Matthew 26-28

• Matthew 26:1-5 – A plot is underway to kill Jesus.
• Matthew 26:26-29 – Jesus eats the Passover and institutes the Lord’s Supper with his apostles.
• Matthew 26:59-68 – They bring up false changes on Jesus and treat Him roughly.
• Matthew 27:1-2 – Jesus delivered to Pilate. They Jews sought capital punishment.
• Matthew 27:11-14, 18 – Jesus did not speak to defend Himself.
• Matthew 27:22-26 – Pilate tries to make himself innocent of Jesus’ death.
• Matthew 27:45-46 – Was Jesus really forsaken on the cross?
  • See Luke 23:46 – This would indicate that Jesus was still in fellowship with God the Father.
  • John 8:29; 16:32 – Jesus is always in fellowship with God the Father.
  • Hebrews 7:26
  • Hebrews 9:14 – Jesus was perfect and without blemish.
  • I Peter 1:18-19
  • I Peter 2:24 – Jesus was an offering for our sins.
  • Psalms 22:1 – Jesus is quoting this and expressing the same sentiment as David. He was in great distress, but still trusted in God.
• Matthew 27:50-54 – A number of miracles occur at Jesus’ death: darkness for three hours, an earthquake, dead were raised, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. See Hebrews 9:6-14, 24-28. Jesus’ sacrifice was so powerful it only needed to be offered once for all time (Hebrews 10:10-14). Now all of us have access to the most holy place (Hebrews 10:19-20).
• Matthew 27:62-66 – Jesus’ tomb is secured.
• Matthew 28:1-7 – Jesus was raised!

What Jesus’ death means to me.

I am loved!

• Revelation 1:5

I can leave my past behind.

• Romans 6:6

My future is different.

• Galatians 2:20

Deuteronomy 29

• Deuteronomy 29:1 – Renewing the covenant
• Deuteronomy 29:2-9 – Reviewing the past 40 years
  • Deuteronomy 29:4 – See Deuteronomy 30:19. The people were able to make moral decisions. God was trying hard to get them to make the right decision.
  • Deuteronomy 29:5-6 – God provided manna from Exodus 16 – Joshua 5:12.
• Deuteronomy 29:10-18 – “enter into the covenant”
• Deuteronomy 29:19-29 – The aftermath of Israel’s fall.
  • Deuteronomy 29:23 – See Genesis 19:24. Sodom and Gomorrah were an example for centuries to come, but God destroyed other cities as well (Hebrews 11:8).
  • Deuteronomy 29:29 – The secret things belong to God.

Deuteronomy 30

• Captivity (Jews taken to Assyria and Babylon)
• Restoration (Jews allowed to return and rebuild)
• Deuteronomy 30:1, 2, 6, 10, 14 – God always wanted people who sincerely obeyed.
• Deuteronomy 30:11-14 – They had the law. It was not far from them.
• Deuteronomy 30:15-20 – God lays out their choice. “… so choose life …”

Deuteronomy 31

• Deuteronomy 31:1-8 – Joshua will succeed Moses.
  • Life of Moses
    • 1st 40 years
      • Raised as an Egyptian
      • Exodus 2:11; Acts 7:23
    • 2nd 40 years
      • Shepherd in Midian
      • Exodus 2:15; 7:7; Acts 7:29-30
    • 3rd 40 years
      • Leader of Israel
      • Deuteronomy 34:7
• Deuteronomy 31:9-13 – Read the law every seven years.
• Deuteronomy 31:14-30 – Moses will die, Joshua will lead. Israel will sin.

Introduction

• Ephesians 6:1-4

Stay focused on the bigger picture.

• Hebrews 11:8-10
• God’s people have always been those who can look past present troubles and see the end goal.

Be proactive instead of reactive.

• Joshua 1:6-9
• John 16:1-4 – Jesus told his apostles what to expect once He left.
• The whole Bible is preparing us for the future.

Address the root issues, not just the symptoms of the moment.

• Hebrews 10:25; 3:12
• Luke 12:13-15 – Jesus saw that the root issue was greed.
• I Peter 2:11-12

Keep feelings in their proper place.

• Proverbs 28:26 – It is possible for us to lead ourselves astray.
• Psalms 119:105 – God’s word is the source of truth.

Make them do good things, even when they don’t feel like it.

• Genesis 22:1-12 – Abraham surely didn’t feel like sacrificing Isaac.
• Luke 17:4
• Luke 18:9, 14 – Some today might say the Pharisee was living his truth, but Jesus said he was wrong.

Teach the value of truth over feelings.

• Genesis 37:3-35 – Jacob was deceived – his feelings were false.
• Proverbs 3:5,1, 6-7 – We must mold our heart to fit God’s commands.
• Psalms 19:14
• James 1:2
• You can change your feelings to fit God’s truth.

Who was Jethro?

• After Sarah died
  • Abraham takes Keturah as wife
  • Keturah bears him sons
  • One son was Midian
• Midianites settled “to the east” (Genesis 25:6)
• Joseph’s brothers sold him to Midianites (Genesis 47)
• Joined Moabites in hiring Balaam (Numbers 22)
• Fell into idolatry with Moabites (Numbers 25)

Names attributed to Jethro

• Jethro – Exodus 3:1; 4:18; 18:1-12
• Reuel – Exodus 2:18; Numbers 10:29
• Hobab – Numbers 10:29; Judges 4:11
• Putiel – Exodus 6:25
• Heber – Judges 4, 5 (Jael’s husband)

Jethro the priest

• Exodus 2:16 – “… the priest of Midian …”
  • No mention of idols
  • No mention of what kind of priest
  • On the other hand, Melchizedek is identified with God (Genesis 14:18)
• What kind of priest?
  • Tradition
    • Idolatrous priest, won over to God through the miracles done for Israel in the Exodus (Talmud)
    • Priest of God (secular historians)
      • First to teach Moses of God
      • The originator of monotheism among Israelites via Moses
    • Depends on who traditions you choose
    • Brings us to the problems with following traditions
  • Scriptural indications
    • Simple and straightforward
    • Called a priest of Midian with no mention of idolatry
      • Midianites were into idolatry – Numbers 25
      • So were Israelites – Exodus 32
    • His words praise only God – Exodus 18

Jethro (and his aliases) in scripture

• First found in Exodus 2:15-22
  • Moses about age 40
  • Flees Egypt, winds up at Midianite wel
  • The Jethro family encounter
• In Exodus 3, first called Jethro
  • Identified a father-in-law to Moses, priest of Midian (Exodus 3:1)
  • Again in next chapter, as Moses asks his leave (Exodus 4:18)
• Not seen again until chapter 18
  • Sends word that he is visiting

Jethro’s visit to the encampment (Exodus 18:1-12)

• Greeted outside the camp
• Taken into the camp
  • Hears recount of the Exodus from Egypt
  • Rejoices over God’s lovingkindness over Israel
  • Blesses God
  • Makes sacrifices to God
  • Dines with Aaron and elders of Israel

Jethro organizes Moses (Exodus 18:13-27)

• Jethro observes a day in the life of Moses
  • Sunup to sundown
  • Counsels Moses
    • Too much for one man
    • Set priorities
    • Delegated actions
    • Gives qualifications
    • Stipulates God’s approval
  • Moses follows through
• Jethro takes his leave

Other possible encounters

• Numbers 10:29 – Hobab
  • Same as Jethro?
  • Judges 4:11 – same Hobab? Same lineage?

Introduction

• Matthew 22:37
• Proverbs 23:7
• Matthew 12:34
• Romans 12:2
• I Corinthians 2:14-3:4 – They were not spiritually minded and that was the root of their issues.
• Galatians 5:16
• Matthew 16:23 – Peter had a mind problem.
• Acts 8:21
• When things are going wrong, we need to look on the inside.

Let God’s word does its work.

• Acts 28:24
• We must have an attitude that will let God’s word filter into our hearts.
• Acts 2:37
• Hebrews 3:7-8, 10, 12, 15; 4:6-7, 11

Trust in the God of Heaven.

• God is in control, even though bad things happen on earth.
• Hebrews 12:3
• Hebrews 13:5-6
• Do we trust in our health, finances, or something else?
• Philippians 4:6-7

Store of treasures in Heaven.

• Matthew 6:19
• Building up treasure in Heaven puts my heart in the right place.
• Philippians 3:18-20
• Colossians 3:5, 1-4
• Example: Bark beetle killing pine trees from the inside.