Book of Matthew Quiz: Jerusalem, the Passion and Resurrection

1. When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, which Old Testament prophet did Matthew say this fulfilled?

1. Isaiah
2. Jeremiah
3. Micah
4. Zechariah

2. The day after the triumphal entry, Jesus cursed a fig tree because it had no fruit. What did the disciples notice the next morning?

1. The tree had been struck by lightning
2. The tree had produced fruit overnight
3. The tree had withered from the roots
4. The tree was bare but still living

3. In Matthew 22, the Sadducees — who say there is no resurrection — tested Jesus with a question about a woman who had seven husbands. What was Jesus' conclusion?

1. God himself would determine who she would be with
2. Marriage does not exist in heaven — people are like angels
3. She would be reunited with her first husband only
4. The resurrection is symbolic, not physical

4. When a Pharisee lawyer asked Jesus which was the greatest commandment in the law, what did Jesus say was the second greatest?

1. 'Do not make idols or worship them'
2. 'Honour your father and mother'
3. 'Keep the Sabbath holy'
4. 'Love your neighbour as yourself'

5. In Matthew 23, Jesus pronounced seven 'woes' against whom?

1. The crowds who had rejected his miracles
2. The Romans for their oppression of Israel
3. The Sadducees for denying the resurrection
4. The teachers of the law and Pharisees — calling them hypocrites

6. On the Mount of Olives, Jesus gave the Olivet Discourse. What event prompted the disciples to ask about the end times?

1. A solar eclipse visible from the mount
2. Jesus driving merchants from the temple
3. Jesus pointing out that not one stone of the temple would be left on another
4. Jesus weeping over Jerusalem

7. In the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25), what separated the five wise virgins from the five foolish ones?

1. The wise ones arrived early; the foolish ones were late
2. The wise ones believed; the foolish ones doubted
3. The wise ones had extra oil for their lamps; the foolish ones ran out
4. The wise ones knew the bridegroom; the foolish ones were strangers

8. In the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25), what did the master say to the servant who buried his single talent in the ground?

1. 'Give it back and leave — you are no longer my servant'
2. 'You were too cautious — you should have invested it'
3. 'You wicked, lazy servant! You should have at least put my money in the bank to earn interest'
4. 'Your one talent will be given to one of the others'

9. At the Last Supper in Matthew 26, what did Jesus say about the cup he shared with the disciples?

1. 'Drink this in remembrance of me until I come again'
2. 'I will not drink this fruit of the vine again until I drink it new in the kingdom'
3. 'This is the blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins'
4. 'This is the covenant blood of God — do not drink it carelessly'

10. For how many pieces of silver did Judas agree to betray Jesus?

1. 10
2. 20
3. 30
4. 50

11. When Jesus prayed in Gethsemane, what did he ask of Peter, James and John?

1. To be on guard against Judas and those who were coming
2. To pray with him for one hour and not fall asleep
3. To remain with him as a show of loyalty before his arrest
4. To take the gospel to the four corners of the city

12. After his arrest, how many times did Peter deny Jesus before the rooster crowed?

1. Four times
2. Once
3. Three times
4. Twice

13. What did Judas do with the thirty pieces of silver after Jesus was condemned?

1. He buried them so no one would find the evidence
2. He donated them to the temple treasury
3. He returned them to the disciples to fund the ministry
4. He threw them into the temple and hanged himself

14. Pontius Pilate's wife sent him a message during Jesus' trial. What did it say?

1. 'Beware of this man — he has great power over the people'
2. 'Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him'
3. 'He is a prophet of God and the senate has warned us not to harm him'
4. 'Release him — the people will revolt if you condemn an innocent man'

15. What did the crowd cry out when Pilate offered to release one prisoner at Passover — Jesus or Barabbas?

1. 'Let Caesar decide'
2. 'Release Barabbas! Crucify Jesus!'
3. 'Release Jesus!'
4. 'We want no part in this — judge as you see fit'

16. What events occurred at the moment of Jesus' death according to Matthew — events not recorded with the same detail in other Gospels?

1. A great earthquake and an angelic appearance at the tomb
2. Darkness fell over all the land and the stars disappeared
3. The temple curtain tore and the sun went dark
4. The temple curtain tore, an earthquake struck, rocks split and tombs broke open — bodies of holy people were raised

17. Who asked Pilate for the body of Jesus after the crucifixion?

1. John, the beloved disciple
2. Joseph of Arimathea
3. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary
4. Nicodemus

18. Why did the chief priests ask Pilate to place a guard at Jesus' tomb?

1. Because Roman law required a guard at all executed criminals' tombs
2. To ensure no unauthorised person entered the sealed tomb
3. To prevent his disciples from staging a public display of mourning
4. To stop his followers from stealing the body and claiming he had risen from the dead

19. When the women arrived at the tomb on the first day of the week, what happened according to Matthew?

1. Jesus himself met them at the entrance to the tomb
2. The guards told them Jesus had risen and the tomb was empty
3. There was a violent earthquake and an angel rolled back the stone and sat on it — his appearance was like lightning
4. They found the stone rolled away and two angels inside

20. How does Matthew's Gospel end — what is the final command Jesus gives, known as the Great Commission?

1. 'Feed my sheep — take the gospel to Jew and Gentile alike'
2. 'Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you'
3. 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation'
4. 'You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses to the ends of the earth'