Nehemiah Chapter 13 Summary
Cleansing the temple. Nehemiah's second visit to Jerusalem and his further reforms.
Discussion Questions for Nehemiah, Chapter 13
- What might be the reason foreigners can't enter the assembly? How might you respond to someone who says this is ethnocentric?
- Relate this passage to 2 Corinthians 6:14. What is the connection, and what lesson does this have for us today?
- Verse 2 describes God's turning a curse into a blessing. How have you experienced similar things in your own life?
- Was divorce the answer to the problem in verse 3? Give reasons for either option. How should believers respond in similar situations today?
- Why is it a problem that an enemy is in the temple in verse 7? How can we apply this to protecting the community of believers today?
- Is Nehemiah justified in his response in verse 8? Why or why not? How should leaders act in discipline today?
- What is wrong in verse 10, and why is this a problem? How does this relate to tithing and providing for church leaders today?
- What do the actions in verse 15 show us about how the people had a lack of respect for God? How is this a warning for us today?
- How does verse 25 show us the dangers of a leader with an anger problem? Have you seen examples of this in our own day? How can churches guard against this?
- Why do you think the author ends Nehemiah on such a negative note? How does this show us that the story of Israel is not yet complete and push us to hope in a coming Savior? How does this relate to our lives today?
Key Words/Phrase
Cleansed, v. 30.
Characters
God, Nehemiah, Eliashib, Tobiah.