Matthew 5: Today’s Reading

May 1, 2021 in Today's Reading by TGV

Matthew 5: Bible Reading Plan/ The Book of Matthew 5/ Theme: The Sermon on the Mount, Part 1: Jesus lays down the principles; rules of the Kingdom of God, (Mt 5:1–48).


 

Matthew 5 (NKJV) — 1 And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. 17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. 23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26 Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny. 27 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 31 “Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery. 33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ 34 But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one. 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.


 

40-BSG-5C: INTRODUCTION.

The Book of Matthew 5/ Introduction/ 40-BSG-5C, (Matthew 5:1-48).

Jesus Christ is indeed the King, and in this chapter, the King sets the Agenda. Just as a way of review, the purpose of Matthew’s gospel is very clear: to demonstrate that Jesus Christ is the Jewish nation’s long-awaited Messiah. No other gospel presents Christ in Royal Colors like Matthew.

  • The King’s Ancestry—His genealogy (1:1-17)
  • The King’s Arrival—His virgin birth (1:18-25)
  • The King’s Adoration—the worship of the magi (2:1-12)
  • The King’s Anticipation—the fulfilled prophecies of His coming (2:13-23)
  • The King’s Announcer—John the Baptist (3:1-12)
  • The King’s Affirmation—His Baptism; His Sonship affirmed by the Father (3:13-17)
  • The King’s Advantage—His defeat of Satan (4:1-11)
  • The King’s Activity—His ministry and miracles (4:12-25)
  • The King’s AddressHis Manifesto: The Sermon on the Mount (5-7)

“The Sermon on the Mount is very carefully structured. The nine Beatitudes (5:3–12) and the salt and light metaphors (5:13–16) form the sermon’s introduction. Matthew 5:17–20 provides the thesis statement of the greater righteousness required of Jesus’ disciples. Matthew 5:21–48 contrasts Jesus’ teaching with the law by means of six antitheses. Matthew 6:1–18 contrasts true and hypocritical piety by means of three examples. Matthew 6:19–34 turns to social issues, with various commands regarding money and true riches. Matthew 7:1–12 gives three further commands on how to treat others. Matthew 7:13–27 concludes the sermon with three illustrations of the only two possible responses to Jesus’ message.”  — [Craig Blomberg, Matthew, The New American Commentary, (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 22:95–96].


 

40-BSG-5E: TEACHING OUTLINE.

Bible Study Guide/ Teaching Outline/ Matthew 5, (40-BSG-5E)/ Theme: The Sermon on the Mount, Part 1: Jesus lays down the principles; rules of the Kingdom of God, (Mt 5:1–48).

An Overview: Matthew 5–7 contains Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. The first section is known as the Beatitudes (vv. 3-16), which describes how citizens of the kingdom of heaven should live. In the next section, Christ shows the importance of God’s Law (vv. 17-20); the last section, Christ magnifies the Law (vv. 21-48). He does this by presenting six antitheses—statements using opposites to make a point. We hear this familiar phrase — “You have heard that it was said to those of old” …. “But I say to you.” In other words, He is correcting the misconception/ misguided rabbinical teaching of the Law of God.

Characters: God, Jesus, the Disciples, the Multitudes.

Key Text: “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.” (Matthew 5:17, NKJV)

Key Word: Sermon on the Mount, (Mt 5:1-2)

Striking Verses: Matthew 5: 21, 22, 27, 28, 31, 32, 33, 34, 38, 39, 43, 44.

Division of Main Points — The Sermon on the Mount: Intro; the Setting (5:1–2)/ The Beatitudes: Kingdom Blessings (5:3–12)/ Salt and Light (5:13–16)/ The Preeminence of God’s Law (5:17–20)/ The Law of God illustrated: Murder (5:21–26)/ The Law of God illustrated: Adultery (5:27–30)/ The Law of God illustrated: Divorce (5:31–32)/ The Law of God illustrated: Oaths (5:33–37)/ The Law of God illustrated: Retaliation (5:38–42)/ The Law of God illustrated: Loving Enemies (5:43–48)

Biblical Events – [Events Occurring]: Jesus’ ministry, (Mt 3:13–19:22); Jesus’ Galilean ministry, (Mt 4:12–11:19); Jesus teaches the Sermon on the Mount, (Mt 5:1–7:29).

Biblical Phrases – “Blessed are you,”  “You have heard that it was said to those of old,”  “Love your enemies”

Issues for Further Study – Ten Commandments; Jesus’ fulfillment of Old Testament; Jesus and The Law of God; Wisdom of Jesus Christ; Will of God; Enmity (Bitterness/ Unforgiveness); Transcendence nature of God’s Law; Suffering of believers; Sufficiency of Scripture; Sin and God’s character; Significance of Moses (OT Scriptures); Self-righteousness and the Gospel; Righteousness of believers; Revenge and Retaliation; Promises in Mt 5; Divine vs. Human perfection; Opposition to Sin and Evil; Inheritance of heaven; Entry into kingdom of God; Characteristics of kingdom of God.

Striking Facts: The Sermon on the Mount, Part 1: Jesus lays down the principles and rules of the Kingdom.

  1. The Beatitudes! Do you want to be a citizen of the Kingdom of God? Have these qualities, (Mt 5:3–12)
  2. Faith without works is Dead! Demonstrate that you are a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven by being “the salt” and “the Light” to the world around you, (Mt 5:13–15).
  3. Remember, Sin dishonors God, but Good behavior honors God! When people (unbelievers) see your good works.. “they will glorify your Father in heaven” (Mt 5:16). In other words, you are “a written epistle,” meaning your life is like a letter, everyone can read it (2 Cor. 3:2), so behave yourself; for you are God’s ambassador here on Earth.
  4. Christ did not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill and magnify it (Mt 5:17)
  5. The Law of God stands forever (Mt 5:18) “Heaven and earth will perish and pass away, but My words will not perish or pass away.” (Mark 13:31, AMP).
  6. Those who obey and teach God’s laws will be great in the Kingdom of Heaven (Mt 5:19)
  7. People like the godless Pharisees, who do not obey the law, will not enter into the Kingdom (Mt 5:20)
  8. Jesus says that hating someone is the same as murder. Our relationship with God is dependent on our relationship with others (Mt 5:21-26)
  9. Jesus teaches that looking lustfully at someone is the same as adultery, (Mt 5:27-30)
  10. Jesus teaches that unlawful divorce and remarriage is the same as adultery, (Mt 5:31-32)
  11. Jesus says, “Don’t make any vows!” A simple Yes or No should suffice, (Mt 5:33-37)
  12. Jesus says to turn the other cheek and to do more than is demanded, (Mt 5:38-42)
  13. Jesus says, “Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!” -(Mt 5:43-47)
  14. Jesus says, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (Mt 5:48, KJV)

Key Thought: Every Christian should be a light shining for the LORD! The world is filled with the darkness of sin, and needs every light possible to lighten it. We ought to give light— “You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men” (2 Cor. 3:2) People read our lives, therefore, we must remember this and be careful how we conduct ourselves. Every child of God will be manifested in the world by his shining and burning as a light for Christ, by his quiet and savory influence in society, and by his conformity to the Law (the Word) of God in all things. Secondly, as God’s little lights, we must give direction: Show to the world that Christ is the way, truth and life—(Jn. 14:6). Thirdly, we ought to give guidance: “A city set on the hill (a devoted Christian) cannot be hid” (Mt 5:14).

Admonitions: “Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,” (Philippians 2:14–15, NKJV)

Warm Up Questions:

  1. Why ‘sitting’ while giving the sermon? (5:1)
  2. Why rejoice and be glad about persecution? (5:12)
  3. What attitudes does the LORD promise to bless? (3-12)
  4. How is a lamp or candle made to serve its purpose? (5:15)
  5. How should we use spiritual light? To what end? (5:16)
  6. There are three reasons why the Law is Preeminent. Discuss (5:17)
  7. How long will the law remain unchanged? (5:18)
  8. Of what importance is the keeping of the Law? (5:19)
  9. Of what importance is the teaching of the Law? (5:19).
  10. How can our righteousness ‘exceeds’ the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees’ (5:20)
  11. What is the meaning of being called ‘the least’ in the kingdom of heaven? (5:20b)
  12. What was said by them of old time about killing? (5:21)
  13. How should we seek right relations with our fellow men before coming to worship God? (5: 23, 24)
  14. Why should we agree quickly with an adversary? (5:25, 26).
  15. Does infidelity mandate divorce? (5:32)
  16. Who can be as perfect as God? (5:48)
  17. What do you think is the main point God is making by including this chapter in the Bible?
  18. What response do you think this chapter should inspires us to do?

THE END: Welcome for comments, further discussion as we attempt to answer these questions. Use the Bible, SOP, Commentaries, Dictionaries, etc. God Bless You!

 

 

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