This is our last time reading through Matthew in 2016. As you read Matthew this month, look for quotes from the Old Testament. (Matthew uses more quotes from the Old Testament than any other gospel writer.)
When you find one, ask yourself: Why is Matthew quoting the Old Testament at this point in his gospel? What is the Spirit of God telling us about Jesus? How should this impact my life today? Matthew records a lot of Jesus’ teaching and many of His conversations with people who are like you and me. Sometimes His words are difficult to understand or they might seem confusing. As you read through Matthew in November, take note each day of the things Jesus said that are confusing or hard to understand. Why is it confusing? What makes it difficult to understand? Let’s start a conversation about these things and ask the Holy Spirit to open our eyes to see the heart of God!
As you read a chapter of Matthew each day this month, see if you can find the main point in each of Jesus’ conversations. Some are short, some are long. Some are one on one and some are with groups. Some are with His Father! Some are with friends and some are with those who wanted to ruin Him. Some are with the poor and some are with wealthy people. Some are with those who believed in Him and some are with those who doubted. Jesus was always intentional when He engaged people. What was His ‘take away’ from each conversation?
Who did Jesus claim to be? As you read through Matthew in September look for clues and claims about His identity. Who did He say He was? What did others say about Him? What does He reveal about His relationship with the Father? With the Spirit?
Did Jesus have enemies? As you read through Matthew in August take note of how Jesus related to those who opposed Him. Notice how He responded to those who disagreed with Him. What can we learn from how He treated those who tried to silence His message, those who saw Him as a threat, those who wanted to kill Him?As you read through Matthew in July, look for how Jesus interacted with His disciples. What did He say to them? What did He ask of them? How did He challenge them? Correct them? Encourage them? Transform them? What do we learn about following Jesus today from the relationship He had with His disciples?
Look for the ways Jesus ‘fulfilled’ what was spoken of in the Old Testament concerning the Messiah. What He said, what He did, what was done to Him, etc. Was, in fact, Jesus the fulfillment of the Messianic promises made by God hundreds of years prior?
As you read a chapter a day of Matthew in May, look for clues that reveal Jesus' mission and why He had come. What was He here to do? What did He say He was here to do? As we get clarity on the mission of Jesus, what do we discover about why we are here and how we can fulfill our life mission?
As you read through Matthew in April, identify the questions Jesus asked. Why did He ask the question? What was the purpose of His question? What do we learn about Jesus from His questions?
As you read through Matthew in March, look for evidence that points to the identity of the Messiah. Is this Jesus the long promised Messiah? What does He claim and why does it matter for us today?
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