Study The Chosen - Season 1 Episode 2

"The Chosen" Season 1 Episode 2 - Small Group Study

OK, we're on to episode 2 of season 1. We see some key developments in this episode. Simon is working to find merchant fishermen about to fish on the Sabbath, Matthew comes to Quintus with concerns that his deal with Simon is a bad one, and Nicodemus investigates the report that Mary has been healed of her demonic possession.  

But let's take a look at Matthew's relationship with his family. Matthew was a tax collector. He was hated by fellow Jews because he was working for the Romans occupying their land by collecting taxes from his own people for the Romans. He was considered a traitor. In his conversation with Gaius we learn that Matthew's father "says he has no son." He has disowned him. I'm sure Matthew's father and mother would have been looked down upon in the community because their son joined the Romans in tax collecting. They were ashamed of him. 

On Shabbat evening, Matthew longs to have Shabbat dinner with his family, but couldn't get up the courage to knock on the door. Have you ever felt you wanted to make amends with someone, but couldn't find the courage? Or have you ever showed love to someone despite the sin they continue in?

Then we see Nicodemus in disbelief that someone else had healed Mary. She told him it wasn't anything he had done, but that it was someone else. She went on to say, "I was one way, and now I am completely different. And the thing that happened in between, was him (Jesus)." You later see Mary trying to host Shabbat dinner...trying to do things right and honor God although she hasn't been doing in the recent past. She was truly thankful, truly changed. Have you had a significant change in your spiritual life? Or a period where you changed abruptly out of an outpouring of love and thankfulness to our Savior?

Summary Questions:

• Have you ever felt you wanted to make amends with someone, but couldn't find the courage?
• Have you ever showed love to someone despite the sin they continue in?
• Have you had a significant change in your spiritual life? 
• Have you had a period where you changed abruptly out of an outpouring of love and thankfulness to our Savior?