Matthew (2013)

Is a serpent hanging from your tree? Listen to this lesson to learn how one of the first members of the human race was fooled by Satan masquerading as a talking serpent. Find out how Jesus called the Pharisees snakes. See the difference between eternal hell and temporal hell which is called the Valley of Hinon. Learn two things about rejection of God and His Word and its condemnation. See that the will of God is to save people but He never overrides human volition.

How does your understanding of Jesus differ from this passage? Listen to this lesson to learn that many people do not think of Jesus as someone pronouncing these woes on the Pharisees. Find out what oaths mean in Scriptures, their importance, and how the Pharisees had distorted them. Learn that internal transformation must occur before the external things we do count. Accept that unless we believe that Christ is our only Savior we will not have that internal cleansing and transformation.

Is intolerance always a sin? Listen to this lesson to learn that Jesus was harshly intolerant of hypocrites, yet never sinned. Find out how Jesus presented Himself as the only truth and the only way for salvation. Hear the seven woes (plus one) that Jesus pronounced on the Pharisees. See if He is referring to believers or unbelievers when He calls the Pharisees hypocrites. Learn what the biggest battle in the world is and see that’s it’s not political or cultural differences.

Are you a hypocrite? Listen to this lesson to learn how Jesus accused the Pharisees of extreme hypocrisy. Find out how the Sabbath was given as a grace gift from God but the Pharisees turned it into legalism in order to impress others. Understand that it’s not what we do outwardly but whether our motivation is to love and obey God inwardly that counts.

Would it surprise you to know that God hates religion? Listen to this lesson to learn how Jesus confronted the Pharisees over their rituals and legalism. Hear five points on the differences between Christianity and religion. See the importance of having a relationship with God rather than trying to impress God with our good deeds. Be on the lookout for false teachers who deny that the Scriptures are the inspired Word of God.

How long will God allow the righteous to suffer and evildoers to prosper? Listen to this lesson to learn three biblical answers to this timeless question that include Christ’s death on the Cross, Armageddon, and God’s final judgment. Find out how God crushes the opposition in Operation Footstool. Understand the last three verses of Psalm 110 are referring to God the Father empowering the Messianic King to defeat His enemies. Take comfort from knowing that God’s plans for the future are being worked out according to His schedule.

Does God ever change His mind? Listen to this lesson to learn that God only shifts to different phases of His plan for the human road. Find out who the volunteers are who will return with Christ and how the “dew of your youth” should be translated. Learn what champagne bottles have to do with Melchizedec and who this priest-king was to Abraham. Ask yourself if you have used the free will God gave you to trust in His Son, Jesus Christ, as your Savior so you will return to earth with Christ some day.

When Christ the Messiah rules on earth, what will His rule be like? Listen to this lesson to learn that Christ’s rule will not be like any other rulers the world has ever known because it will be perfect righteousness. See the relationship between this Ruler and the house of David. Find out the purpose God created man for and how this Messianic rule will fulfill this purpose. See how those who have trusted in Christ as their Savior do not need to be alarmed over what is happening in our country, but can take comfort that no matter how bad it gets, we can have joy in our coming destiny.

Are you sweating the small stuff these days? Worrying about job security or what’s happening to our country? Listen to this lesson to learn that God has a plan for the human race that was foretold many years ago. His plan included sending a Savior, the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who was prophesied about in the Old Testament. Hear one such prophecy in Psalm 110. See that verse 4 is the centerpiece of the Psalm and that that in verse 1 there is a different Hebrew word used for the first “Lord” and the second. Rest in the knowledge that God is sovereign and everything is under His control.

Whose Son is the Messiah? Listen to this lesson to learn about this question that Jesus asked the Pharisees. Find out the meaning of the word Christ and its relationship to the Messiah. See the proof of Jesus’ divinity expressed in Psalm 110, the most-quoted Psalm in the Old Testament. Find out the importance of reading not only the New Testament but the Old Testament in your daily Bible reading.

Is it true that many people suffer from low self-esteem that makes it difficult for them to love others like the Bible commands? Listen to this lesson to learn that Scripture teaches that because of our sin nature, we always love ourselves. Find out that it takes humility to consider the needs of others above our own. Learn about the perversions of self love by humanistic psychologists and hear the story of the Good Samaritan for a picture of biblical love of others. Take time to evaluate your ability to love others as Christ loved us on the Cross.

What does it mean to love other human beings? Listen to this lesson to learn that if we do not love God we cannot love other people. Learn how we can measure whether or not we love God. Find out how social justice sounds good but without righteousness it is contrary to the Word of God. Hear ten powerful descriptions of God’s love and how they are the ultimate solution to all our love problems.

If we loved God in the manner commanded, how would we live our lives? Listen to this lesson to learn that the only way we can love God is to learn about the attributes of God in His Word. See why God is always referred to as the masculine “He” in Scripture. Find out that we must understand Divine love before we can understand human love. See how God demonstrated His love when Christ died on the cross for our sins.

How are we to love God? Listen to this lesson to learn four ways that tell us how much we are to love God and none of them require emotion. See the full meaning of the command to love God alone. Understand the difference between the yoke of the commandments and the yoke of the kingdom. See that the Pharisees were hoping to trap Jesus when they asked Him what was the great commandment and how He countered by asking them a question.

What happens at the time of death? Is it the end of a person or does everyone go to some kind of happy place? Is there punishment for some after death? Listen to this lesson to learn that the Bible doesn’t reveal all the details but gives definite information about human destiny that everyone needs to know. Learn the three components that make up a human being. Understand what being made in the image of God means. Listen to the story of Lazarus and the rich man and realize the importance of trusting Christ during our life time. During this Bible class Dr. Dean mentioned a book dealing with the relationship between Naziism and the current green movement by R. Mark Musser entitled Nazi Oaks.

Why did Jesus call the religious leaders of Israel evil and wicked? Listen to this lesson to hear how Jesus confronted them about their false teachings. See that He understood their anger and hostility under their mask of human good. Find out how the Sadducees tried to trap Jesus about the doctrine of resurrection when they didn’t even believe in it themselves. Learn what He meant when He said there is no marriage in heaven and God is the God of the living, not the dead.

What should Christians’ attitudes be toward their government? Listen to this lesson to learn that nowhere in the Scripture is rebellion against government advocated. See that God instituted human government and delegated authority through divine institutions. Find out when God decreed the death penalty for murder. Learn that every time we submit to authority we can do it as unto the Lord and it counts for eternal reward. A scan of the article about the Communist Rules for Revolution that Dr. Dean mentioned during this Bible class is available on the notes link below.

What does the Bible teach about politics and civics? Listen to this lesson to learn what Jesus said about paying taxes. See how Jesus answers the devious questions of the religious leaders in a way that leaves them speechless. Find out who the Herodians are and how they seldom agreed with the Pharisees except when they had a common enemy. Accept that Christians are to respect the authority of the government where they live.

You’ve been invited to the most impressive wedding in the world. Do you have the right clothes to wear? Listen to this lesson to learn that Jesus was talking about the coming Jewish Kingdom. Hear who all the people in the parable represent. See that the invitation to the wedding was first sent to Israel but many didn’t want to go. Find out that those who did attend were both good and bad people. Now is the time for us to ask ourselves if we have accepted Christ as our Savior and have the right clothes of God’s righteousness for all eternity.

Do we have to do something that impresses God to get His blessings? Listen to this lesson to see that trying to do impressive deeds for God is legalism, while grace is understanding that God does all the work and man only has to accept Christ as Savior. Hear a parable told by Jesus about a landowner and his vineyard and find out the significance of each concerning Israel and the Kingdom of God. See that Jesus is directing this parable to the religious leaders rather than all Israel and has nothing to do with Replacement Theology.