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Dig Deeper:
Chapter Summary
We're continuing our overview of the Sermon on the Mount, which we started yesterday.
v1-18 - KEEP IT TO YOURSELF:
This passage contains three sections that follow the same pattern:
Opening prohibition: When you [give/pray/fast]:
do not be like the hypocrites who are just showing off
they've received their wages in full.
Ongoing imperative: When you [give/pray/fast] (notice that Jesus has an expectation for us to do these things. It's not if you give/pray/fast):
Do these things in such a way that God is the only one who sees what you're doing.
Then your Father will reward you!
This passage contains the Bible's clearest teaching on how we pray as well. We'll summarize this below in the AAA prayer section.
v19-34 - DON'T MEANS DO:
This section can seem awful negative:
DO NOT store up treasure on earth
If your eyes are focused on unhealthy things, your whole body will be full of darkness.
If you try and serve both God and worldly treasure, you will end up hating God and loving treasure.
DO NOT worry about your life (v25)
Worrying can't even add an hour to your life.
Pagans run after (worry about) silly things like clothes and food.
DO NOT worry about your life (v31 in case you missed it in v25 or need another reminder).
DO NOT worry about tomorrow.
Do you think Jesus was concerned about us worrying too much???
Yet DO NOT get hung up on all of these DO NOTs. This is not a negative teaching, rather it's quite positive. Look at these things we're supposed to be doing instead:
DO store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.
I think this is one of the most shocking commands in the Bible. If anybody else had said this, I'd say they were greedy, but Jesus said it!
What will you store up for yourself in heaven today, and how will you do it?
Keep your eyes focused on healthy things so your body is filled with light.
Since you can't serve both God and money, make sure it's God that you're serving.
DO seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.
OLD TESTAMENT REFERENCE:
1 Kings 3:11-14 tells of God's response when Solomon, who could have asked God for anything, asked Him for wisdom.
So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.”
Discuss:
Use the comment box below to discuss one or more of these questions:
EYE FOR DETAIL—From what you recall seeing in this chapter, try answering the following question without looking at your Bible: What five words will complete this quotation from Jesus: “For where your treasure is, there …” (See verse 21.)
Questions taken from The Complete Bible Discussion Guide: New Testament
Follow the AAA Prayer Pattern:
Today we get to use the ultimate AAA pattern!
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name (v9).
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven (v10). Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil (v13).
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Give us this day our daily bread (v11), and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors (v12).
As we've gone through the book of Revelation, we've been concentrating on the main message, which is that we can have No Fear for the Future because Jesus has been, is now, and will be victorious. But there are certainly lots of confusing details, and we can't cover everything in our morning sermons, so on October 17 in our 6 PM evening service, we'll discuss the questions you have. Let Pastor Chad know if there's a particular verse, image, or idea that you'd like more insight on. The best way to submit your questions is by using the form below:
