Week of January 2, 2012

Monday, January 2	Matthew 1
Tuesday, January 3	Matthew 2
Wednesday, January 4	Matthew 3
Thursday, January 5	Matthew 4
Friday, January 6	Matthew 5
Saturday, January 7	Reflection
Sunday, January 8	Worship

Questions for the Week

How many people through the years do you think have decided to "give up trying to read the entire New Testament" after starting with the opening 17 verse geneology in Matthew 1?!
What are the important lessons that Matthew is trying to convey in starting like this? What are his biases? How is he more "open" than even he may have realized in compiling it? Why is it "through Joseph" when later it will be stressed that Joseph is "not the real father/Father?" How many women are included in it, and how unusual would that have been?
If we had "only Matthew's version" of the Christmas story, what are the major blessings we would have for our observance? What would be "missing"?
John the Baptist's work, Jesus' Baptism, and then the Temptation of Jesus are the important "beginnings of Jesus' ministry" according to Matthew. Would you have been able to name those three (and in the right order) before He "goes public?" What are the reasons that each of these is so vital?
How are the first disciples chosen? Who are they and what is most important about these individuals?
The Sermon on the Mount is "Matthew's Masterpiece" of Jesus' teachings. As Matthew was the "Most Old Testament grounded" of the Gospel writers, can you see the parallels to Moses?
Should Jesus' Beatitudes be as important to Christians as the Ten Commandments? Why or why not? Should we be trying to post them on courtroom walls and other places as much as some people want to post the Ten Commandments?
In a college world history class I remember learning about "Jesus from a subjective/historical" viewpoint (His impact on the world) and in its textbook Matthew 5 was the chapter of the New Testament chosen to represent best was this "radical" leader was trying to teach His followers. Would you agree these teachings were "radical" (or are we too used to them to see them objectively)? Would some other chapter or aspect have been a better "representative" of what Jesus was about? (And if you think yes, would that chapter or aspect be only for people of faith--or better state Jesus' impact on our secular world as well?)

Looking forward to your thoughts and ongoing discussing of these exciting chapters--and many more to come!

Harold Steindam

Posted on Mon, January 2, 2012 by Mary-Anne Demme

4 comments (Add your own)

1. Harold Steindam wrote:: Looking forward to your thoughts and ongoing discussing of these exciting chapters--and many more to come!
Wed, December 21, 2011 @ 8:59 AM
2. Phil Mallott wrote:: The women Matthew mentions in his geneology of Jesus all have very interesting stories associated with them...Tamar not only bore Judah's son but was his daughter-in-law (refer to Genesis for this one). Rahab was a prostitute (learned that in Sigrid's teaching of the Jesse tree). Ruth, of course, is a great story. David's son with "the wife of Uriah"--enough said. Finally, Mary.

Matthew seems very focused on the Jewish prophesies--the linage linking Jesus to the throne of David through Joseph and each element of the story is somehow tied back to the prophets.

As for the birth stories: Matthew only covers the angels appearing the Joseph--not to Mary or the shepherds in the field. Matthew leaves out Elizabeth and John the Baptist relationship altogether. I guess it didn't have any tie to the prophets, so he left it out?
Wed, January 4, 2012 @ 4:58 PM
3. Phil Mallott wrote:: The temptation of Jesus--seems to me that Jesus was wrestling with how he was going to minister and represent himself to the world.....the Son of God could do anything...will he provide all the basic needs for humans? Will he remove pain and suffering from the human existence? Will he reign as King of Kings from the throne of men, with all the related trappings of worldly success?

I think we find his answers not only in his responses to the temptations....but also in Matthew Chap 5--The Beatitudes from his sermon on mount. It seems to me that his time in the desert wrestling with temptation formed the basis of his ministry and message--
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Thu, January 5, 2012 @ 10:16 AM
4. Sheila Fox wrote:: All great observations and comments Phil. I'm looking forward to the year ahead as we delve into the scriptures!
Tue, January 10, 2012 @ 6:20 PM

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