SOURCE FOR QUESTIONS
Matthew 11:2 through 20:34

‍KEY VERSE FOR MEMORIZATION
“And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?” (Matthew 13:54)

BACKGROUND

Chapter 11 begins with John the Baptist seeking to have his belief in Christ confirmed. As he was languishing in prison, John was evidently tempted to be discouraged and disillusioned. He sent two of his disciples to ask Jesus if He was really the Messiah or if they should look for another. Instead of giving a direct answer, Jesus told the disciples to go back to John and report what they had seen and heard. His healing of the blind and lame, and the preaching of the Gospel to the poor were a fulfillment of the Messianic role that was prophesied in Isaiah 35:5-6 and 61:1.

Chapters 12 through 20 center on Jesus’ ministry and teachings. Despite growing antagonism from the Pharisees and others in the religious world, Jesus continued to teach concerning the Kingdom of Heaven, and explained the consequences of rejecting Him.

Jesus was the Master Teacher, instructing His hearers with authority and reaching people at their point of need. He taught the people through parables, sermons, picture illustrations, and personal examples. Through these teachings, Jesus revealed the true ingredients of faith, how to be fruitful, how to guard against hypocrisy, and how to prepare for Heaven.

The authority with which He taught was validated by the miracles that He performed: He fed the multitude with a few loaves and fishes, walked on water, cast out demons, and healed all who came to Him. He sent out his disciples to present His claims — they had gone into the highways and byways until they covered all the cities of Israel.

During this period, Jesus for the first time spoke with His disciples about His coming death and resurrection. He was transfigured on the mountain before Peter, James, and John, and continued His instructions to His followers, even though public animosity against Him was increasing.

SUGGESTED RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS

1. What invitation is given to sinners in Matthew 11:28-30? What good can come from accepting this invitation?
   
   This invitation refers to Jesus’ promise to give rest to those who are exhausted and burdened down by the weight of guilt and sin. The point should be made that this invitation is for all.
   
   When we submit fully to Christ’s authority, we are yoked to Him, and our futile labor becomes spiritual creativity — we have purpose and peace.
   
2. In Matthew 12:31, Jesus stated that all manner of sin and blasphemy would be forgiven, except blasphemy against the Holy Ghost. Sometimes, such blasphemy is referred to as “the unpardonable sin.” Because a person can only be saved through the Holy Spirit’s work, the person who rejects the Holy Spirit removes himself from the only One who can lead him to repentance. Who was Jesus talking to in this passage, and why do you suppose He addressed this subject with them? Matthew 12:24-25
   
   Jesus was talking to the Pharisees, and He addressed the subject with them because He knew their thoughts. While you may wish to begin with the fact that Jesus also knows our hearts, the key here is to make sure your students understand what the “unpardonable sin” actually is. Sometimes people worry that they have committed the unpardonable sin. However, the very existence of concern shows that they have not rejected the Holy Spirit. The sin of rejecting the Holy Ghost is unforgivable because the one who commits it will never ask for forgiveness.
   
3. The parable of the fishing net has the same meaning as the parable of the wheat and the tares. In Matthew 13:47-49, explain the meaning of the following elements of this parable.
   
   The sea — The world is the sea.
   
   The fishes of the sea — Men in their natural state are like the “fishes of the sea.”
   
   Casting the net into the sea — The preaching of the Gospel is the casting of a net into the sea.
   
   The fishermen — Those who are employed in laboring for the souls of men  — casting and drawing in the net — are the fishermen.
   
4. Review Matthew 14:22-33. Christ told His disciples to get into the ship and go to the other side. While He went to pray, a storm arose, and the disciples were alone in the ship. Compare the disciples’ experience to your own experience when facing a trial. What should we do when going through storms in our own lives?
   
   Class discussion may bring out that God does not always prevent storms in our lives. In this case, not only were the disciples in a storm, but it took place in the darkest point of the night. How often the storms we endure bring their own form of darkness! Jesus knew the disciples’ circumstances, as He does ours. He brought peace to the troubled waters, and He will bring peace to the turmoil in our hearts also.
   
5. It is not clean hands but a clean heart that matters to God (Matthew 15:18-20). What does “defile” mean, and what things defile a man?
   
   Defile means “to corrupt or contaminate the purity of something.” Defilement occurs because of harboring sinful thoughts, attitudes, and actions. The point should be made that evil actions begin in a person’s heart, for evil thoughts are the precursors to evil actions. Things that defile a person include: murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, and slander, and all of these begin with wrong thoughts in the heart.
   
   Discuss with your students the vital necessity of having the heart cleansed through sanctification, and then guarding our thoughts in order to keep our hearts clean.
   
6. The Pharisees and Sadducees demanded a sign from Heaven (16:1-4). They tried to explain away Jesus’ other miracles as coincidence or a use of evil power, as they believed only God could put a sign in the sky. This, they were sure, would be a feat beyond Jesus’ power. Why did Jesus refuse to show them such a sign?
   
   Although Jesus could have easily impressed them by doing as they asked, He refused because He knew that even a miracle in the sky would not convince them He was the Messiah. They had already decided not to believe Him, discounting the many miracles He was performing in their midst.
   
   Bring out that even in our day, many say they must have some sort of physical evidence before they will believe. However, miracles do not convince the skeptical. We have the miracles recorded in God’s Word, 2000 years of church history, and the testimonies of thousands of people whose lives have been changed by the power of God. Those who refuse to believe are willfully disregarding the evidence that is clearly there.
   
7. When Jesus’ disciples failed to cure the boy who was a lunatic, Jesus informed them that it was because of their unbelief. (Matthew 17:20) Why is it so important to have faith, even though it may be as small as a mustard seed?
   
   Faith is necessary to receive an answer to our prayers. The mustard seed was the smallest seed known, but it grew into a large plant (Matthew 13:31-32). There is great power in even a little faith — faith is the strongest power in the world, for it brings divine omnipotence to bear on human problems. God rewards faith, even weak faith, and God loves our trust of Him, even beginning trust. Where faith is alive and growing, God is present and active.
   
8. In Matthew 18:21, Peter questioned Jesus regarding how often a person was required to forgive. Peter took for granted that he must forgive, and since the rabbis taught that people should forgive three times, he probably thought he was being especially generous by suggesting that perhaps seven times was enough. What response did Jesus give, and what was the significance of His response?
   
   Christ told Peter that he should forgive, “until seventy times seven.” The large number was not a precise guideline; rather, it indicated that unlimited forgiveness is expected from those whom God has forgiven. Discuss with your class some of the excuses people offer for not forgiving. “He doesn’t deserve it.” “He didn’t ask for forgiveness.” “I was hurt too badly.” Note that Jesus did not say that there were any extenuating circumstances. The requirement is simple and direct: we should always forgive.
   
9. A rich young man asked Jesus how he might gain eternal life. Jesus told him to keep the Ten Commandments, and listed six of them, which related to relationships with others. When the young man replied that he had kept all of them, Jesus told him that he needed to do one more thing. What was that final requirement, and why did Jesus ask it of the man? Matthew 19:16-22
   
   Jesus required the man to sell everything and give his money to the poor. Jesus knew the man’s heart, and this requirement revealed his weakness: his wealth was his god, and he would not give it up. By refusing to do so, he violated the first and greatest commandment (Exodus 20:3).
   
   Discussion could revolve around the fact that God also sees what is deep inside our hearts. He knows if we are holding something back from Him, and at some point in time, He will address that very point with us. We cannot love God with all of our hearts and still cling to our own way in certain areas. As the songwriter says, “If He’s not Lord of everything, then He’s not Lord at all.”
   
10. In the parable of the laborers in the vineyard, recorded in Matthew 20:1-16, the householder is God, the vineyard is the kingdom of Christ, and the laborers are His followers. What lesson for our day can we find in this parable?
    
    God’s gracious salvation and the rewards of serving Him are offered to all, no matter what era they live in, nor how long they serve Him. Our focus should be on serving God to the best of our abilities, rather than on what we might receive from Him in comparison to what another receives.

CONCLUSION

We can know the way God wants us to live by carefully heeding what Jesus taught. His teachings show us how to live for Him in our day, and how to prepare for life eternal.