Matthew 14: Our Compassionate King
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“The one thing I ask of the Lord - the thing I seek most - is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his temple.” Psalm 27:4 DELIGHTING in the LORD BIBLE STUDY SERIES DAY 1: John The Baptist Beheaded Matthew 14: Our Compassionate King Throughout this chapter of Matthew, you will see Jesus as a compassionate and loving King who desires to teach us, feed us and lead us. We will see the human side of Jesus as his loved messenger is killed. We will see Jesus put aside his needs and desires to feed hungry people in a miraculous way and we will see him lead his disciples through stormy waters ultimately revealing more of his character and heart to each of them. In the end, His disciples will declare Jesus to be “the Son of God.” From the beginning of the chapter to the end we will see their faith tried and tested coming through refined and strengthened. This week you only have 4 days of “soulwork,” but two of the days are a little longer. Linger in these verses as you linger in the heart of Jesus and His love and compassion for each of us. As we open Matthew 14, we have the story of Herod and the beheading of John the Baptist. Matthew gives us some details, but Mark paints a much more vivid picture. Today we will be looking to both accounts for a full understanding of why John was beheaded, the motive and sin behind his beheading and then the consequences of that sin in the lives of Herod, his wife and her daughter. Warren Wiersbe said, “Herod is remembered as a weak ruler whose only concern was his own pleasure and position. He did not serve the people, he served himself. He has the dubious honor of being the man who killed the greatest prophet ever sent to proclaim God’s Word.” R RECEIVING God’s Word Open in Prayer Read Matthew 13:1-58 Today’s Scripture Focus: Matthew 13:1-23 E EXPERIENCING God’s Word 1. In verse 1, who is the king at this time? What do you know of this king? 2. Who does the king think Jesus might be and why? © Calvary Chapel Chester Springs Matthew • Chapter 14 • Day 1 DELIGHTING in the LORD BIBLE STUDY SERIES 3. What does this tell you about Jesus? Why did so many people have trouble receiving Him? 4. We learned back in Matthew 4:12, that John had been put in prison. Why? What do we learn in verses 3 & 4 about John and how he angered Herod? 5. Read Mark 6:19-25. We get a deeper glimpse into the story. Who else was deeply angered and embittered toward John? Why? How did these emotions negatively impact others? List the relationships affected? 6. In verse 5 and Mark 6:20, why didn’t Herod kill John at that time instead of putting him in prison? © Calvary Chapel Chester Springs Matthew • Chapter 14 • Day 1 DELIGHTING in the LORD BIBLE STUDY SERIES 7. In verses 6-11 and Mark 6:19-25, what happened at Herod’s birthday party that resulted in John’s death? What deep seeded emotions fueled this plan? 8. As a woman, what can we learn from Herodias’ example? 9. In verse 9, what was Herod’s reaction to this request? Why did he grant the request? 10. What happened in verse 12? 11. Look up the following verses on anger and note what you learn. Ecclesiastes 7:9 Proverbs 20:2 Ephesians 4:26,31 Proverbs 15:18 Psalm 37:8 © Calvary Chapel Chester Springs Matthew • Chapter 14 • Day 1 DELIGHTING in the LORD BIBLE STUDY SERIES A ACTING on God’s Word Anger demands. Anger destroys. Anger denies personal responsibility. Anger is like a disease that spreads throughout your heart and into other relationships. If left to fester, it will multiply and permeate your attitudes, emotions, behaviors and responses. What is at the core of anger? Are you a woman who deals with anger in any area of your life? How has anger permeated your life and that of others around you? What has been the result? What is the Godly prescription for anger? What is God asking you to do today regarding anger? These verses today show us the power we, as woman, possess over our husbands and children. This power can either be used for building up or tearing down. It can be used to bring godliness into relationships, or ungodliness? Give examples of power that builds up and power that tears down? Give examples of active power and passive power through manipulation to get what you want. God tells us as woman to be meek. Remember Matthew 5:5. What is meekness? How does meekness produce Godliness? © Calvary Chapel Chester Springs Matthew • Chapter 14• Day 1 Throughout this chapter of Matthew, you will see Jesus as a compassionate and loving King who desires to teach us, feed us and lead us. We will see the human side of Jesus as his loved messenger is killed. We will see Jesus put aside his needs and desires to feed hungry people in a miraculous way and we will see him lead his disciples through stormy waters ultimately revealing more of his character and heart to each of them. In the end, His disciples will declare Jesus to be “the Son of God.” From the beginning of the chapter to the end we will see their faith tried and tested coming through refined and strengthened. This week you only have 4 days of “soulwork,” but two of the days are a little longer. Linger in these verses as you linger in the heart of Jesus and His love and compassion for each of us. As we open Matthew 14, we have the story of Herod and the beheading of John the Baptist. Matthew gives us some details, but Mark paints a much more vivid picture. Today we will be looking to both accounts for a full understanding of why John was beheaded, the motive and sin behind his beheading and then the consequences of that sin in the lives of Herod, his wife and her daughter. Warren Wiersbe said, “Herod is remembered as a weak ruler whose only concern was his own pleasure and position. He did not serve the people, he served himself. He has the dubious honor of being the man who killed the greatest prophet ever sent to proclaim God’s Word.” DELIGHTING in the LORD BIBLE STUDY SERIES D DELIGHTING in God’s Word Thank you, Lord, that in You is power over all things, even anger. Thank you for revealing the sin in my heart and setting me free from anger and bitterness. Meditate on Psalm 37:11, “But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” Close in prayer NOTES © Calvary Chapel Chester Springs Matthew • Chapter 14 • Day 1 “The one thing I ask of the Lord - the thing I seek most - is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his temple.” Psalm 27:4 DELIGHTING in the LORD BIBLE STUDY SERIES DAY 2: Jesus Feed the Multitudes Matthew 14: Our Compassionate King As we move into these next verses, we are once again going to see Jesus as our compassionate King. The needs of the people always moves the heart of Jesus with compassion. He sees the needs of His people and not only meets them, but often exceeds them. We’ll see today, that He often does this in unexpected ways. This is the only miracle that was recorded in all 4 Gospels. If you want to dig a little deeper into God’s Word, you can get the full scope of the details by reading about this miracle through the eyes of not only Matthew, but Luke, Mark and John. It is an important story with many lessons. It is a story that once again shows us the miraculous power of Jesus. He says bring what you have to me and I’ll multiply it. But it isn’t so much what we do have, but what God wants to do with it that counts! R RECEIVING God’s Word Open in Prayer Read Matthew 14:1-36 Today’s Scripture Focus: Matthew 14:13-21 EXPERIENCING God’s Word E 1. In verse 13, what did Jesus do upon hearing of John’s death? What does this tell you about Jesus and the grief He was undoubtedly experiencing? 2. Throughout these verses, Jesus is continually trying to be alone. Give possible reasons why you think He was doing this? Was he able to be alone? Why or why not? 3. According to verse 14 & 16, how did Jesus respond to the people? How long did they stay with Jesus? © Calvary Chapel Chester Springs Matthew • Chapter 14 • Day 2 DELIGHTING in the LORD BIBLE STUDY SERIES 4. Define compassion. 5. Were Jesus’ disciples compassionate toward the people? Support your answer. 6. Jesus tells His disciples to feed the people gathered. How was this a test? What was being tested? What did He want them to see and understand? 7. Read John 6:9 and tell where the disciples got the food for the multitudes gathered. How much did they have? 8. In verse 18, what does Jesus say to the disciples? What is He about to teach them? © Calvary Chapel Chester Springs Matthew • Chapter 14 • Day 2 DELIGHTING in the LORD BIBLE STUDY SERIES 9.