Name:
Date:
Section:
Studying the Gospels
Passage: Matthew 9:9-13, Mark 5:1-18, Luke 19:1-10 or John 13:1-20 (PICK ONLY ONE)
Instructions:
For this assignment, you will be studying a story from the Gospels. You will use the template
below in order to complete a study of this passage. In your study, you will use the skills of
Observation, Interpretation, Correlation, and Application.
I. Observation
A. I have read my selected passage in both a formal translation (KJV, NKJV, NASB, ESV, or
CSB) and a functional translation (NIV, NLT, or NCV). Highlight the correct answer. You will
find a copy of the NASB, ESV, CSB, and NLT in your myWSB Library.
oYes
oNo
B. Identify the basic elements of the story you are studying
1. Main characters: (List them)
a. Tax Collectors
b. Jewish Pharisees
c. Matthew the Tax Collector
d. Jesus
e. Jesus’ Disciples
f. Sinners
g. Tax Collectors
2. Plot: (50-100 words)
a. a. While on a visit to a Galilean city, Jesus Christ noticed Matthew the tax
collector seated at his booth and beckoned him to follow. Following this,
Matthew left his booth and went with Jesus. Later, over dinner, Jesus,
Matthew, and the Disciples were joined by many sinners and tax collectors.
The Pharisees, upon witnessing this, questioned the apostles about Jesus'
decision to dine with sinners.
3. Story structure: (50-100 words)
a. Introduction: While in Galilee, Jesus and his Disciples were performing
miracles and there were many people that were brought to Him.
b. Incident: Jesus calls for Matthew to follow Him and His disciples after seeing
him at his tax collector’s booth.
c. Rising Action: Jesus asks Matthew to join Him as one of his disciples
d. Climax: Jesus then has dinner with Matthew at his house, and then Tax
Collectors and Jesus’ Disciples join them during dinner.
C. List basic observations about this passage.
1. Who:
a. Jesus
b. Disciples
c. Matthew – The Tax Collector
d. More Tax Collectors
e. Pharisees
2. What:
a. Galilee was finally the recipient of the good news that Jesus and the disciples
brought to the people of Galilee. They eventually arrived at the home of
Matthew the Tax Collector.
b. After seeing Matthew at his tax collector booth, Jesus then calls Matthew to
be one of his followers.
c. After Jesus shared a meal with Matthew and the Disciples the sinners and then
tax collectors joined in on their meal with Jesus.
d. During the meal, the Pharisees questioned His disciples on why He was dining
with sinners and tax collectors.
e. Jesus then answered the Pharisees be explaining that He’s here to help the sick
and poor, but in this context the sick is the sinners and tax collectors.
3. Where:
a. Matthew’s house, in a town in Galilee
4. When:
a. This was before the healing of the woman and the resurrection of the girl, and
right after Jesus healing the paralyzed man in Galilee.
5. Why:
a. Why were the Sinners and Tax Collectors considered “sick” according to
Jesus?
i. Jesus considered them sick because they were “sick” with sin. With
being sick with sin, Jesus then wanted to cleanse them and wash away
their sin.
b. Why was Matthew called to follow Jesus?
i. Jesus calls all sinners to Him no matter who they are.
c. Why did the Pharisees criticize Jesus for allowing sinners and tax collectors?
i. They criticized Him because he was dining with sinners, even though
they were designated and painted in a negative way.
6. How:
a. How did Matthew end up becoming a disciple of Christ?
i. Jesus called him to follow Him and become a disciple.
b. How were the Pharisees questioning Jesus?
i. They were questioning Jesus on why he was dinning with sinners, such
as the Tax Collectors and the sinners
c. How was Jesus displaying a welcoming nature to the people in Galilee?
i. He was dinning with those who He considered sick and was providing
them with the Good news of the Gospel.
II. Interpretation
A. Determine the author’s main point. In 1-2 paragraphs (100-400 words) explain what you
think the author is trying to communicate in this passage.
The main point of this passage is to show Jesus’ welcoming nature. This is indicated in
when it comes to how Jesus intentionally spends time with people who are considered either
socially unacceptable or undesirable. One of the core themes when it comes to Christianity is
called inclusiveness. When it comes to being inclusive these means that we are inclusive and
welcoming to those who are curious about how to be redeemed by the Lord or want to be
redeemed by the Lord. This is seen when it came to Matthew the Tax Collector, this just shows
how Jesus does not turn or reject anybody, because Jesus then asked Matthew to become one of
his followers despite his social status.
B. Based on your answer above, write out one principle from this passage. You should be able
to express this principle in 1-3 sentences.
One of the main priciples that is evident within this passage is being welcoming and inclusive
towards those who might not be the most desirable or even socially acceptable within the Jewish
society, within this passage the tax collectors and the sinners were considered people who were
“sick” and socially unacceptable.
III. Correlation
A. How does this passage from fit within the metanarrative of the Bible? State
what type of story you believe this to be (creation, fall, redemption, or new creation) and
explain why you believe this to be so. Your explanation should be 1 paragraph (100-200
words) in length.
After reading this passage, I believe this story to fit in the category of Redemption when
it comes to the metanarrative of the Bible. This story just displays one of Jesus’ many moments
in the New Testament when it comes to redeeming humanity before being crucified on the cross
and resurrecting from the tomb. As one can conclude after reading this passage, this story’s
theme was about being inclusive when it comes to those who want to be apart of the Kingdom of
God. Jesus displays this inclusiveness when he invites the sinners, and the tax collectors to enjoy
a meal with him. After reading this story, one can conclude that the people that Jesus
predominantly interacted with were all seen negatively in Jewish society soley because they were
“sick” or looked down upon by the Jews. The Pharisees then tried to use dining with the sinners
and tax collectors against Jesus, and Jesus responded by saying how He wanted to heal the sick
and wash away their sins.
B. How does the principle you discovered in the text fit with the overall message of Scripture?
This principle is the one you have written out in 1-3 sentences in the Interpretation section. If
your principle is a true Biblical principle it will be reflected throughout the Scriptures.GWhere is
the principle discovered in this New Testament narrative found elsewhere in the Scriptures?
Your explanation should be 1 paragraph (100-200 words) in length.
This verse is appropriate when discussing God's kind and hospitable character. This text
relates to the Old Testament period when God always provided for the Israelites and welcomed
them into His protection after they made many mistakes, despite the fact that it is difficult to
discern from its discussion of Jesus' earthly career. God continually provided for the Israelites
despite their many misdeeds and complaints, most notably in Exodus 9 when he gave them water
to quench their thirst, bread to satisfy their hunger, and a cloud-topped pillar to guide them as
they traveled. God shows so much care to those who are not as fortunate, and within this passage
it is evident when Jesus sat down and invited the sinners and tax collectors to dinner although
they were looked down upon in Jewish society.
C. How does this passage reflect the person and work of Jesus Christ?
State and explain at least one way that the principle of this passage identifies something
of the person and work of Jesus Christ. Your explanation should be 1 paragraph (100-200
words) in length.
This chapter only demonstrates Jesus' forgiveness and His deliberate search for people
who have the desire to work for God's kingdom. He made this clear when He invited Matthew to
be a disciple and serve alongside Him. Many passages in the Bible reveal that when it comes to
acceptance into God's Kingdom, Jesus will always extend a warm welcome to us. In addition,
God sent down because He loved us so much. Jesus' death on the Cross on our behalf restored
humanity. We are redeemed through Jesus, and it is our calling to serve next to Him for the
Kingdom of God.
IV. Application
What points of application can be made using the Four Questions for Application? State and
explain 1 point of application for each of these four questions. Your explanation for each of
these points should be 1 paragraph (100-200 words) in length.
A. The question of duty
After reading this section, one might come to the conclusion that following Christ and
honoring Him in all that we do should and is one of our callings as Christians. We are obligated
to serve the Kingdom of God in whatever capacity as followers of Jesus, but we should emulate
Matthew, who accepted Jesus' invitation to become a disciple without hesitation. In a way, we
ought to follow in Matthew's footsteps and never doubt Jesus' purpose for our lives—serving the
Kingdom of God in whatever capacity He gives us. God has given each and every one of us
different sort of abilities/talents and we should pour into those different talents that make us
unique and use them to glorify the Kingdom of God.
B. The question of character
As followers of Jesus, we should be hard and open-minded toward people who may be
considered undesirable when it comes to evangelizing and talking to those who desire to be
redeemed by Christ. In addition, if we identify as Christians, we ought to strive to live lives that
demonstrate Christ's love and a willingness to advance God's kingdom. Someone who is willing
to serve the Kingdom of God typically doesn't look for recognition or compensation. In this text,
Jesus saw the desire in Matthew's heart to serve God in whatever way possible, and as a result,
Jesus called Matthew to be one of His twelve disciples.
C. The question of goals
Serving the Kingdom of God and exalting the Lord in all that we do should be the
ultimate goals of every Christian. As followers of Christ, we ought to live in a way that exalts
God in all that we think, say, and do, as well as in determining how we might advance God's
kingdom. The Bible is filled with texts that tell us that God will offer our callings and methods to
serve Him; all we need to do is take advantage of those chances and have a "servant's heart." We
may serve and reach people who may not have heard the good news of the Gospel by having a
servant's heart.
D. The question of discernment
It is clear from this verse that Jesus is trying to educate us to accept and not turn away
people who might be considered unwanted. Jesus reminds us what it means to have the spirit of
Jesus Christ—that is, to be hospitable, nurturing, and a comforter to those who might not know
the good news of the Gospel—by dining with the tax collectors and sinners. Furthermore, God
tells us in the Bible that even though we should constantly be open to receiving newcomers, we
also need to be able to distinguish between things that exalt Him and those that do not. This
relates to having discernment when it comes to being welcoming to others, and to the sinners that
you are displaying your love to.
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