September 15, 2013 - The Great Commission - A Study of Matthew – Blessed Are the Poor In Spirit

September 15, 2013 - The Great Commission - A Study of Matthew – Blessed Are the Poor In Spirit

The Great Commission – A Study of Matthew

Matthew 28 - New International Version (NIV) – The Great Commission

¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Blessed Are the Poor In Spirit

Matthew 5:1-3
Who did Jesus see?

Where did Jesus go?

Who came to Jesus?

What did Jesus do?

How does each Beatitude start out?

Who are the first to be Blessed?

How are they Blessed?

Blessed is from the Greek word “makarios (mak-ar’-ee-os)” and is found 49 times in the Bible, all in the New Testament.  In the King James Version is translated as blessed 43 times, happy 5 times and happier 1 time.  The Old Testament Hebrew word that is translated as blessed and is “esher (eh’-sher)” and it is translated as blessed 27 times and happy 18 times. 

Psalm 32:1-5 (which uses "esher")

How does the Psalm begin?

Who does David, the Psalmist, say will be blessed?

How does the second verse begin?

Who does David indicate will be blessed this time?

What happened to David when he kept silent?

In your opinion, why did this happen?

What did David do to break away from the problems he had?

How did God respond?

In your opinion, does Matthew deliberately pattern the Beatitudes after the beginning of this Psalm?

In your opinion, was David’s recognition and confession of his sins what Matthew had in mind with the “poor in spirit” Beatitude?

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about Matthew 5:1-3?

James 1:12-18

With what word does this passage begin?

In your opinion, could James be linking what he is about to say with Psalm 32 and the Beatitudes?

Who does James say is blessed?

What is the blessing that they are to receive?

What is the source of temptation?

What are the steps between evil desire and death?

Where does “every good and perfect gift” (NIV) come from?

Through what did God chose to give us birth?

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about Matthew 5:1-3?

Isaiah 57:14-21

For who are the road to be prepared and the obstacles removed?

Who says that He lives “in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit” (NIV)?

What is He going to do for the spirit of the lowly?

What is He going to do for the heart of the contrite?

What is He not going to do to the lowly and contrite forever?

What enraged Him about the people?

Even though He was enraged and saw their ways, what will He do for the lowly and contrite?

How are the wicked described?

In your opinion, what is the difference between those who will be healed and the wicked, for whom “There is no peace” (NIV)?

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about Matthew 5:1-3?

Galatians 4:8-9

What were the Galatians like before?

What are the Galatians to whom this letter is addressed turning back to?

Who does Paul ask if the Galatians want to be “enslaved by” (NIV) all over again?

The Greek word translated as “poor” in Matthew 5:3 is “ptochos (pto-khos’) and is translated here are “beggarly” in the King James Version and “miserable” in the NIV.

In your opinion, what is the connection between or the contrast of the poor who are blessed in Matthew 5:3 and the miserable in Galatians 4:9?

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about Matthew 5:1-3?

So, what do these passages lead us to understand about the Great Commission?

So, what components of the Great Commission does this illustrate?

               1)  Jesus

               2) All authority in heaven and on earth

               3) Go and make disciples

               4) Baptize them

               5) Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

               6) Teaching them to obey everything

               7) I am with you always

               8) All Nations

               9) Obey Commandments

Next, back to Matthew 5:4-?  -  (sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)