Biblical Foundations for Womanhood

Bible Study Series, Book 4

---

Contents

Introduction 

Biblical Foundations for Womanhood Bible Study Series

Why? An Explanation from the CE&P WIC Staff and WASC 

Suggestions for Teaching this Study  (Leader’s Guide)

Studying Scripture From A Covenantal Perspective 

Lessons

1. Matthew 17: God's Kingdom-In Heaven and on Earth 

2. Matthew 18: Covenant Life in the Kingdom of God on Earth

3. Matthew 19: Relationships Within the Kingdom of God

4. Matthew 20: Service in the Kingdom of God

5. Matthew 21: The Kingdom of God in Conflict with the Kingdom of Evil

6. Matthew 22: Worldly Questions and Kingdom Answers

7: Matthew 23: Covenant Curses and Blessings

8: Matthew 24: Lessons on Readiness for the Second Coming of Christ

9: Matthew 25: Lessons on the Day of Judgment

10: Matthew 26: The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

11: Matthew 27: The Trial and Death of Jesus

12: Matthew 28: The Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus

Resources

This excerpt from The Gospel of Matthew Student Book by Susan Hunt and Barbara Thompson, copyright 2004, is provided here for preview purposes only and is not to be reproduced in any form without the express consent of the publisher, Christian Education and Publications.

back to top

Lesson 2-Student Book

Lesson 2

Conduct in the Kingdom of God on Earth

Matthew 18

Biblical Foundations for Womanhood

First Samuel 1 gives the account of Hannah—a woman who had a positive influence in the kingdom even though she was surrounded by potentially explosive situations in her life . . .

 Hannah suffered the pain of infertility in a culture that intensified her misery and in a home where there was another wife who had children and who flaunted the fact before Hannah . . .

 Hannah’s husband also became a potential source of her frustration and hurt. His response to her pain lacked sensitivity to say the least! Elkanah’s query, “Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?” is not the issue. Hannah’s heart was breaking and she needed sympathy . . .

 Even as Hannah was in the temple in Shiloh praying, we see that there was a third relationship with the potential for conflict . . . Eli, the priest, watching her, thought she was drunk. He added two and two together and came up with five . . . Can you imagine how his words must have cut into her already troubled heart? She must have expected to find comfort from the man of God, but instead she received rebuke!

 We are captivated by Hannah. She was not a cold, unfeeling woman who was indifferent to the abuse, insensitivity, and misunderstanding she suffered. Hannah was a gentle woman with tender feelings.

 [Hannah’s] prayer, recorded in 1 Samuel 2, gives us the clue to the source of Hannah’s wisdom . . . Throughout the prayer we see her reliance on the sovereignty of God. It is interesting that this is not a prayer of thanksgiving for the gift of a son, but it is a prayer of praise for the Giver of the gift. Our impression is that Hannah would have prayed this prayer even if she had not received her heart’s desire, for the focus of the prayer is the character of God . . .

 Hannah was not ruled by her circumstances. She focused on kingdom thinking and on God’s glory rather than on her own situation . . . She was a wise woman whose life made a positive statement for the kingdom. (Leadership for Women in The Church, pp. 78-83)  

Homework

 1. Read Matthew 18.

• Read vv. 1-4 again.
• What were the disciples concerned about?
• Jesus used their question to teach an essential lesson about life in His kingdom. What was the lesson? ___________________________
• Read the following and list what you learn about humility:

Psalm 149:1-4

Isaiah 57:15

Isaiah 66:1-2

• Ask God to show you specific areas of pride in your life. Pray for repenting grace.

2. Read Matthew 18.

• Read vv. 10-14 again.
• Read Ezekiel 34 and make a list of things the Good Shepherd does for His sheep.
• Reflect on ways the elders in your church shepherd the flock entrusted to them (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2). Thank God for faithful elders and pray for them. 

3. Read Matthew 18.

·        Read vv. 15-20 again.

·        Summarize this passage in your own words.

·        Read vv. 21-35 again.

·        Summarize this passage in your own words.

4. Read 1 Samuel 1. 

• What principles from Matthew 18 did Hannah exemplify?

 5. Read 1 Samuel 2:1-10.

• Who was the source of Hannah’s joy?
• Why could she smile at her enemies?
• List things Hannah knew about God.

Class Work

 6. Oswald Chambers wrote:

When I repent, I realize that I am utterly helpless; I know all through me that I am not worthy even to bear His shoes. Have I repented like that? (My Utmost for His Highest, p. 172).

The entrance into the Kingdom is through the panging pains of repentance crashing into a man’s respectable goodness; then the Holy Ghost, Who produces these agonies, begins the formation of the Son of God in the life. The new life will manifest itself in conscious repentance and unconscious holiness, never the other way about. The bedrock of Christianity is repentance. Strictly speaking, a man cannot repent when he chooses; repentance is a gift of God. The old Puritans used to pray for “the gift of tears.” If ever you cease to know the virtue of repentance, you are in darkness. Examine yourself and see if you have forgotten how to be sorry. (Ibid., p. 255) 

7. John Calvin wrote: 

Now if it is true—a fact abundantly clear—that the whole of the gospel is contained under these two headings, repentance and forgiveness of sins, do we not see that the Lord freely justifies his own in order that he may at the same time restore them to true righteousness by sanctification of his Spirit? . . . Repentance is preached in the name of Christ when, through the teaching of the gospel, men hear that all their thoughts, all their inclinations, all their efforts, are corrupt and vicious. Accordingly, they must be reborn if they would enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Forgiveness of sins is preached when men are taught that for them Christ became redemption, righteousness, salvation, and life [1 Cor. 1:30], by whose name they are freely accounted righteous and innocent in God’s sight. (Institutes of the Christian Religion, 3.3.19) 

8.  Matthew 18: Jesus’ instructions regarding proper conduct among members of His Kingdom:

·        humility

·        discipline

·        forgiveness

 9. Matthew 18:1-14 The importance of humility in God’s Kingdom 

• John 3:3-6: What did Jesus teach Nicodemus?
• Ephesians 2:8-9: What did Paul teach?
• Philippians 2:1-8. What do you learn about Jesus in this passage?

• Matthew 18:5-14: “The crux of the whole matter is that believers are not to despise any of God’s children, not even the least, nor are we to behave toward them in a spiteful manner. They are precious in God’s sight and they must be in our sight also.” (Scott commentary, p. 15)

• “. . . humility in believers works two ways: it _____________________________ their inflated views of their own importance in God’s Kingdom and it __________________________ their sense of the value, in God’s eyes, of all others in the Kingdom. Through this, the Lord is glorified.” (Scott commentary, p. 15)

 10. Matthew 18:15-20 The importance of discipline in God’s Kingdom

• What are the four steps, or obligations, when we know that a brother or sister is violating the revealed will of God?

             (1)

             (2)

            (3)

             (4)

• Church censures are necessary, for the reclaiming and gaining of offending brethren, for deterring of others from the like offenses, for purging out that leaven which might infect the whole lump, for vindicating the honor of Christ, and the holy profession of the gospel, and for preventing the wrath of God, which might justly fall upon the church, if they should suffer His covenant, and the seals thereof [the sacraments] to be profaned by notorious and obstinate offenders. (The Westminster Confession of Faith, 30.3)

 11. Matthew 18:21-35 The importance of forgiveness in God’s Kingdom

• The number seven in Scripture is symbolic of that which is _______________________ or ________________________.

• Forgiveness is so important because it reflects at its clearest the ____________________ of God in our lives.

12. Application: 1 Samuel 1 and 2

 Consider Hannah’s relationship with Peninnah.

• How did Peninnah treat Hannah?

• How did Hannah respond?

• What are some sinful responses we must battle when we are provoked? 
• What do you think may have been some reasons for Peninnah’s cruelty? 

 Consider Hannah’s relationship with Elkanah.

• Describe Elkanah’s response to Hannah’s pain:
• How did Hannah respond to Elkanah’s treatment?
• What are some sinful responses we must battle when we feel that others are insensitive to our pain? 

  Consider Hannah’s relationship with Eli.

• What are your reactions to Eli’s accusation? 
• How did Hannah respond to Eli?
• What are some sinful responses we must battle when we are misunderstood?

 13. Hannah’s prayer, 1 Samuel 2:1-10 

• What did Hannah know about the character of God?
• How do you think her knowledge of God determined her response to difficult relationships?
• Praise for what God is like (vv. 2-3).
• Praise for what God has done (vv. 4-8).
• Faith in God’s protection (vv. 9-10)

 And Hannah prayed and said,
"My heart exults in the Lord;
my strength is exalted in the Lord.
My mouth derides my enemies,
because I rejoice in your salvation.
"There is none holy like the Lord;
there is none besides you;
there is no rock like our God.
Talk no more so very proudly,
let not arrogance come from your mouth;
for the Lord is a God of knowledge,
and by him actions are weighed.
The bows of the mighty are broken,
but the feeble bind on strength.
Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,
but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger.
The barren has borne seven,
but she who has many children is forlorn.
The Lord kills and brings to life;
he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
The Lord makes poor and makes rich;
he brings low and he exalts.
He raises up the poor from the dust;
he lifts the needy from the ash heap
to make them sit with princes
and inherit a seat of honor.
For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's,
and on them he has set the world.
"He will guard the feet of his faithful ones,
but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness,
for not by might shall a man prevail.
The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces;
 against them he will thunder in heaven.
 The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;
he will give strength to his king
 and exalt the power of his anointed."
 1 Samuel 2:1-10

This excerpt from The Gospel of Matthew, Part 2  Student Book by Susan Hunt and Barbara Thompson, copyright 2004, is provided here for preview purposes only and is not to be reproduced in any form without the express consent of the publisher, Christian Education and Publications.

back to top

Lesson 2-Leader's Guide

Pray that the Lord will give you wisdom to adapt and apply each lesson to the women that you are privileged to teach. Pray that you will have a Titus 2 ministry in their lives—teaching them what is good and training them in the ways of the kingdom so that God’s Word will not be maligned (Titus 2:3-5). Susan and Barbara

Lesson 2

Covenant Life in the Kingdom of God on Earth

Matthew 18

Preparation

1. Pray and then pray some more. Ask God to give you insight into this passage.

2. Read:
Matthew 18
The Scott commentary, pp.13-22
The Lesson Plan
The Lesson Worksheet, (SB p. _)

 3. You will notice that the title of this lesson is different from the Scott commentary. This title will reinforce the contrast between covenant life and the self-life.

4. Do the homework on the worksheet. 

• Determine how you will integrate the worksheet into your lesson plan. If most women do this in advance you can simply ask for their responses or you can allow time to work through some of the assignments.

5. Read the rest of the worksheet.

6. Adapt the Lesson Plan to your group and schedule.

• The Application section is very important. Schedule well so that you allow time for this.
• If you teach this in one session, you will need to condense and summarize much of the material from the Scott commentary.
• Read #6 and #7 on the worksheet several times. If you are teaching this lesson in one session, you may want to refer to these quotes and encourage women to read and reflect on them on their own time.
• Prayerfully consider ways to nurture community among the women.

7. Resources:

• An excellent resource for the topic of conflict is The Peacemaker by Ken Sande.
• For more discussion about elders ministering to women in crisis see By Design, Chapter 4.

8. Suggestions for teaching this lesson in two sessions:

• Session 1: Teach Parts 1-3.
• Session 2: Review and then teach Parts 4-5.

Community Building Ideas: 

1. Divide the women into groups of three or four to pray for one another. If you assigned prayer groups at the last session, you may want to ask them to get with their partners, share prayer requests and spend time praying. Or you may want to make new assignments by giving each woman a piece of paper with a number and then ask the women to find the others who have matching numbers.

. Read #2 on the worksheet. Plan a way for the women to encourage the elders in your church. You may want to provide a card for everyone to sign or have a card for each elder and his family. You may also ask each woman to bring a bag of cookies to your next session and make goodie bags for each elder and his family. Another idea is to assign each prayer group one elder and his family for them to encourage. They could prepare a meal or provide baby-sitting and a gift certificate to a restaurant. The process will nurture community among the women and the “product” will encourage the elders.

Lesson Plan

Part 1, Introduction

1. Ask: How did John and Jesus begin their ministries? (Answer: Matthew 3:2 and 4:17.)

• The kingdom and repentance are dominant themes in Matthew.
• Read #6 on the worksheet. This quote was used in Matthew Part 1, but the repetition of such a strong statement is beneficial.
• In this chapter we will see another key gospel theme—forgiveness. These three themes (the kingdom, repentance and forgiveness) are inseparable. Read #7 on the worksheet.

2. Explain the context of Chapter 18.

 ·        In Matthew 16:16-19 we see Peter’s confession and Jesus’ proclamation:

• God’s sovereign initiative: Entrance into the kingdom is because God reveals the truth of Jesus.

• Jesus is the Builder of His church.
  The church will ultimately triumph over the forces of evil.
  God gives authority to His church to be the instrument through which He works.
  ·        In Chapter 17 Jesus told the disciples about the realities of Kingdom living in a fallen world: our own weak faith, a hostile world, and unbelief in the church.

·        In Chapter 18, Jesus explains how we live covenantally as His people even though we face those realities.

• Covenant life is counter-cultural and counter-intuitive. Our sinful propensity is toward individualism. We want our own happiness and we want to be our own authority. Covenant life demands radical transformation of thought and life.

 ·        The principles of Matthew 18 call us to a way of life that will never be understood by the world and that is possible only by God’s grace. 

• Use #8 on the worksheet to show the outline of Chapter 18.

 3. Transition: It is fascinating to consider not only what Jesus taught but how He taught. His method is covenantal. It is life-on-life: “Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up” (Deuteronomy 6:7). He used the disciples’ questions—even their immature and inappropriate ones—as an opportunity to teach them kingdom principles.

Part 2, Matthew 18:1-14 The Importance of Humility in God’s Kingdom  

1. Read vv. 1-5.

• Ask the questions under #1 on the worksheet.

What were the disciples concerned about? (Answer: Position and importance.) Jesus used their question to teach an essential lesson about life in His kingdom. What was the lesson? (Answer: The importanc of humility.)

• Refer to #9 on the worksheet. You may want to divide the women into small groups and assign a Scripture passage to each group. Use pp.13-15 in the Scott commentary as the women discuss their answers. After reading John 3:3-6 and Ephesians 2:8-9, explain that true humility flows out of an understanding of God’s sovereignty in all things, including our salvation.
• 18:3 as little children. Jesus makes this comparison not because children are supposed to be innocent, but because they are dependent upon others and willingly accept from them what they cannot provide for themselves (Reformation Study Bible, p. 1535).
• Read Philippians 2:1-8. The word translated humility in v. 3 is the same word used in Matthew 18:4. This is the essence of the covenant way of life and the opposite of the self-centered life.

2. Read Matthew 18: 6-10.

·        True humility assumes responsibility for others. Jesus emphasizes the seriousness of causing another to sin.

·        If God loves them so much that His angels protect them, so should we. You may want to refer to Hebrews 1:14.3. Read Matthew 18: 11-14.

• You may want to use #2 on the worksheet and Community Building Idea #2.

 4. Refer to #9 on the worksheet and fill in the blanks with the words decreases and increases.

Part 3, Matthew 18:15-20 The Importance of Discipline in God’s Kingdom  1. Read Matthew: 15-20.

 2. You may want to refer to #3 on the worksheet and ask two or three volunteers to read their summary of this passage.

3. Use #10 on the worksheet and pp. 15-18 in the Scott commentary. 

• Suggestion: if you are teaching this in one session, you will need to summarize the material in the Scott commentary.

• The four steps of discipline:

Go the person.

Take witnesses

Go to the church

Church discipline

• Some primary points to emphasize:

       (1) This passage does not give everyone license to impose their personal preferences on others. We must be very careful to distinguish between violations of God’s Law and personal preferences.

(2) The exercise of church discipline is a responsibility of the elders, not of each individual          member or even of an individual elder.

 (3) If a woman knows that another woman is violating God’s Law, such as adultery or slander of           another, she should follow the first two steps of discipline. If the woman does not repent, those two or three       should take their concern to an elder who would be responsible to initiate taking the matter to the elders.

 (4) A woman must be careful that her motive is to reclaim the sister who is sinning, not to justify herself. She must remove the log from her own eye (Matthew 7:1-5).

 4. Transition: Living covenantally requires humility. It requires assuming responsibility for others even when they are sinning. And it requires accepting my personal responsibility to forgive.

  Reformation Study Bible notes:

18:17 church. The use of the word “church” by Jesus may appear premature, but only if the “church” is divorced from its moorings in the Old Testament. In the Greek translation of the Old Testament (the Septuagint), the “assembly” of the people of God is called the ekklesia, or “church.” Jesus’ use of Deut. 19:15 in v. 16 implies that the church is equivalent to Old Testament Israel. (p. 1535)

 18:19, 20 These verses should be taken in the larger context as still dealing with church discipline. V. 19 is a further application of v. 18, and v. 20 states that Jesus is present to validate the judicial activity of the church. (p. 1535)

 Note: Refer to the Scott commentary for examples of how this verse is taken out of context.

 Part 4, Matthew 18:21-35 The Importance of Forgiveness in God’s Kingdom 

1. Read Matthew 18: 21-35.

 2. You may want to refer to #3 on the worksheet and ask two or three volunteers to read their summary of this passage.

 3. Use #11 on the worksheet and pp. 18-21 in the Scott commentary. 

• Fill in the blank with the words complete, whole, glory.

 4. Regarding v. 35: This is not a threat on Jesus’ part. He is simply describing the ways in which unforgiveness clogs the pipeline of communication between God and His people. 

 Part 5, Application

1. Use 1 Samuel 1 and 2, the Biblical Foundations for Womanhood quote on the worksheet and #12 on the worksheet.

• There is much to learn from Hannah about the covenant way of life. Lesser provocations than she faced have caused feuds in families and churches, and patterns of behavior, which have lasted for generations.
• Hannah shows us what the principles of humility, discipline and forgiveness look like with skin on them.
•  You may want to divide the women into small groups to answer the questions. If you are teaching this in one session, you may want to assign one relationship to each group.

 2. Consider Hannah’s relationship with Peninnah.

• Note: Most women do not have to contend with another wife, but many women in today’s culture are relating to an ex-wife. A woman’s relationship with her mother-in-law may be competitive. Sisters may compete for a father’s attention. Women in a church may compete for the recognition of others or for influence with male leadership.
• How did Peninnah treat Hannah? ( She intentionally provoked her.)
• How did Hannah respond? ( She wept and did not eat. It was obvious to those around that she was troubled.)
• What are some sinful responses we must battle when we are provoked? (Possible answers: bitterness, retaliation, competition, telling others about the cruelty in order to get sympathy.)
• What do you think may have been some reasons for Peninnah’s cruelty? (Possible answers: Elkanah’s favoritism and attention to Hannah.)

 3. Consider Hannah’s relationship with Elkanah. 

• Describe Elkanah’s response to Hannah’s pain. (Possible answers: His answer shows insensitivity to her pain. There seems to be an arrogance and impatience in his response that shows he was oblivious to her situation.)
• How did Hannah respond to Elkanah’s treatment? ( She went to the Lord, prayed, wept bitterly, and made a vow.)
• What are some sinful responses we must battle when we feel that others are insensitive to our pain? (Possible answers: anger, resentment, holding a grudge, withdrawing from the person.)

 4. Consider Hannah’s relationship with Eli.

• What are your reactions to Eli’s accusation? (Possible answers: False assumptions are always hurtful, but when they come from leaders in the church they are especially painful.)
• How did Hannah respond to Eli? ( She did not remain silent, but she did not attack Eli. She respectfully explained her conduct This is an example of step 1 in the Matthew 18:15-20 process..)
• What are some sinful responses we must battle when we are misunderstood? (Possible answers: anger, telling others how we have been mistreated, holding a grudge, being unwilling to forgive.)

5. Hannah exemplified humility, a biblical approach to conflict, and forgiveness, but we must be careful not to hold Hannah up as an example to follow. Her actions and reactions in the midst of intense relationships are not about her strength. God’s Word quickly shows us that Hannah’s character is a result of her knowledge of and relationship with the Lord. Hannah was a product of her theology. Her prayer does not lead us to praise her. It leads us to join her in praising the Lord.

 ·   Read Hannah’s prayer, 1 Samuel 2:1-10, again. Use the article below and #13 on the worksheet to explain that we can only live by kingdom principles when we live in relationship with the King.

 6. Conclude by referring again to Matthew 18:21-35. As we grow in our understanding that we have been forgiven of a debt we could never pay, we will grow in the grace of humility. We will quickly repent of our sinful responses to those who are indebted to us rather than demanding payment from them. We will mourn when a sister or brother is entangled in sin and approach the person with humility and a desire for restoration. Covenant life will flourish in God’s kingdom when His children live by His kingdom principles. This profound change is possible because God is with us.

 ·        Use the bookmarks and ask the following questions. Let the women respond by reading the verses.

 Ask: What is the covenant promise?

 The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel ¾which means, "God with us." Matthew 1:23

 Ask: What is the kingdom commission?

 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20

• God’s covenant promise is that He is our God, we are His people, and He lives among us. Matthew begins and ends with this incredible promise—I will be with you.
• This promise rivets us to the glorious truth that God is a personal God of covenant loyalty. He has provided the way for His people to live in intimate fellowship with Him. He will never leave us, not because of our performance but because of His covenant love.
• The promise compels us to go and tell others.

Ask: What preview of the second coming of Christ in His glory did the disciples see?

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

 Ask: How is the believer transfigured?

 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is¾his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

 Ask: What does the transfigured life look like?

 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18

 Ask: What should we pray for one another?

 My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you. Galatians 4:19

• The word transfigured, transformed, and formed are all from the same root Greek word, metamorphoo, from which we get our word metamorphosis, which means a profound change.

“Hannah’s Second Prayer,” An article in Tabletalk, a publication of Ligonier Ministries, January 2003, p. 25

In her need, Hannah silently presented her petition to God (1:11). Now, God having heard and answered her request, she prays again, but these words are bold, emphatic, clear, and jubilant. Her song of praise and gratitude simply rings through the tabernacle. She takes joy not in Samuel but in Samuel’s Creator, noting in verse 1 that by answering her first prayer God has strengthened her (“`My horn is exalted in the LORD’”) and has delivered her from reproaches (“`I smile at my enemies’”).

The remainder of the prayer consists of three parts:

Praise for what God is like (vv. 2-3). Hannah praises four great attributes of God—His holiness (“`No one is holy like the LORD’”), His omnipotence (`”Nor is there any rock like our God’”), His omniscience (“`The LORD is the God of knowledge’”), and His justice (“`By Him actions are weighed’”). In light of these traits, she declares that human beings should shed their pride and arrogance, and should keep silent before Him.

Praise for what God has done (vv. 4-8). Having experienced a great divine reversal of “fortune,” Hannah sings of God’s power to intervene in the affairs of men and completely alter the status quo. He can break the bows of mighty men and give new strength to the weary, she says. He causes those who have plenty to become impoverished and fills the stomachs of the hungry. He can give children to the barren woman and close the womb of the prolific mother. It is He who gives and takes life, who determines poverty and wealth, who exalts and humbles, and who, above all else, elects to salvation. He can do all of this because “`the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s, and He has set the world upon them’”—in other words, because He is the Creator and Sustainer of the world and all creatures within it.

An expression of faith in God’s protection (vv. 9-10). Hannah is certain God will guard those He loves, His “`saints,’” but will defeat His enemies, “`the wicked,’” He will judge in His time. In the meantime, one way in which He will do good for His people is through the king He will establish, the “anointed” one He will strengthen. Hannah here speaks prophetically of the coming monarchy, but also of the coming Messiah, through whom God ultimately will judge the world.

The reason we see hypocrisy and fraud and unreality in others is because they are all in our own hearts. The great characteristic of a saint is humility—Yes, all those things and other evils would have been manifested in me but for the grace of God . . . Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, p. 126)

This excerpt from The Gospel of Matthew Student Book by Susan Hunt and Barbara Thompson, copyright 2004, is provided here for preview purposes only and is not to be reproduced in any form without the express consent of the publisher, Christian Education and Publications.

back to top

Presbyterian Church in America
Christian Education and Publications
1700 North Brown Road, Suite 102, Lawrenceville, GA  30043-8122
Phone:  678.825.1100  Fax: 678.825.1101   Email:  cep@pcanet.org   

Copyright © 2008  PCA Christian Education & Publications. All rights reserved.