Read Matthew 12:1-2. What is going on here? Why would the Pharisees consider this action as not lawful ? Deuteronomy 23:25 states: When you come into your neighbor’s standing grain, you may pluck the heads with your hand, but you shall not use a sickle on your neighbor’s standing grain (NKJV). The problem, therefore, was … Continue reading –>
What do the following texts indicate about Jesus’ role in Creation? Why is this so important, especially when considering the origin of the Sabbath? See John 1:1-3; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:1-2. John begins his Gospel with the famous statement: In the beginning was the Word. . . . All things were made through Him, and … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: John 1:1-3; Matt. 12:1-5; Luke 4:16-21; John 5:16-17; Matt. 24:20. Memory Text: And He said to them, The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath (Mark 2:27-28, NKJV). Throughout His ministry, religious leaders challenged Christ’s … Continue reading –>
If ye love me, keep my commandments. John 14:15 God, in sending His Son, demonstrated His love for man. This demonstration of love is designed to pierce the hard-heartedness of man and open up his heart to reciprocate that love. Without love as a motivating factor, the keeping of the law, weighed in the scales … Continue reading –>
Muthu is a Bible teacher in an Adventist high school in southeastern India. But his ministry extends beyond the classroom. He takes students and adults to villages to hold Branch Sabbath Schools. Most of the villagers know little about Jesus. The children come first, gathering under a tree to hear stories and sing songs. Then … Continue reading –>
Further Study: Ellen G. White, The Spirituality of the Law, p. 45-78, in Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing; The Sermon on the Mount, p. 307-314, and Controversy, p. 606-609, in The Desire of Ages. Speaking of the law, Jesus said, I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill . . .; that is, … Continue reading –>
Read Matthew 19:16-22. From the immediate details of this specific story, what broad and important truths can we derive from this account about the law and what keeping of the law entails? The rich young man couldn’t comprehend that salvation from sin does not come from following the law, even strictly. It comes, rather, from … Continue reading –>
When the officer heard about Jesus, he sent some respected Jewish elders to ask him to come and heal his slave. So they earnestly begged Jesus to help the man. “If anyone deserves your help, he does,” they said, “for he loves the Jewish people and even built a synagogue for us.” Luke 7:2-5 NLT … Continue reading –>
A. J. Jacobs spent a year living what he considered to be “biblically.” He grew his hair and beard long and walked around New York City dressed like Moses, looking for people who were breaking any of the rules of the Old Testament. On day 62 he went to Central Park to follow the command … Continue reading –>
During another encounter Jesus had with the scribes and Pharisees (Matt. 15:1-20; see also Mark 7:1-13), they questioned Him about a tradition of the elders, one not found in the Law of Moses. This tradition stipulated that one should ritualistically wash his hands before eating, something Jesus’ disciples had neglected to do. Christ immediately responded … Continue reading –>
Key Thought : God’s consistent law provides stability and security. God’s grace facilitates living in accordance with its provisions. [Lesson Plan for The Law of God September 1, 2014] 1. Have a volunteer read Matthew 5:17-19. a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is. b. What … Continue reading –>
How did Jesus expand the meaning of the law, as seen in Matthew 5:27-28? What did He say in Matthew 5:29-30? How are we to take these words? In this passage Christ referred to two commandments: the seventh and the tenth. Until then, the Israelites considered adultery to be only the overt physical sexual act … Continue reading –>
