Sunday School Lesson
December 6
Lesson 1 (KJV)
Called to Be Heir
Devotional Reading: Psalm 102:12–22
Background Scripture: Matthew 1:1–17; Hebrews 1
Matthew 1:1–6, 16–17
1. The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
2. Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;
3. And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;
4. And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon;
5. And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;
6. And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias.
16. And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
17. So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.
Hebrews 1:1–5
1. God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2. Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
3. Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
4. Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?
Lesson Aims
After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:
1. Recall key names in the lineage of Jesus.
2. Explain why Jesus’ heritage was central to His mission on earth.
3. State a way to improve acknowledgement of his or her spiritual heritage in Jesus.
HOW TO SAY IT
| Aminadab | Uh-min-uh-dab. |
| Bathsheba | Bath-she-buh. |
| Caesarea Maritima | Sess-uh-ree-uh Mar-uh-tee-muh. |
| Judas | Joo-dus. |
| Moriah | Mo-rye-uh. |
| Obed | O-bed. |
| patriarch | pay-tree-ark. |
| Phares (Pharez) | Fair-ezz. |
| Rachab | Ray-hab. |
| Salmon | Sal-mun. |
| Thamar | Thay-mer. |
| Urias | Yu-rye-uhs. |
| Zara (Zarah) | Zair-uh. |
Introduction
A. Who Am I?
Heritage connects people to the past and provides roots for understanding themselves in the larger world. In my case, my “Italianness” was always an important part of my self-identity. Growing up, it helped me understand that I shared a history with millions of other people, a history that began long before I was born. I felt this connection despite being adopted by a non-Italian family with no discernible Italian influences.
Both Matthew and the writer of Hebrews concerned themselves with Jesus’ heritage. In that regard, the focus remained on God’s work in a specific family to bring about His purposes. Also, Jesus’ divine superiority to every created being was of utmost importance to emphasize. These two writers remind us that Jesus’ beginnings are both humble and unimaginably glorious.
B. Lesson Context: Matthew’s Gospel
From the exile in Babylon of 586 BC onward, Judea was rarely free of foreign powers that imposed their will on the nation. After Babylon came Persia, then Greece, and finally Rome. In about 38 BC, Rome declared Herod to be king of Judea.
Herod imposed Greek and Roman culture onto the Jews, even erecting a temple to the goddess Roma in Caesarea Maritima. The Jews despised Herod not only for these acts but also because he wasn’t Jewish by heritage and thus not a rightful king. Matthew wrote against this background, which makes his genealogy more than a list of names. It is a link to a time when David’s line held the throne, saying something important about Jesus’ birthright.
C. Lesson Context: The Book of Hebrews
Hebrews is a bit unusual. It ends with greetings like an epistle (Hebrews 13:20–25), yet the beginning is unlike that of a normal letter (contrast its opening verses with those of Colossians, etc.). Its original readers were likely Christians of Jewish background who had been undergoing some persecution, which tempted them to give up on Christianity for old ways that had been superseded (10:32–39; etc.). We can almost hear the original readers’ questions that prompt our author to write chapter 1: “We know about angels; is Jesus as strong as they?” “He died; is He powerful enough to save?” The author of Hebrews has clear answers.
I. Wanderers to Kings
(Matthew 1:1–6)
A. Abraham to Jesse (vv. 1–5)
1. The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
The names Jesus Christ, David, and Abraham all represent turning points in Israel’s history. Only by looking at the covenants associated with David and Abraham can a person properly understand Jesus’ importance as the fulfillment of those promises. Connecting Jesus to David foreshadows the rest of Matthew’s Gospel, where we learn that Jesus fulfilled the promises to David (examples: Matthew 2:20–21; 21:5; see commentary on 1:6, below).
| What Do You Think? What guardrails can we erect to ensure that we do not misuse biblical genealogies? Digging Deeper |
The More You Know
Several years ago, my father was shaken when he found out that the man he believed to be his biological father wasn’t. Sadly, the answers to his questions were buried with the few people who could have answered them. He believed he would never have a clear picture of his heritage.
Today, with the help of DNA testing and hours and hours of research, my father has identified his biological family and traced his lineage back nearly 1, 000 years, to William the Conqueror. He even established his legitimate claim to gain admittance into his Scottish clan.
Matthew’s genealogy establishes Jesus as the fulfillment of both the Abrahamic and Davidic covenants. Jesus’ lineage proves His earthly identity and supports His rightful place as heir to the throne of David and, therefore, the means by which the whole world can be blessed. How can you ensure that you won’t miss out?
—L. G.
2a. Abraham begat Isaac.
Abraham received the covenant that ultimately established the people of Israel. The story of Abraham is one of faithfulness—from both the patriarch and God (Genesis 12:1–7, 15, 17).
Despite Isaac’s being the only son of promise (Genesis 17:19–21), Abraham was faithful in preparing to sacrifice him on Mount Moriah (22:1–10). God showed His faithfulness to Abraham again by sending a ram to replace Isaac on the altar and then renewing the covenant (22:11–18).
2b. And Isaac begat Jacob.
After Abraham’s death, the covenant promise passed to Isaac. Little is said about Isaac, but his and Rebekah’s parenting style of playing favorites (Genesis 25:28) blighted his sons (27:19–41).
2c. And Jacob begat Judas and his brethren.
God met Jacob at Bethel and promised him land and children (Genesis 28:13–15), echoing promises made to Abraham (see Matthew 1:2a, above). Of Jacob’s 12 sons, Judas (spelled Judah in Genesis 49:8–10) unexpectedly inherited the promise of a royal line (see Matthew 1:6, below); he wasn’t the first-, second-, or even third-born son (Genesis 29:32–35). Further, he was born to Leah, who was “hated” by her husband (29:31).
The rarity of women in this genealogy should draw attention to all five who are mentioned, as each was uniquely notable. Thamar (spelled Tamar in Genesis 38:6) is the first woman listed. She was widowed before bearing children for her husband, so Judas (Judah), her father-in-law, told her to wait until that man’s brother was old enough to become wed to her. But detecting deception on the part of Judas, she tricked him into impregnating her (38:13–25). On learning the truth, he declared, “She hath been more righteous than I” (38:26).
Phares and Zara (spelled Pharez and Zarah in Genesis 38:29–30) were twins. During their births, Zara put out his hand first and thus had a scarlet thread tied to him to mark him as firstborn. But Phares (meaning “he who bursts forth”) was actually born first, thus his inclusion in the next verse.
3b. And Phares begat Esrom.
Little is known of Phares outside of his birth story other than the fact that his house maintained a good reputation (Ruth 4:12). Esrom (spelled Hezron in Genesis 46:12) was born in Canaan and journeyed to Egypt with Jacob and the rest of the family (46:7–9). His name establishes a link between the beginnings of the 12 tribes in Genesis and their fertility and subsequent struggle in described in Exodus (compare Numbers 26:21).
3d. And Esrom begat Aram.
Aram (spelled Ram in Ruth 4:19) was one of the children born in Egypt, part of the evidence of Israel’s fruitfulness in that land (Exodus 1:7).
4–5a. And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon. And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab.
The male names in this segment match those in 1 Chronicles 2:10–11. These loosely represent the period of the judges (about 1380–1050 BC), and therein lies a bit of a problem: there are not enough names in either record to cover that 330-year period of time. Instead, the names represent all that time. This drives the narrative represented by the genealogy closer to David (see also on Matthew 1:6, 17, below).
Not mentioned in the genealogy in 1 Chronicles 2 is Rachab (spelled Rahab in Joshua 6:17), second of four women mentioned in Matthew’s genealogy. She hid the Israelite spies in Jericho, thereby saving their lives (Joshua 2:3–16; Hebrews 11:31). Her inclusion here points not only to the importance of women in Jesus’ lineage but also to God’s love for non-Israelites (compare Matthew 12:20–21). The way she honored God in speech and deed transcended both her deception and occupation (Joshua 2:1–21). For this reason, she was welcomed without question into Israel despite being born in an unfaithful nation (Joshua 6:25; James 2:25).
Like his father Salmon, Booz (spelled Boaz in Ruth 4:21) is often overshadowed by the remarkable woman he married (see Matthew 1:5b, next).
5b. And Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse.
Ruth is the third woman listed in the lineage. She was from Moab, a nation that Israel was to avoid or else risk being led astray (example: Numbers 25). Ruth represents an exception based on faithfulness: she took her mother-in-law Naomi’s God and family as her own (Ruth 1:16). Ruth met and later married Booz (Boaz; Ruth 2:1; 4:13). Their son Obed became the father of Jesse, grandfather of David (see Matthew 1:6, next).
B. Jesse to Solomon (v. 6)
6. And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias.
This verse marks a transition from the period of the judges to the time of the united monarchy (about 1050–930 BC). David the king comes with many stories of faithfulness to God (example: 1 Samuel 17). However, the story line Matthew reminds his readers about was ultimately one of God’s faithfulness in the midst of human sin: God kept His promise even after David’s sin against Urias (spelled Uriah in 2 Samuel 11) and Bathsheba. She is the fourth woman listed, but referred to only as the wife of Urias. The full account and its consequences are recorded in 2 Samuel 11–12.
Bathsheba’s second son was Solomon. As a result of intrigue and violence in the royal family, this son inherited the throne (1 Kings 1:1–35). He was a wise man (example: 10:1–5) who nevertheless stumbled into faithlessness (11:1–13).
II. Captives to the King
(Matthew 1:16–17)
A. Jacob to Jesus (v. 16)
16. And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
The final three names in the genealogy seem like history repeating itself as they remind us of others who bore the names before (see Genesis 37:3; 45:8–11; 47:13–26). Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua. Mary, the fifth woman in this list, is a Greek form of the Hebrew name Miriam (Exodus 15:20).
B. The Generations (v. 17)
17. So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.
This verse highlights a pattern that Matthew wants the genealogy to portray, as the names are broken into three sections of fourteen names each. This may be a simple memory device since the three consonants of the name David occupy the fourth, sixth, and fourth places in the Hebrew alphabet, respectively—adding up to 14. If so, there’s no mystical numerology involved, just a simple and useful memory device. This possibility gains strength when we realize that Matthew chose not to include certain names in Matthew 1:8, 11 that are included in 1 Chronicles 3:10–16. The result is that each of Matthew’s three sections adds to 14.
| What Do You Think? What Scripture memorization techniques do you find most helpful personally? Digging Deeper |
The phrase from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations summarizes the story of God’s leading His people home again. That began with the return from exile in about 538 BC.
III. The King as the Son
(Hebrews 1:1–5)
A. Greater than Prophets (vv. 1–2)
1–2a. God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son.
In the past, God primarily communicated indirectly. Considering that the Old Testament is God’s revelation through many writers over the course of many centuries, we understand what the author means by the phrase at sundry times in divers manners. Those diverse ways included a burning bush (Exodus 3), dreams (1 Kings 3), and visions (Ezekiel 1).
The phrase unto the fathers refers to Jewish ancestors, the recipients of God’s communication that resulted in Scripture. The instrument God used to communicate was the prophets. Unlike those prophets, however, Jesus is God’s own Son. This equates Jesus with God (John 1:1; 5:18). Attention is now to turn away from the prophets to Jesus and His message. The phrase these last days refers to the time that began with Christ’s first coming and continues through our own days (see 1 John 2:18).
| What Do You Think? How would you respond to a fellow Christian who believes that Hebrews 1:1–2, along with passages such as Colossians 2:14, implies that the Old Testament can be disregarded? Digging Deeper |
2b. Whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.
Jesus, the heir of all things, has divine authority and ownership, far more than any created being since all things means everything that exists. It is He who fulfills the promises of the Old Testament covenants (see Hebrew 1:5, below). These certainly include God’s promise to Abraham to bless all the nations (Genesis 12:3). Jesus declares in Matthew 28:18 that His authority is absolute.
Jesus in the one who brought the worlds into existence (John 1:1–4). The Greek word translated worlds often refers to eternity in this epistle (Hebrews 1:8; 5:6; 6:20; 7:17, 21, 24, 28; 13:8, 21), but here the word worlds fits better (as it also does in 11:3). Think about how foolish it is not to trust Jesus to bring God’s message into the existence that Jesus himself created!
B. Seated in Heaven (v. 3)
3a. Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person.
The Father has glory of His own, of course. At the same time, the Son also has actual light—brightness or radiance. Thus the Son is not reflected light, as we see coming from the moon, but has light himself, as we see from the sun.
Moreover, the Son bears the image of God in ways we do not (Genesis 1:26–27). The term for express image is used of the imprint stamped on coins. Person refers to God’s real essence or actual being. These two terms make clear that the Son, though distinct as a person from the Father, is of the same divine nature as the Father. Whatever the “stuff” is that makes the Father to be God also makes the Son to be God. The relationship between the Father and Son is best summarized by Jesus: “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father” (John 14:9).
Image
As a child, I was the spitting image of my father, and I had precious little resemblance to my mother. Whenever the two of us went to the store, strangers would proclaim how wonderful it was that my mother chose to adopt. Although she agrees that adoption is a praiseworthy choice, she was disappointed that I was not recognizable as her flesh and blood.
I am no longer the spitting image of my father. I have grown to look more and more like my mother. Today it would be impossible not to see how I am related to both of them.
In a similar vein, I am not an exact reflection of the image of God. His image in me is marred by sin. However, as I continue to grow into maturity, I can catch more and more glimpses of God in my reflection. I will never be the express image of God. Only Jesus is and can be. Praise God that by His grace you and I both can have enough resemblance to be identified as family!
—L. G.
3b. And upholding all things by the word of his power.
The Son sustains all things. Deuteronomy 33:27 speaks of God’s everlasting arms being Israel’s refuge. Isaiah 46:4 says God will carry His people and deliver them. The Son uses the word of his power to do this; this recall the power of God’s word revealed at the beginning in Genesis 1. The Son’s role as sustainer is that which only the divine one can fill.
3c. When he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.
The Son brought about the purging, or cleansing, from sins when He died on the cross. Jesus’ ability to purge sins reinforces His deity, as only God can forgive sins (Mark 2:7).
To be seated at the right hand is a position of honor (1 Kings 2:19; Luke 20:42) given for the Son’s completed work on earth. This is a repeated theme in this epistle (Hebrews 8:1; 10:12; 12:2).
C. Over the Angels (vv. 4–5)
4. Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
Jews of the first century AD had a pervasive fascination with angels. We see evidence of this in some of the nonbiblical writings that came into being in the time between the Old and New Testaments (the intertestamental writings). In all the ways already mentioned so far, the Son is as superior to the angels as His name is to theirs. What names? Son versus angel. Whereas an angel is a created messenger, the Son is the divine, uncreated Creator. The difference is infinite.
| What Do You Think? How can this text help you guard yourself against mistaken beliefs about angels? Digging Deeper |
5a. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee?
The word he refers to God. The phrase Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee is from Psalm 2:7. It is used here to make a vital point: no angel is called my Son. That is a title reserved for the unique Son of God, as described in Hebrews 1:1–4, above. Though the promises made by the Lord in Psalm 2:8–9 apply in part to David, they can apply fully only to Jesus.
5b. And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?
This quotation is from 2 Samuel 7:14. It comes from the passage that established the Davidic covenant. David wished to build a temple for the Lord. Through Nathan the prophet, the Lord explained that He did not need a special house. Instead, the Lord would establish a house for David.
In 2 Samuel 7:12–16, the Lord said He would raise up David’s “seed” and establish his kingdom. It was that seed who would build His house; the seed, ultimately, is the Lord’s Son. His house, unlike Solomon’s temple, endures eternally. Solomon governed a nation in a golden age, but that kingdom did not endure. The Son’s kingdom, by contrast, will never end (Isaiah 9:7; Luke 1:33).
| What Do You Think? How will Jesus’ absolute authority affect your service to Him in the week ahead? Digging Deeper |
Conclusion
A. Heritage of the King
Matthew told his readers about Jesus’ human heritage: Jesus is the king promised to bless all nations. The major theme is God’s faithfulness, which situates Jesus as the final step in God’s fulfillment of His old and new covenant promises. The theme of covenant promises prepares us for the message and mission.
The author of Hebrews, by comparison, focused on Jesus’ divine heritage. When Jesus finished His earthly ministry, He was honored by the Father, further indicating the importance of accepting His message.
Through these texts, the Holy Spirit directs us to pay attention to Jesus’ message. He is God’s Son, greater than any angel or prophet. But He is also God himself.
B. Prayer
Father, thank You for sending Your Son to fulfill Your promises! Help us to live each day remembering that our future is in Him. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
C. Thought to Remember
Our future is in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
KID’S CORNER
Where Loving Money Can Lead
Sunday, December 6, 2020
John 13:21-30
John 13:21-30
(John 13:21) When Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray Me.”
Sometimes our greatest temptations come amid suffering, when we anticipate suffering or death, or when we suffer the loss of someone we love by death or in some other way. Sometimes our temptations are more severe when we suffer betrayal by a friend or someone we trusted with our deepest secret or with a treasured possession. In John 11:33, we learned that “When Jesus saw her [Mary] weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed [troubled] in spirit and deeply moved.” In the Greek New Testament, the same Greek word is translated into English as both “troubled” and “disturbed.” Before Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, He was troubled by death and the suffering that someone’s death caused those He loved, but He did not sin. When thinking of or being troubled about His own approaching death, Jesus did not sin. In John 12:27, we studied these words of Jesus as He thought about His coming hour of suffering, crucifixion, and death: “Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour.” Jesus did not sin; rather, Jesus chose to do the will of His heavenly Father. Jesus knew that there was no other way for God to save the world and every believer in Jesus from sin.
As we will see, Jesus loved Judas, and when thinking about Judas’ betrayal Jesus was troubled, but He did not sin. Learning how Jesus suffered in the many ways we suffer can encourage us when we read Hebrews 4:15-16, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” No matter what we experience or anticipate, no matter how much we suffer and feel troubled, we can go to Jesus who understands us, and He will give us the mercy, grace, and the help we need. Feeling troubled in our spirit does not mean we lack faith. Jesus felt troubled, but He did not lack faith. When troubled, Jesus trusted His Father and His plan for His life—He did not sin. We can find help in Jesus and follow Jesus’ example—we do not need to sin. When Jesus taught the disciples about His coming death in John 14:1, Jesus encouraged them and all who believe in Him, saying, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.” When we feel troubled, that does not mean we have sinned, or are sinning, or will sin. We can do what Jesus said. We can continue to “Believe in God and believe also in Jesus!”
Finally, though Jesus had talked about being betrayed before, Jesus still did not name the one who would betray Him. He loved Judas as He loved all His disciples. Jesus gave Judas every opportunity to repent and turn to Jesus for help to overcome his sin and temptations, but Jesus knew that Judas would choose to remain in the darkness rather than become a child of light. This too troubled Jesus, as all believers in Jesus feel troubled when those they love choose to continue in sin and refuse to trust in Jesus for salvation from sin.
(John 13:22) The disciples began looking at one another, at a loss to know of which one He was speaking.
Judas was so respected as their treasurer and fellow disciple that none of the disciples suspected Judas would betray their Master. Judas was so deceptive that none of them knew Judas was a thief who stole from the common purse of contributions to meet the disciples’ needs and to help the poor; otherwise, they would have suspected Judas almost immediately. John must have learned that Judas had been a thief after Judas betrayed Jesus (see John 12:6). No matter what Judas heard Jesus teach, Judas remained a thief. In John 10:10, Jesus described thieves in a way Judas surely understood (and perhaps He said this with a warning look at Judas as He spoke), saying, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” Judas declined morally from stealing, to plotting the arrest of Jesus that led to His killing, to destroying himself after he regretted his betrayal of Jesus and what his betrayal had done to Jesus. Refusing to turn from sinning will almost inevitably lead to committing worse and even more degrading sins beyond our imagination unless we turn to Jesus Christ for help and salvation from sin. Christians know that the solution to sinning is turning to Jesus, and that is one reason they proclaim the good news about Jesus and His coming. The disciples saw Jesus love and honor each of them in Jesus’ own wise way, so based on the way Jesus treated each of them with grace, compassion, and mercy, they did not suspect Judas would ever betray Jesus. As they looked at one another with questioning eyes, they could not be certain which of them Jesus might be speaking about in a way that disturbed all of them.
(John 13:23) There was reclining on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.
In Jesus’ day, people reclined on cushions to eat. They reclined on their side, rested on their elbow, and used their other hand to eat. When the disciples ate together, one disciple reclined near Jesus’ right side and another reclined near His left side (two places of honor). Remember, in Mark 10:37, James and John said to Jesus, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” The other disciples reclined next to and across from one another where they could see and hear Jesus teach. According to John’s description, the one whom Jesus loved (probably John, the writer of this Gospel) would have reclined on Jesus’ right, where they could quietly talk without needing to be face-to-face while they ate with their right hands. If both reclined on their left elbow, as was common, to eat with their right hand, as was common, John could have had his back to Jesus and be able to speak quietly with Jesus while they both conveniently ate. The KJV and the NASB describe John’s position as “leaning on Jesus’ bosom” or “reclining on Jesus’ bosom.” The NIV and NRSV describe John’s position as “reclining next to him,” which is the closest description of the way we know people ate at that time.
(John 13:24) So Simon Peter *gestured to him, and *said to him, “Tell us who it is of whom He is speaking.”
Peter was not seated next to Jesus, but he could see John and John could see Peter well enough to understand his hand motions and perhaps read his lips well enough to interpret something like, “Ask him who it is!”
(John 13:25) He, leaning back thus on Jesus’ bosom, *said to Him, “Lord, who is it?”
So, John quietly asked Jesus in a way that no one else could hear. He was close enough to Jesus for them to talk without being overheard.
(John 13:26) Jesus then *answered, “That is the one for whom I shall dip the morsel and give it to him.” So when He had dipped the morsel, He *took and *gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.
Without speaking Judas’ name aloud, Jesus told John what to look for to identify His betrayer. Interestingly, Jesus often spoke of himself as the bread of life, as essential to life: physical, mental, spiritual, and eternal life. But those who walk in darkness prefer only physical, mental, and material gratifications such as money and what money can buy. When Jesus spoke about His betrayer earlier in John 13:18, Jesus told His disciples, “I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But it is to fulfill the scripture, ‘The one who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’” As one of Jesus’ closest disciples, Judas often ate bread with Jesus and all the disciples, and the sign that Jesus gave to John literally fulfilled Psalm 41:9 and John 13:18, for Jesus gave Judas a piece of bread to eat. Judas had to be close enough to receive his bread directly from Jesus’ hand, and in that culture, it was a sign of love when Jesus honored Judas by directly handing him a piece of food. As a sign of love for Judas, Jesus gave Judas a piece of bread, but Judas did not reciprocate with love for Jesus. As a sign to John that Judas would betray Him, Jesus gave Judas a piece of bread, which fulfilled Psalm 41:9 and Jesus’ own prophecy in John 13:18. If Jesus had told the disciples about Judas where they all could hear, they would have restrained Judas, perhaps even killing him, but that was not God’s plan.
(John 13:27) After the morsel, Satan then entered into him. Therefore Jesus *said to him, “What you do, do quickly.”
The place of honor on Jesus’ left side probably went to the treasurer, Judas, where Jesus could easily give him a piece of bread, which usually expressed honor and love for someone. But during his three years with Jesus, in his heart Judas continually rejected Jesus’ expressions of love for him. When Jesus taught about how to live in the Kingdom of God and spoke about His betrayal at this and previous times without naming Judas, He gave Judas opportunities to turn away from his love of money and stealing to ask Jesus to forgive him and help him do right. Judas proved to be an example of what Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 6:10, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.” In Luke 16:13, Jesus had warned, “No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” Judas had come to the point of no return, for despite all Jesus did for him and taught him, Judas began to hate and despise Jesus. Judas loved money and became devoted to wealth; therefore, he could not love and serve God. Judas’ hour had finally come. His immoral character had become fully formed and Judas no longer desired the things the God. Judas preferred to live as a child of darkness. Whereas Judas chose to become a slave of wealth, he unknowingly became a slave of Satan. Therefore, with a piece of bread, Jesus gave Satan permission to enter Judas and Satan gave Judas the power to do what he wanted to do in his search for more wealth. Having committed himself to betraying Jesus, Jesus told Judas to go and quickly do what he wanted.
(John 13:28) Now no one of those reclining at the table knew for what purpose He had said this to him.
Without betraying the fact to the other disciples that Judas was His betrayer, Jesus may have told Judas to do something in a manner the disciples had seen before and probably with the words that Jesus had used before when He wanted something done. They thought nothing of Jesus giving Judas a piece of bread, but John knew why, and he eventually told Peter what Jesus said, did, and meant. As usual, Jesus knew that His disciples would understand later what He said, what it meant, and why He spoke to Judas as He did in the presence of them all.
(John 13:29) For some were supposing, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus was saying to him, “Buy the things we have need of for the feast”; or else, that he should give something to the poor.
Judas deceived all the disciples, but he did not deceive Jesus. The disciples never connected Judas with a possible betrayer. They immediately assumed that Judas was going out to do good; either quickly buying something for the Passover festival or quickly giving something to the poor (perhaps to someone that Jesus knew needed help immediately). They knew that Jesus often told Judas to perform these types of activities, but somehow in the performance of his duties Judas probably stole from the common purse.
(John 13:30) So after receiving the morsel he went out immediately; and it was night.
After Satan entered Judas, he immediately went out. Jesus did not cause Satan to enter Judas, but similar to the LORD God giving Satan permission to test Job within certain restraints, so Jesus, the Son of God, gave Satan permission to empower and lead Judas to do what he wanted in fulfillment of Scripture. Tragically, Judas had refused to believe Jesus’ teachings about the necessity of walking in the light so you will not stumble or fall in the darkness. In John 11:10, Jesus had warned, “But those who walk at night stumble, because the light is not in them.” Judas went out at night and he stumbled and fell because the light (the Spirit and Truth of God) that he had rejected was not in him—Satan was within him.
Where Loving Money Can Lead
Sunday, December 6, 2020
John 13:21-30
And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly (John 13:27—KJV).
After the morsel, Satan then entered into him. Therefore Jesus *said to him, “What you do, do quickly” (John 13:27—NASB).
After Judas received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “Do quickly what you are going to do” (John 13:27—NRSV).
In Jesus’ day, people reclined on cushions to eat. They reclined on their side, rested on their elbow, and used their other hand to eat. When the disciples ate together, one disciple reclined near Jesus’ right hand and another reclined near His left hand (places of honor). The others reclined across from one another where they could see Jesus. According to John’s description, the one whom Jesus loved (probably John, the writer of this Gospel) would have reclined on Jesus’ right, where they could quietly talk. The place of honor on Jesus’ left probably went to the treasurer, Judas, where Jesus could easily give him a piece of bread, which usually expressed honor and love for someone. But Judas rejected Jesus’ expressions of love and honor. When Jesus taught about how to live in the Kingdom of God and spoke about His betrayal at this and previous times without naming Judas, He gave Judas opportunities to turn away from his love of money and stealing to ask Jesus to forgive him and help him do right. Tragically, Judas refused to believe Jesus’ teachings about the necessity of walking in the light so you will not stumble or fall in the darkness. Judas loved money so much that he would do anything for just a little more money— even betray a friend who loved and honored him. Finally, the hour came for Judas to betray Jesus and the hour for Jesus to die, so Jesus gave Judas a piece of bread and Satan the permission to enter Judas. Then, in Satan’s power, Judas went out into the darkness
Thinking Further
Where Loving Money Can Lead
Sunday, December 6, 2020
John 13:21-30
Name _____________________________________
- Why do you think Jesus was troubled in spirit?
- Who do you think was “the one whom Jesus loved”?
- How close was Judas sitting to Jesus?
- What happened after Judas received the piece of bread?
- What did Judas have and why did the disciples think Judas was leaving
Discussion and Thinking Further
- Why do you think Jesus was troubled in spirit? Judas, who was His friend, was going to betray Him in fulfillment of the prophecy in the Old Testament. Probably, Jesus, the Suffering Servant, was troubled because He was to suffer betrayal, rejection, and die on the cross for the sins of the world in fulfillment of many prophecies in the Old Testament. Jesus knew the consequences for Judas: Satan would enter him, he would go into the darkness, he would suffer spiritual and eternal death as the Bible teaches: “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).
- Who do you think was “the one whom Jesus loved”? John, the writer of the Gospel of John, three Letters of John, and the Book of Revelation.
- How close was Judas sitting to Jesus? So close that Jesus could easily pass him a piece of bread and quietly talk to him.
- What happened after Judas received the piece of bread? Satan entered him.
- What did Judas have and why did the disciples think Judas was leaving? Judas had the purse with the money that the disciples received to meet their needs, give offerings, and help the poor. They thought he was going out to buy something for the festival or give something to the poor. They did not hear what Jesus told Judas.
Word Search
Where Loving Money Can Lead
Sunday, December 6, 2020
John 13:21-30
Name ___________________________________
K Q H X G Q J E S U S M P U V
D E P P I D M K O E A R C O B
N M S D V K B S U C Z P X Y Z
E O P E A P T C L F V A M V X
S Z M S L E D E R A L C E D H
R Q X I D P R H D V E P J X Z
U M J W S E I B S R Y T H L J
P T E X A G L C H X G S X O I
J G S J T Z D B S K P O C V R
B F U Q S A J L U I A G L E J
O E S X P L P U R O D O X D Y
A C T E K H O I D T R W V L A
M F T R M Y T R Z A D T U P V
P E Z F A C A O D P S R G F Y
R T D W M Y M Z A V T C H O D
Troubled
Spirit
Declared
Truly
Betray
Disciples
Jesus
Lord
Loved
Simon
Peter
Bread
Dipped
Judas
Purse
True and False Test
Where Loving Money Can Lead
Sunday, December 6, 2020
John 13:21-30
Name _________________________________
Circle the True or False answers. Correct the False statements by restating them.
- Jesus did not know He was going to die and go to heaven, so it did not bother Him to think about death and dying. True or False
- When Jesus was troubled in spirit, He told His disciples that one of them would betray Him. True or False
- Peter, the disciple that Jesus loved, sat beside Him at the table.
True or False
- Before dinner, John told Peter that Judas was going to betray Jesus because he was a thief, but Peter refused to believe him. True or False
- Jesus dipped a piece of bread in the dish and gave it to Judas in answer to the question about who would betray Him. True or False
- After Judas received the bread, Satan entered him. True or False
- All the disciples were shocked when they saw Judas eat the bread that Jesus gave him. True or False
- All the disciples suspected Judas was evil, but they did not see the final proof until they saw Satan enter Judas. True or False
- Judas went out to give all his money to the poor before he betrayed
Jesus. True or False
- Judas was not a child of the light, but a child of the darkness, and he went out into the night to betray Jesus. True or False
True and False Test Answers
- False
- True
- False
- False
- True
- True
- False
- False
- False
- True
Prayer
Father, thank You for sending Your Son to fulfill Your promises! Help us to live each day remembering that our future is in Him. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.