Upside-Down Living

Unusual Blessings (Matthew 5:1-12)
Called to Make a Difference (Matthew 5:13-16)
Do Right for Right Reasons (Matthew 6:1-8)

Unusual Blessings

A. Christlike character in relation to god

Key Scripture (Matthew 5:1-12): Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes

He said:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,

for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart,

for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Q: Why is it important to understand that, the blessedness of the Beatitudes is that happiness which comes from having God's approval and favor?

Q: Which of the first four Beatitudes presents the greatest challenge for you to put into practice? Give the reason why this is so, and what you think you need to do about it.

B. Christlike character in relation to People

Key Scripture (Matthew 5:7-12):

Blessed are the merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart,

for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Q: Which of these last four Beatitudes presents the greatest challenge for you to put into practice? Give the reason why this is so, and what you think you need to do about it.

Q: For those persecuted for the sake of righteousness, why do you think Jesus added to this Beatitude an additional blessing (v. 11), exhortation, and promise (v. 12)?

2. Called to Make a Difference

a. salt of the earth

Key Scripture (Matthew 3:13): “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

Q: As a disciple of Jesus, what are your thoughts about your responsibility to be as a preservative against evil in society? How can you do this?

Q: As disciples of Jesus, we are to guard against allowing our lives to become contaminated by sin. What happens to our influence if we fail to guard against sin?

B. Light of the world

Key Scripture (Matthew 5:14-16): “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Q: Inasmuch as Jesus is the light of the world, what did He mean by calling His disciples the light of the world? What is the light that Jesus, and we, His disciples, shine forth?

Q: Why must our motivation for doing good deeds be to bring glory to God, and not merely to bring attention and praise to ourselves? how can we do this?

3. Do Right for Right Reasons

a. principles for Right giving

Key Scripture (Matthew 6:1-4): “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Q: Why is it that Jesus wants His disciples to not only do good deeds, but to do good deeds for the right reason: to glorify God? What are some wrong reasons for doing good deeds?

Q: What are some examples of ways that churches and church members are encouraged to give, that may violate Jesus' teaching about giving in Matthew 6:1-47?

b. principles for right praying

Key Scripture (Matthew 6:5-8): “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Q: While there is a place in Christian worship for public praying, why is it especially important for every disciple of Jesus to engage in private praying? What are the benefits of this?

Q: Why should it be of special comfort and encouragement to us in prayer, knowing that God knows and cares about what we have need of before we ask Him?

On Your Own...

Thinking About the Whole "Sermon"

The teaching of Jesus called "The Sermon on the Mount" is spread over a large portion of Matthew's Gospel, chapters 5 through 7. Even among people who know little about Jesus and His teachings, The Sermon is known as something Jesus said. Many like "The Beatitudes" (Matthew 5:3-12), or some of them, but never get past that part of the Sermon.

Some of the more challenging parts of The Sermon are cited by many, because they seem most demanding. Saying of Jesus such as, "Whoever looks on a woman to lust after her, has committed adultery with her already in his heart" (Matthew 5:28); or "Whoever shall hit you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also" (v. 39): or "Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you" (v. 44).

What is well-known as "The Lord's Prayer" is found in Matthew 6:9-13. This pattern for prayer is recited by many in public worship, and this can be a good practice, whether in one's private or public worship, but it should not be merely "recited," it should be sincerely "prayed."

Jesus' teaching about the prividence of God the Father for birds and grass and people (Matthew 6:25-34) gives assurance to many in the face of life's uncertainties. This is as it should be, because Jesus was the first to teach extensively about the Fatherhood of God, revealing how good God is to all people, even to those who are evil and unjust (Matthew 5:45; 7:11).

However, there are parts of The Sermon that get little attention because they make us so uncomfortable. For example, Jesus said, "Enter in at the narrow gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be who go in there: because narrow is the gate, and narrow is the way, that leads to life, and few there be who find it" (Matthew 7:13-14). Jesus also said, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father in heaven" (v. 21).