3 References to the Elect in Matthew 24

Matthew 24:22, 24 and 31

22 If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.

24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

5 Major Discourses in Matthew's Gospel

Chapters 5-7 The Sermon on the Mount

Chapter 10 The Missionary Discourse

Chapter 13 The Parabolic Discourse

Chapter 18 The Discourse on Church discipline

Chapter 23-25 Woes on the Pharisees, the Little Apocalypse and the Parable of the end

8 People or groups of people who knew Jesus was innocent

1. The chief priests and the Sanhedrin Matthew 26:59, 60a The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward.
2. Pontius Pilate: Luke 23:4 Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, "I find no basis for a charge against this man." ... 14 and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. ... 22 For the third time he spoke to them: "Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him."  (Matthew 27:24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. "I am innocent of this man's blood," he said. "It is your responsibility!" )
3. Herod Antipas: Luke 23:15 Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. 
4. Judas Iscariot: Matthew 27:4 "I have sinned," he said, "for I have betrayed innocent blood." "What is that to us?" they replied. "That's your responsibility."
5. Pontius Pilate’s Wife: Matthew 27:19 While Pilate was sitting on the judge's seat, his wife sent him this message: "Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him." 
6. The Dying Thief: Luke 23:41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.
7. The Roman Centurion: Luke 23:47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, "Surely this was a righteous man." 
8. The Roman guards: Matthew 27:53 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!" 

8 Reasons not to worry from Matthew 6:25-34

Matthew 6:25-34

25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.

(Power, provision, pointlessness, protection)

Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you - you of little faith?

31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'

(pagan, providence, priorities, practicality)

For the pagans run after all these things,

and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

6 Petitions of the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6

Matthew 6:9-15

This, then, is how you should pray:

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

5 Women mentioned in Matthew 1:1-16

Matthew 1:1-16

This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham: 

2, 3 Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,  Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, 

4-6 Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon,  Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse,  and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah's wife, 

... After the exile to Babylon ...

16  and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.  ....

4 Miracles at the Cross Found in the Gospels

1. The three hours darkness from noon until three

Matthew 27:45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. 

Luke 23:44, 45a  It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun's light failed.

2. The Temple curtain torn in two from top to bottom

Matthew 27:51a And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.

Mark 15:38  And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 

Luke 23:45b And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 

3. The earthquake and the rocks splitting

Matthew 27:51b  And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. 

4. The opening of the graves of the holy and their coming out after the resurrection

Matthew 27:52, 53  The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

7 Words or Sayings of the Cross Found in the Gospels

1.  And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34a)

2. And he said to him "This day you will be with me in Paradise." (Luke 23:43)

3. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.  (John 19:26, 27)

4. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

(Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34)

5. After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfil the Scripture), "I thirst." (John 19:28)

6. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, "It is finished," and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:30)

7. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last. (Luke 23:46)

3 Persons of the Trinity at the Baptism of Jesus, Matthew 3:16, 17

Matthew 3:16, 17

As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water.

At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.

And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

9 centurions mentioned in the New Testament

1. Unnamed man in Capernaum Matthew 8:5ff; Luke 7:1ff.

When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help.

2. Unnamed man in charge of the crucifixion of Christ Matthew 27:54, Mark 15:39-45, Luke 23:47

When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!"
3. Cornelius of the Italian Regiment Acts 10:1ff

At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment.

4. Unnamed man who is about to flog Paul when he learns he is a Roman citizen Acts 22:25ff

As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, "Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn't even been found guilty?" 

5. Unnamed man Paul asks to take his nephew to his commanding officer Acts 23:17ff

Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, "Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him." 

6. Unnamed men who took Paul to Caesarea Acts 23:23ff

Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, "Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight.

7. Unnamed man told to look after Paul Acts 24:23

He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs.

8. Julius of the Imperial Regiment Acts 27:1ff

When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the Imperial Regiment. 

6 heart sins listed by Jesus in Matthew

Matthew 15:18-20 

But the things that come out of a person's mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts - 

murder,

adultery,

sexual immorality,

theft,

false testimony,

slander.

These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them."

8 beatitudes Jesus announces to start the Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 5:3-10
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

7 woes of Jesus against the Pharisees and teachers of the law

Matthew 23:13-39

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!

You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.*

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!

You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.

Woe to you, blind guides! You say, 'If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath.'  You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? You also say, 'If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath.' You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? Therefore, anyone who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. And anyone who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. And anyone who swears by heaven swears by God's throne and by the one who sits on it.

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!

You give a tenth of your spices - mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law - justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practised the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!

You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.  Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. 

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!

You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!

You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. And you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.' So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. Go ahead, then, and complete what your ancestors started!

*Some mss add a verse 14 Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers, therefore you will receive greater condemnation.

3 names to avoid when addressing Christian leaders

Matthew 23:8-12

But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers.

And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.

Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah.

The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

6 things the Pharisees did just for people to see

Matthew 23:5-7 Everything they do is done for people to see:

They make their phylacteries* wide

and the tassels on their garments long;

they love the place of honour at banquets

and the most important seats in the synagogues;

they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces

and to be called 'Rabbi' by others.

*small leather boxes containing Hebrew texts on vellum, worn by Jewish men at prayer as a reminder to keep the law

12 disciples as listed in the Gospels and Acts

Lists of the twelve disciples are found in all three synoptic Gospels and in Acts (the 11) as follows

Matthew 10:2-4

These are the names of the twelve apostles:

first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 

Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Mark 3:13-19

Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach  and to have authority to drive out demons. These are the twelve he appointed:

Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means "sons of thunder"),

Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas,

James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Luke 6:12-16

One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: 

Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John,

Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas,

James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

Acts 1:13

When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were

Peter, John, James and Andrew;

Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew;

James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.

Definitively

Simon (who Jesus nicknamed Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John;

Philip and Bartholomew (called Nathanael in John); Thomas and Matthew the tax collector (also known as Levi);

James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus (also known as Judas son of James); Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.