Additional questions

We can ask additional questions in chapter 11 before we dip forward into chapter 12 of Matthew's gospel:

1. Jesus rejoices that children can savvy what fancy bigshots cannot, v. 25. How did St. Paul echo this in his teaching
   1. about obedience, which he wrote about in his letter to the Romans, and
   2. about humility and wisdom in his first letter to the Corinthians?
2. The disciples were off preaching and healing in various towns of Israel, but they definitely learned about Jesus giving thanks to the Father for revealing the kingdom to little ones. How would this have affected their attitude toward preaching, to know that little kids could get it but fancy bigshot Pharisees could not?
3. Jesus declares that no man knows the Father other than the Son. Does that remind you of anything in John's gospel? (Hint)
4. Last week we spoke of the heavy burden of legislative regulation from the Pharisees and the relatively light yoke of simplicity of the Messiah's teaching about the two great commandments. Now dip backwards to figure out what Deuteronomy says -- what is God's meaning of rest?
5. Jesus challenges his disciples to forsake all earthly wealth and attachment and to carry a cross. How can that possibly be considered a light burden, to embrace foreclosure and tortuous death?

And what about chapter 12? Warm up your I.Q. level with a few more questions:

1. Jesus and his disciples walked through a field of grain on the Sabbath. What is one's main job on a Sabbath?
2. Is this healing the first time that the Pharisee's plot his death?
3. Was there any "Make my day" going on in this synagogue event?

We will consider these and other questions this Thursday morning and pray that God endues us with wisdom and insight.

Comments from the men concerning Jesus' offer of two laws to follow and carry out, vs. a huge pile of religious laws piled on top of God's Torah.

Chapter 11 questions

The 11th chapter of Matthew has a great amount about John the Baptist. Here are some questions that might get you to thinking:

1. What was the motive of the disciples of John the Baptist, when they questioned the identity of Jesus? Are there any hints in chapter 9?
2. What was John the Baptist's motive in sending his disciples to Jesus?
3. Jesus replied to the disciples of John the Baptist, but was it an answer to their question?
4. Why does Jesus admonish the crowds about John the Baptist and about Himself?

Let's tart with these questions and dive into Chapter 11 of Matthew's gospel, early tomorrow morning.

Signs

Whilst discussing Matthew's tenth chapter,

...do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

we discussed examples of God sending a word via a human being. It brings to mind the writing of St. Teresa of Avila, who wrote about three signs that a word is from God:

1. Sense of power and authority in the word
2. Great tranquility in the soul
3. the word does not vanish quickly from the memory.

Yesterday, Deacon Al had occasion to describe this third sign, viz.