Life Is a Banquet, and Most Poor Suckers Are Starving to Death

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A Lenten Bible study

Note: There are also daily readings for the entire Lenten season.

Overview

Part 1. Speaking of banquets, let’s look at the Book of Esther — it has lots of banquets.

  1. March 10 (Esther Part One): Read Esther 1-5 and watch this video afterward.
  2. March 17 (Esther Part Two): Read Esther 6-10 and watch this video afterward.

Part 2. Who is starving? Jesus in the desert for 40 days and 40 nights.

  1. March 24: Read Matthew 4:1-11, then Matthew 4:1-4 specifically, reflecting on the first temptation of Jesus.
  2.  March 31: Review Matthew 4:1-11 in full again, then Matthew 4:5-7 specifically, reflecting on the second temptation.
  3. April 7: Review Matthew 4:1-11 in full again, then Matthew 4:8-11 specifically, reflecting on the third temptation.

Holy Week

April 14: Introduction to Holy Week. Refer to the daily readings and event schedule for our church. 

Weekly readings

Part 1: The Book of Esther

Fun fact: Esther is the one book in the Bible with no mention of God. Click here for a quick summary of what the Book of Esther is all about. We will break it down into two parts.

March 10: Esther 1-5
March 17: Esther 6-10

Take action

Re-watch the video summary and reflect on whether you agree with its explanation of the Book of Esther.

Watch Now

Part 2: The three temptations of Christ

March 24: The first test 
Next Jesus was taken into the wild by the Spirit for the Test. The Devil was ready to give it. Jesus prepared for the Test by fasting forty days and forty nights. That left him, of course, in a state of extreme hunger, which the Devil took advantage of in the first test: “Since you are God’s Son, speak the word that will turn these stones into loaves of bread.” 

Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: “It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God’s mouth.” (Matthew 4:1-4)

Here’s that Deuteronomy cross-reference:

And He humbled you and let you go hungry, and fed you with the manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, in order to make you understand that man shall not live on bread alone, but man shall live on everything that comes out of the mouth of the Lord. (Deuteronomy 8:3)
March 31: The second test
For the second test the Devil took him to the Holy City. He sat him on top of the Temple and said, “Since you are God’s Son, jump.” The Devil goaded him by quoting Psalm 91: “He has placed you in the care of angels. They will catch you so that you won’t so much as stub your toe on a stone.” 

Jesus countered with another citation from Deuteronomy: “Don’t you dare test the Lord your God.” (Matthew 4:5-7)

Here are those cross-references: 

For He will give His angels orders concerning you,
To protect you in all your ways.
On their hands they will lift you up,
So that you do not strike your foot against a stone. (Psalm 91:11-12)
You shall not put the Lord your God to the test, as you tested Him at Massah. (Deuteronomy 6:16)
April 7: The third test
For the third test, the Devil took him to the peak of a huge mountain. He gestured expansively, pointing out all the earth’s kingdoms, how glorious they all were. Then he said, "They’re yours—lock, stock, and barrel. Just go down on your knees and worship me, and they’re yours." 

Jesus’ refusal was curt: “Beat it, Satan!” He backed his rebuke with a third quotation from Deuteronomy: “Worship the Lord your God, and only him. Serve him with absolute single-heartedness.” 

The Test was over. The Devil left. And in his place, angels! Angels came and took care of Jesus’ needs. (Matthew 4:8-22)

Here’s that Deuteronomy cross-reference: 

Deeply respect God, your God. Serve and worship him exclusively. (Deuteronomy 6:13)
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