The Sermon on the Mount
Daily Bible Studies for August 4-9, 2008
Learn what we believe and how we are to behave!
This Week’s Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48 MOT & NLT
[Jesus said,] 43”You have heard that it was said, ‘You (singular) shall love your neighbor and you shall hate your enemy.’ 44But I myself, tell you: ‘Love your enemies, and pray for the ones who are persecuting you. 45So that you may become children (literally “sons”) of Your Father in heavens because He makes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and (He sends the) rains on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46For if you love the ones who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what is so great about that? Do not even the gentiles do the same? 48You be, therefore, perfect ones, just as your Heavenly Father is perfect.” MOT
[Jesus said,]43“You have heard that the law of Moses says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. 44But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust, too. 46If you love only those who love you, what good is that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. 47If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. 48But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect. NLT
Monday
Prayer: Heavenly Father, as I start a new week of studying Your word from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, I pray that You will fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that I may understand and live the truth found there. I pray that I may not live out just the bare minimum standard set forth by the Law of Moses, but that I may live by Jesus’ standard in the Spirit’s power. This I pray in His name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
[Jesus said,] 43”You have heard that it was said, ‘You (singular) shall love your neighbor and you shall hate your enemy.’ MOT
43“You have heard that the law of Moses says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. NLT
Why do you suppose that the Old Testament law would have encouraged people to “hate” their enemies?
Do you think that there’s ever a time to “hate” our enemies? If so, when would it be?
Today’s Challenge: I will live with love to my neighbors today that they may see Jesus in me and may one day come to know Him!
Tuesday
Prayer: Heavenly Father, in the end following You always comes down to loving You and living that love out by loving others. I pray that You will fill me with Your Holy Spirit so I may love those who are difficult to love today. Let me be Jesus not only to my friends, but particularly to those who I may even consider my enemies. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
44But I myself, tell you: ‘Love your enemies, and pray for the ones who are persecuting you. MOT
44But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! NLT
Have you ever been “persecuted” by anyone? If so, of what did the “persecution” consist?
What does it take for you and me to truly LOVE our enemies?
Today’s Challenge: I will let the Holy Spirit fill me so that I will be able to fulfill Jesus’ command to love my enemies today and throughout the week!
Wednesday
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I want to be your child! I want to live in such a way that the “family resemblance” to You is obvious. Fill me with the Holy Spirit that I may live as Jesus would toward ALL people, not just those in my family and my usual circle of friends. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
45So that you may become children (literally “sons”) of Your Father in heavens because He makes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and (He sends the) rains on the righteous and the unrighteous. MOT
45In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust, too.
What is the reason Jesus gives for us to love our enemies in verse 45?
How does God treat the evil and the unjust when it comes to blessing?
Today’s Challenge: I will live as a child of God, by showing His love to ALL people.
Thursday
Prayer: Heavenly Father, loving those who love me is easy. Let me love those who don’t love me, who have said unkind or even wicked things about me. Let me love those who would take my job if they could, or my place on the football team or in the band. Let me love even the most unlovable person I know, so that others will see Jesus in me. This I pray in his name! Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
46For if you love the ones who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do that? MOT
46If you love only those who love you, what good is that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. NLT
What is Jesus’ point in verse 46?
What reward does one gain for loving those who don’t love us?
Today’s Challenge: I will live in love toward everyone that I may receive Jesus’ reward for living as He lives!
Friday
Prayer: Heavenly Father, let me look for “strangers” today, for those who seem lost or afraid or alone. Give me the courage to walk across the room to them, to introduce myself to them and be a friend. God fill me with Your Spirit that I may see as You see, and thus invite ALL to be part of Your family. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
47And if you greet only your brothers, what is so great about that? Do not even the gentiles do the same? MOT
47If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. NLT
How much faith does it take to treat your friends with kindness according to Jesus?
If you want to be “great” as a follower of Jesus, what is one thing you can do according to today’s Scripture?
Today’s Challenge: I will let the Holy Spirit fill me so I will welcome every person I meet as a friend in Jesus’ name.
Saturday
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Jesus’ command for me to be “perfect” is beyond me. I know that. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit right now so that I can live with a perfect heart toward others. Give my Your heart, Lord, because that’s the only way that I will ever be perfect as You are perfect. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
48You be, therefore, perfect ones, just as your Heavenly Father is perfect.” MOT
48But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect. NLT
What does it mean to you to be perfect, as Jesus calls us to be here in verse 48?
What would that look like in daily life?
Today’s Challenge: I will rely completely on Jesus, so that my life can reflect His perfection!