Discussion Questions

Matthew 19:13-15  “…for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

1.     Why was it so surprising that the children were held out as an example of those who will inherit the kingdom of heaven?  What traits do children have that make them especially suited for the kingdom of heaven?

Matthew 19:16-29  “Whatever you love more than Christ will burden and drag you down.”

2.     How rich are we? (globalrichlist.com)How do our riches impede our relationship with God? 

3.     How can we tell that everything we have belongs to God?

Matthew 20:1-16  “Many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

4.     How was the different pay to the last and first workers a surprise?  How did the first workers respond?  Why?

5.     What "hints" did Jesus give about greatness in the Kingdom?

Matthew 10:17-34  “God wants to turn the understanding of greatness upside down.”

6.     How did Jesus describe the greatest in God’s Kingdom?

7.     In what ways did the two blind beggars contrast with James and John?

Matthew 21:1-11   “Jesus came as a humble, unexpected, and unrecognized king. Jesus is inviting you to recognize and welcome Him as your King. “ 

8.     Why did Jesus choose to make such a public entrance to the city of Jerusalem?  What prophecy did Jesus fulfill with his “Triumphal Entry?”  (Zechariah 9:9) 

9.     What are some repercussions of accepting Jesus as your King?

CONNECTION Discussion Notes

Matthew 19:13-20:11

April 8, 2018

Discussion Questions

Matthew 19:13-15  “…for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

1.     Why was it so surprising that the children were held out as an example of those who will inherit the kingdom of heaven?  What traits do children have that make them especially suited for the kingdom of heaven?

Matthew 19:16-29  “Whatever you love more than Christ will burden and drag you down.”

2.     How do our riches impede our relationship with God? (How rich are you?  globalrichlist.com)

3.     How can we tell that everything we have belongs to God?

Matthew 20:1-16  “Many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

4.     How was the different pay to the last and first workers a surprise?  How did the first workers respond?  Why?

5.     What hints did Jesus give about greatness in the Kingdom?

Matthew 10:17-34  “God wants to turn the understanding of greatness upside down.”

6.     How did Jesus describe the greatest in God’s Kingdom?

7.     In what ways did the two blind beggars contrast with James and John?

Matthew 21:1-11   “Jesus came as a humble, unexpected, and unrecognized king. Jesus is inviting you to recognize and welcome Him as your King. “ 

8.     Why did Jesus choose to make such a public entrance to the city of Jerusalem?  What prophecy did Jesus fulfill with his “Triumphal Entry?”  (Zechariah 9:9) 

9.     What are some repercussions of accepting Jesus as your King?

Full sermon video & audio are available on the TBC website, www.tulsabible.org (bottom of Home Page, select Sunday Sermons, then by date)

Key Texts

5.

Matthew 19:13-15 

Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, ¹⁴ but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” ¹⁵ And he laid his hands on them and went away.

Matthew 19:23-24 

And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. ²⁴ Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

Matthew 20:25-28  But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. ²⁶ It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, ²⁷ and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, ²⁸ even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Matthew 20:29-34  And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him. ³⁰ And behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord,[a] have mercy on us, Son of David!” ³¹ The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” ³² And stopping, Jesus called them and said, “What do you want me to do for you?” 33 They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” ³⁴ And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him.

8.

Zechariah 9:9

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!

    Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!

Behold, your king is coming to you;

    righteous and having salvation is he,

humble and mounted on a donkey,

    on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

 Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Matthew by J.C. Ryle 

The plain truth is, that our Lord knew well that the time of His earthly ministry was drawing to a close. He knew that the hour was approaching when He must finish the mighty work He came to do, by dying for our sins upon the cross. He knew that His last journey had been accomplished, and that there remained nothing now in His earthly ministry, but to be offered as a sacrifice on Calvary. Knowing all this, He no longer, as in time past, sought secrecy. Knowing all this, He thought it good to enter the place where He was to be delivered to death, with peculiar solemnity and publicity. It was not fitting that the Lamb of God should come to be slain on Calvary privately and silently. Before the great sacrifice for the sins of the world was offered up, it was right that every eye should be fixed on the victim. It was suitable that the crowning act of our Lord's life should be done with as much notoriety as possible. Therefore it was that He made this public entry. Therefore it was that He attracted to himself the eyes of the wondering multitude. Therefore it was that all Jerusalem was moved. The atoning blood of the Lamb of God was about to be shed. The deed was not to be "done in a corner." (Acts 26:26.)   -