Sunday, January 5, 2014

January 12, 2014 - The Great Commission - A Study of Matthew – Oaths and Effort

January 12, 2014 - The Great Commission - A Study of Matthew – Oaths and Effort

 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.”

Oaths and Effort

       Matthew 5:31-37 - New International Version (NIV)
31 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

What basic teaching does Jesus mention (verse 31)?

How does Jesus expand that teaching (verse 32)?

What is the next historic teaching that Jesus mentions (verse 33)?

How does Jesus expand this teaching (verses 34, 35 and 36)?

In your opinion, why does Jesus instruct saying ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ only (verse 37)?

In your opinion, what does this passage from Matthew 5:31-37 show us about the Great Commission?

Numbers 30:1 & 2 - New International Version (NIV)
“Moses said to the heads of the tribes of Israel: “This is what the Lord commands: When a                man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not                  break his word but must do everything he said.”

What does Moses say that the Lord commands (verse 2)?

In your opinion, what does this passage from Numbers teach us about Matthew 5:31-37?

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

Hosea 1:2 - New International Version (NIV)

When the Lord began to speak through Hosea, the Lord said to him, “Go, marry a                           promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty            of  unfaithfulness to the Lord.”

Who spoke through and to Hosea?

What kind of woman was he to marry?

How is the land (Israel) like an adulterous wife?

In your opinion, how does relating the relationship of people to the Lord and a wife to a husband increase our understanding of our relationship to God?

In your opinion, what does this passage from Hosea teach us about Matthew 5:31-37?

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

James 5:12-14 - New International Version (NIV)
12 Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by                          anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be                              condemned.
13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.”

What is the message of both James 5:12 and Matthew 5:37?

What instruction does James give in verses 13 and 14?

In your opinion, what is the significance of James following the instruction “do not swear” with the instructions that point to God in the midst of trouble, happiness and sickness?

In your opinion, what does this passage from James teach us about Matthew 5:31-37?

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

2 Peter 1:3-11 - New International Version (NIV)
3” His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

What has given us “everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (verse 3)?

Through what do we “participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires” (verse 4)?

Since “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life” and “He has given us His very great and precious promises” what should we do (verses 5, 6 and 7)?

In your opinion, what is the reason that Peter give us the instruction to “add to” all of the things that follow (verses 5, 6 and 7)?

What is the promise about possessing “these qualities in increasing measure” (verse 8)?

How is the person who does not have these qualities described (verse 9)

In your opinion, what does Peter mean by “confirm your calling and election” verse 10)?

In your opinion, what is the relationship between “confirm your calling and election” and “you will never stumble” (verse 10)?

What kind of welcome will we receive from “our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” if we “do these things” (verse 11)?

In your opinion, why does Jesus tell us not to break the oath of marriage and to not make oaths but Peter tells us to “make every effort”?

In your opinion, what does this passage from 2 Peter teach us about Matthew 5:31-37?

In your opinion, what does this passage from 2 Peter show us about the Great Commission?




Next, back to Matthew 5:38 - (sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

No comments:

Post a Comment