Monday, May 7, 2007

Matthew 5 Study Guide PT 2

This Wednesday, May 9th, we will continue with our study of Matthew chapter five. Last Wednesday we concluded at Matthew 5:4, "blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Here are some observations, thoughts, suggestions for our upcoming study.

1. Let me again encourage you to sit down and read carefully through the entirety of the "sermon on the mount" (Matthew 5:1-8:1). You will benefit tremendously from this exercise. Nothing else you read or watch or listen to concerning the "sermon on the mount" will benefit you more than your disciplining yourself to sit and read through the entirety of the sermon. I want you to know what Jesus actually said, not what others say he said.

2. Remember the definition we are using from "BDAG" for what "blessed" means, "pertaining to being especially favored, blessed, fortunate, happy privileged." These are not quaint sayings but rather formal pronouncements of great grace and privilege bestowed upon the disciples of Christ who are practicing these qualities.

3. The "sermon on the mount" is full of proverbial sayings. Ridderbos defines a "proverb" as "unexpected, paradoxical, absolute manner of speaking that sharply accentuates a particular side of truth without considering the possible exceptions to the rule."

4. The sermon on the mount, especially Matthew 5:1-12, eliminates complacency. It eliminates a disciple from saying, "I have done all I should; I am the complete servant of God." No matter how far we have come in our Christian life, we can go farther. Indeed, we must go farther.

5. I am increasingly appreciating the connections between the "Beatitudes" and Isaiah 61. Clearly Isaiah 61 is the backdrop to the "Beatitudes." One would do well to read and compare Isaiah 61 to Matthew's "blessings." One would also do well to consider the relation of the person of Christ to both of these portions of Scripture.

6. Central theme I thought of this morning concerning the "Beatitudes" (even the entire sermon) is "living with a view of Christ and his kingdom, both in the here and now."

Andrew

No comments:

Verse of the Day