Matthew (2013)

Are you a fool? The Bible teaches that a fool is someone who has turned their back on God and worships something or someone else. Christians, on the other hand, are described as foolish, weak, base, and despised but they have accepted Christ as their Savior. God gives grace to the humble ones but the arrogant ones who reject Christ are at war with God. Jesus’ claim to be God when He was here on earth made the Pharisees hate Him and want to kill Him. Learn about seven Old Testament passages that prophesied that the Messiah would be God.

When the religious leaders of Israel “played the flute” they expected Jesus to dance to their tune. Listen to this lesson to find out how the Pharisees developed a visceral hatred for Jesus as He challenged their interpretation of the Mosaic Law. Understand why His seeming disregard for the Sabbath intensified their anger. Gain a comprehensive overview of the Sabbath, its origin, significance, and how it represents rest and trust in God. See that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law and that by application, we can set aside time to concentrate on all God has done for us.

Can you do something so awful that God won’t ever forgive you? Listen to this lesson to learn about the unforgivable sin. Find out that when Jesus pronounced this judgment He was talking to the religious leaders of Israel who were plotting to kill Him. See what blasphemy or the “sin of the high hand” is and that it was punishable in time. Learn that people who have trusted in Christ never need worry about committing an unforgivable sin but should make a decision to be on God’s side and get involved in God’s plan and purpose for their life.

What’s a parable? An intriguing little story to get people’s attention? Or one designed to conceal the truth from some and reveal it to others? Listen to this lesson to find out all about Jesus’ parables and their purpose. Gain an understanding of what the kingdom is and why it could no longer come because the king had been rejected. Find out that what Jesus talked about in the parables had never been revealed before. Hear what the Parable of the Soils in both Matthew and Luke means and ask yourself which soil your life is. Apply the importance of making right decisions starting with trusting Christ as your Savior.

Why did Jesus say some of His parables were like the kingdom of heaven? Listen to this lesson to see that Jesus is revealing new information that was not a part of the Old Testament prophecies about the kingdom. See that these parables talk about a time when Satan is active so it has to be before Satan is cast into the Abyss. Hear the features of this intervening time between when Jesus ascended to heaven and His future Second Coming. In light of the judgment that Jesus reveals is coming, remember that now is the time to prepare by trusting Christ as your Savior and then growing spiritually to be prepared to rule and reign with Christ in His kingdom.