Monday, February 17, 2025

February 23, 2025 – A Study of Matthew – A Continuing Debt

A Continuing Debt

Exodus 20:13-14 – New International Version (NIV)

13 “You shall not murder.

14 “You shall not commit adultery.

Who “shall not murder” (verse 13)?

Who “shall not commit adultery” (verse 14)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about what we “shall” do?

Matthew 5:21-30 - New International Version (NIV)

21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

25 “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

When was it said “you shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment” (verse 21)?

Who else does Jesus say “will be subject to judgment” (verse 22)?

What should the one offering their “gift on the altar” do when they remember a brother or sister has something against them (verses 23 and 24)?

How should you settle with the adversary taking you to court (verse 25)?

What has been said (verse 27)?

Who does Jesus say has committed adultery (verse 28)?

What is better “than for your whole body to be thrown into hell” (verses 29 and 30)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about what we “shall” do?

In your opinion, how does Jesus in Matthew 5:21-30 modify two of the ten commandments found in Exodus 20:13-20?

Ephesians 2:1-10 - New International Version (NIV)

1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

How were the readers of Ephesians, and us, “dead” (verse 1)?

Who is “the ruler of the kingdom of the air” at work in (verse 2)?

What were “all of us” by nature deserving of (verse 3)?

Why has God “made us alive” (verses 4 and 5)?

How have Christians been saved (verse 5)?

Where are Christians seated (verse 6)?

When is God going to express the incomparable riches of His grace (verse 7)?

Where does faith come from (verse 8)?

Who can boast (verse 9)?

What has God “prepared in advance for us to do” (verse 10)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about what we “shall” do?

In your opinion, what does Ephesians 2:1-10 help us understand about our ability to successfully obey the two commandments in Exodus 20:13-14 as well as the other eight?

In your opinion, how is the command to remove the body part that leads to sinning in Matthew 5:21-30 addressed by Paul’s message in Ephesians 2:1-10?

Romans 13:8-14 - New International Version (NIV)

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

11 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.

What debt should remain outstanding (verse 8)?

How are the commandments ““You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be” summed up (verse 9)?

What “is the fulfillment of the law” (verse 10)?

Why has the hour already come “for you to wake up from your slumber” (verse 11)?

What should we put aside (verse 12)?

What should we put on (verse 12)?

How should we behave (verse 13)?

How should we clothe ourselves (verse 14)

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about what we “shall” do?

In your opinion, how does Romans 13:8-14 help us understand how to fulfill the law established in Exodus 20:13-14?

In your opinion, how is removing the body part that causes sin in Matthew 5:21-30 complemented by Romans 13:8-14 statement that “love is the fulfillment of the law”?

In your opinion, how does God’s love for us described in Ephesians 2:1-10 make it possible for us to love our neighbor as instructed in Romans 13:8-14?

In your opinion, what do these Scriptures from Exodus, Matthew, Ephesians, and Romans teach us about how the God of love and mercy transforms the “you shall not” of the commandments to “a continuing debt to love”?

In your opinion, how do we repay the “continuing debt to love”?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

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