Master the Bible: How to Get and Keep the Big Picture of the Bible's Story

Chapter 1: The Way of the Rabb i

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9. As Jesus called his first disciples to himself who followed him as Master and Teacher, so today he calls us to follow him as Lord.

a. He calls for an allegiance above family and kin, Matt. 10.34-39 – “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. [35] For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. [36] And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. [37] Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. b. He calls for self-death, a voluntary emptying of oneself, even as he himself did for us, Matt. 10.38-39 – And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. [39] Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

C. He focused on the Scriptures as the content of his teaching.

1. From memory our Lord quoted the Scriptures during times of temptation and spiritual warfare, Matt. 4.4, 7, 10.

2. He answered his detractors with quotes from the Scriptures, e.g., Matt. 21.42.

3. Despite the claims of the Pharisees and the scribes to the contrary, Jesus did not come to destroy the Law but to fulfill it, Matt. 5.17-19.

4. He confirmed the Bible’s inspiration and truthfulness, affirming the reality of many OT characters.