The Sermon on the Mount
Daily Bible Studies for July 14-19, 2008
Learn what we believe and how we are to behave!
This Week’s Scripture: Matthew 5:31-32 MOT & NLT
31And it was said, “Whoever dismisses his wife, let him give her a bill of divorce. MOT
31“You have heard the law that says, ‘A man can divorce his wife by merely giving her a written notice of divorce.’ NLT
32But I (Myself) say to you that all the ones dismissing their wives apart from a matter of sexual immorality make her to commit adultery, and whoever a dismissed woman marries commits adultery. MOT
32But I say that a man who divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaithful, causes her to commit adultery. And anyone who marries a divorced woman also commits adultery. NLT
Monday
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I pray for marriages and for the institution of marriage in our nation. You call men and women to live together as husband and wife when they are joined in marriage, but in our day marriages are all too often matters of convenience, and are easily “discarded.” I pray that you will strengthen the marriages of Christians everywhere, and particularly in our family of faith known as New Life Christian Ministries, that our life together may bring You joy. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
31And it was said, “Whoever dismisses his wife, let him give her a bill of divorce. MOT
31“You have heard the law that says, ‘A man can divorce his wife by merely giving her a written notice of divorce.’ NLT
What do we learn about the ease or difficulty of obtaining a divorce in Jesus day from this verse?
What does this say about Jesus being able to relate to the state of marriage in our day?
Today’s Challenge: I will live in the power of the Holy Spirit today that I may keep the commitments I have made to God and others!
Tuesday
Prayer: Heavenly Father, according to Your word, you established marriage in the order of creation to be between a man and a women, and that in the institution of marriage the husband and wife are to leave, cleave and achieve oneness. I pray that You will pour out Your Spirit on all husbands and wives everywhere that this intention may be upheld. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
24For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. 25The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame. Genesis 2:24-25 NLT
What do we learn about marriage from Genesis 2:24-25?
What is the significance of these statements being made BEFORE sin entered the world? (Sin comes into existence in Genesis 3)
Today’s Challenge: I will live faithfully as a spouse (if married), and celibately (if unmarried) by God’s grace and the sustaining presence of the Holy Spirit!
Wednesday
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Jesus’ words sound hard in a society where nearly half of all marriages end in divorce, but they are intended to call us to the higher standard of Your word. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit that we may glorify You in all that we do whether single or married, that our lives and our marriages may be a light in our community. This I pray in Jesus’ name, and for the sake of His coming Kingdom! Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
32But I (Myself) say to you that all the ones dismissing their wives apart from a matter of sexual immorality make her to commit adultery, and whoever a dismissed woman marries commits adultery. MOT
32But I say that a man who divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaithful, causes her to commit adultery. And anyone who marries a divorced woman also commits adultery. NLT
What reason does Jesus give for permitting (not mandating) divorce? How is this different that in our culture today?
Today’s Challenge: I will live in faithfulness whatever my marital state, relying on the Holy Spirit to empower me to do the will of Jesus!
Thursday
Prayer: Heavenly Father, sometimes you have permitted us to do things that do not glorify You, because of our own stubbornness. I confess that divorce is not Your desire, but that You permitted it, because of our weakness. I pray for strength for all who are married today, that they may live in Your will for their lives. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
“Should a man be allowed to divorce his wife?” 3Jesus answered them with a question: “What did Moses say in the law about divorce?”
4“Well, he permitted it,” they replied. “He said a man can give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away.” Mark 10:2b-4 NLT
What do we learn about divorce from these words of Jesus, and the response of the Pharisees to Jesus’ question?
How would the question of the Pharisees to Jesus regarding divorce have been a “trap” for Him?
Today’s Challenge: I will live beyond what is “permitted,” seeking to do what is blessed by God!
Friday
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank You for ordering life for our blessing and benefit! Thank You for having Jesus affirm Your words in the order of creation as the design You have for human society. I pray that You will pour out Your Spirit in our lives that we may live according to Your design and thus bring You honor and praise. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
5But Jesus responded, “He wrote this commandment only as a concession to your hard hearts. 6But ‘God made them male and female’ from the beginning of creation. 7‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, 8and the two are united into one.’ Since they are no longer two but one, 9let no one split apart what God has joined together.” Mark 10:5-9 NLT
Why does Jesus say God permitted divorce?
What does Jesus’ affirmation of God’s design for marriage in Genesis 2:24, say about His understanding of marriage?
Today’s Challenge: I will devote myself to God’s word and living in the power of the Holy Spirit that my life will honor Jesus!
Saturday
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we know that the last word in our lives is not law but grace. I praise You that as I go about my life, Your great salvation is made sure to me through Jesus’ death on the cross and the Holy Spirit’s constant presence in my life. I pray that I may live my life in such a way as to show others Your grace and salvation, and lead them to respond to Jesus’ invitation to serve Him as Savior and Lord. This I pray in His name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
10Later, when he was alone with his disciples in the house, they brought up the subject again. 11He told them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery against her. 12And if a woman divorces her husband and marries someone else, she commits adultery.” Mark 10:10-12 NLT
What is Jesus’ “final word” on divorce?
What would be the impact on our society if we followed Jesus’ teaching on divorce?
Today’s Challenge: I will live joyfully in the knowledge that God’s great salvation shown to us all in Jesus Christ is able to overcome anything in my life!