Please read Chapters 1-14 of the Gospel of Matthew. Concentrate especially on Chapters 5-7, the Sermon on the Mount. Please pick a key verse from the assigned chapters and do one of the following:1. Explain why you think this verse the key to understanding what the selection is about.
2. Explain why you think this verse is the best/most memorable in the assigned reading.
3. Explain why you think this verse is the most difficult/hard to understand in the assigned chapters.
I think Matthew 5: 13-14 shows the key to understanding what the selection is all about. The verses read, "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. 14 You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden."
ReplyDeleteIn this passage Jesus is talking about how his followers must be set apart. Christians should live as to follow Jesus' example. He sets a high standard and promises blessings to those that follow him. To share these blessings Christians should act and carry themselves in a way that benefits all people. When people walk by a Christian they should think "there is something different about them; a good thing" or "what do they have that I don't?" Christians are Christ's beacon to ones that still do not follow him so Jesus is telling them that they must be set apart and stand out for the rest of the world to see. -Zach Kuhlman
Matthew 5:17 “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.” This is the most memorable verse in the entire section, because of how much understanding one can pull from it. When reading the Bible it is hard to tell what Jesus’ true purpose is. He heals all kinds of sinners and people the world no longer cares for. He also scolds all these different priests and church people, who are the ones that are supposed to understand their religion. However Matthew 5:17 explains what Jesus is really on Earth to do. He did not come to destroy anyone or anything. Just as John 3:17 states, “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” He came to save the world from its sins. He came to fulfill his destiny. He came to tell everyone what they needed to know and it was up to the people to hear what he had to say. Matthew 5:17 allows us to understand Jesus in a better light, which in turn makes the verse very memorable. –Kelly Longden
ReplyDeleteMatthew 6:34 “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own.
ReplyDeleteToday’s trouble is enough for today.” Jesus stands before you giving a lesson on everything under the moon and stars. He puts fear into your heart because you know that you have done wrong and that you are in the glory of his presence. Though there is a strange feeling of comfort from all his teachings. He is giving you hope that you do not have to worry about things to come. –This is what I think most were feeling during the time of the famous ‘Sermon on the Mound’. Which could possibly one of the best parts of the Bible; though if one was going to choose the best part of his sermon I think that it would be the last nine verses of chapter six. Worry is a constant in most people’s lives but Jesus is saying that no matter what you have done or what is going to happen God will take care of you. This passage should be the most memorable because it is the one with the most hope on the future, yet it does leave you with questions. It can be difficult to understand because not only are you allowing complete trust in God for the future, but you have to let go of the worries that are gripping trip around your soul.
-Liz Matson
In agreement with Kelly the most important in my opinion is in 5:17. Not only does Jesus outline the reasons he came to earth, but addresses all of the subjects he keys in on following the statement. He talks about all of the Law which is already established, but goes further into what is going on in the heart rather than what everyone else sees. This becomes very apparent when he states in 5:20 (NAS) "For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven." Jesus is laying claim that the ways of the Jewish leaders is not enough to gain everlasting life, ultimately stating that he is the only way to heaven. This part of the Gospel of Matthew really gets me going and is really the quintessential moment where Jesus lays out his plan of salvation.
ReplyDelete-Greg Fred
In Matthew 5-7 we are given the ground work for the church. We are given the Beatitudes, the Golden Rule, and a story about how if we do not keep the faith we will loose our "salt" taste and be thrown to the dirt. Jesus tells us in these chapters that he is not there to tear down the old faith but build it up into something bigger because he is the prophet and wants the church to be all it can be. Jesus also tells us to be humble when practicing the faith, he wants us to be noticed in our works but not to brag about them to the world so they get annoyed with us. He preaches to not be hypocrites and to not do things the way hypocrites do because it does not make you look good but like a hypocrite. Lastly he preaches to not be judgmental of others saying "Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure,it will be measured to you." Matthew 7:1-2 -Taylor Linn
ReplyDeleteThe hardest verse/passage for me to understand is Matthew 5:38-42 "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' 39 But I tell you , Do not resist and evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you." In this passage, Jesus tells his followers to not seek revenge with the 'eye for eye' thought process. If you have been wronged, Jesus expects you to let it go with no retaliation. He goes on to tell his followers to be so selfless as to go against your own natural self-preservation instincts and allow people to take whatever they want from you, over and over again. I have a hard time grasping this concept. It goes against everything that society taught the people of the time and teaches us in the present.
ReplyDelete-Claire DeMilia
Matthew 6:7 "Be careful! When you do good things, don't do them in front of people to be seen by them. If you do that, you will have no reward form your Father in heaven. This really just struck me as something that happens to much in today's society and is truly a saddening truth. People today do good things for recognition rather then just from the goodness of their hearts, because they see it as an inconvenience for them to step out of their way to help someone. This passage says however those who do help, and are not recognized will be rewarded in heaven, this is something that I believe should change in how people live and everyone just needs to be a little bit more helpful. And this passage just stated something so true in today's world.
ReplyDelete-Dylan Mickelson
Matthew 6;19-21:"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
ReplyDeleteI believe this passage is one of the best because of the deep meaning it brings. Christian or not, if you store up earthly goods, such as gold or money, and ignore the spiritual values of faith, friendship, being kind etc. what kind of life are you living? Where are these earthly treasures going to get you? Money may be able to buy a fancy house or car, but it can't buy love, friendship, or happiness for that matter. When you die, do you want people to remember you as a good, kind friend or that person with all of the money? You can't take money with you when you die. However, the rewards of spiritual values are numerous and never ending!
-Melinda Quade
Matthew 7:13-14 "Enter through the narrow gate;for the gate is wide and the road that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few."
ReplyDeleteThis is the most memorable passage for me because I feel it is relative in today's society. Morals seem to be a thing that present society disregards at times and can surely be regarded as the "Wide gate". Jesus tells us however not to appeal to the masses and do what we feel is right, to take a look down the road so to speak and see where we are heading before it's too late.
-Zack Krage
Matthew 6:7 "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall heard for their much speaking". I find this passage the most difficult to understand because in this book of the Bible we find the basis of modern Christianity as a religion and modern religion today is completely based on repetition. Repetition such as the same songs at church based on the church year and the same prayers that are recited from a book every week. I find it interesting that Jesus would say this and then one breath later give us the most recited prayer in Christianity: the Lords Prayer.
ReplyDelete-Thomas Geyer
(9:11)And when the Pharisees saw [it], they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
ReplyDelete(9:12)But when Jesus heard [that], he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
(9:13)But go ye and learn what [that] meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
I think these passages are very important and among those most memorable. Jesus tells us that He isn't here to hang out with the righteous, but He is here to be with sinners. In accordance with (5:14-16), we are supposed to go out and shine our lights. We are to bring our neighbors out of darkness and sin, and we can't do that by keeping amongst ourselves, and hiding who we are. The Pharisees bear no fruit this way because they are too proud to be seen with sinners, and are shown to be hypocritical. Those that bear no fruit will be cut off and burned (7:19).
Matthew 5:33-37 "Again you have heard that it was said to your ancestors, 'Do not take a false oath, but make good to the Lord all that you vow.' But I say to you, do not swear at all; not by heaven, for it is God's throne; nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Do not swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. Let your 'Yes' mean 'Yes,' and your 'No' mean 'No.' Anything more is from the evil one."
ReplyDeleteThis particular passage is the most memorable, in my opinion. It pretty much says it all right in the text by not swearing that one will do something and let your 'Yes' mean 'Yes,' and 'No' mean 'No.' This and 'A man is only as good as his word,' these two phrases go hand in hand. If one says that they will do something, do it, if not, then don't say that you will do what you promised. Keeping promises, especially good ones, are one of the ways to show that you are a good person and can be trusted.
Last passage done by Cheryl Hansen
DeleteMatthew 7:21-23-Not every6one who says to me, 'Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name? And then will I declare to them, I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.
ReplyDeleteThis passage stuck out to me the most. The first person just tried using the name of Jesus to get into heaven, but the second time they tried using works. I think that points to the grace of God that is needed for salvation.
It is also difficult to understand. I have never driven out demons or prophesied, but those seem like clear signs of salvation. However, this claims that it is not. Mind blower!