Can You Read the Signs of the Kingdom? (LH)
Weekly Reading
Monday: Exodus 30:11-38
Tuesday: Exodus 31, Mark 15
Wednesday: Exodus 32, Mark 16
Thursday: Exodus 33, Luke 1
Friday: Exodus 34
Saturday: Psalm 35-36, Proverbs8
Sunday: 2 Samuel 23-24, 1 Kings 1-6
Tuesday: Exodus 31, Mark 15
Wednesday: Exodus 32, Mark 16
Thursday: Exodus 33, Luke 1
Friday: Exodus 34
Saturday: Psalm 35-36, Proverbs8
Sunday: 2 Samuel 23-24, 1 Kings 1-6
Sermon Notes
Key Passage: Matthew 16:1-12
Galatians 5:7-9
Can you read the signs of the kingdom?
Beware false teaching
Know the true bread
Beware of the bread!
Main areas of false teaching: Manhood, womanhood, sexuality, authority of scripture
Jesus is the only way to heaven, only by grace through faith
Matthew 1:23 - The Virgin Birth
OT Source: Isaiah 7:14 - "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel."
Context: Matthew applies this to Mary’s virgin birth of Jesus, interpreting "Immanuel" (God with us) as fulfilled in Christ.
Matthew 2:6 - Birth in Bethlehem
OT Source: Micah 5:2 - "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."
Context: The chief priests and scribes cite this to Herod to indicate where the Messiah would be born, fulfilled by Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem.
Matthew 2:15 - Flight to Egypt
OT Source: Hosea 11:1 - "When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son."
Context: Originally about Israel’s exodus, Matthew sees Jesus’ return from Egypt after fleeing Herod as a fulfillment, portraying Jesus as the true Israel.
Matthew 2:18 - Slaughter of the Innocents
OT Source: Jeremiah 31:15 - "A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more." Context: Matthew connects this lament over exiled Israelites to the massacre of children by Herod, seeing it as fulfilled in that event.
Matthew 2:23 - Called a Nazarene
OT Source: No direct quote; possibly an allusion to Isaiah 11:1 ("A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch [Hebrew: netzer] will bear fruit") or a general prophetic theme.
Context: Matthew states Jesus living in Nazareth fulfills the prophets’ words that he would be a "Nazarene." The exact OT reference is debated, possibly a play on words or a lost tradition.
Matthew 3:3 - John the Baptist as Forerunner
OT Source: Isaiah 40:3 - "A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’"
Context: Matthew identifies John the Baptist as the voice preparing the way for Jesus, the Lord.
Matthew 4:15-16 - Ministry in Galilee
OT Source: Isaiah 9:1-2 - "In the future he will honor Galilee of the nations… The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned."
Context: Jesus’ ministry in Galilee fulfills this prophecy of light coming to a region once dishonored.
Matthew 8:17 - Healing the Sick
OT Source: Isaiah 53:4 - "Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering."
Context: Matthew applies this to Jesus’ healing miracles, seeing him as bearing human infirmities.
Matthew 12:18-21 - Gentle Servant of God
OT Source: Isaiah 42:1-4 - "Here is my servant whom I have chosen… he will not shout or cry out… he will proclaim justice to the nations… in his name the nations will put their hope."
Context: Jesus’ quiet ministry and inclusion of Gentiles fulfill the description of God’s servant.
Matthew 13:14-15 - Parables and Hardened Hearts
OT Source: Isaiah 6:9-10 - "You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused…"
Context: Jesus explains that the crowd’s lack of understanding fulfills Isaiah’s prophecy about Israel’s spiritual dullness.
Matthew 13:35 - Speaking in Parables
OT Source: Psalm 78:2 - "I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world."
Context: Matthew attributes this to "the prophet" (likely Asaph, the psalmist), linking Jesus’ use of parables to revealing hidden truths.
Remove Leaven: All leaven (yeast) must be removed from homes before the feast begins. (Exodus 12:15-20)
Eat Unleavened Bread: Only unleavened bread is to be eaten during the seven days of the feast. This symbolizes purity and the haste with which the Israelites left Egypt. (Exodus 12:17-20)
Holy Assembly: The first and seventh days of the festival are considered holy convocations, or sacred assemblies, during which no regular work is to be done. (Exodus 12:16; Leviticus 23:7-8)
Sacrifices: Specific offerings were to be made to God during the feast, as prescribed in the law. (Numbers 28:19-24)
Teach Future Generations: Parents were commanded to teach their children about the significance of the festival, emphasizing the story of the Exodus and God’s deliverance. (Exodus 13:8-10)
Celebrate Annually: The feast was to be observed every year as an everlasting ordinance, commemorating God’s act of deliverance. (Exodus 12:17)
Galatians 5:7-9
Can you read the signs of the kingdom?
Beware false teaching
Know the true bread
Beware of the bread!
Main areas of false teaching: Manhood, womanhood, sexuality, authority of scripture
Jesus is the only way to heaven, only by grace through faith
Matthew 1:23 - The Virgin Birth
OT Source: Isaiah 7:14 - "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel."
Context: Matthew applies this to Mary’s virgin birth of Jesus, interpreting "Immanuel" (God with us) as fulfilled in Christ.
Matthew 2:6 - Birth in Bethlehem
OT Source: Micah 5:2 - "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."
Context: The chief priests and scribes cite this to Herod to indicate where the Messiah would be born, fulfilled by Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem.
Matthew 2:15 - Flight to Egypt
OT Source: Hosea 11:1 - "When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son."
Context: Originally about Israel’s exodus, Matthew sees Jesus’ return from Egypt after fleeing Herod as a fulfillment, portraying Jesus as the true Israel.
Matthew 2:18 - Slaughter of the Innocents
OT Source: Jeremiah 31:15 - "A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more." Context: Matthew connects this lament over exiled Israelites to the massacre of children by Herod, seeing it as fulfilled in that event.
Matthew 2:23 - Called a Nazarene
OT Source: No direct quote; possibly an allusion to Isaiah 11:1 ("A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch [Hebrew: netzer] will bear fruit") or a general prophetic theme.
Context: Matthew states Jesus living in Nazareth fulfills the prophets’ words that he would be a "Nazarene." The exact OT reference is debated, possibly a play on words or a lost tradition.
Matthew 3:3 - John the Baptist as Forerunner
OT Source: Isaiah 40:3 - "A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’"
Context: Matthew identifies John the Baptist as the voice preparing the way for Jesus, the Lord.
Matthew 4:15-16 - Ministry in Galilee
OT Source: Isaiah 9:1-2 - "In the future he will honor Galilee of the nations… The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned."
Context: Jesus’ ministry in Galilee fulfills this prophecy of light coming to a region once dishonored.
Matthew 8:17 - Healing the Sick
OT Source: Isaiah 53:4 - "Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering."
Context: Matthew applies this to Jesus’ healing miracles, seeing him as bearing human infirmities.
Matthew 12:18-21 - Gentle Servant of God
OT Source: Isaiah 42:1-4 - "Here is my servant whom I have chosen… he will not shout or cry out… he will proclaim justice to the nations… in his name the nations will put their hope."
Context: Jesus’ quiet ministry and inclusion of Gentiles fulfill the description of God’s servant.
Matthew 13:14-15 - Parables and Hardened Hearts
OT Source: Isaiah 6:9-10 - "You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused…"
Context: Jesus explains that the crowd’s lack of understanding fulfills Isaiah’s prophecy about Israel’s spiritual dullness.
Matthew 13:35 - Speaking in Parables
OT Source: Psalm 78:2 - "I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world."
Context: Matthew attributes this to "the prophet" (likely Asaph, the psalmist), linking Jesus’ use of parables to revealing hidden truths.
Remove Leaven: All leaven (yeast) must be removed from homes before the feast begins. (Exodus 12:15-20)
Eat Unleavened Bread: Only unleavened bread is to be eaten during the seven days of the feast. This symbolizes purity and the haste with which the Israelites left Egypt. (Exodus 12:17-20)
Holy Assembly: The first and seventh days of the festival are considered holy convocations, or sacred assemblies, during which no regular work is to be done. (Exodus 12:16; Leviticus 23:7-8)
Sacrifices: Specific offerings were to be made to God during the feast, as prescribed in the law. (Numbers 28:19-24)
Teach Future Generations: Parents were commanded to teach their children about the significance of the festival, emphasizing the story of the Exodus and God’s deliverance. (Exodus 13:8-10)
Celebrate Annually: The feast was to be observed every year as an everlasting ordinance, commemorating God’s act of deliverance. (Exodus 12:17)
Discussion Questions
3DQ - 3 discipleship questions to ask each other: What is God saying to you? What are you going to do about it? How can I help?
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