Matthew 5 – Does what Jesus say tell us who he is?
Intro Questions:
- Do you form an opinion of someone by what they say?
- Give an example of a recent event where someone said something that told you about who they were? What did it tell you about them?
- So does it matter who we think a person is – or just what they say?
Watch Matthew 5
Video Debrief
- What are you thinking after seeing the video? What did you notice for the first time about this passage?
- Did it feel different than just reading the text? If so, how?
- Do you think it was accurate showing him moving around – or do you think he sat/stood to teach?
- Did you picture the setting this way – or something totally different?
Dig into the Text
- Look at verses 1-12 – what kind of view on life would Jesus have had to say these things?
- Look at verses 13-16 – How was Jesus salt and light to this world?
- In verse 17 Jesus says – “I have come” – what do you think he came to earth for? Who is it that came?
- What kind of person could equate anger with murder? Who was he that he could think that way?
- For the rest of passage – what kind of values does Jesus present – be specific? How do they relate to who he was?
- Does this challenge any teachings you’ve had on this text – if so what and why?
Deeper Questions
- Is it easy to get lost in this passage? Is it simple or full of depth?
- What would a life look like if this was lived out? How would it be like Jesus’s life?
- Read this viewpoint and compare it back to the text:http://www.philosophy-religion.org/handouts/pdfs/Wink.pdf
- Where have you formed your opinions on adultery, divorce, resisting evil, etc. – do you think they came from the Bible or from elsewhere?
- Does this passage talk more about behavior, about right and wrong, or about valuing people? And why?
Application Questions
- How hard is it to follow the advice that Jesus gives us?
- What specifically do you need him to help you with – anger, lust, etc.?
- Do you want to be closer to him now – or is he still distant to you? What keeps you far from him?
- Is your view of Jesus being challenged? Is God staying static or is he becoming more to you as you watch the videos?
Bonus/Deeper Study
- Watch the video again.
- Re-read the text with I statements – “I am blessed when I’m poor in Spirit”
- Do more research on what these statements mean – like the link about resisting evil presented above.
- Read the same account in different translations – meditate on the god behind the text – not on the text itself.
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