Sermon On the Mount | MATTHEW 7:15-29 | CHOOSING LEADERS

I.  Introduction:

            Q  Who has been the most influential person in your life?

            Q  What is it that was so influential.  How did they influence you?

            Note:  We are influenced by others, by those around us and especially by those whose words we take seriously.  All of us have had good

examples and bad examples in our lives.

            Note:  The Key thing is that we are free to choose "who will influence us".  We can decide who will speak the truth about life and

about God.  This is Jesus' last teaching before His famous closing about "house built upon the rock".

             Jesus says we must pick our leaders and because He loves us He give us help in how to choose them.  

 

II.  The Warning:  "Practice" or "Action" Is The Key Factor.  Matthew 7:15-20.

   A.  The Basic Warning:  Matthew 7:15.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 7:15.

            Q  What is the warning?  What characteristic do such false proclaimers of God's Word have?

               An = They are not what they appear.  Key =  inwardly they are worse than they appear outwardly.   They appear as lambs, as

gentle but inwardly want to destroy or use you.

            Note:  Jesus will not just warn us to beware of false leaders but show us practically how to discover them.  So, He give us three words

of advice.

   B.  The Basic Criterion:  First Word of Advice, Matthew 7:16.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 7:16-18.

            Q What does He mean:  "You will know them by their fruits?"

               An = The answer is in what follows in the rest of verse 16 and the next two verses.

>>>> Have someone re-read Matthew 7:16b-18.

            Note:  Jesus uses metaphors from the realm of nature:  He uses agricultural examples to illustrate His points.  You do not get grapes

from "Johnson grass".  Therefore what a man does is what he is.

            Q  Gals, should you believe everything a young man tells you?

               An = Many guys have a lot of "great lines".  Experience shows you to believe little of what you hear.  How a guy treats you is the key.

            Q  But in spiritual matters what fruit do we look for?  Doctrine?  Bible Quoting?  What fruit is being referred to?

               An = We are reading the Sermon on the Mount, and so what it teaches should be our guide to what should be in a person who tells us

about God.  Let me illustrate:  

            >> Have someone read Matthew 6:1  If they are do good things, do they show off?  If they do then beware!!  Do they tell you how

good they are?  Beware.

            >> Have someone read Matthew 7:1-2  Are they constantly judgmental?  Then beware.  Are they always aware of others faults but

never their own?  Beware.

            >> Have someone read Matthew 5:28.  Do they scope women down?  Beware.

            >> Have someone read Matthew 5:4.  Ever notice that those who are often the most profound are those who are not free of

suffering?

            Note:  You see it would be good to really knows what Jesus says and wants so you can see if these qualities are in those who try and tell

you about God.  You have to know what Jesus says if you are going to be able to check fruit.  You can not look for good fruit if you do

not know what good fruit is!!!

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 7:19-20.

            Note:  Note that Jesus again repeats, so we will not forget, what is so important in determining good leadership.  Check their fruit!  Not

how they talk but what is in their lives!

            Q What is Jesus saying in 7:19?

               An = That there will be judgment of those who do not live the life.  You see it does not matter what you think of me as your leader, but

what I really am.  I will be judged, as all leaders will be in the end of time by what we truly are!

            RQ  Are we not often more caught with how leaders "image" than who they really are?

            Note:  There will be a judgment and that includes us leaders.  Let us see how Bible study leaders, pastors, ministers, school

leaders, etc., will be judged.

            B.  Coming Judgment on Hypocrisy:  Second Word of Advice,  Matthew 7:21-23.

            Note:  Jesus is a good teacher.  He uses in the next few verses a very affective teaching devise:  an imagined "time-travel" into the

future.  He will transport His audience to the end of time and let them see the final judgment.  This is so we can make good judgments now, since we are

aware of what the "real or final" judgment will be based on. 

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 7:21.

            Q What does this verse mean?  What does the phrase "Lord, Lord" mean?

               An = In Israelite society of that time they were forbidden to speak divine Name for God:  "Jehovah", "Yahweh" or "Yahve'" because they

did not want to "take the Lord's Name in vain".  If they did not speak the Name, they were less likely to violate its sanctity.  Whether that was the best

way to obey the third of the Ten Commandments is debatable, but what it did to their reading of the Old Testament is interesting and has bearing on our

understanding this verse.

            Through out the Old Testament is the phrase in Hebrew:  "adonnai, Yahweh".  Simply translated:  "Lord Yahweh", in our English

translations:  Lord God.  What it meant is:  "Yahweh is Lord".  The verse "to be" if often left out in Hebrew.  So "Adonnai Yahweh" is a confession of

faith:  "I confess that, Yahweh, He is Lord".  

            However, since the Jews would not say the word:  "Yahweh" anymore, the phrase someone would hear in a Jewish synagogue service was: 

"Adonnai, Adonnai" or "Lord, Lord", or in Greek:  "Kurie, Kurie", or in the new coming Christian communities:  "Jesus is Lord", or "I confess Jesus is my

Lord and Savior".  "Lord, Lord" in the ancient communities was a confession of faith, of professed loyalty to God.

            Q  So what is Jesus saying in Matthew 7:21?

               An = Just saying I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God, or just confessing Jesus Christ as my Savior will not be enough.  "Not

everyone who says to Me, I am Lord, will enter in the kingdom of heaven."

            In other words, there will be folks who confess, even to God that they believe and will not be a part of God's kingdom.  That applies us

to ministers as well.  I can proclaim God, prayer to God all I want, but it will not be enough.

            Q  So what else is needed according in 7:21?

               An = We have to actually do the will of God who is in heaven.  

            Q  So what is verse 21 saying in a nut shell?

               An = It does not matter what a prophet, a leader, a teacher confesses but also what he or she does!  CHECK THE FRUIT!!

            C.  Not the Spectacular Gifts, But Faithful Obedience/Submission:  Third Word of Advice, Matthew 7:22-23.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 7:22-23.

            Q  What is this final warning about?

               An = This seems confusing.  Lets break the metaphor down.

            Q  What four things did these people do in God's Name?

               An = Confess Him, prophesy in His Name, cast out demons, and do miracles in Jesus' Name.  Those who do such things must certainly be

true teachers of the will of God!!!

            Q  Does Jesus agree?

               An = Seemingly not!  Note:  In the early church the most powerful spiritual gift was the gift of prophesy (I Corinthians 14:1), being

able to speak forth the will of God by divine aid from God.  Prophesy is a public gift and the greatest of them all.  Notice that casting out demons and

doing miracles are also public displays of God's power working through an individual.  Note:  If God speaks through us, or does a miracles or casts out a

demon through us does not make us great men or great women of God.  To be able to do these things is a gift from God.  It is God who is great, not us who

pass along that gift.

            The key is not is God using us but are we truly obedient to Him!

>>>> Re-read Matthew 7:23.

            Q What does Jesus mean:  "I never knew you?"

               An = He did not know us personally.  So even if we did the great spectacular works of God, but did not know Him we will be judged. 

What does it mean to know Him?  They key is in the last phrase, and sadly it could be better translated.  The NIV says you are "evildoers" and that is OK

but the better translation is "depart from Me you who are lawless".  In other words, if My Word does not have authority over your actions then you are not

"under the law", you are in rebellion.  In other words, WE MUST HAVE FRUIT as described in the Sermon the Mount, not just successful

service!!

>>>> Have someone read Luke 6:46.

            Q  So how do we determine who should guide us and influence us?

               An = Do such leaders actually listen to Jesus' teaching, do they have the fruit described in Matthew 5-7.  It is not enough if we make a

Christian confession or even are used of God in a mighty way, but whether we actually obey the teachings on the Sermon on the Mount.

            Q Is Jesus against miracles or confession of Faith?

               An = Of course not!  In chapters 8 and 9 of Matthew Jesus will do large amounts of miracles and exorcisms.  He is just saying, there is

no short cut to obedience.

 

III.  Conclusion the Sermon On the Mount:  Matthew 7:24-29

>>>>  Have someone read Matthew 7:24-27

            Q  How does one build their rock or their live on solid rock?

               An = He who hears and acts upon the words in this sermon.  It is not "being a Christian but actually obeying the words".

            Q  Does this metaphor refer to this life or the life to come?

            Q  Is there an option to obedience.

               An = It is so sad to read "and great was its fall".  It is not optional.      

>>>> Have someone read in conclusion Matthew 27:28-29.

Sermon On the Mount | MATTHEW 7:7-14 | PRAYING EFFECTIVELY

I.  Introduction:

            Today we are going to talk about prayer again.  Jesus' instructions about prayer and not lofty but down-to-earth.  He seems to anticipate

our practical problems in prayer.  In this section, He ties prayer, which is our relating to Heaven, very much to our relationships here on earth.

            Q  Do you know people who do not pray, do you know why?

            Q  Do you know how many educated people (non-believers) explain prayer (like Freud)?  What are their theories?

            Q  Do you know people who believe that prayer simply does not work?

            Q  Could share with us a time when you could have did not pray for something that was very important in your life?

            Q  Why do we Christians sometimes not pray, even when we are in a tight spot?

            Note:  Quickly, honestly share a couple of times when you did not pray when you should have?  Time them why.

            Q  Are their times when you did not pray?  Why?

            Note:  Jesus is going to address some of the reasons we do not pray....

 

II.  Instructions on Prayer:  Matthew 7:7-12

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 7:7-8

            Q  What do you think Jesus is teaching here?  What is His main point?

               An = He is encouraging us to truly ask for what we want, what we need to find (whether guidance or insight or a certain person) and

what we need opened to us either in the way of insight, opportunity, etc.  Jesus really wants us to ask, seek and knock!!!!

            Q  Has Jesus lied?  Has He told the truth?  Do we always receive, find and have opened to us what we seek?

            Q  Why not?

            Q  Do you think Jesus was aware of our coming or His disciples present experience?

            Q  Did He know these words could wind up causing much doubt or least frustration?

            Q  Why did He do it?

               An = Remember, Jesus is quite intelligent, and aware of how you would react, so now that He has your attention, He is not through

teaching on prayer....

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 7:9-11

            Note:  We have another difficult and fairly complex metaphor here, so we should again unpack what the metaphor means before we

proceed.

            Q  Verse 9 is a rhetorical question asking the person hearing to think or ponder something, what does Jesus want us to ponder?

               An = Do fathers give cruel gifts.  Bread is a reasonable request from the mouth of a child and no father would cruelly give his son a

stone.  The boy is hungary, he cannot eat a stone.

            Q  Verse 10 is another rhetorical question, again asking the listener to think or ponder, what does Jesus want His audience to ponder?

               An = Again, do fathers give their children cruel gifts.  A child asks for fish (for protein) and he will not give him something that is not

only inedible but would bite and possible kill him would he?  To give your child a snake would be cruel indeed.

            Q  Jesus is now applying His double (parallel) metaphor or two rhetorical questions in verse 11, so who does the father represent?  Who

does the child represent?

               An = God is represented by the father and we are represented in the metaphor by the child.  So far, so good....

            Q  What is Jesus telling His audience about God and us?

               An = Good fathers, and God is the ultimate Good Father, do not give their children gifts that would harm them.

            Q  So how does this relate to Jesus teaching on prayer in verses 7-8 and why does He immediately follow His great promises with these

three verses?

               An = He is wisely qualifying His promise.  God would never give us what we ask for in prayer if it would hurt us.  We may ask for

wealth or health and He might know that would hurt us.  Remember Paul?  He was the most successful of ministers, great evangelistic success, he

healed countless people, had great revelations, he could have so easily drifted into pride, so God "gave" Paul a "thorn in the flesh".  Paul prayed three

times and God did answer and the answer was no.  The physical illness, whatever it was, kept Paul from pride and kept Paul spiritually safe.  Jesus loves

Paul and did not want his use as a minister to ruin him.

            Note:  Share an example where you did not receive something you thought was good and later learned God knew better.

            Q  If there someone hear who has had a similar experience?

            Note:  Jesus seems to be boldly encouraging us to ask, seek and knock in verses 7-8 and He is giving us even more reason to be bold in our

asking, seeking and knocking.  Now we can ask, seek or knock with confidence because if we ask for something or seek for something that would harm us

He will filter our prayers.  We cannot hurt ourselves when we pray.  We can come boldly to the throne of grace!  God is intelligent and good.  He

is not a "force" but a "Person" and persons know how to give good and appropriate gifts to those they love.  Ask, seek, knock.  He will answer!

            Note:  One would think the issue of prayer is closed, especially when we read the next verse, but I think Jesus wants us to include verse

12 with the other verses.  Let me show my reasoning and you see what you think....

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 7:12

            Q  Why does Jesus open verse 12 with the word, "therefore" (NASB) (King James), or "so" in (RSV) or (NIV) or (Jerusalem)?  (The greek

indicates the word "therefore" or "so" should be there and all good english translations have it.)

            RQ  Is Jesus seeing verse 12 as a conclusion to what went before this verse?

            Q  What is Jesus saying in this famous "golden rule"?

               An = Treat people like you would like them to treat you this is key in all of the Old Testament (that is what "the Law and the Prophets"

meant in those days).  Jesus is saying be aggressive in goodness, not passive.  Do not obey because you have to, but obey aggressively because you would

like to be treated this way. 

            Q  How does this verse apply to verses 7-11?

               An = We should ask, seek and knock in prayer for others in the same way we would like them to do for ourselves.  Our prayer life should

not just be for ourselves.  It should be done aggressively and confidently for others.  We would like others to pray that way for us.

            Q  Does verse 12 apply to the instructions in verses 1-6, and if so how?

               An = We should judge others in the manner we would like to be judged (7:1-2).  We should correct others after we have seen our own

faults, just like we would like others to do (7:3-5).  We would should correct others with wisdom lest we get hurt just like we would others to be

careful when they correct us and we are as dumb as a dog or dirty as a pig because we would feel horrible if turned and ripped someone (7:6).  They guilt

would be terrible.  If we corrected someone without care and they exploded on us, it would make a good person (presently in a state of "pigness") feel

horrible.  Any good spouse knows this, especially if they have married well, and love their spouse.

            Q  Let me stretch one bit further, does our overly judgmental spirit hinder our prayers?              Q  Does our lack of caring for

others on earth make us unfit to receive gifts from heaven?     Q  Does our inappropriate handling of our neighbor adjust what and how God can give to

us?

 

III.  Partial Conclusion:  Matthew 7:13-14.

            Note:  The next two verse are on different agenda.  They open with a new commandment.  They seem to be both a warning and an

encouragement.

>>>>  Have someone read Matthew 7:13-14.

            Q  What is Jesus saying here?

            Q  What is He saying about the "way to life" that He has been proposing in the last three chapters?

               An = It will not be the "majority" path.  You will be in a "moral minority".

            Q  Do you think this is true among Christians themselves?

            Q  How do you feel about following a path that is not in the "main spring" of humanity or for that matter the "main path" of even the

church?

            Q  Does it scare you or challenge you?

Sermon On the Mount | MATTHEW 7:1-6 | WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

I.  Introduction:

            Note:  Today we will deal with some of Jesus' teachings on how to regulate our relationships with others (so certainly this would apply to

church).  At times Jesus' teaching seems to be so demanding, yet it is incredibly liberating and balanced.  We are going to look at an issue that has

caused much damage to many in the church.  Jesus' teaching, if followed, I believe, would liberate groups (like church settings) but it would primarily

liberate the individual.   The issue is judgmentalism.

            Q  Is there judgmentalism in churches you know of?  Raise your hands.

            Q  What sort of things are judged or what things seem to have given rise to such an attitude in your experience?

            Q  How many of you know individuals who no longer go to church because they are tired of being judged, or feel a judgmental spirit? 

Would anyone like to share an example?

            Q  Have you ever felt judged?  Would you like to share your experience?

            Q  Has such an experience hurt you spiritually?  Why?

            Q  How many of you know someone who was judged falsely?  Can you give an example?

            Q  How should people act in church?

            Q  What makes people become judgmental, in of all places a church, the "teaching place of grace"?

                        Note:  Our study will focus on what Jesus says on this issue, and show how to obtain His goal.

            

II.  Basic Imperative And The Basic Rule.  Matthew 7:1.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 7:1.

            Q How does Jesus approach the issue?

               An = Jesus says just do not do it.  

            Q Does Jesus give us a reason for not judging?

               An = Yes, and it is a personal one.  You will judged if you do it.  What goes around, comes around?

            Q  What does it mean to you, we will be judged, if we judge others?

            Note:  Whatever we do, it will come back on us.  It can come back on us in my understanding in two ways.

            1)  Those who are most negative and most condemning of others faults seem to get the most criticism behind closed doors.  It would make

us shutter if we knew what others said and thought behind our backs.  Ever noticed that those who give the most slack, receive the most.  If you look for

the good in others they somehow find it in you.

            Q  Have any of you experienced this?

            2)  If we judge others God will judge us.  Remember what the Lord's prayer says:  God will forgive us as we forgive others (Matthew 6:12),

and so here God says, God will judge us as we judge others.  In other words, God will exact revenge on us for what we have done.  He will bring

justice.

            Q  If this is true what will happen to a lot of judgmental people who now go to church?  Do you believe this?

            Note:  A lot of good, evangelical Bible believing christians say they believe the Word of God.  I am one of those.  If we say this than we

must realize that if we are judgmental and think it will not come back on us then we really do not believe the Word of God.

 

III.  Reason For Obeying.  Matthew 7:2.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 7:2

            Q  Jesus has already told us the reason for not judging, why does He repeat it here?

               An = Remember in Jesus thought, if something is repeated it is being emphasized.

            Q  How many times is it repeated?

               An = Actually, Jesus gives the "motive clause", the reason for not judging three times.  So it is not only very important to realize this,

but "very" important to realize this.

            Note:  There is something in Jesus' thought that we often take for granted, but it would be good to realize, and think of often.  When Jesus

gives us commands (whether negative or positive ones) He follows His commands or prohibitions with reasons.  Jesus respects our ability to think. 

He appeals to our reason.  His commands are "reasonable", and He wants us to know why He asks us to do things.

            Q  How would we apply this reason?  How do you judge in the way you want to be judged?  How is that done?

            Q  Have you ever experienced some one being gracious to you when you seemingly failed?        Q  Can you give an example when

someone gave you slack, or looked for the best?

            >>>> Have someone read Romans 14:10-12.

                        Q  Does Paul agree with Jesus?

                        Q  What is Paul's emphasis?

 

IV.  Do not Judge, But Correct Yourself.  Matthew 7:3-6.

   A.  Be Self Corrective First.  Matthew 7:3-5.

            Q  If we do not tell others what harms them, then could we be justly accused of not loving them?  What do you think?

            Q  Do you believe it is true, "we correct those whom we love"?  

               An = You who are school teachers.  If you care about your students, then you correct them not judge them.  If you are parents you do not

condemn your child but guide them into correct paths if they are doing things that could harms them.  If you are a good friend at school, you would not let

your friend wear something totally out of style and let them look like a jerk.  We correct those we love.  

            However, there is a right and a wrong way to do that.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 7:3-5.

            Note:  Imagine walking with a log in your eye.

            RQ Ever seen pictures of ancient Jews?  

                        They all had these amazing pieces of wood sticking out of their eyes.  It is horrible to see.  Everyone is always cut up and

bruised because they were always getting beat up with those logs every time someone turned their head.  It is terrible to look at those pictures.

            ????  Seriously, Jesus is using hyperbole here.  He is exaggerating to make a point.  Let me retranslate what I think He was saying in

modern metaphors.

            "Why do you look at the speck of sand in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the surfboard in your own.  How can you say to your

brother, `Let me take the speck of sand out of your eye, when all the time there is a surfboard in your own eye.'  You hypocrite, first take the surfboard

out of your own eye, then you can see clearly to remove the sand from your brother's eye.

            Q  What is our Lord asking us to do?  What is He saying here?  

            Q  How do you properly correct?

               An = We can really help someone if we help them get a piece of sand out of their eye.  Sand hurts.  Jesus we help others more

proficiently by "cleaning up your own act first".

            Q  Why is it that we readily listen to those who will first confess their own faults?

            Note:  Some might say Jesus is not telling us to "clean up our own act first", but really not to correct at all....  Lets see if Jesus means

this.

   B. Use Wisdom, Realize the Cost.  Matthew 7:6.

            Q  Is the best way to handle others sin is not to ever say anything at all?

            Q  Is the best way to handle life as a Christian to become a mush-brain.  To really follow Jesus must we become brain dead?

               An = I do not think so, Christians who discipline themselves to obey the teachings of Jesus do not become rubber brains but quite the

opposite.  They become wise, insightful people.  Let me show you Jesus' balance, lest you think they way of obedience is to not think.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 7:6.

            Note:  Notice that Jesus is again using a metaphor.  Notice that this metaphor is in parallel form.  So lets look at what is parallel to

what?

            Q  What is parallel to pearls?

               An = What is sacred or what is holy.

            Q  What is parallel to dogs?

               An = pigs, and in Jesus' society pigs and dogs were considered the lowest form of mammals.  

            Note:  Also, in a metaphor, a physical object often represents a spiritual idea.

            Q  So what do the dogs or pigs represent?

                        Q  What does pearls represent in your opinion?

            Q  What is Jesus saying with this metaphor?

               An = Jesus is saying do not give what is valuable to "spiritually imperceptive persons".

            Q  How do we know someone is spiritually imperceptive?

               An = Their eyebrows of course.  All folks who are spiritually dull have green eyebrows.  Don't look at that person next to you!!!! 

Seriously, ....

            RQ  To determine who is spiritually perceptive and do not have to make a judgment?

            Q  Do you think Jesus is aware that He has do not judge, lest you be judged in 7:1 and then said judge lest you be attached in 7:6?

               An = He is totally aware and He seeks our balance.  At times we need to judge, but we do not need to be consumed, like many become,

with a "judgmental attitude".

            Note:  Since Jesus is aware that He is speaking 7:6 in the context of 7:1-5, there could be another insight here....

            Q  In this context, what is the valuable thing, the pearls, we are not to throw to pigs?

               An = In this context, it would be correction.  The taking of the speck of dust out of our fellow man's eye.

            Q  If someone corrects you, do they take the risk of being ripped?

            Q  When you correct someone, do you not take the risk of being ripped?  

            RQ How happy are we with our parents when they correct us?  Do we not rip them?

            RQ How angry do we get when we get critique at work, or at home?

 

                        Note:  At times we need to take risks.  But when we take those risks we need to remember that in the

same way we judge, we will be judged and that we need to clean up our own act first.

               Note:   Jesus says do not judge in 7:1 and that you have to judge in 7:6.  Jesus wants balance and freedom.  We have to make

judgments at times for our own safety, but He does not want us consumed with negative judgmental behavior.

            Note:  Jesus wants us healthy and that is because of His deep love for us.

>>>> Close with reading Romans 15:1-2.

Sermon On the Mount | MATTHEW 6:19-34 | DEALING WITH MONEY AND ANXIETY

I.  Introduction:

            Note:  We are going to take today about money and anxiety!  So many of us are captive to anxiety.  Jesus ties these two issues together. 

However, once He has brought up the issue of money, He goes on to deal in more detail with what causes our anxiety, and it is not money itself.  Jesus'

words may sound uncomfortable at first but they hold out to us the hope we need in dealing with worry.

            We live in a very materialistic society, and yet since we are beings with bodies as well as a soul, I think these issues have always been

relevant in all types of societies.

 

II.  The Issue of Proper Focus and Its Results:  Matthew 6:19-24.

>>>>  Have someone read Matthew 6:19-21.

            Q  What does verse 21 mean?

               An = The word "heart" in Hebrew means not just "emotions" but includes the "mind" as well.  In the Old Testament it is often translated

as "mind".  However, since our mind includes the emotions as well as intellect the word "heart" can be understood by our English word "consciousness". 

Jesus says what we really value is shown to us by what comes to our consciousness most often.

            RQ  What has preoccupied your mind lately?  Is it finding a mate, a boyfriend, a certain girl, a job, financial pressures, a boat, a car, a

promotion?

            Note:  What we really treasure is where our heart is.  I remember taking my wife on our first over night vacation months after our first

son was born.  We were going to Mariposa (outside of Yosemite, which is beautiful) for a much needed rest.  Our parents had our son and they were

excellent baby sitters with plenty of experience.  However, we did not get to the end of the afternoon when my wife persuaded me to go back.  Her

treasure was not in her needing an exciting, romantic, relaxing time, her treasure was that little boy!  Her reaction is totally correct, totally

understandable and quite proper in Jesus' way of thinking!

            I often have had my wife's priorities concerning our children, but I also must confess that money pressures, career opportunities, success

at the job have often been where my mind is.

            RQ  What is our treasure, because is that not where our heart or consciousness thinking is centered?

>>>> Have someone re-read Matthew 6:19-20.

            Q  Where is Jesus telling us not to have our treasures?

               An = Not in things that are temporal.  It is not because Jesus does not want us to enjoy or have earthly treasures, but because if they

become central we will be disappointed.  Such treasures will disappoint because they will not last.  Jesus wants us to enjoy forever what we have

set our hearts on!

            It is an obvious fact of life, though one we often refuse to admit, that things in this earthly life are not lasting.  The closer we come to

death, the truthfulness of what is said here becomes more and more obvious. 

            RQ  If you win souls to Christ, or help others stay healthy spiritually, beings that will last forever, is not this the more valuable way to

spend one's youth?

            RQ  If this truth is so obvious, why do we human beings not see it?

            RQ  Why are we so caught up with things that are so obviously temporal?

            Note:  Perhaps, the answer is in what follows....

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 6:22-23.

            Q  What is Jesus saying here?  How is the eye the lamp of the body?

            Q  What does a lamp provide?

               An = light so that we can see.  We cannot see if there is no light.

            Q  So what happens if your eye is bad?

               An = The eye (if good) is the window (so to speak) for images to be seen in your brain.  If your eye is defective, your brain cannot "see"

images.  So if your eye is bad you are blind. 

            Note:  Jesus is not talking here about literal eyesight, but spiritual or intellectual sight.  Eyes in the Old Testament are the metaphor for

"perceptiveness".  We have a little of this in English when we say:  "Oh, now I see".  If one sees then one perceives, one understands.  If one has good

eyes that can see, then one can perceive the truth.  If we have eyes that cannot see then we have no ability to see the truth.  

            A seminary friend once said:  "The jaundice eye always sees yellow."  In other words, if your blood is tinged with jaundice (a yellowing)

then what you see is filtered through a yellowed lens.  Everything you see will be yellow.  Similarly, Jesus says in Matthew 20:15 that man cannot

understand certain good actions if his "eye is envious".  In other words, envy takes away proper perspective, proper understanding.  So here, one's ability

to see truth can be blinded by having the wrong treasures.

            If you choose in faith to value eternal treasures then you will "see life differently".  It is a risk, however, to value eternal things over

things we can count, touch, and physically see.  It is a "gamble", if you want to use a different word, that there is a heaven, a hell, and a God of

righteousness who will guarantee our eternal reward.

            Q  Can we be perceptive if we have wrong treasures?

            Q  Is having proper treasures optional?

>>>>  Have someone read Matthew 6:24.

            Q  Is an eternal perspective optional?

               An = God and money (the definition of "mammon") cannot both be worshipped.  They will rival one another and a choice will have to be

made.  Money can become an idol, a rival god.  (I am sure Jesus' audience was automatically reflecting on Deuteronomy 6:5:  "And you shall love the Lord

our God with all our heart and with all your soul and with all your might."  The average Israelite knew "idolatry was not an option".  If was not an option,

then nor is it one now.

            Q  What if one cannot "see" that we cannot love both?

 

III.  Basic Needs and Anxiety:  Matthew 6:25-34.

            Q  How many of you have met Christians that are impractical and never handle their finances properly and call it faith?

            Q  How many of you know young people, who are naive, and do not think about the fact that bills do not pay themselves, will let you pay

them, but then challenge you to have faith?

            Note:  If you have met such folks, it is hard to take them seriously, however, one can be responsible and have faith.  In fact, one has to be

responsible because whether one is a good Christian or not one still has to eat, to put on clothes, etc.  Whether we are spiritual or not we have a body, a

physical body, and it needs to be fed and clothed.

            If our body does not get fed or clothed, we die....  It is natural to be concerned about this, it is natural to have anxiety about our basic, daily

needs.  Jesus knows this, anxiety is a real part of dealing with the reality of meeting our daily needs.  So when He challenges us to be free of the love of

money, He knows that what He is telling us could make us more open to anxiety.  It takes money, "mammon" to survive.

            So Jesus addresses the issue of anxiety....

>>>>  Have someone read Matthew 6:25.

            Q  What behavior is Jesus forbidding?

               An = Anxiety, or worry about this life as to how we shall eat, drink, or be clothed.

            Q  How many times is the word worry or anxiety found in verses 25-34?

               An = I count 5 times:  25,27,28,31,34.  Obviously the next few verses are all about handling anxiety, worry or apprehension concerning

our daily needs.  Jesus does not want us to be naive, or irresponsible, but free and for good logical reasons.  Reasons we shall soon see.

            Q  Towards the end of verse 25, Jesus asks a rhetorical question (one that asks one to think about an issue, not formulate an answer)? 

What is that question asking us to think about?

               An = Is not life what we are more than the things that help it survive?  Is not life more than just existence.  

            Note:  Those who know this truth the best are often those who have excess of money.  So many European and American (or rich Asian)

youth are so easily depressed, and have lost interest in life because they have plenty of food, plenty of clothes, but life is more than these.

>>>>  Have someone read Matthew 6:26-30.

            Q  What two things in nature does Jesus ask us to observe and ponder?

               An = birds of the air and the lilies of the field.

            Q  What can looking at the birds of the air and the lilies of the field teach us?

               An = That God provides for them and they do not have barns or treasuries and though the lilies are incapable of clothing themselves they

are more beautifully attired than the wealthiest man on earth could accomplish.  

            Q  Does anxiety help?

            Q  If anxiety cannot help, why do we humans do it?  

            Q  Why do so many of us ruin our health, our joy, our enjoyment of what we do have with anxiety when worry does not help?

            Q  How would Matthew 6:21-23 answer that question?

               An = We have the wrong treasures, non-eternal treasures, and it has blinded us to reality.

            Q  When we are anxious or consumed with worry, whom have we effectively proclaimed that we do not believe in?

            Q  Whom do we not have faith in?

>>>>  Have someone read Matthew 6:31-32.

            Q  How is Jesus motivating us not be consumed with worry in the beginning of verse 32?  What is His negative motivation?

               An = We are like the Gentiles (the non-believers, who do not know the beauties of God as revealed to His people).  We are pagan.

            Q  How is Jesus motivating us to be free of worry in a positive sense at the end of verse 32?

               An = Realize who God is.  Not only does He exist, but He is aware of(intimate with) our needs.  If we have the right view of God it will

change us.

>>>>  Have someone read Matthew 6:33-34.

            Q  Remember Jesus opens this section in verse 19-20 talking about having the proper mental focus, what are we to focus on here in

verse 33?

               An = The reign of God and being righteous.  If we focus properly all these valid, basic needs will be taken care of.

            Q  What does it mean to "seek the kingdom and His righteousness"?  What does that mean for you?

            Q  What are we not to focus on according to verse 34?

               An = What we cannot control, namely tomorrow.  

            Q  Why is it not good to worry about tomorrow?

>>>>  Have someone read Proverbs 18:10-11.

            Q  How do these two verses relate to Jesus' discussion?

            Q  Has God changed?

Sermon On the Mount | MATTHEW 6:5-15 | PRAYER

I.  Greetings and Introduction:

            This week we will look at how to pray.   This section contains teaching on our attitude towards God when we pray, a model prayer (which

is the Lord's Prayer) and Jesus' own commentary on the Lord's Prayer.

            Our study will therefore include three sections:  words of wisdom on prayer (7-8), the Lord's Prayer (9-13) and Jesus' commentary on what

is very important to Him about His prayer (14-15).    

            Note:  One of the most famous passages in the New Testament is the Lord's Prayer However, what is familiar can easily become

meaningless and we miss what is actually before us.   

II.  Instructions on Prayer:  Matthew 6:7-15.

            A.  A Word of Wisdom From Jesus About Prayer:  Matthew 6:7-8.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 6:7-8.

            Q  Is Jesus forbidding us to repeat a prayer?

               An =  Jesus is not saying that you cannot repeat a prayer.  Jesus repeats a prayer many times in the Garden of Gethsemane (in the very

book of Matthew, i.e. 26:36-42 and see also Luke 11:5-10).  He is saying do not take God for a fool.  You cannot make God respond with a lot of words.  He

is an Intelligent Being.  He wants us to pray to Him as an intelligent being just as you want your children or your friends to talk to you.

            RQ  Would you not be offended if a friend asked a favor sixty times, thinking that was the only reason you would respond?

            Note:  Oswald Chambers (Studies In the Sermon On the Mount, p. 60) reminds us that "God is never impressed by our earnestness."

            Note:  Then He shows us practically how to pray.  

 

III.  The Lord's Prayer, Matthew 6:9-13

            A.  The Framework: 9 and 13b.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 6:9

            Q  According to this verse what is the purpose for giving this prayer?

               An = Notice that Jesus did not say "pray these exact words" but "pray in this way" or as the NIV says it:  "This, then, is how you should

pray".  So what pattern, or content should guide our prayer life.

            Note:  Jesus knows that his disciples knew many public prayers for they were beautifully spoken or sung in the great Temple or in

synagogue, what He is teaching is prayer for their private, closet prayer life as well.  It is perfectly alright to pray the Lord's prayer in public but it is

also a guide for our use in private prayer as well.

            Note:

            Before we go on, let me make one observation:  if one examines the structure of the Lord's prayer as found in Matthew 6:9-13 we will find

a curious but clear structure.  So lets look at that structure.  The Lord's Prayer could easily be seen to have six parts in my opinion:  An Invocation,

Four Requests, and a Benediction.  Let me explain further.  

            Note:  Verse 9 opens the Lord's Prayer with what is commonly called an "Invocation".  

            Q  What is an invocation?

               An = It means to call upon, or address someone.  >>> Turn with me to Psalm 46:1 and let me read it to you. Notice God is

addressed as a refuge or shelter, now go over to Psalm 49:1,2 and lets read this.  Notice here is not God who is addressed but the peoples of all

stations.  Now go over to Psalm 50:1 and lets read it.  Here the invocation is to God but now a different aspect of God is addressed, His might and

power.  The invocation is an indication of who and what aspect of that person is being addressed.

            The Lord's Prayer opens with an invocation:  let us read it in English, and see what it means.

            Note: Our Father, who are in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name.  Lets break this down.

            --"Our Father"--God is understood as our "dad", in Aramaic it would be "Abba", or "Daddy".  In the ancient Jewish culture, Fathers deeply

loved their children and many Armenian families still understand how deeply the love can be towards "dad".  By calling God "our Father"  we are saying

we know God intimately, loving, personally cares for us.  He is not just God, but His my father!  As we draw closer to God we will increasingly feel

this closeness and this bond.  In my own case, as great as my grandfather and father were, God is more.  There is an intimacy that even supersedes that

closeness and love.

            Q God is not only called "our Father" but also what?

               An = Notice the next phrase, "who are in Heaven".  God is not only our father, but He is the Lord of the heavens.  He is not our personal

guru or divine pet!  He is in heaven, far away, and far above all that is on earth.  

            So, God is both intimate and God is great and awe-inspiring.  He is not only "immanent" but also "transcendent", above and beyond anything

a human being can imagine.

            Note:  To make sure we understand this, Jesus follows up with "hallowed be your Name", or "Holy is your Name".  He is to be sanctified and

holy in our understanding.  The Jews knew that to truly come before God with joy they needed to understand His Holiness:  >>>> Turn to

Psalm 34:3.

            Q So how do we pray?  In what manner or pattern do we open our prayers, in what attitude towards God are we to have when opening in our

personal, private prayer life?

               An = We should approach God with confidence that He is our father but that He is awesome in power!  He is both intimate and yet

almighty.  We should know that He deeply loves us, but that we are also addressing the Lord of the Entire Cosmos.  We should know that we are

approaching not only He who loves us but He who is to be worshipped in holiness.

            B.  The Body of the Prayer:  Four Requests:  Matthew 6:10-13a.

>>>>  Have someone read Matthew 6:10.

            Note:  Now we move onto the body of the Lord's Prayer.  It opens with a request in verse 10.  "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on

earth as it is in heaven."   May your kingdom come.  Where God is king then His will is followed.  We are being told to ask for God's lordship to begin.  

            Note:  Naturally, another way of saying this would be "may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven".   You see if God is king in heaven

when His will is obeyed, then we are to ask God's will to be on earth.  May God have His way!

            Note:  Asking God's kingdom to come and then for His will to be done is an example of Hebrew parallelism.  Again to see how Jesus is

structuring His prayer, turn to Psalm 112:2,7.  See how the phrases are repeating some of the same thought in different ways.  Now turn to Psalm

114:4 for another example, Jesus is saying in verse 10 the same thing twice!  For Hebrews to Repeat a matter shows its importance!

            Q What is Jesus saying?  How should our prayers be like, if we follow His direction?

               An = Perhaps, another way of saying it would be:  May you be truly King, not only in heavens and in the ages to come, but with me on

earth, now.  It is a prayer of submission.  He must be king, not us.  His will, not our will, should dominate.  1)  Many people do not like to take the

Bible seriously because then we will know what God thinks and then if we are true Christians then we would have to conform.  If we say the Bible is not

true, then we can make up a god and what we wish him to want in our own image.  Also 2), many do not want to hear from the Holy Spirit, but want to do

what we want.  When we do this, we have made a god in our image.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 6:11

            Q What does the second request mean?

               An =  "Give us today our daily bread".  Notice we are to ask for our daily sustenance.  God does not say ask for luxury, but to ask for our

daily needs.  God does care about our needs and so He commands us to ask for them to be fulfilled.  What you really need you are to ask for.

            Q What would you think of the child who said:  "Dad, or Mom, give me five thousand dollars, so I do not have to be bothered with talking

with you again?

            Q Do you like being dependent on God?

               An =  So many times we want to be given our needs twenty years in advance, where God wants us to be daily dependent upon Him.  We

want security but He wants relationship.  What would we think of the child who said, "Forget-you parents, I just want enough money for the next twenty

years and I do not want to need to talk to you to again."  God wants us to daily come before Him with our needs.  Some people have called it living on the

edge.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 6:12.

            Q What is the third thing we are to ask for?

               An =  The third thing we are to ask for is something that Jesus knows we need have need of:  forgiveness.  "Forgive us our debts, as we

forgive our debtors".   The Lord knows we need daily sustenance.  The Lord also knows we need to submit to His will, and He knows we need

forgiveness.  So, He says:  "Ask for it."  

            Note:  Notice of the four requests that we are going to look at in the Lord's Prayer, only this one has a condition.  God does not say, ask for

daily bread, but first fast six hours then I will supply your need.  He does not say ask for My will to be done only after you have given your tithe.  There

are no conditions attached to these requests but here there are stipulations.  There are conditions to forgiveness.  You must forgive those who have hurt

you.

            Note:  Charles Williams says the word "as" is the most terrible word in the English Bible.  It is so hard to forgive those who have hurt us,

but Jesus says it is not optional.  You must forgive to be forgiven.

            Q Why is it so hard to forgive?

            Q  Can we afford to forgive?  Can we afford to forgive those idiots at work?  Can we afford to forgive certain relatives?

               An = Strange question?  Not really!  Think of it this way, if we forgive, then the devil tries to tell us, we will be diminished.  We must

have our due!  Our debts must be recognized and covered.  Can we afford to forgive?  

            Q Can we afford to forgive?

               An = If we will forgive, will we not have faith in God?  If we have such faith we will not only not be diminished we will be like our

heavenly Father?   Note:  There is one difference to being like our heavenly Father, Chrysostom (p. 136) reminds us, that we have need of becoming

great, God already is!  He merely wishes to show us the way!

            Note:  There is another parallelism here (a contrasting one), i.e. forgiveness is spoken about twice, because forgiveness is very

important!

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 6:13a.

            Q What is the fourth thing we are to ask our Father for?

               An = The fourth thing we are encouraged to ask for is also in parallel form:  "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the

evil one".  We are to ask our Lord for help in temptation.  We are to anticipate and pray about the needs we have or others have in temptation and pray

before the trouble begins.

            EX  You can give an example of your own here.  The key issue is that one anticipates a problem and then begins to pray.

Time I realized I would be tempted to fight with a close friend, and so prayed that it would never happen, it didn't.  We are not asking God to give us

not temptation but to help us not to succumb!

            Note:  The real enemy is not those who hurt us, but the devil, the "evil one".  Satan tries to use the mistakes and selfishness of others to

tempt us, but the real enemy is the devil!  Beat the devil, you do not need to beat the one who has hurt you.

            Q The text does not say:  "Lead me not into temptation", "Let us not into temptation."  I believe this opens the door for us to pray not only

for ourselves but for our friends, our children, and relatives.  Perhaps, we need to begin praying for those we love when see them being drawn into

temptation.  Do not gossip about them!  Do not worry about them!  Pray for them!  It is the last thing the devil wants you doing.  Again, you

have a parallelism, a repetition, i.e. it is important to seek help for ourselves and others against temptation, through prayer!

            C.  The Closing Or The Benediction.  Matthew 6:13b.

>>>> If you have to recite or read from the "King James" version the benediction.

            Note:  Our prayer ends in some translations with "For thine is the kingdom and power and the glory forever".  This is the closing phrase,

the Benediction, the ending of the prayer.  Scripture has many of these types of closing and we usually end our Sunday morning worship service with one.

            Note:  Some of your translations do not have this part because some of the earliest manuscripts do not have this.  

            Note:  In affect, what this phrase is saying is that God totally in control, with endless might, power and glory.  So our part is to verbalize

this and acknowledge to the world that in Jesus is eternal power and glory.  It is true, what we need to do is to proclaim that truth to the world.  It

will help the world and most of all it helps us, ourselves, realize that this is reality.

 

IV.  Jesus' Own Commentary or Emphasis on His Prayer:  Matthew 6:14-15.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 6:14-15.

            Note:  Notice that Jesus is referring back to only one part of the Lord's Prayer.

>>>> Have someone re-read Matthew 6:12.

            Q What is the condition for our being forgiven?

               An = Forgiving others!  Jesus does not want us to miss that!  If we do, we can slip into being a hypocrite, a religious prig, a dead

person, who everyone sees as religious but is totally not pleasing to God.  We could totally miss the boat!

            Note:  So notice Jesus repeats the issue twice!  He loves us and knows our tendency to forget unpleasant issues.  Jesus speaks of this

issue of forgiveness four times.

            Note:  Notice, He first tries to persuade us with a promise in 6:14, and then He tries to persuade us with a threat in 6:15.  He promises

and threatens because He wants to persuade us to the fullest extent.

            Note:  Those of you who are teachers know that you have to motivate both ways to be affective with students.  

            EX  I used to assign some tremendously hard papers in my classes and I would promise them that if they did them they would never forget

what they wrote and it would be one of the best things they experienced in my classes.  I was right, it was true!  However, I would also say if you do not

do the paper you do not pass the class.

            Q  How many students would put a 75+ hours into a paper without the threat?  

               An = Not many.  But without the promise they would get discouraged when the going got rough.  We humans need both positive and

negative encouragement.  God knows this and so wisely, lovingly repeats only one part of the Lord's Prayer.

            Note:  Let me tell you a secret.  If you learn to forgive others who have terribly hurt you it could be the key to your spiritual success.  It

could be the key that unlocks your relationship to God.  It could make you real!

            RQ Who is it that has really hurt you?  

            Note:  Bring that person before your mind and then let me ask you another question!

            Q  Is Christ asking too much of some of you today?

               An = If we have been truly hurt by another human being, we need His supernational grace.  If we have been hurt deep enough, we

need help to forgive.  Our very chance at pleasing God depends upon it.  Some of you have been hurt so bad that none of can understand how deep that hurt

is, but God.  

            Note:  He understands, and He is present right now to begin the process you need to be free.