Today’s passage: Matthew 6:5-18

Helpful thoughts:

• The Jews who were being actors (hypocrites) loved to pray publicly for the praise of man.
• The Gentiles prayed long, wordy prayers hoping to awaken, alert, convince, etc. their gods.
• The true God can be reached through prayer at any time (“When you pray”) and knows what we will pray before we even say or think a word.  He isn’t impressed with repetition or theological vocabulary.  He knows and looks at the heart.
• In this example prayer:
  • The Father is addressed and praised
  • His purposes and will are acknowledged
  • Requests are made for needs
  • Forgiveness is sought for our sin
  • Protection is requested from evil

Questions to consider:

1. How is this passage similar to what we read yesterday?  What is the common principle?
2. Who is prayer for?  Who is the on the receiving end?  How does this make prayer and fasting for show make no sense?
3. If God already knows what we are going to pray, is prayer for the purpose of communication to make Him aware or is it for relationship?  Who benefits from prayer (and fasting)?  How does this display God’s love for us?
4. How would acknowledging God’s perfect will and purposes help us to reorient our view towards our requests in prayer?
5. How do verses 14-15 compare with verse 5?  What kind of heart will pray the best kind of prayer?

Today’s passage: Matthew 6:1-4

Helpful thoughts:

• The word used here that is translated as “Beware” means to take a hold of something and look at it.  We can look at our motives right now of the things we have been doing.  And, we can take a hold and look at our motives before we act going forward.
• Hypocrite is the Greek word for an actor; portraying someone that you are not for a show.  Those trumpeting their good works to receive praise were not doing good works and deserved no praise.  They were just actors, playing the part of a righteous person.

Questions to consider:

1. What is the motive of being seen in this passage?  How does it differ from the motive in Matthew 5:16?
2. Why does it feel better to be praised by people than to know we are pleasing God?
3. How will practicing righteousness (loving God and loving people) for the right reasons produce more joy?

Today’s passage: Matthew 5:38-48

Helpful thoughts:

• The principle of eye-for-eye and tooth-for-tooth from the Law (Exodus 21 & Leviticus 24) was intended to put a limit on punishment to ensure appropriate justice. It was not meant to be a license for vengeance.
• A slap in the face was a showing of great dishonor.  Not meant to injure, but to demean.
• People could sue and literally be rewarded clothing in the courts at that time if the person being sued did not have other means to pay.
• Roman soldiers were allowed by law to require bystanders to carry their packs for a mile.
• When people have a genuine need, we are told to not have a selfish view of possessions.
• All of these requirements are to be honored whether we like the other person or not.

Questions to consider:

1. What is the motive of retaliation?  How does being in Christ alleviate that felt need?
2. Does the Old Testament really say, “Love your neighbor, hate your enemy”?  What had to happen for that saying to be well known among the people?
3. Why is it easy to do good to those who are good to us and hard to do good to those who aren’t good to us?
4. How are we being like Jesus when we do good for those who do harm to us?  What did He do?  Were we the ones doing good for him or were we His enemies? (Look up Romans 5:8)

Today’s passage: Matthew 5:31-37

Helpful thoughts:

• Parents, if you are using these thoughts and questions for family devotions, please read through the content first before you begin…use discretion appropriate to your child’s level of maturity.
• In this passage again, marriage is defined as a union between one man, and one woman, for life.
• Jesus specifically is emphasizing the permanence of the relationship.
  • The reason it is adultery to marry another man’s wife is because she is supposed to be another man’s wife.
  • The same thing is true the other way around.
• Only sexual immorality is given by Jesus as a warranted reason to end the union.  Since the act of sexual immorality itself unites a person to another…the union has already been severed.
  • Remember, sin is at the heart level.  Pornography IS cheating.
  • Also note, this is a reason why divorce would be warranted, but it is not a command.  A marriage that has experienced the pain and rejection that sexual immorality causes can be healed by the grace of God!
  • See 1 Corinthians 7 for more helpful principles during difficult situations in the marriage union.

 

• Oaths had become commonplace in the culture Jesus was speaking directly into.
  • They were made for minuscule obligations.
  • They were made to impress people.
  • They were made in order to lie and manipulate.
• It is better to just do what you say than to impress people in the way you speak.

Questions to consider:

1. Why is it so important to honor your word?
2. What things do people vow at their wedding?
3.  How could yesterday’s passage (Radical amputation) help you win victory with the struggles that could pertain to today’s passage?
4. Compare and contrast the view of marriage and sex found in these passages with the world’s view today.
5. What would be the benefit(s) of viewing marriage and sex the way God does? (Would it be acceptable to have a different view than God?)
6. Why is there hope for people who have sinned in the areas of marriage and/or sex?  Are these unpardonable sins?
7. Can you think of some examples of people in Scripture whom God used in a great way after they had fallen into sin in these areas?

Today’s passage: Matthew 5:27-30

Helpful thoughts:

• This passage shares another example of our outward sin originating in the heart.  What we are inside, in the heart will come out.  We do what we do because we want what we want.  Sin starts in the heart, not after we commit the act.
• We want what we want because we think how we think…
• We think how we think because of the content of our influences.
• The idea of plucking out our eyes and cutting off our hand is often referred to as “radical amputation.”
• The Greek word translates as “causes you” to sin is like a trap that is set.  The idea is when you know a trap is set for you to sin, do whatever it takes to remove it.
• If you are willingly continuing in sin and not taking any steps or making any effort to repent, you shouldn’t be so sure that you are a Christian. (Romans 6:12-14, 1 John 1:6)

Questions to consider:

1. If you are struggling with a great deal of temptation (In any area!), why would it make sense to evaluate your reading/entertainment and even friend choices?  How might all of these things be influencing your thinking?
2. Is there a trap that you know is set in your life that you need to amputate? What have you done to overcome the sin?
3. Why does it make sense that Christians fight to conquer sin in their lives?  What would a person not understand if they think they can keep on sinning that grace may abound…?

Today’s passage: Matthew 5:21-26

Helpful thoughts:

• Murder is a result of anger/hatred in the heart.  God looks at the heart.  So anger in the heart is liable to judgement and the other outward manifestations of anger (e.g. verbal insults) will be held to the same standard and consequences.
• Resolving conflict with others must precede an act of worship.
• Resolving conflict is an act of repentance.  You cannot ask God to forgive you while refusing to repent.
• Reconciling with your accuser “while you are going” gives the idea of a speedy resolution.
  • Reconcile as soon as possible.
  • Reconcile quickly.

Questions to consider:

1. Is there any unsettled anger in your heart?
2. Are there any people you have unresolved conflict with that you have not yet sought to reconcile? (If you need help here, let me know!)
3. If it was totally up to us, would we ever be able to pay “every last penny?”  Can we truly make up for everything we have done wrong in our relationships?
4. To what major need is Jesus pointed us?  How can we pay our debt?

Today’s passage: Matthew 5:17-20

Helpful thoughts:

• The “Law or the Prophets” are terms referring to the whole of the Old Testament.
• Jesus fulfilled the Law by keeping it perfectly. He was perfect in righteousness.
• Also, Jesus was the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets (The OT).  Everything in the Old Testament comes to fruition in Him.
• The ioda and dot represent the smallest letter and a portion of a letter which changed the sound of the pronunciation in the Hebrew alphabet.  Jesus was being very thorough to make a point.
• The word “exceeds”, in the sentence, “Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” refers to the idea of a river or stream that is overflowing.  Picture the water coming up and flowing out from within the river bed.
  • Contrast that picture with Jesus’ rebuke of the scribes and Pharisees from Matthew 23:27-28 –  “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”

Questions to consider:

1. Why is it important to teach and learn from the Old Testament?
2. How does Jesus’ promise to preserve the Word of God give us confidence today?
3. Why is it so important that Jesus perfectly fulfilled the Law in His personal righteousness?
4. How is it possible for us to exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees?  How does righteousness get in us in the first place in order to flow out in our lives?

Today’s passage: Matthew 5:13-16

Helpful thoughts:

• Every time Jesus says “you” or “your” in this passage, He is speaking in the plural form.  So, none of this saltiness or shining as a light is an individual endeavor.  We are responsible as church to collectively be salt and light.
• Salt is a preservative.  The world is given to corruption.
• Light dispels darkness.  When a person in the world is blinded by the darkness, they need to see light.
• The method of being salt and light.  Do good works that can be seen by the world.
  • The result is not for us to be praised.
  • The result is for them to begin praising God, giving glory to the Father.
    • People who are rejecting God do not give glory to the Father… (See question 1)

Questions to consider:

1. What will the result be when lost people see First Baptist Church being salt and light?  What will have to happen for them to go from being alienated from God, to giving Him glory and praise?
2. How should the fact that Jesus was speaking the in the plural form of “you” impact the way you interact with the church?  Are your efforts more powerful when they are apart from the church or when they are united with the church?
3. Compare and contrast Matthew 5:16 (“That they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”) and Matthew 6:3 (“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.”).  What is the difference between these two passages that makes one good and one bad?  What is the motive behind the good works and being seen?

Today’s passage: Matthew 5:1-12

Helpful thoughts:

• Today, we start reading through “The Sermon on the Mount”.  It lasts through chapter 7.  The portion in verses 3-7 is called the “Beatitudes”.
• As we read through this sermon, remember the context of the whole gospel account.  Jesus is going to the cross at the end of this book!  The grace of God has come and the Messiah is going to save His people from their sins.  The things Jesus teaches here are true of Christians as they grow in sanctification.  They are NOT the things people must do in order to become Christians.
• The word translated as “blessed” repeatedly here in this passage means – happy, fortunate, blissful.
• Here are some helpful ideas that would be equated with the beatitudes listed in this passage:
  • Poor in spirit=Humble
  • Mourning=Godly sorrow over our sin
  • Meek=Gentle, submissive, tenderhearted
  • Hunger and thirst for righteousness=Intensely (As if starving and dehydrated) pursuing Christ-likeness
  • Merciful=Not giving people what you think they should deserve
  • Pure in heart=Sincerity, not religious for show
  • Peacemakers=Pointing people to Jesus to make and mature disciples (Where else could you find peace?)
  • Persecuted for righteousness sake=Persecution can include anything from physical abuse, verbal insults or even false accusation and injustice.
    • A person displaying the previous characteristics for the sake of Christ will share in Christ’s sufferings. (2 Timothy 3:12)
    • Getting into a political argument or being given a speeding ticket (When you really were speeding), etc. are not examples of persecution. (See list above…)

Questions to consider:

1. What does Jesus obviously want His followers to be?  What word was repeated several times in this passage?
2. When we get upset at consequences for sin in our lives, what are we not being?  Go through the list…
3. In what ways might these characteristics be perceived as not “manly”?  What might that tell us about the source of our definitions of manhood and womanhood?
4. Which characteristics do you see the least in your life?  You could ask a trusted person to help you identify a blind spot.
5. Is there a sin in your life that the Spirit has brought to your mind?  How could this list of characteristics help you to repent and have victory?

Today’s passage: Matthew 4:18-25

Helpful thoughts:

• When Jesus called His disciples to follow Him, He was also calling them to leave (to abandon) their present lives.  There is a cost to being a disciple.
• Notice, the disciples were not convinced listeners who decided to accept Jesus.  They were compelled and committed followers.  This is the grace of God.
• Jesus’ ministry consisted of teaching, preaching and healing.  He was ministering in word and in deed.

Questions to consider:

1. What does it mean to be a fisher of men?
2. What did the disciples leave to follow Jesus?
3. How does the example given here of following Jesus compare to the idea that Jesus wants you “healthy and wealthy”?
4. When did the large crowds start following Jesus around?
5. Does this passage require all Christians everywhere to sell everything they have?  What are some other examples of Christians who remained in their houses and worked in their businesses that God used? What did those Christians still understand to be true of the things they possessed? (Think stewardship)
6. What are the dangers of using specific examples and turning them into universal commands?
7. How could you apply the principle of following Jesus in your life today?