Motley Crew

August 19, 2009

The Questions

Matthew 5:1-12

1. What does Jesus mean by “blessed?” Are you?

2. What does Jesus mean by “poor in Spirit?” Are you?

3. Can you remember a time when you were comforted during mourning?

4. Ya’ll know I love it when the Old Testament and the New Testament clearly compliment each other - so see if Psalm 37:11 sounds familiar.

5. How did Jesus - in His human - nature know the Psalms?

6. What kind of peacemaker should we be?

7. Who is signing up for insults and persecution?

Verses 13-16

8. “Loses its saltiness” = morantha = tainted, or to play the fool or to become foolish. Maybe Jesus was thinking a little more than just losing a little saltiness…

9. How is your light bulb?

10. Here is one way to check - how many of your neighbors do you know and what are their prayer needs?

Verses 17-20

11. What does Jesus mean when He says, “I tell you the truth?”

12. What does this say to people who thought the Scribes the Pharisees were spiritual giants?

13. What does this say to people who knew the Scribes and Pharisees were a bunch of pompous, arrogant, selfish, greedy, hypocrites?

Motley Crew

August 19, 2009

Some Answers

Matthew 5:1-12

1. What does Jesus mean by “blessed?” Are you?

Ultimate well-being; confidence in the Lord; a God-like joy (beyond human “happiness”).

2. What does Jesus mean by “poor in Spirit?” Are you?

Humility, like that displayed by the Tax Collector in Luke 18:9-14:

 9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'

    13 "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'

    14 "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

3. Can you remember a time when you were comforted during mourning?

Several recounted instances when this occurred in their lives.

4. Ya’ll know I love it when the Old Testament and the New Testament clearly compliment each other - so see if Psalm 37:11 sounds familiar.

But the meek will inherit the land
       and enjoy peace and prosperity. Psalm 37:11

Blessed are the meek,
      for they will inherit the earth. Matthew 5:5

5. How did Jesus - in His human - nature know the Psalms?

As a boy, it is likely that he would possibly have attended schooling similar to our Confirmation Classes. In addition, the Psalms would have been among the texts read aloud during Jewish religious services that he attended as a man in the Synagogue.

6. What kind of peacemaker should we be?

Not overbearing; gentle.

“Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” Colossians 3:12-14

“Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.” Titus 3:1-2

7. Who is signing up for insults and persecution?

It comes with the decision to follow Christ as my Savior.

“...[Jesus] said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-11.

Verses 13-16

8. “Loses its saltiness” = morantha = tainted, or to play the fool or to become foolish. Maybe Jesus was thinking a little more than just losing a little saltiness…

Losing our focus as Christians.

9. How is your light bulb?

“Turn up the dimmer switch.”

10. Here is one way to check - how many of your neighbors do you know and what are their prayer needs?

Verses 17-20

11. What does Jesus mean when He says, “I tell you the truth?”

The Greek word used was “Amen.” This was an extremely strong affirmation in Jewish culture and Jesus said, “Amen – Amen” at the beginning of His statement!

12. What does this say to people who thought the Scribes the Pharisees were spiritual giants?

That we must exceed their righteousness.

For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20

13. What does this say to people who knew the Scribes and Pharisees were a bunch of pompous, arrogant, selfish, greedy, hypocrites?

Bingo! Those who saw the Scribes and Pharisees in this manner were correct, because of the extensive emphasis on legalism, to the exclusion of living in the Spirit of the Law given by God.