Insights on the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7

Review: Matthew 5-7 Context Sermon on the Mount: first of five major discourses addresses the countercultural values of God s kingdom begins with the Beatitudes Jewish Christian audience setting: hillside next to Sea of Galilee

Review: Matthew 5-7 Context Sermon on the Mount major themes: radical reality of everyday discipleship unity between inside and outside the presence and power of the Kingdom of God, already present but not yet fully the great reversal promised when the Kingdom of God comes in its fullness

Matthew 6 Giving to the Needy Prayer Fasting Treasure in Heaven Do Not Worry

Matthew 6 Giving to the Needy Prayer Fasting Treasure in Heaven (Choose Your Master: God or Wealth) Do Not Worry (Choose Your Provider: God or Worry)

Matthew 6 Themes earthly rewards vs. heavenly rewards Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. (Mt. 5:8) Giving to the Needy, Prayer, and Fasting Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. (Mt. 5:6) Treasure in Heaven and Do Not Worry

Matthew 6:1-18 Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. (Mt. 6:1, NIV) Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don t make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won t be applauding. (Mt. 6:1, The Message)

Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. (Mt. 5:8, NIV) You re blessed when you get your inside world your mind and heart put right. Then you can see God in the outside world. (Mt. 5:8, The Message)

Matthew 6:2-4 So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Matthew 6:5 And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others.

Matthew 6:6, The Message Here s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won t be tempted to role- play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.

Matthew 6:9-13 The Lord s Prayer / The Disciples Prayer Matthew s version is especially Jewish Our Father who is in heaven focus on God s coming kingdom address to God, three petitions about God, three petitions about God s people; central petition is May your kingdom come metaphor of debts for sins

MT. 6:9-13, Easy-to-Read Version Our Father in heaven, we pray that your name will always be kept holy. 10 We pray that your kingdom will come that what you want will be done here on earth, the same as in heaven. 11 Give us the food we need for today. 12 Forgive our sins, just as we have forgiven those who did wrong to us. 13 Don t let us be tempted, but save us from the Evil One.

MT. 6:9-13, Easy English BIble God, our Father who is in heaven, we want people to give honour to you. 10 We want the day when you rule everyone to come soon. We want everyone to obey you on earth, like everyone in heaven obeys you. 11 Please give us the food that we need today. 12 We have forgiven people who have done wrong things to us. In the same way, please forgive us for the wrong things that we have done. 13 Do not let us agree to do wrong things. Keep us safe from Satan.

Matthew 6:16-18 When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Matthew 6:19-34 our hearts desires, our hearts anxieties Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. (Mt. 5:6, NIV) You re blessed when you re content with just who you are no more, no less. That s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can t be bought. (Mt. 5:6, The Message) training our hearts to hunger and thirst for the things of God

Matthew 6:19-21 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Matthew 6:25-39 Do not worry Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed or indeed only one. (Luke 10:41-42) Choose Your Provider: God or Worry

Matthew 6:34, The Message Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are those who hunger for the things of heaven, and do not worry about the things of earth.

Announcements & Reminders Thank you for coming! www.grace.org/lexwomensgroups Next week: large-group teaching on Matthew 7 November 5: Global Awareness Week Women s Groups Event in LEX

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