Back to the Gospel (Matthew 5-7).
Today’s passage is absolutely packed with meaty verses. I’m going to list a few of them here, and simply ask a few questions of each. Consider this an exercise in introspection.
Matthew 5:13 (NIV)
13You 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 by men.
In what ways does your life demonstrate that you are salt of the earth?
Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)
14You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither 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. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
How do you, personally, let the light of Jesus shine in your life in such a way that people see Him through you and praise God as a result? How bright are you, as a light to shine before all men? Does the light of Christ “twinkle” in you, or does it shine like a million candlepower spotlight?
Matthew 5:27-30 (NIV)
27You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ 28But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
Obviously, Jesus didn’t intend for us to go around maiming ourselves by these teachings, but I do believe He intended to clearly communicate the gravity of sin. How does these verses play out in a practical way in your life? Do you take sin as seriously as you should? What kind of things do you do to help yourself avoid situations in which you are prone to falling?
Matthew 5:38-42 (NIV)
38You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
A straightforward reading of these verses would lead me to believe that we, as Christians, are supposed to be pacifist pushovers. How do you implement these teachings in a practical manner in your life? Did Jesus really mean for us to let others take advantage of us?
Matthew 5:48 (NIV)
48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
I don’t care what kind of perfectionist you are… you’re not perfect. That being the case, what is the practical working of this direction by Christ to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect?
Matthew 6:6 (NIV)
6But 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.
How does corporate prayer fit into this teaching?
Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)
19Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
How do you, on a practical, day by day basis, store up treasures in heaven? Where is YOUR treasure?
Matthew 6:25-34 (NIV)
25Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?28And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Worry is a pretty natural thing for humanity, and it can be utterly debilitating. How do you develop such a deep love and trust of Christ so that you can wholly cast your cares upon Him? Where does the line balancing humanity’s responsibility with God’s provision really lie?
Matthew 7:3-5 (NIV)
3Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
As Christians, we’re all hypocritical to some extent… we all fall short of the ideals to which we aspire. How are you working to overcome the hypocrisy in your life that naturally flows from our inability to perfectly follow Christ? Moreso, how do you continue to serve God and make a difference for His Kingdom in spite of such?
Matthew 7:7-11 (NIV)
7Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.9Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
Why is it that many of us are hesitant to pray for specific things when we offer prayers to God when the Bible clearly indicates that God’s answers to our prayers will be, specifically, “good gifts”?
Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV)
24Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
Based on the thoughts you’ve had in regard to the passages listed here, what kind of foundation do you really have? What needs to be done in your life to improve the quality of your foundation?
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