Matt2-2

First let's start with WHY people will persecute us. The only causes should be because we love Jesus, because we are Christians and because we are righteous. We should not give them the opportunity to be against us because we are unloving or because we are bad at our jobs. No, the only reason must be that we are Christians.

The ungodly rejected and opposed the prophets of God in the Old Testament because they came from God, and in the New Testament they rejected Jesus for the same reason. For exactly that same reason the ungodly and the unrighteous will reject us also.

Second, let's note the WAYS people oppose us. We have seen that it starts in the heart that rejects God and soon what is in the heart is expressed by the tongue. The first level of attack is insults, deriding who we are and what we are, to try to make us feel stupid. But they will not stop there; next comes persecution which means tangible opposition in some form, some way that seeks to stop us being what we are, where we are. But even that isn't enough; then they will tell lies about us to try and get others to side with them, to justify what they feel and what they are doing - all because we simply love Jesus!

D. Application?

1. Opposition is already here in small ways, and they will get bigger, but

God is for us!

2. God's grace is sufficient!

Chapter: Matthew, Chapter 5:11-20

Passage: Matthew 5:13-16

A. Find out :

1. What are Jesus' disciples first of all? v.13a

you are the salt of the earth

2. What is a possibility? v.13b

salt loses its saltiness

3. What would the consequence be? v.13c

It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

4. What also are we? v.14a

You are the light of the world.

5. What do you do with a lamp? v.15

they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the hous

6. How are we to be similar? v.16

let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

B. Think :

1. What do you use salt for?

2. What do you use a lamp for?

3. What do these two pictures indicate about us?

C. Comment :

Note first the USE of these two things. Salt flavours and preserves food. It enhances it and prevents decay. Light pushes back the darkness and reveals things as they are.

Note second, the possible APPLICATION of these two pictures. We are to be those who influence the world around about us, and we'll do that as we enhance it by our love and grace, as we purify it by our holiness and righteousness, and we reveal reality to the world by the lives we live and the words we speak.

Thirdly, note JESUS' COMMENTARY on the two pictures. Salt is salt and if it becomes less than salt then it is thrown away. Light is to be seen, so we should live out and speak out fearlessly so people can see, hear and understand the origin of our goodness.

Finally, let's observe the PURPOSE of us being these things: it is to glorify God. Our aim must be to point others to God by our lives and our words, not merely to be "good people". Knowing that we are good doesn't help others, it is knowing why and how we are good that will help them, by realising that it is really our relationship with the Lord that makes us what we are.

D. Application?

1. Purity without grace is harsh legalism, but purity with grace will show

the goodness of God.

2. Goodness from God is seen!

Chapter: Matthew, Chapter 5:11-20

Passage: Matthew 5:17-20

A. Find out :

1. What HAD Jesus come to do? v.17

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them

2. What won't happen? v.18a,b

not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law

3. When will it happen? v.18c

until everything is accomplished

4. Who will be called least in the kingdom? v.19a

Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven,

5. Who will be called great in the kingdom? v.19b

but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven

6. Who do you need to be more righteous than? v.20

unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

B. Think :

1. What is Jesus' main point in verses 17 & 18?

2. What is his main point in verses 19 & 20?

3. What do these verses say to us about standards and morals?

C. Comment :

Jesus first speaks about the PERMANENCE of the Law. When God gave the Law in the Old Testament, He didn't make a mistake. The Law lays down the way things work best, the way people have been designed to live best. Failure to live according to this way brings destruction. No, the Law is here to stay.

But second, Jesus speaks about the FULFILMENT of the Law. How? Well, the Law insisted on justice and demanded that guilty people be punished, so on the Cross Jesus came to take the punishment for every guilty person who comes to him. By doing that, Jesus exactly fulfilled what the Law demanded, the guilty are punished.

Third, note the REQUIRED OBEDIENCE to the Law. The Pharisees taught one thing and did another. They tried to keep every aspect of the Law, but failed! Rule-keepers fail constantly, yet Jesus insists the rules (Law) are to be kept. How is this dilemma to be resolved? The answer will be by the law of love. As God fills us with His own presence, His own Spirit who is love, we find we do love Him. Without thinking about it we find we fulfil all the “you shall”s and “shall not”s of the Ten Commandments. No longer do we focus on the Law but on the Lawgiver Himself and in love, do what He requires.

D. Application?

1. Jesus HAS died to take my failures.

2. Today I live in response to His love FOR me and His love IN me.

RECAP:- Our Role & Response - Matthew 5:11-20

SUMMARY :

In these 3 studies we have seen Jesus:

- reiterate that persecution can be a source of blessing

- declare that we are to have a purifying effect in the world

- declare we are to shed goodness in the world

- state that he has come to fulfil the Law and that we are to

keep his commandments

COMMENT :

Almost wedged in between the kingdom principles of the beatitudes and his teaching on heart attitudes, are these challenges to our approaches to this “life in the kingdom”.

Jesus challenges us to accept gladly the opposition that WILL come, and to not be afraid to stand out as the purifying sources of goodness in the world that we are meant to be. Just in case we were under any illusions about him bringing a soft life style, he further adds that he wants us to obey all of God's commandments. Everything here throws us onto God, so we cry out for His grace and strength to enable us to be this sort of people!

LESSONS :

1. Persecution IS a natural part of the Christian life

2. We are to have a purifying effect in the world

3. We are to reveal goodness by the way we live

4. Goodness is to bring glory to God

5. We are not to see the law as abolished

6. We are to be totally righteous.

PRAY :

Call on the Lord to equip you to be the sort of people revealed by Jesus here.

PART 3 : Heart Life in the Kingdom

In the next Part Jesus shows very clearly that life in the kingdom focuses on the state of the heart, and actions follow from heart state. Reality is the state of heart, not the outward behaviour.