Bible Study Tuesdays

This week we studied Matthew chapter 5. Here is the link to the commentary.

Some extra thoughts...

Matthew Henry says about Poor in Spirit...
To be poor in spirit means to be emptied of worldly wealth, if god orders that to be our lot. It is to sit loose to all worldly wealth and not set our hearts upon it, but cheerfully to bear losses and disappointments which may befall us in the most prosperous state.

2) It is to be humble and lowly in our own eyes. To value others above ourselves. It is to acknowledge God is great and we are not. He is holy and we are sinful, that He is all and we are nothing. To humble ourselves before Him.

3) It is to come off from all confidence in our own righteousness and strength, that we may depend only upon the merit of Christ for our justification and the spirit and grace of Christ for our sanctification.

My note - Our society teaches us to be the polar opposite of meek. To willingly submit to authority is thought of as weakness. to disregard your own rights and priviledges is viewed as the ultimate no no. Look out for number one is the theme of our day.

My note - vs. 11 We should note the word falsely in this passage. You will not be blessed if people are saying bad stuff about you and it is true.

Vs. 17-18...
Matthew Henry says -
He fulfilled the law by...
1) Obeying the commands of the law for he was made under the law for He was made under the law (Gal. 4:4) He obeyed perfectly and never broke the law in anything.

2) To make good the promises of the law and the predictions of the prophets which did all bear witness to him.

3) To answer the types of the law

4) To fill up the defects of it and so to complete and perfect it.

5) To carry on the same design.

Vs.38-42 An eye for an eye.
It always amuses me when people who are not Christian end up quoting scripture. It's amazing how over the years some scripture has become and everyday part of our vocabulary.

Questions

1) Do you esteem others as better than yourself?
2) do you find it hard to humble yourself?
3) Do you have any ideas how we can be better at this?
4) Why do you think it is so hard to do this?
5) Do you feel bad when you sin or do you push away that "little voice" that tells you it's wrong?
6) Have you ever honestly mourned your sin?
7)Have you ever felt the separation from God thatcomes from unrepented sin? What does it feel like?
8) It is very hard to be meek, to disregard our own rights and priveleges. Have you ever met someone who does this with seeming ease?
9) What effect would doing that and being truly meek have on your life?
10) Do you hunger and thirst after righteousness? Do you long for it? If not why?
11) Have you experienced persecution?
12) What are some ways to deal with it?
13) Do you know anyone who you believe no matter what? Someone you believe always means what they say? What makes you believe them? How can we be like that?
14) Do you think it's possible to live the way Jesus tells us to in the Sermon on the Mount?

Have a Happy Tuesday!
Blessings,
Liisa