  3. a. We are the influence about God on others around us. b. We are only fit to be thrown out. We will be "trampled" (or scorned) by people.
  4. a. As in the salt, we should be seen by others to be different to them but in a pure and holy way. The word of God should always be close to our tongues. b. Not to hide your word from others but live it and tell it so God may be glorified.
  5. Yes.
  6. They were hypocrites. They looked righteous from the outside but were not good on the in their hearts.
  7. a. We should resolve our conflicts with our brother first, otherwise we will be "unclean" because of wrong feelings. b. By showing or harboring hatred toward our brother we do not have love. This is not of God and will lead one to the eternal fire.
  8. To have a chance to forgive and reconcile with each other rather than to make things worse with no chance for forgiveness.
  9. To turn quickly and completely away from sin to avoid a lifestyle which will lead to death.
  10. You cause them to commit adultery.
  11. a. To swear by nothing except by our word. b. All is God's and is in His control. Our word is the only thing we can control or guarantee.
  12. We are not to verbally or by our actions seek vengeance on those who have done us wrong.
  13. Those who hate us and spitefully use us.

CHAPTER 6

  1. Do them in secret. Do not let someone else know what you are doing to receive their praise.
  2. God will reward you even before men. Do not seek your own reward.
  3. In private, between you and Him. Do not pray before men to seek their praise. Do not use vain repetitions. Talk simply and plainly from your heart to God.
  4. Praise Him for who He is and His kingdom, ask Him for forgiveness of sins and to show us the way out of temptation.
  5. We must forgive others first.
  6. Look normal. Do not try to let others know you are fasting.
  7. We should seek blessings from God in heaven rather than material things here on earth.
  8. What you look for will fill your soul. If you look for evil, you will become evil. If you look for good, you will be good. Your eye fills your body.
  9. No, you will be loyal only to one. You will despise the one that takes away your liberties.
  10. God will provide them for us. Trust in Him especially in hard times.

CHAPTER 7

  1. By your judgement or mercy to someone you will receive the same in return.
  2. First look at yourself to see your own sin or similar sin.
  3. Once you remove the plank (sin) from your eye, you will be able to see the path of God and know how to help your brother.
  4. An unbeliever or evil person will ridicule you and not care about the word or anything holy.
  5. Ask, seek, and knock.
  6. a. The way of truth is a single path that you must be diligent to stay on through obeying God's will. b. Only a few will strive to be on the narrow path and do the will of God.
  7. a. They are people who appear to be Christians, but they are leading people astray from serving God with all their heart. Their doctrines will preach liberty as a Christian instead of fearing God's judgement of their lives. b. They are on the easy path of the wide gate.
  8. If they are a sinful person, their actions and words will show it. They will cause someone to suffer. (Through reading the word of God ourselves and letting the Spirit give us understanding, we will be able to know when others are saying or doing anything that is not according to God's word.)
  9. They did work only for their benefit and for the praise of men. They sinned often without fear of God. Their lied to themselves and others about any power they proclaimed.
  10. Those who know Jesus' teachings (which came from God) and do them. This person is on the rock foundation and will continue to hold fast to his relationship and walk in the Lord.

CHAPTER 8

  1. He wanted the priest to know He had healed the man. He was showing them the law was second place to the power of God.
  2. a. The Gentiles. b. The Israelites (Jews) who are cast out because of their unbelief and walk with God.
  3. Those spiritually dead can bury the dead.
  4. They did not trust God to protect them even when His son was with them. God is always with those who love Him and are doing what they are supposed to be doing.
  5. a. Yes. b. Yes. c. He told them to go and they went into the swine perishing the swine in the sea.

CHAPTER 9

  1. To show He had power on earth to forgive sins. If they believed God gave Him power to heal, then they would believe God gave Him power to forgive sins.
  2. The righteous were in good standing with God. The sinners are the ones who need to know God.
  3. He was showing that the old way of the law could not exist with the new way of the Spirit.
  4. She touched Jesus' garment.
  5. He healed two blind men.
  6. To ask God to send more people into all the land were the Jews were scattered and tell them the word of life.

CHAPTER 10

  1. Yes, it was freely given to them.
  2. The Jews.
  3. Leave the city and their fate in their own hands.
  4. Sodom and Gomorrah will be able to bear their punishment because they had no one to tell them about God and to redirect their hearts. The Jews do have someone to tell them and will realize they turned down their opportunity for life.
  5. The Holy Spirit of God.
  6. We should speak the word to others even though we fear them. God allows nothing to happen to us that He does not know or is in His will.
  7. We verbally acknowledge Jesus and in our actions we show He lives in us.
  8. a. Our lives and our lips do not show we know Jesus. b. Jesus will deny us before God. We will not enter into the Kingdom.
  9. We live for Him and God's will, as He did for God, unto our death.
  10. a. The word of God. b. A person who is righteous will face adversity with the unrighteous even within families.
  11. You accept Jesus and God. God sent the word through Jesus.

CHAPTER 11

  1. He planted the first thought to the people of repentance to God and changed hearts, the message Jesus would also bring.
  2. The least one in heaven is with God. John is still "a little lower than the angels."
  3. He came in the spirit of Elijah, serving God fully and turning the hearts of the people to God.
  4. They were not affected by the word of God or the gospel of Christ. They did not want to accept it.
  5. The people did not want to accept God's word or change their hearts. Therefore, they found something wrong in both John and Jesus.
  6. Sodom had no miracles performed in their time or they would have repented. The Jews will realize in the day of judgement the opportunity for repentance which they rejected. This will be hard for them to bear.
  7. By trusting in God and His ways and seeking His righteousness and will, we will have peace within ourselves. We can also have less dissension and contentions with those around us.

CHAPTER 12

  1. Any good or merciful deed could be done any day.
  2. They did the work of preparing the sacrifices and offerings on the Sabbath.
  3. A man with a withered hand.
  4. Jesus would be kept in low profile so that He would fulfill His death on the cross also for the Gentiles. He probably would not have ben killed if He had the support of the Gentiles (we are His largest followers now).
  5. The priest knew the Spirit of God had done the miracle but said it was from Satan. When you knowingly discredit, belittle, or revile God, His Spirit and power, you will not ever be forgiven it is not in your heart to repent toward God anyway.
  6. From your heart you will speak.
  7. Since your words proceed from your heart they will either acquit you or condemn you in the day of judgement.
  8. Jesus was taken away from the people on a Thursday night. He is referring to this time in a spiritual sense. Therefore it is Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night and Friday, Saturday, And Sunday days.
  9. The unclean spirit will return with a more complete effort to bring you back down. It is worse because you came to know the way of righteousness but have fallen away.
  10. Those who do the will of God. We are one family. We have one Father but we are brothers, sisters, and mothers to all in Christ.

CHAPTER 13

  1. Whoever has knowledge of God and seeks it, more will be given to Him.
  2. Because their hearts are hard and dull; they do not want to change or be told they are living wrong.
  3. a. Those who hear the word but do not understand it nor care to take it to heart. b. Those who gladly receive the word of God in their heart but they do not seek it further for spiritual growth and strength. They fall away after a short time and in tribulation. c. Those who receive the word and immediately start living for God (see vs. 5) but the cares of the world and the pursuit of worldly things becomes first in their lives instead of God. They do not practice God's will. d. Those who receive the word, take root for knowledge of God's will, and grow spiritually mature and righteous. They produce fruit within themselves and outside themselves.
  4. In case it weakened the faith or caused a good person to stumble, because they did not have understanding. We will be closely tied to some of these people.
  5. It starts small but will grow above all kingdoms (herbs). We will find rest and life there.
  6. The kingdom of heaven in you can change you greatly. Others will see the difference too.
  7. You will give up your life for the life God has for you when you realize the value of God's kingdom.
  8. People will quit searching for the meaning in life once they find the Kingdom of Heaven. It is all that they need.
  9. The angels will come with Jesus.
  10. This is the one who knows God's word and is able to share this with others. He can give truths of milk or meat.
  11. Yes. At least four brothers and some sisters.

CHAPTER 14

  1. The daughter of Herodias (Philips' wife) prompted by her mother's wishes.
  2. a. 5000 besides women and children. b. 12 baskets of fragments.
  3. a. Peter. b. He did not rely on the power of the Lord. His faith weakened.

CHAPTER 15

  1. To give to the temple and you will be doing fine before God.
  2. To take care of your parents first (this is the same as giving to God).
  3. From your heart you will speak sinful things.
  4. Those who do not know God. They worship idols.
  5. a. She wanted Him to heal her demon possessed daughter. b. She showed faith and belief in the God of Jesus, though she was an idolater before.
  6. a. 4000 besides women and children. b. 7 loaves and a few fish. c. 7 baskets full of fragments.

CHAPTER 16

  1. The teachings of the Pharisees.
  2. You knowing the Father and Jesus and they knowing you through the Spirit. This relationship through the Spirit of God is how the church will be built.
  3. Hades will not be able to keep your soul, God will resurrect you to life.
  4. The teachings and truths of God that will get you to heaven.
  5. a. The teachings (keys) that you accept are already decreed in heaven. b. The teachings you reject are already rejected in heaven. They do not come from heaven. [The Greek Interlinear Bible shows that bind and loose reads "has been done" in heaven already (not will be done). This is showing that what the Spirit leads you in understanding is from heaven and the will of God.
  6. He said Jesus would not have to die. This was Satan using Peter's weaknesss and lack of understanding to try and weaken Jesus and His mission.
  7. We must not pursue our will and desires before the will and desire of God (just as Jesus did).
  8. This is the spiritual death of dying to oneself (vs. 25). Once you see the light of the kingdom and the power of the Spirit, you will want to deny your desires to seek the life God wants for you (Lk. 9:27; Mk. 9:1). Some will not realize this spiritual death until the return of Jesus, but then it will be to late.

CHAPTER 17

  1. a. Peter, James, and John. b. Moses and Elijah. c. God. d. It symbolized the authority and power of Jesus over the people. He was the one to come.
  2. The faith of the disciples and the people were weak. They doubted because of the severity of the boy's problem.
  3. a. Jesus and the disciples were sons of the kingdom of God. They were of the royal family. b. In a fish's mouth. c. God will provide the righteous whatever is needed. We will not have to worry where it will come from.

CHAPTER 18

  1. As children depend on the leadership and teaching of their parents so should we be lead and taught by our Father in heaven.
  2. It is important to avoid all sin to have eternal life. We must get completely out of sin. Whatever is causing us to sin we must choose to leave or stop participating in it.
  3. Go to him and work it out. If he does not listen, take another brother with you. If he still does not listen, bring it to the church. If he still does not listen, stay away from Him.
  4. The teachings of the kingdom of heaven will be the judge of our action concerning our brother.
  5. Always forgive.
  6. God will not forgive us.

CHAPTER 19

  1. a. The people's hearts were hard. They refused to work things out. b. We can only be divorced for unfaithfulness. (We must always try to work things out.) c. He agreed with the disciples statement that it is best not to get married (if you are one who can control your desire for a woman).
  2. a. He knew the man loved and depended on his money more than God. b. No. c. By trusting and depending on God for his security and peace. He must seek God's help in overcoming his dependence on his wealth.
  3. Your priorities will change. The things that were first in your life will be last and the last will become first when you begin to live for God.

CHAPTER 20

  1. All will receive the same reward. (Those entering the faith late in life have missed out on the years of peace, joy, and blessings they could of had earlier in life.)
  2. James and John the sons of Zebedee.
  3. By being a servant to others.
  4. He healed two blind men.

CHAPTER 21

  1. The colt. The donkey was used mainly for carrying the clothes of the disciples.
  2. a. The people selling in the temple were there to make a profit. The people buying sacrificial animals did not have the right heart. Their sacrifice was only a purchase away. The temple was to be a place of sincere worship of God. b. They did not take forgiveness seriously. Their forgiveness was just a purchase away.
  3. This shows us that God expects our lives be at a certain level in our faith and service to Him or, we will not receive His blessing (but a curse).
  4. They did not want to give credit to God for the things Jesus had done. They did not want to recognize their own sin and unfruitfulness.
  5. a. Those who did not live for God at first, but later turn to and serve Him (the Gentiles). b. Those who knew God but they do not serve Him as they proclaimed (Israel).
  6. The priest and elders were to teach the people about God and of serving Him faithfully. They rejected the prophets (John the Baptist and now His son, Jesus) sent to correct them. In the end they will be destroyed and the kingdom given to others (the Gentiles).

CHAPTER 22

  1. a. As in the parables of the tares, they will all be gathered together to be judged. b. The one without the wedding garment is the one who has not changed his ways or made himself clean. God's Spirit is in the ones who have done His will. By this He will know those who are His.
  2. They wanted to trap Him into saying something that they could use against Him. They also tried to how wise they felt.
  3. Those who are righteous before God are only asleep in His eyes. They are never dead and will be resurrected to a new life.
  4. He showed them they were not as wise as they thought they were. They did not see the deep truths of the scriptures.

CHAPTER 23

  1. They loved to look good on the outside to impress men but were rotten on the inside ( "like dead mens' bones, full of uncleanness").
  2. Only one - God in heaven.
  3. They would measure up to their father's sins. They would do the same as their fathers had done.
  4. They would kill them, scourge them, and persecute them from city to city.

CHAPTER 24

  1. It would be destroyed.
  2. False Christs (those who say they are believers and messengers of God), wars, rumors of wars, famines, and earthquakes.
  3. Because sin and darkness will abound, with false prophets also, many will fall into the ways of the world.
  4. a. It is the ungodliness in the world (even in the "church") that will lead to the overpowering oppression and prevention of God's people. (One must read Daniel to fully understand this. See Dan.11:45). There will be self imposed righteousness instead of God's righteousness. In the "church" this will be done through false teachers and doctrines. b. Do not hang on to any of the false teachings or righteousness based on man's wisdom. Flee (or hang onto) to the mountains (the truths that God has revealed to you through His Spirit). Flee to God through His word and prayer.
  5. There will be no regard for the family or even human life. We are full of divorces and abortions in this world.
  6. It will be worse tribulation for believers toward the end of the age. It will be hard to find the truth or those who are of the truth.
  7. Yes, we will understand about His return and see it coming. As we see can see the lightening from the west that flashes in the east we will understand the events and know of His return.
  8. a. The carcasses are the spiritually dead who are vulnerable to the vultures (the false christs and prophets). b. No. c. No. d. Only God.
  9. Everyone will be living as normal. Only the people who have served God and remained righteous (like Noah and his family) will be taken when God returns.
  10. We must be found always doing what God would have us to be doing (walking righteously), or we will not be saved for eternal life.

CHAPTER 25

  1. a. The wise are the people who stay ready for the return of Christ by taking in "oil" (the truths of God's word) to increase in righteousness. b. The foolish are those who have heard the word and receive it with joy but, they do not seek to increase in knowledge of God and His will to grow in righteousness. They will not be able to get in at the wedding the last minute. It will be too late to try to find out how to please God. c. This is the Spirit and knowledge of God's truths and will. It anoints us for a righteous walk and spiritual growth.
  2. a. We are the servants - those who know God and His will. b. The gifts and knowledge of truth God gives you. c. To use them to change your heart and increase in righteousness. d. He is unprofitable to God and unchangeable within himself. He will be cast out into darkness on the Last Day.
  3. Show love to others by ministering to their needs.
  4. They were not searching for people to help. God brought those in need before them and they always had a willing heart to help them.

CHAPTER 26

  1. Mary, the sister of Lazarus whom Jesus had raised from the dead (Jn. 11:2; 12:3).
  2. 30 pieces of silver.
  3. a. Jesus's body given as the sacrifice (according to the Law). b. Jesus' blood which is shed for the forgiveness of the world's sins (according to the Law).
  4. Peter would deny knowing Jesus 3 times.
  5. He had his ear cut off by Peter (Jn. 18:10).
  6. Peter pronounced curses on himself if he was lying and swore oaths that he was telling the truth.

CHAPTER 27

  1. Judas did not live for God (as seen in Jn. 12:6 - he was a thief). He did not seek forgiveness from God. He did not trust in God for strength in repentance because he killed himself. (Also see Jn 17:12)
  2. Pontius Pilate the governor.
  3. a. Have nothing to do with Him ; do not be responsible for His blood. b. He washed his hands of the matter leaving the Jews to decide what to do with Jesus.
  4. Simon of Cyrene.
  5. When Satan had tried to tempt Jesus in the wilderness (Mt. 4:1-10).
  6. Jesus was ready to die and go to the Father. He had suffered very much (See Ps. 22:1, 16-20).
  7. The veil before the Holy of Holies was torn in two.
  8. Some of the saints' bodies were raised up and poured forth out of the grave.
  9. a. Put guards there. b. To make sure Jesus' body was not stolen and then reported He had been resurrected.

CHAPTER 28

  1. An earthquake occurred, and an angel rolled the stone back.
  2. They paid the guards off to say they had fallen asleep and the body of Jesus was stolen by His disciples.
  3. He meant for them to teach people about the Father's will, the forgiveness of sins by the power of the Son's blood, and the guidance into God's will by His Holy Spirit. Knowing these things and doing them, they would be in the name of each one.