Tuesday February 5- Matthew 17 (Ryan's Questions)
17:1-13 This is the account of Jesus and
His transfiguration. Peter, James, and John likely never forgot these events.
Think about what this must have been like for them. Have you had an experience
that you just can’t forget?
During the Transfiguration, a
cloud appears and the voice of the Father declares Jesus’ divinity. Where have
you seen this before in the New Testament? In the Old Testament?
Jesus tells Peter, James, and
John not to tell anyone what they have seen until after the Son of Man has been
raised from the dead. Why do you suppose that is? Have you ever had to keep a
secret this big?
17:14-23When the father comes to Jesus
and says that the disciples could not heal the boy, Jesus rebukes the
generation for being unbelieving and perverse. What about the situation causes
Jesus to say this? Does this apply to us today?
Jesus also talks in this section
about faith, mustard seeds, and moving mountains. It is not the amount of faith
that matters, but the quality of faith. How do you know that your faith is
strong? Are there things you do to strengthen your faith?
17:24-27 In this section, Jesus talks
about paying the tax so that He does not offend the tax collectors. The two-drachma
tax was the annual temple tax required of all males. Why does Jesus say He is
exempt? Are you careful to not offend others by your actions?
It says the father stated that the disciples could not heal the possessed boy-I wonder if that means they failed, or were afraid to try(14-23). In 24-27, Jesus retrieving the temple tax from the fish, reminded me of Jonah exiting the great fish to restore faith to Ninivah, a parallel to Jesus, both man and God, the Temple Himself, paying the temple tax from His human aspect, so as not to offend those He came to save. What an incredible example of witness here!
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