• preceded by commissioning of Joshua (1) and followed by crossing the Jordan River (3)

• especially Jericho and lodging with Rahab

• the king informed and in communication with Rahab
• the narrator’s commentary

• heart of the story: might, majesty and mercy of Yahweh
• spies respond

• let down by a rope through the window…scarlet cord in the window

• the land into our hands… melting inhabitants (Josh. 6:25)

• Assured that He sovereignly advances His saving purposes, align yourself with the LORD and His Kingdom.
• connections to NT and Jesus: James 2:25, Heb. 11:31, Matt. 1:5
• “Oh, for the wonderful love He has promised…” (“Softly and Tenderly,” Thompson)

• v.1 Consensus
• v.2-3 Courage
• v.4-6 Commitment
• Worshiping God should be our highest priority.

• v.7-9 Planning the work
• v.10-13 Praising the Lord
• Recognizing God’s faithfulness fuels worship.

• Putting God first and worshiping Him should always be our highest priority.
• “You are worthy, Father, Creator. You are worthy, Saviour, Sustainer. You are worthy, worthy and wonderful. Worthy of worship and praise.” (Terry W. York, “Worthy of Worship”)

• historical narrative: declaration from God about God
• no failing of promises (21:43-45)
• human leadership transition: from Moses to Joshua

• context: following the incomparable Moses (Deut. 34:10-12)
• content: Yahweh’s gift of land (Gen. 12:6-7)

• in the midst of threatening circumstances (Ex. 3:12)
• basis of instruction: be strong and bold

• being careful to do… (Psa. 1)
• stress on the urgency of obedience

• Because of His unfailing promises and unceasing presence, go boldly into God’s future for you.
• three specific applications: sever, claim and confirm…
• “Abide with Me” (H. Lyte)

• Matthew’s Spirit-inspired quest to show the significance of the death of Jesus
• transition from people around the cross to the Person on the cross

• sign of judgment and OT connections (Amos 8:9, Ex. 10:21-23)

• statement and Psa. 22:1
• isolation and silence followed by responses of misunderstanding, pity and ridicule

• sovereign volunteer (Isa. 53:10-12) and an accomplished mission (Jn. 19:30)

• the issue of access (Heb. 10:19-25)
• testimony of the Father’s delight (Isa. 29:6, Ezek. 37:12-13, Dan. 12:2)

• rebuke of religious unbelief

• “Because of His role as your forsaken substitute, submit yourself fully to Jesus.”
• “Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed” (Watts)

• preceded by prediction of betrayal and followed by prediction of denial
• mysterious harmony of divine sovereignty and human responsibility
• within the walls of Jerusalem on the night of Passover
• intentional linkage pointing to a greater exodus (Ex. 12:15)
• disciples with the taste of the Passover lamb in their mouths

• bread and its explanation
• cup and its explanation
• centrality of sacrifice for sins (Ex. 24:8)
• certainty of accomplishment
• feasting by faith (1 Cor. 11:17-34)
• reversing the curse (Isa. 53:11)

• when the Savior sang
• The Hallel psalms: 113-118

• Because Jesus is merciful and sovereign, feast by faith at His table of grace.
• “What is certain is that Jesus bids us commemorate, not His birth, nor His life, nor His miracles, but His death.” (Carson)
• “We’ll gather soon where angels sing, We’ll see the glory of our Lord and coming King, Now we anticipate the feast for which we wait, Come take the bread, Come drink the cup, Come share the Lord.” (Leech, “Come Share the Lord”)

• preceded by questioning of the Pharisees and Sadducees: taxes (15-22), resurrection (23-33) and commandment (34-40)
• followed shortly by the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus

• Jesus poses the question of identity to Pharisees
• Pharisees provide a correct but incomplete answer

• reference to David speaking in the Spirit and appeal to Psalm 110:1
• How is Messiah both David’s son and David’s Lord?

• not only but also…
• scriptural testimony: Matt. 1:1; 9:27, Acts 2:32-36, Rom. 1:3-4

• exposure of superficial understanding of Scripture
• end of questions and a foretaste of Psalm 110:1

• Because Jesus is David’s divine Lord, stop debating about Him and devote yourself to Him.
• words of application: reduction, confusion and correction
• “Jesus, the Savior, reigns, the God of truth and love…” (“Rejoice, the Lord is King,” Wesley)

• after three parables; the last is the wedding feast (22:1-14)
• escalating tension and exchanges with religious leaders; this account is followed by the attempt of the Sadducees

• their objective
• shared opposition as a binding force
• effusive flattery
• trick question

• malice of opponents
• excoriating rebuke
• an ancient NIL question
• timeless principle regarding what is “due” to God

• amazed but unchanged
• absence of submission

• Because Jesus is the Lord of all who owns all, surrender completely to Him now.
• Pray for a tender heart: “Lord, make my heart willing, responsive, and easily governed by Your Word.” (Isaac Watts, commenting on Psalm 119:33-40)

◦ “When God ordains the journey, He arranges the baggage.”
◦ God is sovereign over every detail of our lives.
◦ “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted”. Job 42:2

◦ Our sovereign God always fulfills his plan.
◦ “When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter…the Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.” Psalm 126:1-3

• preceded by Triumphal Entry, Cleansing of Temple, Cursing of Fig Tree (21:1-20)

• deliberate confrontation by chief priests and elders
• credential check as Jesus is teaching in the temple
• the “what” and “who” behind “these things”
• Jesus responds with a question about John the Baptist
• caught on the horns of a dilemma
• exposure of incompetence

• castigation of those who’ve heard John the Baptist
• put on your “thinking caps” about two sons
• promise, performance and the will of the Father
• priority of tax collectors and prostitutes
• religious refusal to submit to ultimate authority

• Because the question of authority is settled, submit to Jesus completely.
• “Our response to Jesus’ authority is a spiritual diagnostic.” (L. Duncan)
• “In the cross, in the cross, be my glory ever, till my ransomed soul shall find rest beyond the river.” (F. Crosby, “Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross”)

• 19:13-15: children come to Jesus, 19:16-30: rich young man, 19:30/20:16: repetition

• early: “along with dawn” (about 6:00 a.m.)
• agreement to wage: denarius

• 9:00, 12:00, 3:00, 5:00
• agreement to wage: whatever is right…

• when evening came…
• beginning with the last up to the first
• 11th hour workers receive a denarius
• grumbling of those hired first

• doing you no wrong
• begrudge my generosity?

• When you rest in God’s authority and integrity, you rejoice in His grace to the undeserving.
• Recognize God’s authority. Rely on His integrity. Rejoice in His grace. “Grace So Amazing”