"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW" Chapter Five

                        "THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"

                              Chapter Five

Beginning in this chapter, Matthew records the "Sermon On The Mount".
The theme of the sermon is "The kingdom of heaven" (cf. Mt 4:17;
5:3,10,19-20; 6:10,33; 7:21).  Jesus began with "The Beatitudes,"
describing the character and blessedness of those who would be citizens
of the kingdom (1-12) and illustrating their relation to world as salt
and light (13-16).  Clarifying His own relationship with the Law, Jesus
stressed how our righteousness must surpass that of the scribes and
Pharisees (17-20) following with a series of contrasts between the oral
interpretations of the Law and conduct expected of His disciples
(21-48).

POINTS TO PONDER

   *  The meaning of the phrase:  "the kingdom of heaven"

   *  The blessedness of those in the kingdom, and their relationship to
      the world

   *  How our righteousness must surpass that of the scribes and
      Pharisees

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - The beatitudes - Mt 5:1-12
   - Salt and light - Mt 5:13-16
   - Jesus and the Law - Mt 5:17-20
   - Interpretations of the Law versus kingdom righteousness - Mt 5:21-48

2) What do the beatitudes describe? (3-12)
   - The character and blessedness of the citizens of the kingdom

3) How are citizens of the kingdom to relate to the world? (13-16)
   - As the salt of the earth and the light of the world

4) What was Jesus’ relation to the Law of Moses? (17-18)
   - He came not to destroy the Law, but to fulfill it

5) What does Jesus expect of those who would be citizens of the kingdom?
   (20)
   - Righteousness that surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees

6) List the five subjects whose interpretations are contrasted in this
   chapter (21-48)
   - Murder, adultery, oaths, retaliation, love

7) What phrases illustrate the contrast? (21-22,27-28,31-32,33-34,38-39,
   43-44)
   - "You have heard that it was said..." (not "It is written...")
   - "But I say to you..."

8) Then what contrast is being made with these five subjects?
   - The oral interpretation and application of the Law versus the
     teaching of Jesus

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2015