Bible ReadingMatthew 16:13–2013 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
[42:22] 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
[42:22] 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
[42:22] 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
[42:22] 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.”
[42:22] 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
[42:22] 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
[42:22] 20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.
[42:22] Matthew 13:1–52That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.” The passage continues with the parables of the weeds, mustard seed, leaven, hidden treasure, and pearl of great value.
[44:45] Matthew 14:13–21Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
[46:48] Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.”
[46:48] They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” And he said, “Bring them here to me.” Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.
[46:48] And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
[46:48] Observation questions- What different answers do the disciples report when Jesus asks who people say he is, and how is Peter’s answer different? [42:22]
- What words and images in Matthew 13 make the kingdom parables seem unusual or even wasteful—such as seed scattered everywhere, weeds left in the field, or a merchant selling everything for one pearl? [45:01]
- In the feeding of the five thousand, what do the disciples notice about the situation, and what does Jesus tell them to do instead? [46:48]
- What does Jesus promise Peter about the church, even though Peter will soon struggle to understand where Jesus is leading? [49:51]
Interpretation questions- Peter calls Jesus “the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” How does this confession mean more than agreeing with a correct belief about Jesus? What kind of life does it begin for a person who makes that confession? [44:19]
- The kingdom parables contain details that do not fit ordinary expectations. What might the strange details reveal about God’s generosity, patience, and priorities? [45:45]
- Jesus provides food for a crowd when the disciples see only a shortage. What does this story suggest about the difference between the world’s logic of scarcity and the kingdom’s abundance? [47:25]
- Peter wants to turn Jesus away from Jerusalem and the cross. Why might a disciple be tempted to follow Jesus only when his path seems safe, successful, or familiar? [48:42]
Application questions- Jesus asks, “Who do you say that I am?” If Jesus is Messiah and King, what part of daily life—work, money, relationships, choices, or time—might need to come more fully under his leadership? [44:24]
- Where has life taught a person to expect scarcity, competition, or the need to earn care and belonging? How might Jesus’ feeding and healing ministry invite a more trusting and generous response? [47:02]
- God’s kingdom welcomes and blesses people whom others may overlook or treat as outsiders. Who are the neighbors in the group’s community who may need to experience that kind of welcome and care? What is one realistic way the group could practice it? [47:14]
- Peter tried to redirect Jesus when Jesus named the cross. When have personal hopes, fears, or plans made it difficult to accept where Christ may be leading? [49:01]
- Peter is called both a rock and, soon afterward, a stumbling block. Where might someone be discouraged by a recent failure or mistake in faith? How does Jesus’ continued calling of Peter offer hope without pretending the mistake does not matter? [49:40]
- Christ calls people back when they wander, pushes them when they are stuck, and carries them when they cannot continue on their own. Which of those kinds of grace feels most needed right now, and what might receiving it look like this week? [49:40]
