scripture passage: matthew 16:13-28 the point: jesus is

EXPOLRE THE BIBLE

March 5, 2017

Dr. Tim S. Smith

WHO IS JESUS?

Scripture Passage: Matthew 16:13-28

The Point: Jesus is the Christ to whom all of Scripture points.

I. INTRODUCTION & BACKGROUND

A. In our study this week we will discover when and how Jesus’ inner circle of followers

came to understand His identity as the Messiah.

B. They knew about the long-promised Messiah, but His mission was not what they

expected.

C. Background

1. Matthew 1–13 provides the record of Jesus’ birth, His initial ministry, and His

popularity as a teacher and miracle-worker.

2. Matthew 14-28 reveals the events and His teachings that indicate Jesus’ mission

as the Messiah.

3. Chapter 16 begins with opposition from the combined forces of the Pharisees

and Sadducees (16:1-12).

a. Because of the threat of continued conflict, Jesus led His apostles to go

outside Galilee.

b. It is here that the events occurred in our study.

i. Peter’s confession of Jesus (16:13-20).

ii. Jesus’ prediction of His coming death and resurrection (16:21-23).

iii. His teaching on what it means to follow Him (16:24-28).

II. MISUNDERSTOOD IDENTITY (Matthew 16:13-14)

A. Caesarea Philippi was located 20 miles north of the Sea of Galilee.

B. Jesus asked the question what they had heard people say about Him. Jesus was not

seeking information but rather He was opening a conversation to make sure the

disciples understood His true identity and mission.

C. “the Son of Man” = Jesus’ favorite self-designation, appearing over twenty times in

Matthew and had a clear connection to the promised Messiah.

D. The disciples reported that many people had concluded Jesus was indeed some kind of

spokesman for God (v.14).

III. TRUE IDENTITY (Matthew 16:15-16)

A. Jesus challenged the disciples personally. He asked them to tell what they believed

about Him. Peter, serving as spokesman for the Twelve, declared that Jesus was the

promised Messiah.

B. They knew that Jesus was more than a prophet because they had witnessed His power

over the sea (8:27) and Jesus walking on the water, thus they confessed Him as

“the Son of God” (14:33).

C. The disciples did not fully understand their confession so Jesus’ question was an

opportunity for them to reflect more fully.

D. Matthew 16:16 is the first occasion in Matthew that someone used the title to describe

Jesus.

E. “Messiah” = the anointed one or promised one.

F. “Son” = from God.

G. “the living God” = the contrast between God and lifeless pagan idols that were

prevalent in the region.

IV. NEW IDENTITY (Matthew 16:17-20)

A. “blessed” = not Peter personally, but rather he had received a sense of divine favor, a

spiritual well-being and was highly approved by God.

B. “flesh and blood” = from earthly human sources.

C. Peter and/or Cephas is translated rock. Jesus gave him the new name earlier (John

1:42).

D. The phrase “on this rock I will build my church” has been debated and there are three

major interpretations:

1. The phrase refers to Jesus.

2. The phrase refers to Peter’s confession and proclamation.

3. The phrase refers to Peter.

E. “gates of hell” = death.

F. Keys were needed to enter so this is in reference to salvation. The task of binding and

loosing people is related to their responses to Jesus.

V. CROSS IDENTITY (Matthew 16:21-28)

A. Jesus told His followers that He would suffer and be killed at the hands of the Jewish

leaders, yet He would be resurrected.

B. Peter did not like the idea of a suffering Messiah (v.22).

C. Jesus told Peter not to be a roadblock for Him and stop looking at things from a human

perspective (v.23).

D. The cross is in reference to the fact that all followers of Christ must submit to God’s

control and a refusal to place self above God (v.24).

E. Denying self is putting God and His kingdom first—even over personal desires.

F. Jesus gives three reasons for denying self and following God; we will lose our life, this

world can not save us, and judgment is coming (vv.25-27).

G. Those with Jesus would be witness to His death and resurrection (v.28).

VI. CONCLUSION & APPLICATION

A. Jesus is the promised Messiah and the only Son of God.

B. Jesus’ mission is being continued through His church.

C. Jesus requires His followers to have a wholehearted submission and obedience to Him.

Dr. Smith serves as a state missionary with the Georgia Baptist Mission Board and is the Groups and Faith Development Specialist.

Visit their website at gabaptistgroups.org for more information and other resources to aid your Sunday School or Small Group. You

can also connect with Dr. Smith at facebook.com/GABaptistGroups or twitter.com/GABaptistGroups. Dr. Smith is available for

conferences or other speaking opportunities and can be contacted at [email protected].

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EXPOLRE THE BIBLE

March 12, 2017

Dr. Tim S. Smith

IS JESUS FULLY GOD?


The Point: As the Son, Jesus reveals God’s glory to humanity.


A. As Christians, we believe that Jesus Christ is both fully God and fully human.

1. Believers in the first few centuries after Christ’s resurrection wrestled with

challenges and controversies concerning the nature of Christ.

2. By the fourth century, Christians had written down biblically based statements

of faith that expressed firmly who Jesus Christ is.

3. He is not half and half, but fully God and fully human.

B. In this study, we will focus one of the events that helps us understand Jesus’ unique

nature as both fully divine and human.

1. This event was Jesus’ transfiguration, witnessed by Peter, James, and John.

C. Matthew recorded Peter’s confession of Jesus as Messiah and Son of the living God

(16:13-20).

D. Then Jesus began teaching about His ultimate mission in the world:

1. He would suffer and be killed, yet He would be resurrected on the third day.

2. He taught that His followers must deny self and submit fully to God’s way.

3. Such faith would be rewarded with life that could never be lost (16:21-28).

II. PRESENCE (Matthew 17:1-6)

A. Jesus took three disciples with Him to a mountain where they witnessed Moses and

Elijah talking with Jesus and heard a voice stating the Heavenly Father’s love for His

Son.

B. This event occurred about a week after Peter’s confession at Caesarea Philippi.

C. Peter, James, and his brother John have been called an “inner circle” among Jesus’

disciples and Jesus selected these three disciples to witness several other key events.

D. “transfigured” = a change of physical form, structure, or substance.

1. This miracle is evidence of the glory of God fully on display in Jesus.

2. The humanity of Jesus was temporarily lifted.

E. Moses and Elijah = The Law and The Prophets. They both experienced rejection and

suffering in their ministries.

1. What were the three talking about? Luke 9:31 states that the trio talked about

Jesus’ coming suffering and death.

F. Peter blurted out his thoughts before understanding a situation (v.4).

G. The PRESENCE of God showed up and He had a message.

1. “This is my beloved Son” = affirms Jesus’ divine nature as well as His position

of honor.

2. “with whom I am well-pleased” = affirms the Son’s mission.

3. “listen to Him” = quit trying to instruct Jesus in His mission and to start

following Him in obedience.

H. The three submitted and worshipped. They were also emotionally overwhelmed (v.6).

III. PURPOSE (Matthew 17:7-9)

A. Jesus calmed His disciples’ fears. Then He asked Peter, James, and John to keep this

event private until after His resurrection.

B. Jesus acted:

1. “touched them” = to assure them of of His presence.

2. “get up” = to return to the mission.

3. “don’t be afraid” = now and in the future.

C. The disciples needed to understand that Jesus, and only Jesus, was sufficient to meet

their deepest need including salvation (v.8).

D. Jesus told the three not to tell anyone about their experience until after the

resurrection.

1. They would have a better understanding of what had just happened.

2. The experiences that we have with Christ should be shared with others.

IV. PERSPECTIVE (Matthew 17:10-13)

A. They may have been saying, “our teachers interpret Malachi 4:5 to mean that Elijah

must come before the Messiah, carry out God’s judgment on His enemies,

deliver for His people from oppression and restore His earthly kingdom.”

B. The question from the disciples was whether Elijah as the restorer could prevent the

Messiah’s suffering and death.

C. Jesus said that John the Baptist had come in the fulfillment of the prophesy related to

the coming of Elijah.

D. “they didn’t recognize him” = the religious leaders did not recognize that John the

Baptist was the fulfillment of the Elijah prophesy.

E. “they did whatever they pleased to him” = points to John the Baptist’s arrest and

execution.

F. “in the same way” = the Messiah’s suffering would be like those of John the Baptist.

G. Jesus answered their question by saying the restorer not only would not prevent the

Messiah’s rejection, suffering, and death but also would foreshadow similar events of

His own.

H. The disciples finally understood that God’s plan in sending the Messiah was on His

schedule and in a way that may be different from their previous understanding.

V. CONCLUSION & APPLICATION

A. As the only Son of God, Jesus is fully God.

B. Jesus’ mission can only be understood in light of His death, burial, and resurrection.

C. Reverence and obedience will be our response when we fully understand who Jesus is.









EXPOLRE THE BIBLE

March 19, 2017

Dr. Tim S. Smith

WHAT IS REQUIRED?


The Point: Jesus offers the gift of eternal life to those willing to follow Him.


A. All of us have requirements that we must meet and the hope is that we would receive a

desired outcome. The truth is that we rarely receive anything totally free or

undeserved. We shouldn’t be surprised when people have the same attitude toward a

relationship with God or the assurance of spending eternity in heaven.

B. Many people today are asking the same question today, “What requirements do I have

to meet to earn salvation?”

C. Jesus and the disciples were on their way from Galilee to Jerusalem (19:1).

D. He talked with some Pharisees who wanted to trap Him with a question about divorce

(19:2-12).

E. Jesus blessed a group of children and used this incident as an opportunity to highlight

the childlike faith of true followers (19:13-15).

II. STANDARD DEFINED (Matthew 19:16-20)

A. In the OT, salvation came by faith and then came the Law.

1. Abraham trusted in God and was credited with righteousness from the Lord

(Genesis 15:6).

2. Paul taught that the purpose of God’s law from the start was to point sinful

humanity to our need for a Savior (Romans 3:20-26).

B. “someone” = the rich young ruler.

1. Matthew states that the man was “young” and “had many possessions” (v.22).

2. In Luke 18:18 the same man is known as a “ruler,” which suggests he was a

local synagogue official. And he called Jesus, “Teacher”.

C. A sincere question on how to attain eternal life and know that he would live in heaven

forever.

1. Even though he had attained success, wealth and authority, he was still unsure of

his eternity.

2. Jesus was saying, “You want to know about goodness, only God is really good.

How have you done at being as good as God?”

E. The young rich ruler asks which laws do I have to keep in order to attain eternal life?

(v.18)

1. Jesus responded with the second half of the 10 commandments which dealt with

the relationship with others and He also added the summary statement.

2. The young man’s response was that he had always been good to others so he

thought he was good enough (v.20).

III. IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP (Matthew19:21-22)

A. Jesus’ response was something like this, “You think you’ve been good enough, but

that’s not enough; you’ve got to be perfect” (v.21).

B. Jesus now addresses the first four of the 10 commandments. (no other gods, no idols,

don’t misuse God’s name, honor the Sabbath)

C. What is it that you have placed your faith in; what is it that you trust the most; who or

what is your god?

1. Jesus got to the heart of the young man’s idolatry problem by issuing three

directives:

a. sell your belongings;

b. give everything to the poor; and

c. follow me.

2. The young man was required to give to the poor but now he was asked to give it

all.

D. “grieving” = the word used for the disciples’ reaction at Jesus’ prediction of His

suffering, death, and resurrection (17:23)

1. The young rich ruler went away saying, “I don’t like what I’ve heard; I’m not

going to do it, there must be another way.” (v.22)

2. His riches had become his god.

IV. PROVISION TO ACCEPT (Matthew 19:23-26)

A. Jesus explained that people are unable to save themselves and that salvation comes

only through God and His work.

B. Just because you have money, popularity, powerful position, etc. does not mean that

you’ve gained God’s blessing. Jesus could have also said “it’s hard for a fisherman, a

model, pro basketball player… to enter into heaven.”

C. You can spend your life trying to squeeze a camel through the eye of a needle but it is

never going to happen. You will never be successful! If you try to attain salvation

through good works and self effort, you will never be successful.

D. The disciples did not understand what Jesus was saying. They said, “well then no

body is going to heaven!” (v.25)

1. Having wealth was a sign that God had blessed the individual.

2. Those without were believed to have been cursed by God.

E. Jesus said, “You are right. You can’t save yourself but God can do it for you.” (v.26)

1. Salvation comes when we place our faith and trust in God.

2. That same faith and trust is what gives us assurance of our eternal home.


A. The Old Testament law points to our inability to gain salvation by our own merit.

B. What a person depends upon for security reveals what he or she trusts for salvation.

C. Jesus offers salvation as a gift that can only be received by faith and never earned.









EXPOLRE THE BIBLE

March 26, 2017

Dr. Tim S. Smith

MORE THAN A PROPHET?


The Point: Jesus fulfilled the prophecies associated with Israel’s long-awaited King.


A. Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem to begin the final week of His life on earth.

1. The occasion caused a parade-like celebration.

2. Crowds of people laid down palm branches and shouted words of praise and

blessing.

B. In our study we will see that during His celebrated entrance into Jerusalem, Jesus

revealed Himself to be Israel’s long-awaited Messiah.

1. The Old Testament prophets had foretold His coming.

2. Jesus would fulfill all of those prophecies.

C. The Jews were looking for a political-military savior, not a suffering servant.

1. They had been without a king and a kingdom for almost 700 years.

2. This event occurred during the Passover festival.

D. Jesus makes the transition from public ministry to publicly proclaiming that He is the

promised Messiah.

II. THE KING’S PREROGATIVE (Matthew 21:1-5)

A. Jesus instructed His disciples to acquire a donkey for Him to ride into Jerusalem.

1. This fulfilled the prophesies of Isaiah and Zechariah.

B. Jesus had been to Jerusalem several times but this visit was going to be different.

C. “the village ahead of you” = Bethany, where Jesus had several contacts and over the

next few days returned there for rest in the evenings (21:17; 26:6).

D. By selecting a donkey for His ride, Jesus was making a statement against any military

or political goals for His messianic mission.

E. This is an example of Jesus’ supernatural knowledge (v.2).

F. “The Lord” = the real Owner, the Creator. Jesus was publicly proclaiming Himself to

be the promised Messiah.

G. “the Daughter of Zion” = Jerusalem.

H. The remaining words of Matthew 21:5 are from Zechariah 9:9, without the words

“righteous and victorious” because Matthew wanted to emphasize the Messiah’s

gentleness and humility.

1. Matthew now understood that the mission of the Messiah was to conquer sin and

death, not to free the Jews from Roman oppression and rule.

III. THE KING’S CELEBRATION (Matthew 21:6-9)

A. Jesus rode the colt into Jerusalem and the people shouted praises; they were

confirming that Jesus was the promised Messiah.

B. They did what Jesus told them to do, no big deal! (v.6)

C. The disciples made a cushion out of their clothes and Jesus sat on them. (v.7)

1. Even though the disciples had heard Jesus say He would suffer and die in

Jerusalem, they seem eager to move forward.

D. Some of the Passover pilgrims began to use their clothes to cover the path. This was

like “rolling out the red carpet” (v.8).

1. Others began to cut branches and lay on the path. In John 12:13 we discover

that these were “palm branches” and that is why we have Palm Sunday the week

before Easter.

E. The pilgrims were joined by others and probably even some of the residents of

Jerusalem (v.9).

1. “hosanna” = save us, now or used as a shout of praise to God.

2. “the Son of David” = the crowds were doing nothing less than proclaiming Jesus

as the long-awaited Messiah.

3. “blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” = This is the last line in the

Psalms (115-118) that were sung before the Passover meal and were sung after

the meal.

a. The people shouted these words in celebration of Jesus’ presentation of

Himself as the Messiah.

4. “hosanna in the highest heaven” = Praise the Lord! May the angels nearest to

God join us in praising the Lord!

F. The Gospel accounts include additional statements the crowds shouted.

1. “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” (Mark 11:10).

2. “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heaven” (Luke 19:38).

3. “the King of Israel” (John 12:13).

G. It is amazing that the same people that are praising Jesus, in just a few days, would be

screaming for His death.

IV. THE PEOPLE’S CONFUSION (Matthew 21:10-11)

A. Not everyone had participated in the parade but now everyone in the city was talking

about Jesus (v.10).

B. “crowds” = those who had been part of Jesus’ entry into the city and proclaiming

hosannas and messianic Scriptures about Jesus along the road.

C. “Nazareth in Galilee” = another fulfillment of prophecy.

D. The majority of the crowd identified Him simply as a prophet from Nazareth even

though they had just moments earlier declared Him to be the Messiah (v.11).


A. Jesus is sovereign over all His creation.

B. Jesus is worthy of our honor and praise.

C. Jesus is the promised Messiah who came to save His people from sin.









EXPOLRE THE BIBLE

April 2, 2017

Dr. Tim S. Smith

IF I REJECT JESUS?


The Point: Jesus is central in God’s plan of redemption.


A. Most people will not respond negatively to personal expressions of being a Christian

but the same is not true with the exclusive claims of Christianity.

B. When Jesus entered Jerusalem the people cheered and shouted that Jesus was “a

prophet”; however, when He proclaimed Himself to be the unique Son of God and if

they rejected Him it would lead to their destruction, the reaction by many was swift

and hostile.

C. The Passion Week

1. Sunday - Jesus rides a donkey into Jerusalem and is hailed as the Messiah (21:1-

11).

2. Monday - Jesus expels money changers and merchants from the temple

courtyards (21:12-17).

3. Tuesday - Jesus in the Temple teaching and debating with Jewish religious

leaders.

a. On the way back to Bethany, Jesus teaches to His disciples about the

Temple’s coming destruction and the end of the age (21:18–26:5).

D. Our study for this session will focus on one of the parables Jesus taught in the Temple

Campus prior to returning to Bethany for the evening.

1. It is commonly known as the parable of the vineyard owner.

2. It warned that the religious leaders’ rejection of Jesus would result in their being

rejected from God’s kingdom.

II. THE SON SENT (Matthew 21:33-37)

A. Jesus introduced a parable about a landowner who leased his vineyard to tenant

farmers for a share of the harvest (v.33).

1. “landowner” = a very wealthy man.

2. The initial investment for establishing a vineyard included:

a. planting vines;

b. erecting a wall around the vineyard to keep out animals and/or thieves;

c. digging a pit for a winepress where the grapes were mashed and squeezed;

d. building a watchtower for security and for workers’ safety.

3. The landowner was God; the tenant farmers were the religious leaders.

B. At harvest time the tenant farmers refused to pay the owner.

1. The farmers refused recognize the real owner.

C. They abused and killed the owner’s servants who were sent to collect what was owed

(vv.34-35).

1. “beat … killed … and stoned” = were meant to shock the listeners.

2. The Jewish religious system had previously treated God’s messengers in this

way.

3. The second group may be Jesus referring to His contemporary prophets such as

John the Baptist (v.36).

D. Finally, the owner sent his son, thinking the tenant farmers would surely respect his

son (v.37).

1. The parallel account in Mark uses the phrase “a beloved son” implying that the

landowner had only one son left to send (Mark 12:6).

III. THE SON REJECTED (Matthew 21:38-39)

A. They knew it was the landowners’ son.

B. The farmers thought they could become heirs through their efforts (v.38).

C. Those hearing Jesus likely would have realized that Jesus was predicting the Jewish

leaders’ plot to get rid of Him (v.39).

1. They arrested Him, took Him out of the city and killed Him on a cross.

IV. THE SON VINDICATED (Matthew 21:40-45)

A. To previous questions the religious leaders simply responded “we don’t know”

because they were fearful of exposing their hypocrisy.

1. Everyone knew the answer! (v.41).

a. The landowner is going to wipe them away and anyone connected to

them.

b. Someone else will get to go into partnership with the landowner.

B. The scripture and the stone (vv.42-45).

1. Jesus quotes from Ps. 118, the same passages that the people were using two

days ago.

2. That which was rejected has now become the most essential!

3. Who did this? God!

4. The word “son” and “stone” are very similar in sound and spelling. Jesus is

using some wordplay here!

C. They are going to forfeit their place in God’s mission and He is going to give that

responsibility to a new thing, the Church (v.43).

D. Rejection = “falls on this stone” and judgment = “on whomever it falls” (v.44).


A. God sends His servants to direct His people’s hearts toward Him.

B. Rejection of Jesus leads to sure destruction.

C. Jesus’ judgment on all who reject Him serves as an impetus for believers to share His

offer of salvation with everyone.

D. Salvation includes submitting to Jesus’ rule in our lives.









EXPOLRE THE BIBLE

April 9, 2017 (Palm Sunday)

Dr. Tim S. Smith

OFFERED TO ALL?


The Point: Though all are invited to join Jesus in God’s kingdom, only those who respond

to Him in obedient faith will be accepted.


A. Wedding ceremonies and celebrations have changed but one thing has not, the RSVP.

B. Our study is focused on the third of the three parables that Jesus told to the religious

leaders in the Temple courtyards.

II. THE INVITED (Matthew 22:1-7)

A. Jesus told this parable about Israel and her rejection of the Messiah.

1. The king represents God, the Son represents Jesus and the servants represent the

prophets and/or Jesus’ disciples.

2. The wedding banquet represents the feast the Jews expect to share with the

Messiah at the beginning of His rule.

B. The destruction of the invited guests and their city represents God’s judgment on

people who do not accept His Son.

1. Jesus taught this parable to describe Israel and her rejection of the Messiah

C. Many in Jesus’ day rejected Him, denying He was God’s Son and the Messiah; people

are still rejecting Jesus.

D. People today reject Jesus for many reasons.

1. They don’t think they need a Savior.

2. They prefer worldly things over a relationship with Jesus.

3. They view Christians as intolerant or hypocritical.

4. They don’t view Jesus as the only way to salvation.

D. In verses 1-7, the king sent his servants out not once but twice, inviting the people to

come to the banquet.

1. Today people also have many opportunities to hear the invitation of the gospel

message, yet they still choose to reject it.

III. THE GATHERED (Matthew 22:8-10)

A. After the invited guests rejected the invitation, the king instructed his servants to

“invite everyone you find” (v. 9).

1. This included those considered by society to be unworthy, the social outcasts.

2. The guests who came to the banquet represented Jesus’ followers.

B. Jesus clearly expresses that there was a place in the kingdom for everyone, “both evil

and good” (v. 10).

C. Through our gifts to missions and our praying for missionaries, we can help spread the

gospel across the globe.

D. In our own community, we are called to share the good news with “everyone” we

encounter. We must do our part in sharing and then allow God to work in their hearts.

IV. THE UNPREPARED (Matthew 22:11-14)

A. The man “who was not dressed for a wedding” represents false disciples (v.11).

1. They may call Jesus Lord, but their actions show that they never truly repented

and followed Jesus in faith.

2. These unprepared people face eternal judgment.

B. Jesus was assuming that His hearers knew about an ancient custom that kings would

provide appropriate clothes for all who were invited to a royal banquet.

1. The inappropriately dressed man represented someone who wanted the benefits

of salvation without the transformation.

2. The man displayed disrespect for the king and his son.

C. “was speechless” = his silence indicated that he knew he was guilty (v.12).

D. “tie him hand and foot” = a vivid description of disgrace, helplessness/hopelessness

and punishment.

E. “weeping and gnashing of teeth” = the phrase expresses the eternal regret of those who

have rejected God’s offer of forgiveness and eternal life.

F. When we truly repent and seek to make Jesus the Lord of our lives, we are invited into

God’s kingdom.


A. God will hold all people accountable for their response to Jesus.

B. God offers salvation to all people, regardless of their past, race, or social station.

C. Only those who come to God on His terms, placing their trust in Jesus alone, will

escape eternal wrath.









EXPOLRE THE BIBLE

April 16, 2017 (Easter Sunday)

Dr. Tim S. Smith

WHERE IS JESUS?


The Point: Jesus was resurrected to reign forever as the King.


A. We are jumping ahead in our study of Matthew to focus on the resurrection. In this

week’s study we will focus on the culmination of the gospel story.

B. The resurrection meant that the same Jesus who had been crucified had been raised to

a new kind of life.

1. The same physical body that had suffered a cruel death had been transformed.

2. Jesus would never die again.

C. All of the Gospels provide two kinds of historical evidence as proof that Jesus was

raised from the dead.

1. The opened and empty tomb in which Jesus had been buried.

2. Jesus appeared to numerous individuals in His resurrected body.

D. The theme of Matthew is that Jesus was the suffering servant prophesied in the OT

and that He was the long-awaited Messiah-King.

E. In the short span of seven days the disciples had gone from the mountaintop

experience of the triumphal entry into Jerusalem to execution of their beloved master

and teacher.

1. Except it was not the end. It was a new beginning.

2. Tragedy turned to triumph, and grief turned to glorious joy as the followers of

Christ heard the good news: “He is not here. For he has risen, just as he said”

(28:6).

II. THE GRAVE OPENED (Matthew 28:1-4)

A. Jesus was crucified and died on Friday. Nothing happened on Saturday, the Sabbath

but on Sunday some of the women followers of Jesus had gone and purchased spices

with which to anoint Jesus’ body.

1. The Gospels report the same events but others record that more women were

present. Mark even includes some of their conversations centered on how to roll

away the stone covering the cave.

2. “to view the tomb” = to grieve and anoint the body.

B. Only Matthew includes the details of the earthquake. The angel had come from

heaven, approached the grave and rolled away the stone (v.2).

1. Even the guards could not stop the resurrection.

C. The description of the angel is very similar to Jesus’ appearance at the transfiguration,

so, the angel’s appearance can be seen as borrowing from the splendor of the

resurrected Jesus (v.3).

D. These were tough, hardened soldiers who had seen their share of life-and-death

situations but here they become scared like little children (v.4).

E. The men assigned to guard the dead became like dead men, while the dead One who

had been put in the tomb was not there but was alive.

III. THE RISEN KING ANNOUNCED (Matthew 28:5-10)

A. The women did not respond the same way as the soldiers.

B. The proclamation contained three important pieces of information:

1. “He is not here” (v.6a)

2. “He has risen” (v.6b) – Before the women arrived, even before the angel

descended, Jesus had been raised from the dead.

3. “Just as He said” (v.6b) (see 16:21; 17:23; 20:19)

C. Then the angel moved from proclamation to invitation (v.6c)

1. A woman’s testimony was not considered truth in Jewish culture so if the writers

had concocted the story of Jesus’ resurrection, they would not have used women

as the first witnesses to hear and tell others about such an event.

D. The women probably didn’t fully understand all the implications of the message from

the angel but they obeyed immediately (vv.7-8).

E. When Jesus appeared to them, they had all they needed (vv.9-10).

IV. THE COVER-UP CONCOCTED (Matthew 28:11-15)

A. The guards who had been stationed at Jesus’ tomb reported to the chief priests (v.11).

B. The priests paid them and offered protection if they would say that the disciples had

stolen Jesus’ body (vv.12-13).

C. If the Roman governor heard the story, then he could have put to death these soldiers

because of falling asleep while on duty (vv.14-15).

1. The Jewish community leaders and religious leaders say they would take care of

the governor and keep him from penalizing the soldiers.

2. They were probably going to bribe him too!

D. Matthew included this to answer the false news reports that were being spread.


A. Jesus conquered death, affirming His identity and giving all believers hope.

B. As the resurrected King, Jesus is worthy of our worship.

C. Even when faced with the undeniable facts of Jesus’ resurrection, some will refuse to

believe in Him.









EXPOLRE THE BIBLE

April 23, 2017

Dr. Tim S. Smith

WHAT ABOUT THE FUTURE?


The Point: Jesus will return at the end of time, so preparations must be made.


A. In recent years we’ve witnessed an increase in the number of false prophets predicting

the second coming of Christ.

B. What is the truth about the future and Christ’s return?

1. This is the very question Jesus’ disciples asked Him as they sat on the Mount of

Olives overlooking the majestic temple in Jerusalem.

2. Our study will focus on the disciples’ question and Jesus’ response.

C. Teaching Tuesday

1. The Olivet Discourse was prompted by a prophecy Jesus spoke, followed by two

questions His disciples asked in response to the prophecy.

2. Jesus and His disciples were departing the temple area, perhaps leaving the city

to return to Bethany for the evening.

3. As they exited the temple courtyards, the disciples called Jesus’ attention to the

impressive temple buildings.

4. His response must have shaken the disciples to the core.

D. As Jesus sat on the mountain, His disciples came to Him and posed two questions

regarding the prophecy.

1. When will the predicted destruction of the temple occur?

2. What would be the sign that would signal Jesus’ return and the end of the age?

II. BE REMINDED (Matthew 24:36-41)

A. Jesus compared His second coming to the flood of Noah’s day and His emphasis was

that both events were unexpected and sudden.

B. Jesus says that the angels don’t know and He doesn’t know, but the Father knows so

you don’t need to waste your life trying to figure out when (v.36).

1. How can Jesus not know? Because He has limited Himself.

C. “the days of Noah” = people lived as if there was no God and the flood came

suddenly (vv.37-39a).

1. Noah and his family were prepared for the flood but everyone else was

unprepared.

D. The point is the sharp division that will occur at Christ’s second coming.

1. The prepared will be saved, but the unprepared will be lost.

2. Preparation must occur before that unknown day; afterward will be too late.

III. BE ALERT (Matthew 24:42-44)

A. Know that Jesus is coming back; you will not know when, so be ready at all times

(v.42).

B. If you knew when the robber was coming, you would be prepared (v.43).

C. He reminded them that they needed to be alert for His return because they did not

know when this would take place (v.44).

IV. BE FAITHFUL (Matthew 24:45-47)

A. How do we prepare for Lord’s coming? Focus on others, not just self (v.45).

B. How do we prepare for Lord’s coming? Be busy doing the Lord’s work (v.46).

C. The master who finds his servant faithfully doing the job assigned will give that

servant even greater responsibilities (v.47).

V. BE WARNED (Matthew 24:48-51)

A. In the second half of His master-servant scenario, Jesus described the opposite

situation—an unfaithful, wicked servant.

B. This part of the story was a warning to people who reject Christ; thus, are unprepared

for His return.

C. The master would come home when the wicked servant was not ready (v.50).

D. The wicked servant’s fate was described in three stark images (v.51).

1. “cut … to pieces” = horrible death.

2. “a place with the hypocrites” = eternity separated from God in Hell.

3. “weeping and gnashing of teeth” = remorse and knowing it could have been

different.


A. God rewards and punishes people at the final judgment based on their stewardship of

the tasks assigned to them.

B. Faithful stewardship requires perseverance and consistency, for the end could come at

any time.

C. The time of the Lord’s absence is to be marked by unfaltering service.

D. Those who postpone their responsibilities and do evil will discover that it is too late to

correct their sinful ways.









EXPOLRE THE BIBLE

April 30, 2017

Dr. Tim S. Smith

HOW DO WE REMEMBER?


The Point: Jesus’ sacrifice is to be reverently remembered through the observing of the

Lord’s Supper.


A. The Lord’s Supper serves as a deeply meaningful, important act of devotion by which

to honor the Lord Jesus Christ and to tell the gospel story.

B. Jesus established the Lord’s Supper in the final week of His life on earth.

1. It was when He and His disciples celebrated the Passover, the most significant

festival of Israelite faith in the Old Testament.

C. Something changed between Tuesday afternoon and Thursday morning in that the

religious leaders’ desire to get rid of Jesus solidified into an plan of action.

D. The events described in 26:17-30 occurred on Thursday of Passion Week.

E. In our study we will…

1. see the instructions Jesus gave His disciples on Thursday morning for making

their Passover meal arrangements (vv.17-19).

2. witness the group’s celebration of the Passover meal on Thursday evening,

including Jesus’ solemn prediction during the supper that one of the disciples

would betray Him (vv.20-25).

3. hear Jesus’ establishing the Lord’s Supper by identifying the bread and wine of

the Passover with His body and blood that, when sacrificed, would establish the

new covenant in God’s kingdom (vv.26-30).

II. PREPARATION (Matthew 26:17-19)

A. On Thursday morning the disciples came and asked Jesus where He wanted to have

the “Passover Eve” meal (v.17).

1. There is much preparation needed.

2. Usually celebrated as a family with the father or grandfather presiding, the

disciples expected Jesus to fill this role.

3. Remember that the city was already full.

B. This verse is another example of Jesus’ lordship over His life and mission so He knew

the exact place where He and His disciples would celebrate the Passover meal (v.18).

1. “the Teacher” = The Jewish religious leaders most often were the ones who

addressed Jesus by this title so perhaps, this certain man was a Jewish leader

who followed Jesus secretly.

2. “My time is near” = Jesus was referring to His imminent suffering and death.

C. The disciples were obedient and prepared for the Passover meal (v.19).

D. When we observe the Lord’s Supper we too should prepare.

III. BETRAYAL (Matthew 26:20-25)

A. During the meal, Jesus said that one of them would betray Him. All of the disciples,

including Judas, denied they would do so.

B. The meal took place on Thursday evening (v.20).

1. The visual of them reclining at the table, not what we would consider

comfortable or maybe even healthy.

C. The original Passover meal was eaten in haste but by Jesus’ time the ceremony had

grown to a several hour event (v.21).

1. Many prayers, several drinks, different types of food and story telling.

D. Jesus tells them that He knew that one of them would give Him over to the officials.

1. In making this statement Jesus was letting Judas know that He was fully aware

of the disciple’s conspiracy with the Jewish leaders.

E. The disciples were hurt and began to tell Jesus “You can’t possibly mean me, can

You?” (v.22)

F. Jesus provided a clue to who would be the betrayer (v.23).

G. Jesus gives us an amazing insight into the balance between God’s sovereign plan and

human responsibility (v.24).

1. Jesus would follow through with God’s plan of salvation that was set in place

even before creation.

2. Judas made his decision; he chose poorly and it cost him his life.

H. Judas was lying to others and himself (v.25).

IV. REMEMBRANCE (Matthew 26:26-30)

A. Jesus gave new meaning to the bread and drink used at the Passover meal.

B. He interpreted the bread in terms of His body and the wine in terms of His

blood.

C. His body and blood would be given as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

D. Jesus declared that He would not observe this same remembrance with His followers

until He did so at the great messianic banquet in the end times (v.29).

E. They sang together after the Lord’s Supper and then left for the Mount of Olives

because Jesus knew that His time had come, and He wanted to pray in the garden of

Gethsemane (v.30).


A. Believers can recognize God’s provisions and be thankful for what He provides.

B. None of us are beyond betraying Christ, so we must always be diligent in our loyalty.

C. Believers should always be mindful of Jesus’ sacrifice on their behalf.









EXPOLRE THE BIBLE

May 7, 2017

Dr. Tim S. Smith

DO I HAVE THE STRENGTH?


The Point: Jesus willingly submitted to the Father’s redemptive plan.


A. As Jesus faced the coming suffering and death on the cross, He went through a season

of agony.

B. Even though He knew all that was ahead, His struggle is seen in the prayer over

submitting to His Father’s will.

C. In this session we will focus on Jesus’ prayer in the garden of Gethsemane, where He

willingly submitted to the Father’s redemptive plan.

D. The garden experience occurred late Thursday night, maybe even after midnight.

E. This event reveals the utter agony Jesus faced as He committed to obey His Father’s

will.

F. As we study this session, we should keep in mind two important biblical truths.

1. Being tested or tempted is not a sin.

a. Jesus was tested in every way that we are, yet was without sin (Heb. 4:15).

2. Praying for clarity about God’s will is not a sin either.

a. What is sinful is to become sure of God’s will but then refuse to obey it.

II. COMMITTED TO THE TASK (Matthew 26:36-39)

A. “Gethsemane” = olive press

B. Jesus found a place for the disciples and He went another 100+ feet to pray (v.36).

1. He wanted His disciples to be near Him, but He would talk alone with His

Father.

C. Peter, James and John accompanied Jesus (v.37).

1. “sorrowful” = intense grief and “troubled” = miserable.

D. Jesus addresses their observation by saying, “I have an extreme heaviness on Me

because I know that a horrible death awaits me” (v.38).

1. Jesus longed for the spiritual and moral support of His closest friends.

E. The events show the the intensity of Jesus’ emotional, physical and spiritual state as

He poured out His heart to the Father in prayer (v.39).

1. “this cup” = referred to the full measure of God’s wrath that would come to

Jesus not for any sins He committed, but for our sins.

2. “if it is possible” = a possible different course of events, Jesus had a choice!

F. Jesus expressed that He would not put His own desires ahead of fully obeying the

Father’s plan.

III. ASLEEP ON THE JOB (Matthew 26:40-43)

A. Jesus returned to the three disciples He had posted nearby the place He was

praying. He found the disciples not watching and praying but sleeping (v.40).

B. Jesus told Peter that he needed to stay awake and pray. He knew what was coming

(v.41).

1. “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” = Jesus was not giving His disciples

an excuse but an incentive to resist temptation through disciplined, earnest

prayer.

C. Jesus accepted that only one way was possible, the way of Him carrying our Sin and

fully experiencing God’s wrath (v.42).

1. Jesus expressed His determined choice that the Father’s will be done, no matter

how difficult or painful it would be for Him.

D. After His second prayer session, Jesus returned to the three disciples and He found

them sleeping again because they were physically exhausted (v.43).

IV. REALIZING THE MOMENT (Matthew 26:44-46)

A. Jesus returned for a third prayer time and He repeated His readiness to carry out the

Father’s will (v.44).

1. Luke 22:44 - “being in anguish, [Jesus] prayed more fervently, and His sweat

became like drops of blood falling to the ground.”

B. After His third session of prayer, Jesus knew that His betrayer and the arresting mob

would soon come for Him (v.45).

1. Jesus was disappointed that ALL the disciples had failed to heed His warnings to

stay awake and pray for deliverance from temptation.

2. Jesus announced that the time for His suffering and sacrificial death for sinners

had arrived.

3. Jesus knew that “the Son of Man” would be treated brutally by cruel men.

C. “get up, let’s go’ = did not signal a retreat but rather a bold advance toward danger

(v.46).

D. Jesus did not name Judas, He simply referred to him as “my betrayer”.

E. Everything was in place.

1. Jesus was ready to fulfill His destiny, to drink the bitter cup that the Father had

placed before Him.

2. The betrayer and his mob arrived while Jesus was still speaking (26:47)


A. Believers are to willingly accept God’s direction and will in their lives.

B. Believers are to stay alert, depending upon the Father to help them remain faithful to

their assigned task.

C. Jesus came to earth for the sole purpose of laying down His life as a sacrifice.









EXPOLRE THE BIBLE

May 14, 2017

Dr. Tim S. Smith

LOYAL?


The Point: Following Jesus demands loyalty in the face of risk.


A. When Jesus was put on trial for His life, His guilt was unjustly presupposed by the

Jewish religious leaders.

B. Making Jesus’ suffering even worse, His disciples abandoned Him in His hour of trial,

just as He predicted they would.

C. Jesus’ hearing before the Sanhedrin.

1. In John’s Gospel, after His arrest, Jesus was taken first to Annas, a former

Jewish high priest and the current high priest’s father-in-law.

a. He was the one of most influential and powerful Jewish religious and

community leaders (John 18:12-14,19-24).

2. It was a quickly arranged, nighttime hearing, where Jesus was accused, but the

witnesses disagreed.

3. The high priest then put Jesus under oath, and Jesus affirmed that He was the

Son of God.

4. The high priest declared that Jesus had committed blasphemy, an act punishable

by death under Jewish law.

5. Jesus was mocked as a prophet, spit on, and slapped.

D. This session will help us answer the question: how loyal are we to Jesus in the face of

great risk?

1. The study for this session focuses on Jesus’ trial before the Sanhedrin and on

Peter’s denial of being a follower of Jesus.

II. AFFIRMED BY SCRIPTURE (Matthew 26:63-64)

A. Jesus remained silent when accused through the testimonies of two witnesses.

1. The two men claimed they had heard Jesus threaten to demolish the temple, the

pride and joy of all Jews.

B. Caiaphas put Jesus under oath in the strongest possible way requiring Him to answer

by calling on Jesus to swear by the living God.

1. Was Jesus the Messiah, the anointed One prophesied in the Scriptures and

expected by many Jews?

2. Did Jesus claim to be the Son of God?

3. This would have been even more of a blasphemy than demolishing the Temple.

C. “You have said it” = it would be like us saying “you hit the nail on the head”, Jesus

was answering the question with the affirmative (v.64).

D. “but I tell you” = Jesus spoke as an authority above Caiaphas. Showed His deity.

E. “in the future” = they thought by killing Jesus it would be over but Jesus was telling

them that even death could not defeat Him.

F. Jesus used the titles Messiah, Son of God and Son of Man to refer to Himself as The

Promised One.

G. “seated at the right hand of Power” = next to God in the position of greatest influence.

H. “coming on the clouds of heaven” = Jesus was claiming that He would return to earth

and be the final judge of those who were now judging Him.

III. DENIED BY HIS OPPONENTS (Matthew 26:65-68)

A. The High Priest probably never thought, “He may be right”.

B. “tore his robes” = an act that symbolized great outrage or deep grief.

C. “blasphemed” = In Caiaphas’s mind, Jesus had shown utter contempt for God by

asserting to be equal with God.

D. “Why do we still need witnesses?” = For Caiaphas the trial was over and the verdict

was clear.

E. The Sanhedrin was asked to render a decision and their answer was quick; He deserves

death! (v.66)

1. The OT penalty for blasphemy against God was death by stoning but the Rome

didn’t favor letting conquered lands execute offenders without the governor’s

approval.

F. They began to physically, emotionally and spiritually abuse Him (v.67).

IV. ABANDONED BY HIS FRIENDS (Matthew 26:69-75)

A. Peter wanted to see what would happen to Jesus, so he tried to blend in, sitting outside

in the courtyard with a number of other people.

1. A servant girl recognized him and confronted him but he responded loud enough

for everyone to hear him.

a. Jesus stood strong with 70+ abusing Him but Peter couldn’t handle a

simple servant girl.

B. Peter left the courtyard and another woman recognized him. Peter again denied

knowing Jesus but this time he even swore by God’s name that he didn’t know Jesus

(vv.71-72).

C. It was a group that accused Peter of being with Jesus, the third time (v.73-75).

1. He said “if I’m not telling the truth then let God strike me dead.”

2. Peter was broken when he remembered Jesus’ words about his denial.

D. According to Jewish law, sentencing for a capital crime could only be done during the

day so the Sanhedrin would need to reconvene after daybreak to confirm their decision.


A. Jesus is the promised Messiah who will reign eternally.

B. One’s denial of Jesus’ identity does not change the fact of who He is.

C. Believers must remain loyal to Christ regardless of the potential costs.









EXPOLRE THE BIBLE

May 21, 2017

Dr. Tim S. Smith

CRUCIFIED


The Point: Jesus willingly sacrificed His life to pay the price for all of humanity’s sin.


A. I struggle with graphic depictions of the crucifixion.

1. The biblical accounts of Jesus’ crucifixion did not dwell on or exploit the

graphic scenes of violence, yet they communicated enough to show the gospel

truth that “God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners,

Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8).

B. On Friday morning they took Jesus to the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, to gain an

official death sentence (27:1-2).

C. They used an angry, vocal crowd and political threats to convince Pilate to condemn

Jesus and dispatch a squad of soldiers to execute Him (27:19-31).

D. Jesus was offered but refused a mixture of wine and gall, probably designed to dull the

senses (27:32-34).

E. The soldiers crucified Jesus between two criminals, then claimed Jesus’ clothing as

their own (27:35-40).

II. MOCKED (Matthew 27:41-44)

A. Matthew described three groups who mocked the crucified Jesus.

1. The people who simply passed by the place of execution. As they walked, some

in this group took malicious pleasure in taunting these victims of public

execution (27:39-40).

2. The Jewish religious and community leaders who for some time had been

conspiring to get rid of Jesus (27:41-43).

3. The two convicted criminals crucified alongside Jesus (27:44).

B. “chief priests” = current and former high priests or the adult male members of the

most prominent priestly families.

C. “scribes” = teachers of the Law.

D. “elders” = community leaders that served as judges for disputes between citizens.

E. The Jewish leaders began to question the truthfulness of Jesus’ miracles since He was

unable to save Himself (v.42).

F. They continued, “if He was truly righteous, then God would surely rescue him.” (v.43)

1. For these scoffers, God’s refusal to deliver the crucified Christ was proof that

Jesus was not God’s Son.

G. Those crucified along Christ also voiced their insults, but we learn from Luke’s

Gospel that one of these criminals evidently changed his mind about Jesus (v.44).

III. FORSAKEN (Matthew 27:45-49)

A. Jesus was nailed to the cross on Friday morning.

B. “darkness came over the whole land” = could not have been a lunar eclipse because

the Passover was celebrated at a full moon. God did something supernatural.

C. The true purpose of the darkness …

1. Creation was in mourning over the crucifixion of its Creator.

2. The Father was showing His displeasure toward those responsible for killing His

Son.

3. That God was veiling the cross from public view while His Son bore the sins of

the world.

D. “you abandoned me” = the Father could not look upon sin.

E. Some misunderstood Jesus and thought He was crying out to Elijah and after hearing

Jesus’ cry of abandonment, took pity and offered Jesus another drink (vv.47-48).

1. It was not the same concoction offered to Jesus earlier but instead the kind of

diluted wine vinegar soldiers often drank.

F. “others” = those that were not as merciful and kind as those who offered the drink.

They were not interested in helping Jesus, they wanted Him to prove Himself (v.49).

IV. SACRIFICED (Matthew 27:50-52)

A. This cry may have been the kind of loud, purely guttural shout that a person makes in

final defiance of a foe or his cry could have been the victorious shout mentioned in

John 19:30: “It is finished.”

1. No one took Jesus’ life; He gave it freely. His death occurred as an intentional

act of His will.

B. This large, heavy curtain (60 feet high and 30 feet wide) hung in the main temple

building. The curtain was a visual symbol of the separation between creature and

Creator, between sinful humanity and the holy, righteous God (v.51).

C. Consider two theological applications drawn from this unique event.

1. The direction demonstrates that it was an action initiated by God.

2. It symbolized the removal of the barrier between God and humanity.

D. The earth quaked and the rocks split = the earth’s response to the death of Jesus and

the possibility of what happens when God’s presence is removed.

E. The earthquake caused tombs to be opened, but God brought the dead back to life.

F. Matthew emphasized that Jesus’ atoning death and resurrection opened the way for

believers to be forgiven, to experience new life, and to look forward with confidence to

our own resurrection.


A. All of creation, knowingly and unknowingly, testifies to Jesus being the Messiah.

B. Sin causes separation from the holy God.

C. Jesus’ death removed the chasm between God and sinful humanity, making it possible

for humans to have an eternal relationship with God through faith in Jesus.









EXPOLRE THE BIBLE

May 28, 2017

Dr. Tim S. Smith

WHAT DO WE DO NOW?


The Point: Jesus expects His followers to seek to be disciple-makers of all people.


A. Jesus commissioned His followers to carry out God’s worldwide gospel mission in His

name.

B. Remember we studied the events surrendering Jesus’ resurrection on Easter Sunday.

1. We will focus on the events after the resurrection in our study.

C. As Matthew brought his Gospel to a close, he told of the empty tomb and of Jesus’

appearance to (and commissioning of) the women on Easter morning (28:1-10).

D. Then he described how the soldiers were bribed to lie about what had happened to

Jesus’ body (28:11-15).

E. Matthew highlighted the significance both of the resurrection as well as the

commission Christ gave.

F. Jesus has always expected His followers to seek to be disciple-makers in all the nations

of the world.

II. WORSHIP (Matthew 28:16-17)

A. The eleven remaining disciples met Jesus in Galilee after His resurrection.

B. They worshiped Him, even though some had doubts.

C. The mountain is not identified and throughout Scripture mountains often were

recognized as special places of revelation and communion with God.

D. The three actions of the eleven disciples…

1. They saw Jesus and recognized Him (v.17).

2. They “worshiped” Him.

a. The act of bowing, kneeling, or falling at the feet of someone is

acknowledging respect for and humble submission to the person.

3. Some of them “doubted”.

a. “doubted” = likely refers to hesitation rather than unbelief.

E. Why would some of the disciples be hesitant in responding to Jesus?

1. Even though they followed the crowd in bowing, they still may not have

recognized Jesus.

2. They have been unsure how Jesus would respond to their abandoning Him.

3. It may have been more than they could take in that Jesus was really God.

III. POWER (Matthew 28:18)

A. “came near” = Jesus recognized their hesitation so He took initiative in helping His

followers overcome their doubts and fears.

B. “all authority” = Jesus is the fulfillment of the prophecies concerning the promised

Messiah, and there is nothing more powerful than Him.

C. Everything that God had created in the beginning were now under the full authority of

the risen Christ.

D. Jesus also is declaring His complete victory over Satan.

E. Jesus not only has the right to give His followers their marching orders but also the

power to enable them to carry out the mission.

IV. MISSION (Matthew 28:19-20a)

A. Jesus directed His followers to make disciples in all the world’s nations, baptizing

those who believe and teaching them to obey Christ.

B. “Therefore” = Jesus’ authority/power are the source for His disciples to boldly carry

our His commission.

1. There is nothing too strong to defeat and there is no reason/excuse not to go and

make disciples.

C. The four actions of Jesus’ Great Commission

1. “Go” – our lives should have the intentional purpose of reaching and teaching

people for Jesus.

2. “Make Disciples” – The main action of Jesus’ Great Commission - a command.

a. A disciple is a learner and follower of another.

b. “of all nations” = every ethnic group or all people. The Great

Commission is Jesus command to reach and teach locally and globally.

3. “Baptizing” – Jesus was teaching that baptism is a public declaration of a

person’s faith in Him.

4. “Teaching” – A process of learning and growing that centers on Jesus and has as

the outcome a changed life.

V. PRESENCE (Matthew 28:20b)

A. “remember” = a solemn promise, it’s like a wedding ring.

B. “I am with you” = Jesus again announces His deity. He is able to be at all places at all

times.

C. “the end of the age” = forever.


A. Jesus can be worshiped even when we have doubts.

B. As they go throughout the world, believers are to make disciples of Christ.

C. Believers live in light of Jesus’ power and presence.









scripture passage: matthew 16:13-28 the point: jesus is

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