Question
bible study with questions on Matthew 17:1-27
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Here’s a Bible study outline based on Matthew 17:1-27, along with questions that can encourage discussion and reflection:
### Passage Overview
Matthew 17:1-27 describes two significant events: the Transfiguration of Jesus and the miraculous healing of a boy possessed by a demon, followed by a discussion about Jesus’ forthcoming passion and the payment of the temple tax.
### Study Outline
#### 1. The Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9)
- **Summary**: Jesus is transfigured before Peter, James, and John, revealing His divine glory. Moses and Elijah appear, and God’s voice affirms Jesus as His Son.
- **Questions**:
- What was the significance of Jesus' transfiguration to the disciples?
- How do Moses and Elijah represent the Law and the Prophets in this context?
- What does God's voice say about Jesus, and how does this clarify Jesus’ identity?
- Why do you think Peter proposed to build shelters for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah?
#### 2. The Disciples' Lack of Faith (Matthew 17:14-21)
- **Summary**: A father brings his demon-possessed son to Jesus, and the disciples are unable to heal him. Jesus rebukes the disciples for their lack of faith and then heals the boy.
- **Questions**:
- Why were the disciples unable to cast out the demon, according to Jesus?
- What does this passage teach about the relationship between faith and power?
- How can we apply Jesus' teachings on faith to our own lives?
#### 3. Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection (Matthew 17:22-23)
- **Summary**: Jesus predicts His upcoming death and resurrection, which is met with sorrow from His disciples.
- **Questions**:
- How do you think the disciples felt when Jesus foretold His death?
- What does this reveal about their understanding of Jesus’ mission at that point?
- Why is it important for us to understand both Jesus' death and His resurrection?
#### 4. The Temple Tax (Matthew 17:24-27)
- **Summary**: Peter is questioned about whether Jesus pays the temple tax. Jesus explains that, as the Son of God, He is exempt but chooses to pay the tax to avoid offending people, instructing Peter to catch a fish that will provide the money.
- **Questions**:
- What does Jesus’ response about the temple tax reveal about His identity and relationship to the temple?
- Why do you think Jesus chose to pay the temple tax despite being exempt?
- What does this story say about humility and how we should handle our rights in relation to others?
### Additional Reflections
- How do the themes in this passage connect with the overall message of Matthew’s Gospel?
- What does the Transfiguration reveal about the nature of Jesus as both fully divine and fully human?
- How can we apply the lessons from the disciples’ experiences in this passage to our faith journey today?
### Closing Thoughts
Encourage participants to share their own experiences of faith, doubts, and how they see Jesus working in their lives. Consider closing in prayer, asking for deeper understanding and faith like that of Jesus and His disciples.
### Passage Overview
Matthew 17:1-27 describes two significant events: the Transfiguration of Jesus and the miraculous healing of a boy possessed by a demon, followed by a discussion about Jesus’ forthcoming passion and the payment of the temple tax.
### Study Outline
#### 1. The Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9)
- **Summary**: Jesus is transfigured before Peter, James, and John, revealing His divine glory. Moses and Elijah appear, and God’s voice affirms Jesus as His Son.
- **Questions**:
- What was the significance of Jesus' transfiguration to the disciples?
- How do Moses and Elijah represent the Law and the Prophets in this context?
- What does God's voice say about Jesus, and how does this clarify Jesus’ identity?
- Why do you think Peter proposed to build shelters for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah?
#### 2. The Disciples' Lack of Faith (Matthew 17:14-21)
- **Summary**: A father brings his demon-possessed son to Jesus, and the disciples are unable to heal him. Jesus rebukes the disciples for their lack of faith and then heals the boy.
- **Questions**:
- Why were the disciples unable to cast out the demon, according to Jesus?
- What does this passage teach about the relationship between faith and power?
- How can we apply Jesus' teachings on faith to our own lives?
#### 3. Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection (Matthew 17:22-23)
- **Summary**: Jesus predicts His upcoming death and resurrection, which is met with sorrow from His disciples.
- **Questions**:
- How do you think the disciples felt when Jesus foretold His death?
- What does this reveal about their understanding of Jesus’ mission at that point?
- Why is it important for us to understand both Jesus' death and His resurrection?
#### 4. The Temple Tax (Matthew 17:24-27)
- **Summary**: Peter is questioned about whether Jesus pays the temple tax. Jesus explains that, as the Son of God, He is exempt but chooses to pay the tax to avoid offending people, instructing Peter to catch a fish that will provide the money.
- **Questions**:
- What does Jesus’ response about the temple tax reveal about His identity and relationship to the temple?
- Why do you think Jesus chose to pay the temple tax despite being exempt?
- What does this story say about humility and how we should handle our rights in relation to others?
### Additional Reflections
- How do the themes in this passage connect with the overall message of Matthew’s Gospel?
- What does the Transfiguration reveal about the nature of Jesus as both fully divine and fully human?
- How can we apply the lessons from the disciples’ experiences in this passage to our faith journey today?
### Closing Thoughts
Encourage participants to share their own experiences of faith, doubts, and how they see Jesus working in their lives. Consider closing in prayer, asking for deeper understanding and faith like that of Jesus and His disciples.