Gospel of Matthew bible study chapters 16 through 22

 

            Here is the continuation of the gospel of Matthew for seven more chapters, from 16 through 22 with more teaching, parables and answers to questions from His disciples as well as Pharisees and scribes. He enters into Jerusalem too in this passage for the final time before He is crucified. He also prophesies His death in these chapters. Here is a link to the study for chapters 9 through 15 for those who want to review

https://www.facebook.com/notes/jay-dougherty/gospel-of-matthew-bible-study-chapters-9-through-15/245952482214227

In chapter 16 Jesus interacts with the Pharisees and His disciples and  then Jesus also asks who people, including His disciples, say that who He is, to which Peter answers that He is the Christ the Son of God, then after giving Peter a prophecy of a church founded on a rock (Peter), Jesus then prophesies His own death. Peter doesn’t like that at all, rebuking Jesus, but Jesus then has to sharply rebuke Peter, then Jesus reminds us all we need to take up our cross and follow Him

(Matthew 16:1)  And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven.

 

(Matthew 16:2)  He answered them, "When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.'

 

(Matthew 16:3)  And in the morning, 'It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.

 

(Matthew 16:4)  An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah." So he left them and departed.

 

(Matthew 16:5)  When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread.

 

(Matthew 16:6)  Jesus said to them, "Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees."

 

(Matthew 16:7)  And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, "We brought no bread."

 

(Matthew 16:8)  But Jesus, aware of this, said, "O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread?

 

(Matthew 16:9)  Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered?

 

(Matthew 16:10)  Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered?

 

(Matthew 16:11)  How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees."

 

(Matthew 16:12)  Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

 

(Matthew 16:13)  Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"

 

(Matthew 16:14)  And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."

 

(Matthew 16:15)  He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"

 

(Matthew 16:16)  Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

 

(Matthew 16:17)  And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

 

(Matthew 16:18)  And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

 

(Matthew 16:19)  I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

 

(Matthew 16:20)  Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

 

(Matthew 16:21)  From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.

 

(Matthew 16:22)  And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you."

 

(Matthew 16:23)  But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man."

 

(Matthew 16:24)  Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

 

(Matthew 16:25)  For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

 

(Matthew 16:26)  For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?

 

(Matthew 16:27)  For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.

 

(Matthew 16:28)  Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."

 

In chapter 17 there is the transfiguration scene with God the Father speaking then Jesus casts a demon out of a boy where the disciples had failed to cast it out, then once again prophesies His own death, then has Peter get a coin from a fish to pay a tax for both Peter and Jesus

(Matthew 17:1)  And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.

 

(Matthew 17:2)  And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.

 

(Matthew 17:3)  And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.

 

(Matthew 17:4)  And Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah."

 

(Matthew 17:5)  He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him."

 

(Matthew 17:6)  When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified.

 

(Matthew 17:7)  But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise, and have no fear."

 

(Matthew 17:8)  And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

 

(Matthew 17:9)  And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, "Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead."

 

(Matthew 17:10)  And the disciples asked him, "Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?"

 

(Matthew 17:11)  He answered, "Elijah does come, and he will restore all things.

 

(Matthew 17:12)  But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands."

 

(Matthew 17:13)  Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.

 

(Matthew 17:14)  And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and, kneeling before him,

 

(Matthew 17:15)  said, "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire, and often into the water.

 

(Matthew 17:16)  And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him."

 

(Matthew 17:17)  And Jesus answered, "O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me."

 

(Matthew 17:18)  And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly.

 

(Matthew 17:19)  Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?"

 

(Matthew 17:20)  He said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you."

 

(Matthew 17:21)  [But this kind never comes out except by prayer and fasting.]

 

(Matthew 17:22)  As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men,

 

(Matthew 17:23)  and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day." And they were greatly distressed.

 

(Matthew 17:24)  When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax went up to Peter and said, "Does your teacher not pay the tax?"

 

(Matthew 17:25)  He said, "Yes." And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?"

 

(Matthew 17:26)  And when he said, "From others," Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are free.

 

(Matthew 17:27)  However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself."

 

Matthew chapter 18 is a powerful teaching chapter on the topics of sin, repentance and especially the forgiveness of offenses committed against one another, with a powerful parable at the end especially warning against unforgiveness

(Matthew 18:1)  At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"

 

(Matthew 18:2)  And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them

 

(Matthew 18:3)  and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

 

(Matthew 18:4)  Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

 

(Matthew 18:5)  "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me,

 

(Matthew 18:6)  but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

 

(Matthew 18:7)  "Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!

 

(Matthew 18:8)  And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire.

 

(Matthew 18:9)  And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.

 

(Matthew 18:10)  "See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.

 

(Matthew 18:11)  [For the Son of Man came to save the lost.]

 

(Matthew 18:12)  What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray?

 

(Matthew 18:13)  And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray.

 

(Matthew 18:14)  So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

 

(Matthew 18:15)  "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.

 

(Matthew 18:16)  But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.

 

(Matthew 18:17)  If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

 

(Matthew 18:18)  Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

 

(Matthew 18:19)  Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.

 

(Matthew 18:20)  For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them."

 

(Matthew 18:21)  Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?"

 

(Matthew 18:22)  Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.

 

(Matthew 18:23)  "Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.

 

(Matthew 18:24)  When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.

 

(Matthew 18:25)  And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.

 

(Matthew 18:26)  So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.'

 

(Matthew 18:27)  And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.

 

(Matthew 18:28)  But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, 'Pay what you owe.'

 

(Matthew 18:29)  So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.'

 

(Matthew 18:30)  He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt.

 

(Matthew 18:31)  When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place.

 

(Matthew 18:32)  Then his master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.

 

(Matthew 18:33)  And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?'

 

(Matthew 18:34)  And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt.

 

(Matthew 18:35)  So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."

 

Jesus, by answering questions from various people shares things on marriage, also who and how in ways to be saved, that all is possible for God and the possible rewards for forsaking all to follow Jesus

(Matthew 19:1)  Now when Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away from Galilee and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan.

 

(Matthew 19:2)  And large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.

 

(Matthew 19:3)  And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, "Is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause?"

 

(Matthew 19:4)  He answered, "Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female,

 

(Matthew 19:5)  and said, 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'?

 

(Matthew 19:6)  So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate."

 

(Matthew 19:7)  They said to him, "Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?"

 

(Matthew 19:8)  He said to them, "Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.

 

(Matthew 19:9)  And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery."

 

(Matthew 19:10)  The disciples said to him, "If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry."

 

(Matthew 19:11)  But he said to them, "Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given.

 

(Matthew 19:12)  For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it."

 

(Matthew 19:13)  Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people,

 

(Matthew 19:14)  but Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven."

 

(Matthew 19:15)  And he laid his hands on them and went away.

 

(Matthew 19:16)  And behold, a man came up to him, saying, "Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?"

 

(Matthew 19:17)  And he said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments."

 

(Matthew 19:18)  He said to him, "Which ones?" And Jesus said, "You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness,

 

(Matthew 19:19)  Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

 

(Matthew 19:20)  The young man said to him, "All these I have kept. What do I still lack?"

 

(Matthew 19:21)  Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."

 

(Mat thew19:22)  When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

 

(Matthew 19:23)  And Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven.

 

(Matthew 19:24)  Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."

 

(Matthew 19:25)  When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?"

 

(Matthew 19:26)  But Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

 

(Matthew 19:27)  Then Peter said in reply, "See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?"

 

(Matthew 19:28)  Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

 

(Matthew 19:29)  And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.

 

(Matthew 19:30)  But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

 

In chapter 20 Jesus tells a parable of the vineyard workers relating that to the kingdom of Heaven, then announces to His disciples that they are going to Jerusalem, yet again prophesying His death,but this time stating it will be by crucifixion, and after dealing with a question (concerning who is to sit by Him in heaven), then opens a couple of blind men’s eyes

(Matthew 20:1)  "For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.

 

(Matthew20:2)  After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

 

(Matthew 20:3)  And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace,

 

(Matthew 20:4)  and to them he said, 'You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.'

 

(Matthew 20:5)  So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same.

 

(Matthew 20:6)  And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, 'Why do you stand here idle all day?'

 

(Matthew 20:7)  They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You go into the vineyard too.'

 

(Matthew 20:8)  And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.'

 

(Matthew 20:9)  And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius.

 

(Matthew 20:10)  Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius.

 

(Matthew 20:11)  And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house,

 

(Matthew 20:12)  saying, 'These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.'

 

(Matthew 20:13)  But he replied to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?

 

(Matthew 20:14)  Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you.

 

(Matthew 20:15)  Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?'

 

(Matthew 20:16)  So the last will be first, and the first last."

 

(Matthew 20:17)  And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them,

 

(Matthew 20:18)  "See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death

 

(Matthew 20:19)  and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day."

 

(Matthew 20:20)  Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something.

 

(Matthew 20:21)  And he said to her, "What do you want?" She said to him, "Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom."

 

(Matthew 20:22)  Jesus answered, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?" They said to him, "We are able."

 

(Matthew 20:23)  He said to them, "You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father."

 

(Matthew 20:24)  And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers.

 

(Matthew 20:25)  But Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.

 

(Matthew 20:26)  It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,

 

(Matthew 20:27)  and whoever would be first among you must be your slave,

 

(Matthew 20:28)  even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

 

(Matthew 20:29)  And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him.

 

(Matthew 20:30)  And behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!"

 

(Matthew 20:31)  The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!"

 

(Matthew 20:32)  And stopping, Jesus called them and said, "What do you want me to do for you?"

 

(Matthew 20:33)  They said to him, "Lord, let our eyes be opened."

 

(Matthew 20:34)  And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him.

 

In chapter 21, Jesus sends His disciples to fetch for Him a donkey and a colt, and then enters into Jerusalem riding them to much praise then He drives out the vendors and money changers from the temple and afterward curses a fig tree then interacted with the chief priest and elders including using a parable

(Matthew 21:1)  Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,

 

(Matthew 21:2)  saying to them, "Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me.

 

(Matthew 21:3)  If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord needs them,' and he will send them at once."

 

(Matthew 21:4)  This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,

 

(Matthew 21:5)  "Say to the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.'"

 

(Matthew 21:6)  The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them.

 

(Matthew 21:7)  They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them.

 

(Matthew 21:8)  Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.

 

(Matthew 21:9)  And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"

 

(Matthew 21:10)  And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, "Who is this?"

 

(Matthew 21:11)  And the crowds said, "This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee."

 

(Matthew 21:12)  And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons.

 

(Matthew 21:13)  He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you make it a den of robbers."

 

(Matthew 21:14)  And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them.

 

(Matthew 21:15)  But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" they were indignant,

 

(Matthew 21:16)  and they said to him, "Do you hear what these are saying?" And Jesus said to them, "Yes; have you never read, "'Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise'?"

 

(Matthew 21:17)  And leaving them, he went out of the city to Bethany and lodged there.

 

(Matthew 21:18)  In the morning, as he was returning to the city, he became hungry.

 

(Matthew 21:19)  And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, "May no fruit ever come from you again!" And the fig tree withered at once.

 

(Matthew 21:20)  When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, "How did the fig tree wither at once?"

 

(Matthew 21:21)  And Jesus answered them, "Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' it will happen.

 

(Matthew 21:22)  And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith."

 

(Matthew 21:23)  And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?"

 

(Matthew 21:24)  Jesus answered them, "I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things.

 

(Matthew 21:25)  The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?" And they discussed it among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him?'

 

(Matthew 21:26)  But if we say, 'From man,' we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet."

 

(Matthew 21:27)  So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And he said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

 

(Matthew 21:28)  "What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.'

 

(Matthew 21:29)  And he answered, 'I will not,' but afterward he changed his mind and went.

 

(Matthew 21:30)  And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, 'I go, sir,' but did not go.

 

(Matthew 21:31)  Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you.

 

(Matthew 21:32)  For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.

 

(Matthew 21:33)  "Hear another parable. There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a winepress in it and built a tower and leased it to tenants, and went into another country.

 

(Matthew 21:34)  When the season for fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to get his fruit.

 

(Matthew 21:35)  And the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another.

 

(Matthew 21:36)  Again he sent other servants, more than the first. And they did the same to them.

 

(Matthew 21:37)  Finally he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.'

 

(Matthew 21:38)  But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.'

 

(Matthew 21:39)  And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

 

(Matthew 21:40)  When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?"

 

(Matthew 21:41)  They said to him, "He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons."

 

(Matthew 21:42)  Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: "'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?

 

(Matthew 21:43)  Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits.

 

(Matthew 21:44)  And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him."

 

(Matthew 21:45)  When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking about them.

 

(Matthew 21:46)  And although they were seeking to arrest him, they feared the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet.

 

In Matthew chapter 22 Jesus tells the parable of the wedding supper and then the Pharisees and the Pharisees and Sadducees try to trick Jesus into saying something wrong but then in response to them Jesus gives us all a few good lessons especially the commandments concerning loving God with everything (heart, mind, strength) and loving our neighbors as ourselves

(Matthew 22:1)  And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying,

 

(Matthew 22:2)  "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son,

 

(Mat thew22:3)  and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come.

 

(Matthew 22:4)  Again he sent other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.'

 

(Matthew 22:5)  But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business,

 

(Matthew 22:6)  while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them.

 

(Matthew 22:7)  The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

 

(Matthew 22:8)  Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy.

 

(Matthew 22:9)  Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.'

 

(Matthew 22:10)  And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.

 

(Matthew 22:11)  "But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment.

 

(Matthew 22:12)  And he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless.

 

(Matthew 22:13)  Then the king said to the attendants, 'Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

 

(Matthew 22:14)  For many are called, but few are chosen."

 

(Matthew 22:15)  Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words.

 

(Matthew 22:16)  And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone's opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances.

 

(Matthew 22:17)  Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?"

 

(Matthew 22:18)  But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, "Why put me to the test, you hypocrites?

 

(Matthew 22:19)  Show me the coin for the tax." And they brought him a denarius.

 

(Matthew 22:20)  And Jesus said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?"

 

(Matthew 22:21)  They said, "Caesar's." Then he said to them, "Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."

 

(Matthew 22:22)  When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.

 

(Matthew 22:23)  The same day Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection, and they asked him a question,

 

(Matthew 22:24)  saying, "Teacher, Moses said, 'If a man dies having no children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up children for his brother.'

 

(Matthew 22:25)  Now there were seven brothers among us. The first married and died, and having no children left his wife to his brother.

 

(Matthew 22:26)  So too the second and third, down to the seventh.

 

(Matthew 22:27)  After them all, the woman died.

 

(Matthew 22:28)  In the resurrection, therefore, of the seven, whose wife will she be? For they all had her."

 

(Matthew 22:29)  But Jesus answered them, "You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.

 

(Matthew 22:30)  For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.

 

(Matthew 22:31)  And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God:

 

(Matthew 22:32)  'I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not God of the dead, but of the living."

 

(Matthew 22:33)  And when the crowd heard it, they were astonished at his teaching.

 

(Matthew 22:34)  But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together.

 

(Matthew 22:35)  And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him.

 

(Mat 22:36)  "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?"

 

(Matthew 22:37)  And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

 

(Matthew 22:38)  This is the great and first commandment.

 

(Matthew 22:39)  And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

 

(Matthew 22:40)  On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."

 

(Matthew22:41)  Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question,

 

(Matthew 22:42)  saying, "What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?" They said to him, "The son of David."

 

(Matthew 22:43)  He said to them, "How is it then that David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying,

 

(Matthew 22:44)  "'The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet'?

 

(Matthew 22:45)  If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?"

 

(Matthew 22:46)  And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.

For the concluding six chapters of the gospel of Matthew, 23 through 28, including the Passion of Christ please go here 

https://www.facebook.com/notes/jay-dougherty/gospel-of-matthew-bible-study-chapters-23-through-28/10200652622051547

 

 This is a powerful account showing the mercy, love, grace and so on of Jesus for He loves everyone so. His love is shown by His actions during these chapters of the gospel. He longs for a relationship with you and me as much now as He did then because He has never changed. He died for our sins to enable us to have this relationship and also with God the Father and now it is up to us whether to take this free gift from God of salvation. I am now including a prayer which will make it easy to do just that, taking the free gift, and also this prayer can be used to repent and return to Him in case you may have slipped away- Jesus is very forgiving. Please pray the following prayer with me:

Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness. I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin. You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess Jesus as our Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we will be saved. Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved. Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself. Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.

Amen.

God bless you and yours