January 19, 2014 - The Great Commission - A Study of Matthew – Retaliation and Love
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.”
Retaliation and Love
• Matthew 5:38-48 - New International Version (NIV)
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
What is the teaching that Jesus begins with (verse 38)?
But what does Jesus teach (verses 39 through 41)?
In your opinion, how is the teaching of Jesus different from “Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.”?
What is the next quote that Jesus begins with “You have heard that it was said” (verse 43)?
How does Jesus change this teaching (verse 44)?
Who will we be if we love enemies and pray for those who persecute us (verse 45)?
What does God the Father do (verse 45)?
In your opinion, what is the message of verses 46 and 47?
What is the instruction to us found in verse 48?
In your opinion, what does this passage from Matthew 5:38-48 show us about the Great Commission?
Deuteronomy 19:16-21 - New International Version (NIV)
"16 If a malicious witness takes the stand to accuse someone of a crime, 17 the two people involved in the dispute must stand in the presence of the Lord before the priests and the judges who are in office at the time. 18 The judges must make a thorough investigation, and if the witness proves to be a liar, giving false testimony against a fellow Israelite, 19 then do to the false witness as that witness intended to do to the other party. You must purge the evil from among you. 20 The rest of the people will hear of this and be afraid, and never again will such an evil thing be done among you. 21 Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot."
What kind of witness does verse 16 mention?
In your opinion, what would a malicious witness do?
What are the malicious witness and the person they accuse supposed to do (verse 17)?
What are the judges instructed to do (verse 18)?
What is the prescribed punishment for the false (malicious) witness (verse 19)?
Why is this supposed to happen (verse 20)?
How does verse 21 compare to Matthew 5:38?
In your opinion, what does this passage from Deuteronomy teach us about Matthew 5:38-48?
In your opinion, what does this passage from Deuteronomy show us about the Great Commission?
Romans 12:1-21 - New International Version (NIV)
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
What does Paul urge believers to do as “true and proper worship” (verse 1)?
In your opinion, what does it mean to “conform to the pattern of this world” or to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (verse 2)?
In your opinion, why would thinking of ourselves “with sober judgment” keep us from thinking of ourselves “more highly than you ought” (verse 3)?
How would you sum up the teaching of verses 4 through 8?
What are the core teachings of verses 9 through 16?
What is Paul’s practical advice for dealing with the people who do evil to us (verse 17)?
In your opinion, why would Paul insert the qualifier “as far as it depends on you” to the instruction to “live at peace with everyone” (verse18)?
Consider verse 19 and then consider it again while thinking that Jesus took God’s wrath for our sins; how does remembering that Jesus was punished for what we did help this verse become more reasonable?
What is instructed in verse 20?
In your opinion how does “21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (verse 21) help us understand, “44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:44 and 45a)?
In your opinion, what does this passage from Romans teach us about Matthew 5:38-48?
In your opinion, what does this passage from Romans show us about the Great Commission?
1 John 3:11-23 - New International Version (NIV)
“11 For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15 Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.
16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
19 This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: 20 If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.”
What is the message “you have heard from the beginning” (verse 11)?
Why did Cain murder his brother (verse 12)?
How does understanding Cain’s motives help us understand why the world might hate us (verse 13)?
What is verification that we have passed from death to life (verse 14)?
How do we know what love is (verse 16)?
How are we to love (verse 18)?
What does loving “with actions and in truth” do for our hearts in the presence of God (verse 19)?
In your opinion, how is it a comfort to know that God is greater than our hearts (verse 20)?
In your opinion, why is there a link between “our hearts do not condemn us” and “receive from him anything we ask” (verses 21 and 22)?
What is in verse 23 that will be the command of God (see verse 22)?
What is in verse 23 that will please God (see verse 22)?
In your opinion how does “21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21) and “23 And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.” (1 John 3:23) help us understand, “48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48)?
In your opinion, what does this passage from 1 John teach us about Matthew 5:38-48?
In your opinion, what does this passage from 1 John show us about the Great Commission?
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