Reasoning Through the Bible

What does greatness look like in the kingdom of God?
In Matthew 20, the mother of James and John approaches Jesus with a bold request: give her sons the places of highest honor beside Him in His kingdom. The request creates jealousy among the other disciples, but Jesus uses the conflict to teach one of His clearest lessons about leadership. The rulers of the world exercise authority over others, but among His followers, greatness is found in becoming a servant.
Glenn and Steve discuss what it meant to sit at the right and left of a king, the “cup” Jesus was preparing to drink, the distinction between the Father and Son, and what servant leadership should look like within the church. They also examine Jesus’ statement that He came “to give His life a ransom for many” and how that relates to the atonement.
The chapter concludes with two blind men outside Jericho who refuse to let the crowd silence them. They recognize Jesus as the Son of David, cry out for mercy, receive their sight, and immediately follow Him.
Matthew 20:20–34 | The Book of Matthew — Session 41
  Questions discussed in this session include:
Are Christians sometimes asked to drink the same cup as Jesus?
What can we learn about Jesus and the Godhead from this passage?
What is the proper attitude that Christians should have with other Christians?
How do we keep division and dissention out of the body of Christ? 
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May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

Why would Jesus tell a story in which workers who served all day received the same pay as workers who served for only one hour?
Matthew 20 continues Jesus’ teaching that “the last shall be first, and the first last.” In the parable of the laborers in the vineyard, a landowner hires workers throughout the day but pays each group the same amount. The early workers immediately complain that the arrangement is unfair.
Glenn and Steve examine why nobody in the parable was actually cheated, what the vineyard teaches about Christian service and reward, and why comparing our ministry with someone else’s can quickly produce envy. The lesson is not that salvation is earned through work. It concerns the attitude of those already serving the Master.
The study then follows Jesus as He turns toward Jerusalem and tells the disciples exactly what awaits Him: betrayal, condemnation, mocking, scourging, crucifixion, and resurrection on the third day. Jesus is not walking unknowingly toward the Cross. He knows what is coming and goes willingly.
Matthew 20:1–19 | The Book of Matthew — Session 40
Questions discussed in this session include:
What if I wake up late and don’t have much time to work? 
When do Christians get rewards? 
Is our reward guaranteed?
We have such little time left, so how should we spend our time? 
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You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible
Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible 
May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

What was the rich young ruler missing?
Matthew 19 introduces a successful young man who approaches Jesus asking what good thing he must do to obtain eternal life. His question reflects a common assumption: if we can just do enough good things, perhaps we can earn our way to God.
Jesus exposes the flaw in that thinking. The young man believes he has kept the commandments, but Jesus points directly to the area controlling his heart—his wealth. When told to sell his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Jesus, he walks away grieving.
Glenn and Steve discuss why good works cannot erase past sin, why Jesus’ command to sell everything was directed specifically at this man’s idol, and why neither wealth nor poverty makes someone righteous. They also examine the camel and the eye of the needle, the dangers of the prosperity gospel, and Jesus’ promise that the apostles will one day sit on twelve thrones in His future Messianic kingdom.
The study begins with Jesus welcoming children and reminding us of the importance of bringing the next generation to Him.
Matthew 19:13–30 | The Book of Matthew — Session 39
This session discusses the following questions: 
Are we able to keep the ten commandments? 
How hard is it for a rich person to get into God’s kingdom? 
What happens to children who die in infancy? 
Is the church a continuation of Israel, or is there a distinction between the two? 
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You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible
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May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

What did Jesus really teach about marriage and divorce?
In Matthew 19, the Pharisees approach Jesus with another trap: “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all?” Instead of beginning with their arguments over the Mosaic Law, Jesus takes them back to creation. God made humanity male and female, established marriage, and intended husband and wife to become one flesh.
Glenn and Steve work through why Moses permitted divorce because of hardness of heart, what Jesus means by His exception for sexual immorality, the difficult subject of remarriage, and why God’s high standard should never become an excuse for Christians to treat divorced people as permanently disqualified from grace or meaningful service.
The discussion also considers singleness, the disciples’ surprising reaction to Jesus’ teaching, and the real-world question of what someone should do when a marriage becomes abusive. Biblical commitment to marriage does not require someone to remain physically endangered.
Matthew 19:1–12 | The Book of Matthew — Session 38
Questions discussed in this session include:
What have been the consequences of no-fault divorce?
What were the Old Testament rules about divorce and remarriage?  
What role does creation of mankind have with marriage and divorce? 
What if a Christian has a spouse that leaves them? 
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You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible
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May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

How many times are Christians expected to forgive someone who keeps hurting them?
Matthew 18 continues Jesus’ teaching about church discipline and then turns directly to forgiveness. Glenn and Steve first examine the often-quoted statements about binding and loosing, agreeing together in prayer, and “where two or three are gathered.” The surrounding context shows that Jesus is speaking about the authority of believers gathered in His name as they deal with serious sin within a local church.
Peter then asks how often he must forgive a brother who sins against him. Seven times? Jesus responds, “seventy times seven,” and tells the parable of a servant forgiven an enormous debt who refuses to forgive a much smaller debt owed to him.
The discussion looks at the relationship between forgiveness and a changed heart, why this passage does not teach that salvation can be lost, the difference between forgiveness and enabling continued abuse, and how bitterness can damage the person who refuses to forgive.
Matthew 18:18–35 | The Book of Matthew — Session 37
Questions discussed in this session include:
Where is the center of authority in the church? 
If someone is put out of a church, can they still be saved person?
When people realize how much God has forgiven them, how do they act towards others?
Support the show
Thank you for listening!!  Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. 
You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible
Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible 
May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve