Today’s scripture focus:  Matthew 7

Today we conclude our study of the Sermon on the Mount.  It has been said this sermon comprises a good summary of Jesus’ three most important teachings.  In chapter 5, the focus was on mercy.  Chapter 6 emphasized faith.  Now, in chapter 7, we discover Jesus’ teachings on justice.  The chapter consists of seven short “stories” that could be divided into two main sections.  Verses 1-12 give four short summaries of Jesus’ teachings, and verses 13-29 give three short final warnings to those who do not heed them.  “Don’t judge” serves as a summary of chapter 5′s teachings on mercy, and “Ask…Seek…Knock” provide a summary of chapter 6′s call to faith.  The command “don’t judge” is both the 5th Beatitude in reverse (blessed are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy) and 5th Petition of the Lord’s prayer in reverse (forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.)  This command has been interpreted in many ways.  Jesus is not speaking here of failure to discern fruit, which He admonishes us to do in verse 15-20, but judging the intent of the heart, which is solely the privilege of God.     Verse 6 serves as a balance to the previous verses – don’t judge, but do think.  In verses 7-12, Jesus summarizes His teachings on prayer.  While chapter six admonishes us not to use vain repetition, here we discover the importance of simple persistence in prayer.  Asking is not unspiritual, but is both the privilege and responsibility of the disciple!  In verse 12, we find some of the most famous words in all of scripture, commonly known as the Golden Rule.  All major religions have a version of this rule, almost always stated in the negative form (don’t do to others what you don’t want done to you.)  Jesus states it as a positive, showing that justice is about actively doing good, not just refraining from bad.  The Sermon on the Mount ends with three warnings – the two gates, the two prophets, and the two houses.  The two gates call us to conversion to Christ alone (the Narrow Gate) and to rugged discipleship behind Him (the Rough Way.)  The two prophets call us to beware of seductive false teachings of super Christians with their seductive charms and charismatic gifts and to be instead simple Christians who do the unspectacular will of God.  The two houses warn disciples that if they are merely admirers of Jesus’ sermon but not doers of it they are building their lives on shifting sands, and are on route to awful judgment.  The two houses also encourage Jesus’ disciples with the promise that if they do build their lives on Jesus’ words they will be able to withstand the storms of this life and the awesome last Judgment at the end of life.  The final verses of chapter seven show us that the greatest impact of the Sermon on the Mount was not Jesus’ words, but Jesus Himself.

CrossGroups

• Go around the table and share prayer requests. Have someone lead in prayer.

• Let everyone who would like share anything exciting from their week.

• Ask these three questions. Let as many answer each one as would like.

1) Is there anything in today’s scripture that especially speaks to you?

2) What questions would you like to ask about today’s scripture?

3) What’s the most challenging command in chapter 7 for you – “don’t judge” or “ask”?

Today’s Sermon

Faith focus – “I believe in the Holy Ghost”

Life need – What does it mean to follow Jesus?

Key truths -

• Astounding mercy.
• Astounding faith.
• Astounding justice.
• Astounding Jesus!

Assignment – Ask God.