Matthew Studies Class, March 2019, Mt 18:15-35 par. Luke 17:3-4; with Spring 2019 calendar reminders.

MATTHEW STUDIES CLASS March 2019 Newsletter

Fay Havlick continues her systematic study of the teachings of Jesus as presented in parallel gospel accounts in the New Testament. The five March 2019 classes focus on the second half of the "Church Community Discourse" in Matthew chapter 18, verses15-35 and its short parallels in Luke 17:3-4.

First we have the procedure for “reproving one’s brother” in Mt 18:15-17 partially paralleled in Q‑Lk 17:3, then the four short but spiritually powerful passages:

(a) "What you bind on earth will be bound heaven" (Mt 18:18),

(b) “If two of you agree on earth on anything they ask” (Mt 18:19),

(c) “Where two or three are gathered together in my name” (Mt 18:20), and

(d) “How many times shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" (Mt 18:21-22 par. Q-Lk 17:4).

Next we find the sobering “Parable of the Unmerciful Servant” only in Matthew (Mt 18:23-35). This freely forgiven “servant-debtor of the King” surprisingly but callously refuses to forgive his own fellow servants small debts they owe him. He still prefers to act more like an “unforgiveable servant,” thus consigning himself inevitably to suffer more pains of discipline until he can learn this first lesson of the life Matthew's Jesus taught his students, forgiving one’s own fellow servants. Lessons abounding here for us all.

From the texts under study, Max briefly introduces a Greek word important in Matthew and the whole New Testament and Septuagint (Greek translation of Hebrew Scriptures used by the early Christians, including Matthew).

In February we learned the words Iēsous (Jesus) and legō (I am saying). Next up are adelphos (brother), doulos (servant/slave), and aphiemi (forgive/let-go-away), all vital concepts to understanding Matthew's Jesus and Christian culture. Detailed pass-outs available on request.

Did you know that doctors recommend church life and elementary study of any new language as two good ways for older people to ward off dementia and other forms of physical decline?

You can dig into this study at home using your own Bible and Internet resources. You may ask questions or respond with your own comments in the section below.

Or if you happen to be in the Chicago area, we welcome you to visit our class at 10:30 a.m. any Sunday morning at the First Baptist Church of Oak Park (American Baptist), 829 Ontario St. in Oak Park, Illinois (one block north of Lake St., on the NW corner of Oak Park Ave. and Ontario St.). The church worship service begins at 9 a.m. while we share our sanctuary with the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.

Spring Calendar Reminders (March/April 2019)

Lent, Wednesday, March 6, beginning forty weekdays of spiritual preparation before Easter.

Daylight Saving Time in the United States starts 2 a.m. Sunday, March 10th. Clocks spring forward!

First Day of Spring, Wednesday, March 20. The astronomical year starts 5 p.m. (in Chicago) when Earth orbits to a position where the Sun appears to us to enter the one-twelfth part of the sky called Aries (Latin “ram”) because ancient stargazers saw its brightest stars arranged like ram’s horns.

Purim, Thursday, March 21^st, the Jewish holiday of feasting, gladness, and gifts to the poor, celebrating the Lord’s rescue of Jews from the wicked Persian Haman in the Book of Esther.

Passover (Pesach) this year 2019 starts at Friday sunset, March 29th (Jewish Saturday, 15th day of the Hebrew month Nisan) commemorating the Hebrew escape from Egyptian slavery about 1300 BCE (Book of Exodus). It continues for seven days until Friday, April 6th for the nation Israel and Reform Jews around the world, but for eight days among Orthodox, Hasidic, and Conservative Jews, thus ending this year on Saturday, April 7th.

Palm Sunday, April 14, recalling the leafy branches some of the crowd spread on the road as Jesus entered Jerusalem (Mark 11:8 par. Mt 21:8).

Maundy Thursday, April 18, experiencing the foot washing by Jesus (John 13:1-20) and the Last Supper (Mark 14:12-26, Mt 26:17-30, Luke 22:14-23, John 6:48-58, John chap. 13, and 1 Corinthians 11:23-26).

Good Friday, April 19, suffering the pathos of the crucifixion of Jesus (Mark 15, Mt 26-27, Luke 23, John 18-19).

Holy Saturday, April 20, last day of 40-day Lent preparation for the new Easter celebration.

Easter Sunday, April 21, experiencing anew the resurrection of Jesus (Mark 16, Mt 28, Luke 24, John 20-21).

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Co-teachers Max and Fay Havlick, 16 W. Vermont St., Villa Park, IL 60181, maxjh85@att.net. Profile on HubPages.

Fay. B.A. in English, Univ. of Illinois at Chicago; M.A. in Christian Education, Northern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Max. Baylor University B.A. in religion, history, English (1955); M.A. in history (1969); 77 hrs. at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Louisville, 1955-58); Harvard Univ. (1972-74); and Ph.D. programs at Univ. of Southern Calif. (1964-6) and Univ. of Illinois at Chicago (1988-94).

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