Wednesday, December 25, 2013

New Hope High School – Lesson 3 - The Great Commission - A Study of Matthew – Blessed Are the Poor In Spirit

New Hope High School – Lesson 3 - The Great Commission - A Study of Matthew – Blessed Are the Poor In Spirit


Matthew 28:18-20 - 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.”


Matthew 5:1-3 New International Version (NIV)
Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.
He said:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
              for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Who did Jesus see (verse 1)?

Where did Jesus go (verse 1)?

Who came to Jesus (verse 1)?

What did Jesus do (verse 2)?

How does this and every following Beatitude start out (verse 3-and later verses)?

Who are the first to be Blessed (verse 3)?

How are they Blessed (verse 3)?

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. 

In your opinion, what does this passage at the beginning of Matthew show us about the Great Commission?


Psalm 32:1-5 (which uses esher) New International Version (NIV)
Blessed is the one
    whose transgressions are forgiven,
    whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the one
    whose sin the Lord does not count against them
    and in whose spirit is no deceit.
When I kept silent,
    my bones wasted away
    through my groaning all day long.
For day and night
    your hand was heavy on me;
my strength was sapped
    as in the heat of summer.
Then I acknowledged my sin to you
    and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess
    my transgressions to the Lord.”
And you forgave
    the guilt of my sin.
How does the Psalm begin (verse 1)?

Who does David, the Psalmist, say will be blessed (verse 1)?

How does the second verse begin (verse 2)?

Who does David indicate will be blessed this time (verse 2)

What happened to David when he kept silent (verse 3 and 4)?

In your opinion, why did this happen?

What did David do to break away from the problems he had (verse 5)?

How did God respond (verse 5)?

In your opinion, could Matthew have deliberately patterned 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 from Psalms show us about Matthew 5:1-3?

In your opinion, what does this passage from Psalms show us about the Great Commission?


James 1:12-18 (which uses makarios) New International Version (NIV)
12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
With what word does this passage begin (verse 12)?

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 (verse 12)?

What is the blessing that they are to receive (verse 12)?

What is the source of temptation (verse 14)?

What are the steps between evil desire and death (verse 15)?

Where does “every good and perfect gift” come from (verse 17)?

Through what did God chose to give us birth (verse 18)?

In your opinion, what is the word of truth?

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

In your opinion, what does this passage from James teach us about the Great Commission?

Isaiah 57:14-21 New International Version (NIV)
14 And it will be said:
“Build up, build up, prepare the road!
    Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people.”
15 For this is what the high and exalted One says—
    he who lives forever, whose name is holy:
“I live in a high and holy place,
    but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly
    and to revive the heart of the contrite.
16 I will not accuse them forever,
    nor will I always be angry,
for then they would faint away because of me—
    the very people I have created.
17 I was enraged by their sinful greed;
    I punished them, and hid my face in anger,
    yet they kept on in their willful ways.
18 I have seen their ways, but I will heal them;
    I will guide them and restore comfort to Israel’s mourners,
19     creating praise on their lips.
Peace, peace, to those far and near,”
    says the Lord. “And I will heal them.”
20 But the wicked are like the tossing sea,
    which cannot rest,
    whose waves cast up mire and mud.
21 “There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”
For who are the road to be prepared and the obstacles removed (verse 14)?

Who says that He lives “in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit” (verse 15)?

What is He going to do for the spirit of the lowly (verse 15)?

What is He going to do for the heart of the contrite (verse 15)?

What is He not going to do to the lowly and contrite forever (verse 16)?

What enraged Him about the people (verse 17)?

Even though He was enraged and saw their ways, what will He do for the lowly and contrite (verse 18)?

How are the wicked described (verse 20)?

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

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

In your opinion, what does this passage from Isaiah show us about the Great Commission?

Galatians 4:8 & 9 New International Version (NIV)
Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?
What were the Galatians like before (verse 8)?

What are the Galatians to whom this letter is addressed turning back to (verse 9)?

Who does Paul ask if the Galatians want to be “enslaved by” all over again (verse 9)?

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 the poor who are blessed in Matthew 5:3 and the miserable in Galations 4:9?

In your opinion, what is 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 from Galatians teach us about Matthew 5:1-3?

In your opinion, what does this passage from Galatians teach us about the Great Commission?



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

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