Week 2: Matthew 5:1 – 5:30

Reading 1: Matthew 5:1-12

5 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 [a]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.

Reading 1 Questions:

  1. Poor in spirit –
    1. Describe what you think being poor in spirit is, and why do you think Jesus says, “theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (5:3)?
    2. Look up meaning of “poor” in this scripture in BibleHub Matthew 5:3, See also, Luke 4:17-18 .
    3. How can I practice being poor in spirit as a follower of Christ?
  2. Those who mourn –
    1. Look up the meaning of mourn in BibleHub Matthew 5:4, See also 2 Cor. 7:10. What do you think Jesus is talking about when he says, “those who mourn”?
    2. How is this connected to repentance and following Jesus?
    3. How do we receive comfort for “mourning” over our sin?
  3. Blessed are the meek –
    1. Look up the word meek up in BibleHub Matthew 5:5  See also Philippians 2:5-11 and 1 Peter 5:5 What do you think Jesus is talking about here when He says the meek will be blessed and inherit the earth (keep in mind the other references)?
    2. How can I practice meekness in my life?
    3. Why does it matter?

Reading 2: Matthew 5:6-8

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.

Reading 2 Questions:

  1. Righteousness –
    1. Read Matthew 6:33.  What do you think Jesus is talking about when He says righteousness in this teaching?
    2. What do you think hungering and thirsting after righteousness looks like?
    3. What do you think might help you hunger and thirst more after it?
  2. Mercy –
    1. Read Matthew 12:7, Luke 6:34-37, Matthew 23:23, Luke 10:36-37,James 2:11-13. Why do you think Jesus teaches that the merciful will receive mercy?
    2. Why should I be merciful to others?
    3. In what ways can I be more merciful to others?
  3. Pure in Heart –
    1. Read Matthew 15:17-19, Luke 16:14-15, Matthew 22:37, Matthew 18:33-35, Matthew 9:13; Luke 3:7-9; Matthew 12:33-34. How does one become pure in heart?
    2. Why do you think it is a requirement become pure in heart to see God?
    3. How can you practice being pure in heart and why does it matter?

Reading 3: Matthew 5:1-12

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.

Reading 3 Questions:

  1. Blessed are the peacemakers –
    1. Read: Romans 16:20, 1 Corinthians 14:33, John 14:27 , John 20:21, Romans 5:1, Romans 8:6, Romans 12:18, Romans 14:17, Romans 14:19
    2. Why do you think the peace makers will be called the sons of God?
    3. What enables the children of God to be peacemakers?
    4. What areas in your life do you need to walk in peace, be an agent of God to make peace through the power of the Holy Spirit?
  2. Persecuted for righteousness sake –
    1. Read: Matthew 3:15, Matthew 6:33, Romans 14:17, See righteousness in BibleHub
    2. What do you think Jesus is referring to when He talks about righteousness and being persecuted because of it?
    3. Why do you think he says that they are blessed for, “theirs is the kingdom of heaven?”
    4. Why should we anticipate persecution from the lost at times for doing what is right before God?
    5. What should be our response for persecution from righteousness and why?

Reading 4: Matthew 5:13-30

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.

Christ Fulfills the Law

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 [b]jot or one [c]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.

Reading 4 Questions:

  1. You are the salt
    1. Read: Mark 9:50, Luke 14:34-35, Colossians 4:6
    2. What do you think Jesus is talking about when He tells his followers to be salt?  Where do we get our saltiness from and how can we use it to be salt in the earth?
    3. What do you get out of Jesus’ point on salt that is not salty?
  2. You are the light
    1. Read: John 8:12, Luke 11:35-36, John 3:20-21, John 12:35-36, Matthew 5:16
    2. Why do you think Jesus calls us the light of the world when He is the light of the world?
    3. How is it that we become the light of the world?
    4. How is it that we continue to be the light of the world?
    5. Give some reasons you find in the scriptures for being the light in your world?
    6. What does walking in the light show or demonstrate?
    7. Ask the Holy Spirit how to grow in being the light in your world and see what you hear.
  3. Righteousness –
    1. What is a way to be great in the kingdom of heaven?
    2. Why do you think Jesus makes a contrast between keeping the law and the righteousness of the Pharisees, saying that our righteousness needs to exceed theirs or we will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven?  How did their keeping of the law match up with the two greatest commandments?  What kind of righteousness were they known to have?
    3. In what ways must our righteousness exceed the Pharisees?
    4. You are the salt
    1. Read: Mark 9:50, Luke 14:34-35, Colossians 4:6
    2. What do you think Jesus is talking about when He tells his followers to be salt?  Where do we get our saltiness from and how can we use it to be salt in the earth?
    3. What do you get out of Jesus’ point on salt that is not salty?
  4. You are the light
    1. Read: John 8:12, Luke 11:35-36, John 3:20-21, John 12:35-36, Matthew 5:16
    2. Why do you think Jesus calls us the light of the world when He is the light of the world?
    3. How is it that we become the light of the world?
    4. How is it that we continue to be the light of the world?
    5. Give some reasons you find in the scriptures for being the light in your world?
    1. Ask the Holy Spirit how to grow in being the light in your world and see what you hear.
  5. Righteousness –
    1. What is a way to be great in the kingdom of heaven?
    2. Why do you think Jesus makes a contrast between keeping the law and the righteousness of the Pharisees, saying that our righteousness needs to exceed theirs or we will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven?  How did their keeping of the law match up with the two greatest commandments?  What kind of righteousness were they known to have?
    3. In what ways must our righteousness exceed the Pharisees?

Reading 5:  Matthew 5:21-30

Murder Begins in the Heart

21 “You have heard that it was said to those [d]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 [e]without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’[f]shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, [g]‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of [h]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.

Adultery in the Heart

27 “You have heard that it was said [i]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 [j]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 [k]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.

Reading 5 Questions:

  1. Where does murder, adultery, and every other sin begin and come from?
  2. This being the case, how must those who follow Christ purify themselves and walk in holiness (see also 1 Peter 1:15-16)?
  3. Why do you think Jesus teaches that if someone has something against you, leave your gift at the altar, go straighten it out, and come back and then give your gift (See also 1 John 4:20)? 
  4. How is this connected to worship?  See also John 4:22-24, Matthew 15:17-19, Mark 12:29-30, Romans 12:1,2
  5. What did the Holy Spirit speak to you in the above?

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