Haggai 2:10-23 Bible Study
Basic Questions, Advanced Questions, Question formats
Haggai Basic Bible Study Questions
Haggai 2:10-23
• How many months have passed before Haggai's former word (2:1) and this new word (2:10)?
• What ruling did Haggai ask the priests to make? (Haggai 2:11-12)
• How did the priests answer? (Haggai 2:12)
• What did Haggai ask the priests a second time? (Haggai 2:13)
• How did the priests answer this time? (Haggai 2:13)
• What is Haggai's conclusion about the Israelite people from these two questions? (Haggai 2:14)
• What was the result of their uncleanness? Name at least four results. (Haggai 2:14-17)
• What caused the Israelites to finally obtain God's blessing? (Haggai 2:18-19)
• Two months later on the 9th m onty, Haggai came by and made two important spiritual principles by asking for the priests to clarify two rulings. What were these two rulings and how did the priests answer? (Haggai 2:11-13)
• The first ruling has to do with the way a person becomes holy or righteous. They cannot get holy by touching something that is holy. Would a holy temple, then, help them become holy? List some things people think will help them be holy if they come in contact with that thing. Do you believe any holy things can make you holy? Where do you get your holiness from? Were you holy from birth?
• The second ruling (2:13) declares that which is holy can be contaminated by that which is dead. If a dead person, for example, touches a holy priest, he must separate himself for seven days. This probably speaks of the polluting power of the old nature - the flesh. We have died to the old man, but if in anyway we live by its power, we are corrupted along with it. The flesh cannot do anything good. Read through Galatians 5:16-21. When was the last time you let the flesh lead you in some deed rather than the Spirit? What was the result? How did you recover?
• Both of these rulings or principles show the utter helplessness of our good deeds to make us holy. This is the conclusion of verse 14. The works of the flesh cannot produce anything that is spiritual. Everything is unclean. Do you believe that a person can gain righteousness by trying hard in doing well? Why or why not? How does verses 2:15-17 show the result of our unclean lives.
• Haggai 2:18-19 is set apart in contrast to the former verses. In the former, they were living under the curse of the law. It never could make a person righteous but only reveal unrighteousness. The new covenant in Christ, however, can declare a person righteous. How is a person to gain this righteousness? What does John 1:12-13 say about this? What about Romans 3:21-24? Does God see you as a righteous person? If so, how?
• Real blessings come by Christ work on the cross. The temple building that they were building prefigured Christ's work on the cross. What does the word 'gospel' mean? How does 2 Corinthians 5:17 refer to this new blessing found in Christ? Do you think a person can be blessed if he doesn't believe and follow Christ? If yes, on what grounds do you believe this? On what grounds does Haggai 2:18 state that one gains God's blessing?
• Jesus Christ is not only priest (Temple) but also king. Kings like Darius and all the other ones will fall down before Christ the King. Some people believe Jesus is king only when He returns. Notice that it is the same day that Jesus is priest that He is king (Haggai 2:18, 20). What does John 18:36 say about Christ's kingship? Is He now king? Check out Revelation 1:5-6. Practically, do you now recognize Jesus as true king or another? Do you obey Him without question?
Information on the Question Format
Basic Questions
These answers will be found right in the Bible passage. The NASB text is used because it is most literal (though not always best). These questions encourage one to ask, "What does the passage actually say?"
Advanced and Application Questions
Advanced and application questions are combined together in the Advanced Questions. These answers will not be found in the text as the basic questions. One has to use other knowledge that one has gleaned over the years to answer these questions properly. They are meant to encourage one to dig deeper into the point of the passage. These questions would have one ask, "What does it mean?"
Application questions are meant to be personal and have to do with ones own life. These questions encourage one to ask, "What does the passage mean to me?"
Special Study: Discovering an Effective Leadership Model from Haggai Special Study: Overcoming Discouragement & Depression from Haggai
Biblical Foundations for Freedom
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