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(click on a study, copy and paste it---and it's yours)Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (1) Calling salty people
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near” —Jesus
Matthew 5:1-16 (New International Reader’s Version)
1 Jesus saw the crowds. So he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him. 2Then he began to teach them. He said, 3“Blessed are those who are spiritually needy. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
- What does the word “blessed” mean? How is it different from “happy?”
- How would you describe a spiritually needy person?
- Why would the kingdom of heaven belong to them?
- Blessed are those who are sad. They will be comforted.
- Sad about what?
- How will they be comforted?
- Blessed are those who are free of pride. They will be given the earth.
- What types of people “own” the earth now?
- Blessed are those who are hungry and thirsty for what is right. They will be filled.
- What might a person who is hungry for what is right do?
- Blessed are those who show mercy. They will be shown mercy.
- What does it mean to “show mercy?”
- Blessed are those whose hearts are pure. They will see God.
- What does it mean to have a “pure heart?”
- Blessed are those who make peace. They will be called sons of God.
- Why would peace-makers be called “sons of God?”
- Blessed are those who suffer for doing what is right. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
- Is it common that people who do what is right suffer?
- Blessed are you when people make fun of you and hurt you because of me. You are also blessed when they tell all kinds of evil lies about you because of me. 12Be joyful and glad. Your reward in heaven is great. In the same way, people hurt the prophets who lived long ago.
- What is there about being merciful, doing what is right, keeping our hearts pure, and the other “blessings” that make people laugh at us or even persecute us?
- Who do our cultures consider blessed?
- You are the salt of the earth. But suppose the salt loses its saltiness. How can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything. It will be thrown out. People will walk all over it.
- What does “salt of the earth” mean?
- How can a group of people be the salt of the earth? (Is this the same thing as being a blessing to the nations? –see Introduction)
- You are the light of the world. A city on a hill can’t be hidden. 15Also, people do not light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand. Then it gives light to everyone in the house.
- How can a group of people be a light to/for the world?