Today, we begin a life-changing journey together. We’re starting with the questions Jesus asked. Why did they matter? And how are we to apply them to our lives? After all, context is everything. There are timeless principles found in the precepts Jesus taught during His life here on earth that can help us live out the lives we truly desire. I hope that as you read these questions and delve deeper into the meaning of what Jesus was saying, you will be inspired to desire a deeper relationship with Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, and to cultivate a greater love for living a kingdom lifestyle.
I should tell you that Jesus did not ask questions of anyone, whether it be disciples, teachers of the law, or the laypeople from the crowd, for the sake of wasting words. He was not trying to gather information. Jesus was trying to reveal to them what was in their hearts, so that they could see clearly enough to challenge their way of thinking. Can we set out with an intention to do that during this study? Be open to thinking about things differently. These questions have changed my life and caused me to reconsider how I see the world and all that is in it.
Matthew’s favorite term appears to have been the kingdom of heaven. He describes it as if it were a real place. It’s mentioned 31 times in the book that bears his name. It is said that the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God are representative of the same thing. It can be defined as the realm over which a king rules. This may most closely refer to God’s rule in and through those who are submitted to Him. The bottom line is this: Jesus didn’t come just to save our lives but to govern them. He wanted to teach us how to live under the rulership and authority of the kingdom of God. Therefore, these questions become only a window, an invitation if you will into the life God designed you to live under his lordship.
In the first four chapters of Matthew, we can see a divine setup evidencing Jesus’ legitimacy and divinity. I really want to go into all the prophecies listed, but there are several, and we will touch on them in the study. This was proof Jesus did not come to earth randomly, but on purpose, as promised. I’m so excited to share with you His questions chronologically as we follow His progressive revelation to us as we learn how to think like our King and thereby live lives of discipleship in kingdom form. I want you to have my reference for this study. While I have a full library to work through context with many great concordances and other resources, I will be mainly gathering the chronological questions from “The Chronological Study Bible.” I am not making these up as I go, but working according to this bible specifically.
Are you all ready to go on this journey with me? I’m excited about this. Let’s discover who we are through the questions Jesus asked. I encourage you to journal through these questions and think critically about them. Leave comments and share insights with our community here.
This Sunday we’ll start our first question recorded in Luke 2:49, I’ll look for you then.
Let us pray our way through this time of refreshing and development along these lines;
“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” ~ Mark 1:15 NASB
We seek to have true “repentance”, changing of the mind from our perspectives to Yours, dear heavenly Father, and we ask that You go with us through this journey as we desire only one thing to dive deeper into You. May every force that would try to hinder our progression be bound, and our hearts be settled only to receive the GOoD Life, according to Your precepts. The kingdom has a King, His name is Jesus, He was born of a virgin, He is the light of the world, and He has come to align our hearts with that of Yours. Being a kingdom citizen requires intentional learning, take us through this journey, keep us open in our hearts to the changes You want to make, and more than all else, You get the glory!
In Jesus name. Amen
