1. Briefly review the the introductory questions and materials in Lesson 1 (link above).
2. Read Matthew 1-4. How do the events in these chapters lay the groundwork for Jesus to preach the Sermon on the Mount? What sort of overall context do chapters 1-4 provide for the Sermon?
3. As you read chapters 1-4, notice Matthew’s emphasis on prophecy fulfilled. Make a note of each fulfilled prophecy mentioned and think of them as points on Jesus’ “résumé”. How do each of these fulfilled prophecies point to Jesus’ qualifications to fill the position of Messiah, thus giving Him the divine authority to deliver the Sermon on the Mount?
Besides these instances of fulfilled prophecy, list any other verses that demonstrate Jesus’ qualifications – as God, Messiah, holy, etc. – to authoritatively deliver the Sermon on the Mount. (Hint: Here are a few to get you started.)
4. Explain the various ways God protected and preserved Jesus’ life and safety in chapters 1-4 so that He would be able to fulfill His earthly ministry (chapter 5 and beyond).
5. Why, besides the fact that it fulfilled prophecy, was it necessary for John the Baptist (chapter 3) to “prepare the way of the Lord”? What were some of the things he did to herald and introduce Jesus’ coming, and how did this prepare the hearts of the people to receive Him? What was John’s message to the Pharisees and the people?
Carefully examine 3:7-10. Do any of these ideas or phrases sound familiar as something Jesus Himself later said? Use your cross-references and look up the passages in which Jesus said or taught the same things.
6. How were each of the following significant in laying the foundation for Jesus’ earthly ministry?
Jesus’ baptism
Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness
Jesus relocating to Capernaum
Jesus calling the disciples
Homework
Carefully examine 4:1-11. Which Scriptures does Satan quote to Jesus? Does he rightly handle those Scriptures or use them out of context to further his own agenda? Why is it wrong to use Scripture this way? How does Jesus combat Satan’s temptations and Bible twistings? What is significant about Jesus’ use of the phrase “It is written”? Think of a situation in your life in which you could use rightly handled, in context Scripture to fight temptation or to stand against false teaching. Find a way to put that into practice this week. Use Scripture like Jesus used Scripture, not like Satan used Scripture.
Welcome to our new study, The Sermon on the Mount!
What does God’s Word teach us about thinking biblically and developing Christian character? Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in Matthew starts off with a list of character traits God blesses (the Beatitudes), then fleshes out how to submit to Scripture in real life scenarios in order for the Holy Spirit to grow us in those godly character traits. For the next several weeks, we’ll be working our way through the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7.
Our lovely title pic for the study was designed by Tammy Athey. The photo is her own, captured in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina. Many thanks to all of those who worked so hard on your entries for our title pic contest. You ladies were very creative and did some outstanding work!
There were too many entries to share all of them with you, but here are a few “honorable mentions”:
Lindsey Portugal
Melody Castle
Kendra Bennett
Kati Champlin
Sabrina Deeter
If you’re new to using my Bible studies, just a few housekeeping items and helpful hints:
The studies I’ve written (you can find all of them at the Bible Studies tab in the blue menu bar at the top of this page) are like “training wheels”. They’re designed to teach you how to study the Bible for yourself and what kinds of questions to ask of the text so that, when you get the hang of it, you won’t have to depend on other people’s books and materials – even mine – any more. To that end, I do not provide answers for the study questions in the studies I’ve written.
My studies are meant to be extremely flexible and self-paced so that you can use them in the way that works best for you. You can do an entire lesson in one day or work on the questions over the course of the week (or longer). You do not need to feel obligated to answer all (or any) of the questions. If the Holy Spirit parks you on one question for several days, enjoy digging deep into that one aspect of the lesson. If He shows you something I haven’t written a question about that captures your attention, dive in and study it! Those are ways the Holy Spirit speaks to us through His Word. This is your time to commune with the Lord, not a school assignment or work project you are beholden to complete in a certain way by a certain deadline.
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All of the studies I’ve written are suitable for groups or individuals. You are welcome to use them as a Sunday school or Bible study class curriculum (for free) with proper attribution.
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Introduction to The Sermon on the Mount
Before we begin studying a book of the Bible, it’s very important that we understand some things about that book. But even though we’re not going to be studying the whole book this time, we still need to know…
Who the author was and anything we might be able to find out about him or his background.
Who the audience of the book is: Jews or Gentiles? Old Testament Israelites or New Testament Christians? This will help us understand the author’s purpose and approach to what he’s writing.
What kind of biblical literature we’re looking at. We approach books of history differently than books of wisdom, books of wisdom differently than books of prophecy, etc.
What the purpose of the book is. Was it written to encourage? Rebuke? Warn?
What the historical backdrop is for the book. Is Israel at war? At peace? In exile? Under a bad king? Good king? Understanding the historical events surrounding a piece of writing help us understand what was written and why it was written.
When the book was written. Where does the book fall on the timeline of biblical history? This is especially important for Old Testament books which are not always arranged in chronological order.
So this week, before we start studying the actual text of the Sermon on the Mount, we need to lay the foundation to understanding the book by finding the answers to these questions.
Read the following overviews of the book of Matthew, taking notes on anything that might aid your understanding of the book, and, particularly the Sermon on the Mount and answer the questions below:
1. Who wrote the book of Matthew? How do we know this?
2. Approximately when was Matthew written? What is the geographical setting of the book of Matthew? Here are some maps (scroll down to “Matthew”) that may be helpful as you study through the book of Matthew.
3. Who is the original, intended audience of the book of Matthew? Describe the historical setting (historic events, politics, sociology of the time, etc.) of Matthew.
4. Which genre of biblical literature is the book of Matthew: law, history, wisdom, poetry, narrative, epistles, or prophecy/apocalyptic? What does this tell us about the approach we should take when studying this book versus our approach to books of other genres?
5. What is the theme or purpose of the book of Matthew?
6. What are some of the major topics of instruction in the book of Matthew? How do these topics relate to the theme of Matthew?
7. What are some ways Matthew points to and connects to Jesus?
8. What else did you learn about Matthew or the setting of this book that might help you understand the Sermon on the Mount better?
Take some time in prayer this week to begin preparing your heart for this study. Ask God to grow you in holiness and in following the exhortations of Christ as we study together The Sermon on the Mount.
As we wrap up our study today, think about the things God has taught you through His Word and how you might apply them to your life.
Questions to Consider
1. Was there anything new God taught you in this study that particularly impacted you? What was it, and why was it so significant?
2. How is your walk with the Lord different after this study than it was before?
3. How has this study helped you think about living as a doctrinally sound Believer in the midst of false converts, false teachers, heretical “churches,” and all manner of ungodliness in evangelicalism today?
4. What have you learned from this study about God’s wrath against sin and sinners? How will you apply this to your personal spiritual life or to your church life?
5. What have you learned from this study about God’s desire for His wayward people to be reconciled to Him?
6. Have there been any passages or concepts in this study that God used to convict you of disobedience and lead you to repentance? How will you walk differently in this area from now on?
7. What have you learned about God and His nature and character from this study?
Homework
Spend some time in prayer this week asking God to show you how to put into practice one thing you learned from this study.
Recite all of your memory verses from this study. Which one is most meaningful to you right now?
Next week will be our final – “wrap up” – lesson of Ezekiel.
Questions to Consider
1. Review your notes from our last lesson and be reminded of the things that lead into, and set the stage for, this week’s passage.
2. Read chapters 46-48.
Consider lessons 18-19 (links above) alongside today’s passage. Does today’s passage seem to be a “near” prophecy (for Ezekiel’s immediate audience) or a “far” prophecy (for an audience far in the future), or both? Why?
If 46-48 is a “far,” perhaps even an eschatological (end times / eternity) prophecy, what is the significance of the emphasis on the temple, Old Testament style offerings and sacrifices, and land allotment for the twelve tribes? What about Christians and the church?
3. Explain how God’s specificity in chapter 46 about the entrances and exits, and the offerings and sacrifices, points to His specificity about how He is to be worshiped. Is it OK with God if we approach Him in worship in any old way we choose? How does this passage undergird the regulative principle of worship?
4. How does God’s precision in the measurements and the boundaries of chapters 47-48 demonstrate His attributes of precision and perfection in Creation and in the details of our daily lives? What does this attribute tell you about His knowledge, His power, and His authority over all of Creation, including people?
Compare 47:12 with Revelation 22:1-2. What similarities or differences do you see? What do these similarities and/or differences tell you?
5. In 48:11, God makes a special note of “the consecrated priests, the sons of Zadok, who kept my charge, who did not go astray when the people of Israel went astray, as the Levites did”. How does this reflect God’s attribute of justice – that He knows exactly who has done exactly what and will recompense each person accordingly?
6. Explain why today’s passage might have been a little easier to understand if you lived at the time of Ezekiel and were familiar with the temple’s structure, the sacrificial / offering system, and the geography of Israel. Why do you think God put certain things in the Bible that are difficult for us to understand conclusively? How can this help us to develop humility before God and trust in God?
1. Review your notes from our last lesson and be reminded of the things that lead into, and set the stage for, this week’s passage.
2. Read chapters 43-45.
Consider last week’s lesson. Does this passage seem to be a “near” prophecy (for Ezekiel’s immediate audience) or a “far” prophecy (for an audience far in the future), or both? Why?
Look up all the cross-references to the book of Revelation. In what ways does this passage in Ezekiel seem similar to the themes in Revelation?
3. Why would it have been meaningful to Ezekiel and the exiles to hear about the glory of the Lord returning to the temple (43:5, 44:4- Hint: use your cross-references.)?
Examine 43:10-11. Why would hearing Ezekiel describe the temple cause Israel to be ashamed of her sin? (10) If Israel was not ashamed of her sin, was Ezekiel to disclose the design, arrangement, etc., of the temple to her? Why? Explain why it is appropriate for God’s people to be ashamed when they have sinned.
4. Who is “the prince”? (44:3- Hint: use your cross-references. Who is “my servant, David“?) Considering that in 45:22, the prince makes a sin offering for both himself and the people, can the prince be Jesus?
How did the Levites sin, and what were the consequences for their sin? (44:9-14). How does this passage demonstrate that, though God forgives repentant sinners, He does not always remove the consequences of our sin?
How were the Levitical priests obedient to the Lord, and what were the consequences for their obedience? (44:15-31). How does this passage demonstrate that God blesses or rewards us when we obey Him?
Explain how God rewards our obedience with the blessings of (44:15-16):
coming near to Him
ministering to Him
standing before Him
making offerings to Him
entering His sanctuary
approaching His table
keeping His charge
What does it mean for us as Christians that Christ is our inheritance? That Christ is our possession? (44:28) Examine 44:29-45:8a. How does the priests sharing in the offering that is made to God, and the apportioning of the land to the Lord, the priests, and the prince, point ahead to the concept that Christians are joint heirs with Christ?
• Think back over a time of obedience or disobedience to God in your life. What were the consequences of your disobedience? The rewards of drawing nearer to God for your obedience? What did you learn from the consequences of your obedience or disobedience? Take some time to thank God for the consequences of disobedience and the blessings of obedience.
