Hopefully making theology simpler to understand! (2 Corinthians 1:12)

I have started a small group series on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). I am sharing my notes in case anyone else wants to use them with their group. [Reminder that these are only notes!]

Sermon on the Mount – Part 12

Matthew 5:1-2:
Jesus wants to teach the crowds: Who are they? Jewish disciples: People who understand the
Scriptures (at least to a point). Notice from 7:28 the crowds still came along, but this teaching is for His disciples.

What does “blessed” mean?
Based on the first twelve verses, blessed means realizing our own wretchedness and need for a Savior. In other words, it is becoming/being a Christian.

What was discussed last time?

• Don’t worry.
• Trust God.

Matthew 7:1:
Cut and dry, right? Don’t judge.

• Jesus always takes us deeper.

Matthew 7:2-4:
DISCUSS!

• Not just “don’t be a hypocrite.”
• Getting stuck on others’ sins:
  • We are at least as guilty of that sin
  • We are unaware of our particular sin
  • We are covering for our own sin
  • We are avoiding our own sin
  • We are seeking power over others
    • See also: Cult leaders
• When we judge others, we invite the same judgment. (Be ready: 1 Peter 3:13-17)

Matthew 7:5-6:
Not hypocrisy, but helping from experience.

• v. 5: We are to judge rightly – discernment.
  • As revealed from God’s Word:
    • 2 Timothy 3:16-17
    • Hebrews 4:12-13
    • They are judged by God as revealed in Scripture (The Way of the Master – Ray Comfort)
  • As demonstrated by Paul:
    • Ephesians 3:7-13
    • 1 Corinthians 15:9-11
• v. 6: What?!
  • What do dogs do with things?
    • “Ooh! Toy/Substitute for an animal!”
      • Tear it to shreds (make excuses, shift the blame: see legalistic Christians … and most others)
      • Make a bed out of it (become more hypocritical through claiming better righteousness: see Critical Race Theory)
      • Get it a slobbery, fecal mess (like shredding and bedding, but distorting the meaning: see liberal Christianity)
  • What do pigs do with things?
    • Live in a sty.
      • Roll in/on it (Try to discredit it while appearing to be better: see many atheists or NAR/Prosperity Preachers)
      • Eat literally everything (claim all truths are equal, except conservative Christianity: see New Age and Postmodernism)
  • Proverbs 26:11; 2 Peter 2
  • Mark 6:10-11

We are to judge with God’s standard (The Bible – literally “canon” = “standard” or “ruler”): we start with ourselves, then we help the world. (Matthew 28:18-20)