Sunday School Lesson

July 7

Lesson 6 (KJV)

Fulfilling the Law

 

Devotional Reading: Psalm 119:105–112

Background Scripture: Matthew 5:13–20

 

Matthew 5:13–20

13. Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

 

14. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

 

15. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

 

16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

 

17. Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

 

18. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

 

19. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

 

20. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

 

Key Verse

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.—Matthew 5:16

 

Lesson Aims

After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:

 

1. Identify the dos and don’ts of being a follower of Jesus.

 

2. Contrast the righteousness Jesus described with the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees.

 

3. Evaluate for improvement his or her “saltiness” and/or “luminosity” as a Christian.

 

HOW TO SAY IT

Beatitudes	Bee-a-tuh-toods (a as in mat).
Galilee	Gal-uh-lee.
Mosaic	Mo-zay-ik.
Pharisees	Fair-ih-seez.
Philippians	Fih-lip-ee-unz.

Introduction

1. Deadly Darkness

When I was growing up, my father, older brother, and I enjoyed a yearly hunting week in the back country of Idaho. We went in October when the snow had just begun to fall and the deer had descended from the high mountains. We didn’t always bag this elusive game, but we had great times of bonding and excitement. We partnered with another family who had two sons the same age as my brother and me, so there were two fathers and four sons.

The year I was 12, the other father, his older son, and my older brother decided to try something new since we had not seen any deer in two days. They studied the forest service maps and thought there was a trail winding down an isolated creek near our camp. There was road access at the head of this stream and at a bridge about five miles below. The plan was for my father to dump the three out at dawn at the creek’s head and let them hunt down the isolated stream while we drove down to pick them up at the bridge in the early afternoon.

My team hunted near our camp that morning, then headed down to the bridge. We built a huge fire and began to cook a meal for the other team, sure that they would be cold and hungry when they arrived. But they did not come. It began to get dark, and the below-freezing night was near. We drove as far up the creek as we could, but the other team was not found. Finally, we stopped and fired a series of three shots from a rifle, the hunter’s universal signal. No response; the roar of the creek drowned out the sound of these shots. We worried. We doubted the three could survive the night. It hit me hard: my beloved brother and my friends might die if we couldn’t find them!

Finally, my father decided to turn his Jeep around on the narrow road and go back to the bridge, thinking we might have missed them somehow. The vehicle turning was tricky, but we managed, and were just ready to drive away when we heard shots. We waited as the other three came bounding out of the trees. They had not heard our earlier shots, but they saw the headlights of the Jeep. What happened? The trail down the creek had failed them, and they had waded through the icy water for several hundred yards where the stream went through an area with sheer rock walls. They were soaked and nearly frozen. They would not have survived the night alone, but they saw the lights and were saved.

1. Lesson Context

Matthew’s record of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount extends the length of chapters 5–7 in his Gospel. The opening feature is the section known familiarly to many as the Beatitudes (last week’s lesson). There Jesus spoke eight beatitudes in third person, seemingly as general statements of truth (Matthew 5:3–9). But in the two verses that follow, Jesus switched from third person to second person. This seemed to aim His thoughts there directly at His disciples. It was they who could expect to be insulted, persecuted, and generally bad-mouthed. But those eventualities were not to deter them from carrying out the role He had for them—the subject of today’s lesson.

1. Who Disciples Are

(Matthew 5:13–16)

1. Earthy Salt (v. 13)
2. 13. Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

There are two popular ways of understanding what it means for Jesus’ followers to be the salt of the earth. One focuses on the preservative quality of salt. Salt, if applied to fresh meat or fish, will keep it from rotting and allow such to be used as food months after the animal is butchered. Similarly, Jesus’ disciples, the members of the kingdom of Heaven, preserve the earth by keeping a check on sin. The influence of the righteous may not always win the day, but it tamps down dangerous sin enough to allow communities to function in semi-lawful ways (Romans 8:12, 13; Titus 3:8).

If this influence is lost (salt losing its savour), then this preservative function is also lost. If the people of God neither practice righteous behavior as examples nor stand against injustice in their communities, they become worthless. They must provide a contrast to the earth, those people who live according to the laws of the world (1 Corinthians 15:48–50). Should Christians fail to do so, they might as well be joined with the dirt and walked on without respect.

This interpretation finds parallels from the days of Noah, when the Lord found humanity to be so wicked that He decided to destroy the great majority of people with a flood (Genesis 6:5–7, 10–13). God recognized the righteous behavior of Noah (6:8), but that man’s influence was not enough to preserve society.

A second interpretation of salt of the earth relies on the property of salt to cause thirst. Earlier, Jesus spoke of those who “thirst after righteousness” (Matthew 5:6). A purpose of the disciples is to cause the general population to be “thirsty” for the righteousness that Jesus brings. The right relationship with the Lord will satisfy those with spiritual thirst (Isaiah 55:1–3; John 4:10–14). If the witness of Jesus’ disciples becomes tainted and compromised and no longer causes society to desire what Jesus offers, then the church’s role as salt has failed. Its people are no different than the unsaved masses; they might as well join them as ordinary dirt.

Both interpretations have merit, and it is difficult to dismiss either of them. The first (“salt as preservative”) has a long history and many advocates. The second (“salt as thirst-causer”) fits the context in Matthew 5 well and offers parallels to the next metaphor (Matthew 5:14–16). Considering parallel passages in Mark 9:49, 50 and Luke 14:34, 35 does not clarify which interpretation Matthew intends to be the primary reading.

 

What Do You Think? Where will you place your saltiness emphasis: on being a preservative or being a thirst-causer? Why?   Digging Deeper Which is better: to be really good at one of those two, or to strive for a balance? Why?

1. Bright Light (vv. 14–16)
2. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

 

Nighttime is very dark in Jesus’ time because artificial lights are relatively rare. Such light comes from something being burned: a candle, an oil lamp, a pitch-soaked torch, or a wood fire. Lighting in a home after sundown is expensive and mostly unnecessary. Galilee, where Jesus is speaking, is close enough to the equator that it averages about 12 hours of daylight year-round (see John 11:9). For both fiscal and solar reasons, people rise to work at sunrise and retire for the night at sundown. The typical home is lighted artificially as little as possible.

This situation means that there is rarely light pollution after sundown. Darkness after sunset ensures that even small lights can be seen at a considerable distance. Cities with many lamps and torches are easily visible for many miles. A city that is set on a hill certainly cannot be hid! Like Jesus, His followers are to shine in the darkness, showing the way to life (John 8:12).

More to “Tel”

When visiting Israel, a tourist may notice that many historic sites begin with the same three-letter word tel: Tel Aviv (compare Ezekiel 3:15), Tel Afek, Tel Kinrot, Tel Hazor, Tel Achziv, Tel Avdon, and many, many more. In a modern sense, the word tel is an archeological term. It refers to a man-made hill or mound under which are the ruins of a city or cities.

Each time the city was destroyed, the next city built on that site had a higher elevation. A city on a natural hill would be reinforced by raising the slopes of the hill. This cycle would repeat again and again. For this reason, a tel has several layers of accumulated construction. War and disaster would not cause a city on a hill to be wiped away. On the contrary, destruction of a city on a hill would only ensure that the next layer would be more visible!

The church of our Lord Jesus is truly a city on a hill in this ancient sense. Time after time, tyrants have attempted to extinguish her light. They only succeeded in putting that light on an even higher tel! How has your past elevated the reach of your light?

—J. E.

15. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

 

Jesus also appeals to His hearers’ practical use of light in a household setting. Because of the expense of burning candles or lamps, most homes limit their use. It is foolish, then, to squander the resource of light by covering a candle with a bushel (Mark 4:21; Luke 11:33). Instead, the wise homeowner places the light on a candlestick to maximize its usefulness for the entire room (8:16).

 

What Do You Think? What are some ways to ensure the visibility of your light for Christ?   Digging Deeper Which is better to focus on: making the light itself brighter, or clearing away the things that are blocking others from seeing our light?

16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

 

Jesus applies both of His lessons about lights (visibility in darkness, fiscal irresponsibility of limiting their shining) to His disciples in a spiritual way. The shining light represents good works, the righteous lives He expects of His followers (1 Corinthians 10:31; Philippians 1:11; Titus 2:14). As the saltiness of their witness points to the quenching of their spiritual thirst with God, so their blazing good works also point to God.

Their lighted lives cause those who see them to glorify the Father (Matthew 9:8). That the Father is in heaven emphasizes that His ways are above the ways of the world and cannot be achieved by earthly means. His ways are to be desired and followed (6:9–13).

 

What Do You Think? What guardrails can we erect to ensure that we are not fooling ourselves regarding how much our lights are shining?   Digging Deeper Under what circumstances would a Christian benefit from having a light-shining accountability partner? Why?

1. Who Jesus Is

(Matthew 5:17–20)

1. Fulfillment of the Law (vv. 17, 18)
2. Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

 

Jesus moves to speak of the relationship of His teachings to the lifestyle of good deeds that are practiced per the law and the prophets, the Jewish Scriptures. Jesus does not minimize the simple requirements of the law, but instead He takes the law’s principles and emphasizes them for His followers (Matthew 5:21; Romans 3:31).

Jesus explains His relationship to the Law of Moses in two ways. First, He has no intention of destroying the law (compare John 10:34, 35). The word used here is not from the legal world, but from the builder’s world, having the sense of “demolish.” He is no wrecking ball for the Mosaic code that Israel has followed for hundreds of years.

If Jesus has no plans to knock down the law, then what is His relationship to it? Maybe He should be a law-strengthener, a law-builder, or the giver of a new and better law. Jesus does not go that direction, but says that He has come neither to establish nor build the law. Jesus’ second point is not the opposite of His first. Instead He has come to fulfil the law.

 

18. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

 

Jesus reinforces that He is fulfilling the law, not destroying it, by emphasizing the lasting nature of the law (Psalm 119:89; Isaiah 40:8; 55:11). It will continue until heaven and earth pass away at the end of time (Matthew 24:35; Mark 13:31; Luke 21:33).

The law is not modified by Jesus. Not one jot or one tittle is changed in the law (Luke 16:17). A jot refers to the smallest letter of the Hebrew alphabet. A tittle is even smaller, just one part of a stroke that differentiates one letter from another, like a horn or dot. Jesus has no interest in modifying the law or getting into technical discussions with the scribes as to its interpretation. Jesus is certainly aware of the influence of the scribes, with their reputation for accuracy in copying Scriptures. Yet even the most careful scribe can make a mistake, a misplaced tittle or two. In exaggerated language (hyperbole), Jesus emphasizes that the law will not change by His hand.

At first glance, one might think Jesus is treating the law like a prophecy that must be fulfilled. Fulfillment of prophecy is important in this Gospel (see Matthew 1:23; 2:6, 15, 18, 23; etc.), but that does not seem to be what Jesus means here. A text with the specific wording is necessary to fulfill prophecy in this way. Jesus does not fulfill isolated pieces of the law but the entire law. Jesus and His ministry are that to which the law points. One author, Robert Banks, has pointed out that this is not about Jesus’ relationship to the law, but about the law’s relationship to Jesus.

God did not give the law intending that it would last forever. Ultimately it points to Christ, who makes perfect what the law could not perfect (Romans 3:20–31; Hebrews 7:16–19). It has an end time when it will be fulfilled. This fulfillment begins with Jesus himself, and we understand this to mean that we, as Christians, follow Jesus and not the law of the Old Testament.

The Heroic Outlaw

Few literary characters are as well known as Robin Hood. He is portrayed as a supporter of the late twelfth-century King Richard the Lionheart. Richard’s younger brother, John, mismanaged the kingdom while Richard was participating in the Crusades. John’s excessive taxation led Robin Hood and his men to wage a shadow war against him by stealing taxes from collectors and returning them to the peasants.

Robin Hood of legend was an outlaw but stood for a higher law of compassion and justice. His purpose was not to be lawless. He desired to do what Richard, the true king, would have wanted.

A real person existed of whom Robin Hood is a mere shadow. Jesus was unfairly portrayed as a lawbreaker (Matthew 11:19). Yet He did not come to declare anarchy, but to fulfill the law of the true king of Heaven. How does Jesus’ fulfillment of the law lead you to greater righteousness?

—J. E.

1. Teacher of Righteousness (vv. 19, 20)
2. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

 

Having declared the law’s fulfillment in His person and ministry, Jesus now issues a dire warning for those who continue to follow the law. It is not for them to pick and choose what commandments to keep, and they should not honor teachers who disregard the full impact of the law. The law must be taken as a whole, and those who break even a small commandment are guilty of breaching the entire law (see James 2:10). Jesus teaches that reward and recognition from God in the kingdom of heavendepend on this consistency. This kingdom is present in Jesus’ ministry and is a contrast to the powers of the world that function on the basis of their own desires rather than following God’s laws (Ephesians 6:12).

Since the law is fulfilled in Jesus and His teachings, this verse must point to Him. He does not offer an immoral, amoral, or careless approach to living a God-pleasing life. The law reveals the moral obligations of God’s people, and we must pay attention to its principles in light of our faith in Jesus. Later, Jesus teaches that the entirety of the Law of Moses and the Prophets is summed up in two principles: love God and love people (Matthew 22:36–40). When we live this way, we honor every jot and tittle of the law, even as we realize that certain aspects of it applied only to Old Testament Israel (example: animal sacrifices).

 

What Do You Think? What specific things can be done within the church to maintain integrity in teaching the Word of God?   Digging Deeper Consider both proactive (preventative) and reactive (after the fact) methods.

20. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

 

Jesus’ final statement in this section is a shock to his original hearers. He advises them that they must have a righteousness that is superior to that of the scribes and Pharisees, or else they will not be participants in the kingdom of heaven. The hearers assume that righteousness is determined by adherence to the Law of Moses. The religious leaders are prime examples of men who keep the law.

This verse features the second of 22 occurrences of the word scribe in this Gospel (see Matthew 2:4). A scribe is someone who is trained to write on a readable medium such as parchment. In the book of Matthew, scribes are more than copyists or stenographers. To be sure, they make copies of the law with great accuracy and care, but they also read the law and give interpretations as to its implications (7:29; 17:10). They specialize in studying the Law of Moses and serve as the law’s expert interpreters. They miss nothing that should be obeyed (23:23–26).

The Pharisees also figure prominently in this Gospel (Matthew 3:7; 9:34; 12:14; 22:15; etc.). They are a group of Jewish men who attempt to keep the Law of Moses down to the tiniest detail. They are not paid for their efforts, but their law-keeping is done publicly and gains them great respect among fellow Jews (23:2–7).

Paul himself was a Pharisee, as was his father (Acts 23:6; Philippians 3:5). He describes the Pharisees as “the most straitest sect” of Judaism (Acts 26:5) and claims that in his life as a Pharisee he was without fault when it came to keeping the law. He was righteous within its limits (Philippians 3:6). Paul would not be alone among the Pharisees in this boast.

There is surely some overlap between these two groups (some scribes are Pharisees), and the synergy of their relationship is strong. The Pharisees need the scribes to give them strict interpretations of the law so that they can follow it in every aspect. The scribes write the regulations, and the Pharisees enforce them in their own lives. This situation results in a legalistic understanding of righteousness and one’s relationship with God.

Jesus proclaims a new type of relationship with God, one honoring the law but not based on keeping the law. This relationship is much bigger, much deeper, and results in a righteousness far superior to that of the greatest Pharisee who ever lived. Those who hunger and thirst for this ultimate righteousness will find it as Jesus’ followers (Matthew 5:6). Their righteousness in God’s eyes will be far superior than the self-made righteousness of the Pharisees, for it depends on faith rather than works (Isaiah 26:2; John 3:5).

 

What Do You Think? In what ways will your light-shining be the same as demonstrating righteousness? In what ways will it differ?   Digging Deeper Think in terms both of what you will do and what you will not do.

Conclusion

1. I’m Gonna Let It Shine

Visiting the famous Jewel Cave in the Black Hills of South Dakota, one is taken into the bowels of the cavern using an elevator, walkways, and electric lights. At a very deep point, the guide will halt the group and turn off all the lights. The darkness is so profound that you can wave your hand an inch from your nose and not see it. After letting everyone’s eyes adjust to the darkness, the guide will light a single match. The tiny flame seems like a blazing torch at first, breaking the darkness in a startling manner.

For many, life is like living in a very dark cave with no light. The darkness in the world refuses to acknowledge God as king or live in obedience to Him. The only “righteousness” suggested by the darkness is self-determined and self-made. How, then, in this world of darkness do we let our lights shine for Jesus?

It seems like an impossible task. The old spiritual says, “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.” The song puts forth no time limit, no expected results, and no real strategy. It just tells us to let our lights—our lives—shine for Jesus. What if no one seems to notice? “I’m gonna let it shine.” May our lives and our churches be the cities on hills that become beacons of hope in our dark and lost world.

 

1. Prayer

Lord God, we are stunned and transfixed by the brilliant light You offer through Your Son, Jesus. May we never depend on our feeble efforts without You, but through Your grace and Your Spirit, may our lights blaze in this dark world and cause people to give all glory to You and You alone. We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

 

1. Thought to Remember

Live in a way that draws others to Jesus.

 

 

 

KID’S CORNER

Living as Salt and Light

July 7, 2019

Matthew 5:13-20

 

Matthew 5: 13-20

(Matthew 5:13) “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.

Salt will enhance flavor and preserve food when properly prepared. Jesus’ followers will make the earth a better place to live by teaching people about Jesus and His message. If salt becomes tasteless or ineffective because of impurities, it has lost its value and will be useless for its intended purpose. Jesus’ followers must maintain a pure, Biblical faith and life based on His teachings to help others come to faith in Jesus and obedience to Him.

(Matthew 5:14) “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;

Light enables us to see where we should go and helps us avoid stumbling and falling. Light enables us to live. The word “light” sometimes means “truth.” Jesus said that He was the light of the world, the truth, and the life (see John 8:12 and John 14:6). God revealed the truth He wants people to live by. Jesus makes His followers into people who can share the truth the world needs in order to live. The light of Jesus and His followers cannot be hidden (see John 3:21).

(Matthew 5:15) nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

Jesus came as the light of the world (see John 12:46). Jesus has given light to His followers and they become “children of light” (see John 12:36). God has not hidden the truth about himself or how He wants us to live, but God has given light or truth to the world through Jesus and His followers in a way for all to see. In the house of God, people can learn the truth about Jesus and how to follow Him as they pray, study, trust, and obey the Bible’s teachings in the power of the Holy Spirit.

(Matthew 5:16) “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

This command of Jesus is similar to His statement: “But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God” (John 3:21). Jesus also warned that not everyone will give glory to God when they see the good works of His followers: “And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19). Indeed, Jesus said that some who followed Him would be persecuted (see Matthew 5:10-12). The motivation of Jesus’ followers for doing good works should be to show their love for and to give glory to God their Father and Jesus, and then to motivate others to love and give glory to God too.

(Matthew 5:17) “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.

The moral law (the Law of Love and the Ten Commandments, for example) and the ceremonial law (the laws regarding feasts and sacrifices, for example) revealed through Moses and applied and interpreted through the prophets in the Bible were fulfilled by Jesus (with some still to be fulfilled after He comes again). When He lived on earth, Jesus perfectly obeyed the laws of the Bible, but not the traditions of the scribes and Pharisees. By His sacrificial death on the cross, Jesus fulfilled what the prophets foretold; and being without sin, He suffered the consequences that the law demanded upon law breakers and sinners—thus Jesus upheld the Law of God.

(Matthew 5:18) “For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

All will be accomplished after Jesus Christ comes again. He fulfilled many of the ceremonial laws. For example, because of His sacrificial death, we no longer need to make ceremonial sacrifices for the forgiveness of sins. The Law of Love (the requirement that people love God and others) will never pass away and Jesus’ followers will love God and others whether they live on earth or in heaven. Jesus’ followers will actually “love, because they love,” and not because they are “trying to love, because they do not love” just because the law commands them to love God and others.

(Matthew 5:19) “Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

To “break” means to “disobey.” No one should disobey or teach anyone to disobey the moral law (the Law of Love as interpreted by Jesus) or what may seem to be the least of the moral laws. No one should disregard the meaning of the ceremonial laws, because Jesus fulfilled many of the ceremonial laws (as interpreted by Jesus and the New Testament). Some may claim to be followers of Jesus in the kingdom of heaven, but they try to teach people to distrust the teachings of the Bible and Jesus. When His followers teach people to trust in Jesus and His teachings, they are considered great in the kingdom of heaven.

(Matthew 5:20) “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Many of the scribes and Pharisees did not love God or their neighbors, but they insisted that Jesus, His disciples, and others obey them and their traditions. They sometimes used their traditions to set aside the law of God, to disobey the law of God, and to teach others to do the same (see Matthew 15:1-9). Because the followers of Jesus love God and others, they exceed their righteousness and enter the kingdom of heaven. In John 8:31, “Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples.’” Of the religious leaders who lied and wanted to kill him, Jesus said, “You are from your father the devil” (John 8:44).

 

Living as Salt and Light

July 7, 2019

Matthew 5:13-20

“You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot” (Matthew 5:13).

Jesus told His disciples they were the salt of the earth. Salt gives flavor to food. Jesus and His followers add flavor to life on earth. Without Jesus and His followers, the earth could become a dreary place. The followers of Jesus show and teach what life on earth can mean for those who will live according to Jesus’ teachings. Salt can also act as a preservative for food. As Jesus’ followers truly learn and live how God wants His children to live, they help preserve the moral and spiritual way of life that God knows will bring true blessings to everyone who will live according to Jesus’ commands. As the salt of the earth, Jesus’ disciples are also “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). John wrote that when Jesus came, He was the light of the world and the darkness did not overcome or comprehend His light (John 1:4-5). John wrote that apart from Jesus Christ, people will walk in darkness and stumble and not know where they are going (John 11:10; 12:35). Thankfully, Jesus promised, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). The light that shines forth from Jesus’ followers is Jesus working in and through them to give truth and understanding to the world as they teach the Bible in the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus sent His followers “that everyone who believes in Jesus should not remain in the darkness” (John 12:46).

 

Thinking Further

Living as Salt and Light

July 7, 2019

Matthew 5:13-20

Name ______________________________________

1. How might you use Jesus’ teaching in these verses to help someone who thinks that if they are a Christian then they do not need to obey the law of God?

 

 

2. Why might you say it is important or unimportant to teach Christians about the moral law and the ceremonial law?

 

 

3. How might someone exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees? Do Christians need to do this?

 

 

4. Compare Psalms 119:160 — “The sum of your word is truth; and every one of your righteous ordinances endures forever” with Matthew 5:19.

 

 

5. Is Psalms 119:124 — “Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love, and teach me your statutes” a prayer the followers of Jesus can still pray today? Give a reason for your answer.

 

Questions for Discussion and Thinking Further

 

1. How might you use Jesus’ teaching in these verses to help someone who thinks that if they are a Christian then they do not need to obey the law of God? Jesus told His disciples that they would be considered great in the kingdom of heaven if they obeyed and taught the commandments of God. True Christians will love Jesus Christ and want to obey Him; they will not be arguing about whether or not they should or “need to” obey Jesus in order to be saved and go to heaven. Jesus told His followers: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15).
2. Why might you say it is important or unimportant to teach Christians about the moral law and the ceremonial law? It is important because people need to know what is right and wrong, absolutely right and wrong from the revealed will of God, the Bible. Jesus’ followers need to know that He will help them obey Him and do what is right in every situation. Many of the ceremonial laws show what is needed for God to be loving, just, and merciful when forgiving repentant sinners who come to faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Teaching both of these types of laws will help people see how Jesus fulfilled both types, and this will help them believe in and trust Jesus with their lives and their eternal destiny.
3. How might someone exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees? Do Christians need to do this? If the scribes and Pharisees are not obeying God because they really love God, but for other reasons; such as, to be seen and praised by others; then those who obey God because they love God will exceed the scribes and Pharisees in righteousness. Christians who love God will obey Him because they love Him and want to glorify and serve Him with their lives; this is exceeding the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees. It is not a matter of “needing to so this” in order to be saved. The saved person will want to do this because they love God and want to bring God joy by the way they live each day. The true Christian has been forgiven by God, cleansed from sin by Jesus Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit; therefore, their righteousness will exceed the righteousness of those who do not love God or follow Jesus.
4. Compare Psalms 119:160 — “The sum of your word is truth; and every one of your righteous ordinances endures forever” with Matthew 5:19. The whole Bible is the truth of God, for the Bible is God’s Word written to us. God’s righteous ordinances in the Bible are unchanging truth to be fulfilled by Jesus because they pointed to Him as the Messiah, Lord and Savior, or these ordinances are to be obeyed, and those who follow Jesus receive the power of the Holy Spirit to obey Jesus. God’s commands will endure forever, and when God’s kingdom comes and His will is done on earth as it is in heaven God’s children will continue to love God and others.
5. Is Psalms 119:124 — “Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love, and teach me your statutes” a prayer the followers of Jesus can still pray today? Yes. Speaking of the commandments, in Matthew 5:19, Jesus said, “whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven,” and in Matthew 28:20, Jesus has commanded us, as His disciples, saying, “and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” And because we have sinned, but want to love and obey God always, we need the Lord God to deal with us according to His steadfast love.

Word Search

Living as Salt and Light

July 7, 2019

Matthew 5:13-20

Name ____________________________________

S U A J E S U S K Q D R E Q C

I H I V S E H C A E T N Z W J

M A N P L V B K L W I J B S R

P H K I O T C P O H F R L E J

N O Y A E H M Z S T P M H B V

A B M K B A T N Y G L T N A Y

P H S H R O Q R W P A A D U F

W A K T Z W L G A F X L S J W

B R X V J L K I L E R C R A N

A O L A D L D A S O Z E V O R

L R Y G O I R Q W H R H R U T

I P V F E F C F Z C Z Y I P Q

G S L G S L D E T J P V D L A

H F I B Q U J P M A L T U H L

T J O A N F O H R N U Y Q O N

 

Salt

Earth

Trampled

Light

World

Hill

Lamp

Basket

Shine

Glory

Father

Abolish

Fulfill

Does

Teaches

 

 

True and False Test

Living as Salt and Light

July 7, 2019

Matthew 5:13-20

Name __________________________________

Circle the true or false answers. Correct the false statements by restating them.

1. 1. If teachers mix falsehoods with truths to mislead students, they are no longer good for anything, except maybe to serve as bad examples. True or False
2. Those who follow Jesus learn truths they can share that will help others in this world. True or False
3. The truth of God gives light to the world. True or False
4. Christians should encourage others to look at their good works so they can get more and more glory from the world. True or False
5. Some will see the good works done by Jesus’ followers and give glory to God in heaven. True or False
6. Jesus came to abolish and fulfill the law. True or False
7. Jesus told His followers they did not need to obey God’s laws because they were more special to God than the scribes and Pharisees. True or False
8. We should teach that it is okay to disobey the small commandments, but not the big ones. True or False
9. Those who obey the least commandments and teach others to do the same will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. True or False
10. The righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees would not qualify them to enter the kingdom of heaven. True or False

 

True and False Test Answers

1. True
2. True
3. True
4. False
5. True
6. False
7. False
8. False
9. True

10.True