10.1: The Sermon on the Mount

Read Matthew 5:1-19.

The beatitudes are not a set of rules but are an outline of a good Christian character. They tell us what to be, not what exactly to do. The people who keep the beatitudes will be like salt, they will give the world a new flavour.

Choose one beatitude and show how the world would be a better place if everyone lived according to it.

What did Jesus mean when he called the disciples the alt of the earth.

What warning about teaching did Jesus give in verse 19.

Read Matthew 5:20-42

Here Jesus shows how the new standard he is preaching is greater than the old. The old standard merely required outward rule-keeping. The new one requires your heart, your intentions to be right as well.

What did Jesus mean when he said that the disciples’ virtue must go deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees?

Go through verses 20-42 and find any of Jesus’ teaching on right speech?

What did Jesus teach about adultery in this passage?

What was Jesus’ teaching on divorce given here.

In verses 38-42 Jesus is advising his apostles give more service than they have to. In this way they will make friends of their enemies. What exactly did he say in these verses?

Read chapter 5, verses 43-48

This passage sets the Christian standard of perfection. We are to try and be godlike.

Jesus gives reasons to be generous and forgiving. What are they?

According to this passage what distinguishes Jesus’ disciples from pagans?

Read Matthew 6, 1-6 and 16-18 and chapter 7, verses 1-11

These passages say that prayer and good works should be performed with the right intentions, or they are worthless.

What did Jesus say about being modest about your good deeds in these passages?

What did Jesus say about hypocrisy in these passages?

Read chapter 6, verses 7-15

This passage tells us the right ways for Christians to pray. Babbling as the pagans do was calling on all the names of God so as to find God’s favourite name. The Christian God is above such flattery.

What instructions did Jesus give on prayer here?

What did Jesus say about forgiveness?

Read chapter 6,verses 19-34

What did Jesus teach about money in this section?

What were Jesus’ teachings on trust in God given here?

Read chapter 7, verses 12-29

These are a few final points to round off the sermon. However, they are all important. Jesus is making the important point that you can judge a person by their behaviour, so anyone who claims to speak for God yet behaves badly must be rejected.

What was the golden rule?

What do you think Jesus meant by his instruction that we enter by the narrow gate?

Explain what Jesus meant when he said you can tell a tree by its fruit.

What did Jesus say about true discipleship in this passage?

What in your opinion does the parable of the two houses at the end of the sermon mean?