Autumn 2015
Personal Devotions - Matthew 5-7
Personal Devotions
Autumn 2015
Expressing our love for God,
not earning His love for us
10 studies from Matthew 5-7
Written By Donald Campbell , Aileen Healey, Anne Le Tissier, Stephen Sellers
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Introduction
This term we continue our series in Matthew’s Gospel. We pick up halfway through chapter 5 after the beatitudes. Jesus is popular and crowds are following him, but he withdraws to the mountain to teach a smaller group. Some see parallels with Moses receiving the Law on Mount Sinai but though these sayings are God’s word to His people they are not about how we attain righteousness, they are about how to live.
Matthew 517 “Do not think that I have come to do away with the Law of Moses and the teachings of the prophets. I have not come to do away with them, but to make their teachings come true. 18 Remember that as long as heaven and earth last, not the least point nor the smallest detail of the Law will be done away with - not until the end of all things. 19 So then, whoever disobeys even the least important of the commandments and teaches others to do the same, will be least in the Kingdom of heaven. On the other hand, whoever obeys the Law and teaches others to do the same, will be great in the Kingdom of heaven. 20 I tell you, then, that you will be able to enter the Kingdom of heaven only if you are more faithful than the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees in doing what God requires.
Much of these studies are Jesus’ explanation of this passage. The disciple of Christ and the legalist (Jewish or Christian) have different understandings of the law. For the legalist, the keeping of the letter of the law is the means to being saved, irrespective of whether the heart is loving or humble. Jesus teaches that it is not the letter of the law that is significant, but the heart’s application, but not as a means to being saved, but as a means to living out our love for God. Thus in this sermon, Jesus draws out that it is the purpose of the laws that need to be followed, not just the application written down
Matthew 712 “Do for others what you want them to do for you: this is the meaning of the Law of Moses and of the teachings of the prophets.
These studies are not about how to ensure God loves us but about how we live out our love for God through loving others.
Using these notes
These devotions are not a definitive daily Bible study plan, but something to aid our devotions. They include some questions from the small group studies but mostly different and more personal questions. They are designed to help your prayer life and personal thinking, not to teach facts and ideas. You may find it helpful to have a paper and pen handy to jot down your thoughts and prayers. When using prayers or readings included here, it can be valuable to re-write them and, as you do, elaborate with your own personal additions or affirmations.
Salt and light
Matthew 5
13 “You are like salt for the whole human race. But if salt loses its saltiness, there is no way to make it salty again. It has become worthless, so it is thrown out and people trample on it. 14 “You are like light for the whole world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 No one lights a lamp and puts it under a bowl; instead it is put on the lampstand, where it gives light for everyone in the house. 16 In the same way your light must shine before people, so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.
A prayer to begin ... I know your light may hurt as it shines in my darkness; But shine anyway, Lord,
And give me courage to repent.
If salt is a preservative, what do you perceive as being the ‘decay’ in our society?
If salt is a seasoning, what do you perceive as being ‘bland/unsavoury’ in our society?
If salt was deemed an item of value, (it was often used to pay part of a Roman soldiers wage or ‘salary’), what do you perceive is worthless or inferior in our society?
What do you perceive as ‘darkness’ in society that is in need of ‘light’?
Jesus said, “YOU” are the salt of the earth. How does that challenge, inspire, or give you a sense of purpose and value to God?
What properties of salt are you to have? What do these properties look like in practice?
Jesus said, “YOU” are the light of the world. How does that challenge, inspire, or give you a sense of purpose and value to God?
What properties of light are you to have? What do these properties look like in practice?
How have you brought about / been an influence for good, justice, reconciliation, peace, righteousness, godliness, comfort, support, wisdom … etc. … in your place of work, your family, your school/college, your social clubs, friendships, places of oppression, poverty, persecution etc.?
Thank God for how he has used you to make his character and ways known/felt.
How might you seek to increase/spread that influence through your life? What might that look like?
Ask God to open your eyes to further opportunities to ‘season’, ‘preserve’, ‘shed light’ etc. i.e. to
bring the properties of ‘salt and light’ to others through your life.
In what ways do you ever ‘hide’ His light—intentionally or otherwise?
Jesus is paying us an incredible compliment in saying we are God’s light to the world. How does that encourage you if ever you were afraid to let it shine?
Acts 6: 15 tells us that when Stephen was accused before the authorities, his face shone, though he probably didn’t realise it. We won’t necessarily be aware of the influence the light of Jesus is having on others around us, but the more we seek to know and be like Him, the greater His light will reflect through our lives.
How can you be ‘salt and light’ to Christians?
How can you be ‘salt and light’ to the unchurched?
Jesus doesn’t ask you to be a chandelier. Just the strike of a match or a single bulb will make all the difference to someone groping in the dark. You may like to use this prayer:
Lord, please show me and inspire me how I may be used to preserve godliness where there is decay, add Christlikeness where there is rot and bland/unsavoury flavours, bring value to that which is inferior, and bring light where there is darkness, in my family, workplace, and community.
Here are some scriptures on light to reflect on and to use in prayer and worship
Isaiah 42:5 This is what God the LORD says - he who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth with all that springs from it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: 6 “I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, 7 to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.
Isaiah 58:6 “.... loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, set the oppressed free and break every yoke ... 7 share your food with the hungry and provide the poor wanderer with shelter - when you see the naked, clothe them, and do not turn away from your own flesh and blood 8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.”
Isaiah 42:16 I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.
Psalm 139:11-12 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
Isaiah 9:1 There will be no more gloom for those who were in distress... 2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
John 8:12 Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 1:5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Isaiah 60:1 “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. 2 See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you. 3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. 4 “Lift up your eyes and look about you: All assemble and come to you; your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the hip.
Father, you alone can dispel darkness, help me to come into the fullness of your light.
We have received your good news, but neglected to tell others,
We have not stood out clearly as your disciples, we have not been your witnesses,
Father forgive us.
We have received many gracious gifts but so often clutched them to ourselves.
We are so often mesmerised by the trivial things of the world, we share so reluctantly.
Father forgive us.
We have known your guidance but too easily follow our own desires.
We know your words yet believe our own opinions.
Father forgive us.
We have been given each other for fellowship and support;
but we hold on to petty differences and fail to strive for unity.
Father forgive me, purify me, help me to die to self and help me to live for you.
Adapted from “Prayers for the people”
Anger
Matthew 5
21 “You have heard that people were told in the past, ‘Do not commit murder; anyone who does will be brought to trial.’ 22 But now I tell you: if you are angry with your brother you will be brought to trial, if you call your brother ‘You good-for-nothing!’ you will be brought before the Council, and if you call your brother a worthless fool you will be in danger of going to the fire of hell. 23 So if you are about to offer your gift to God at the altar and there you remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar, go at once and make peace with your brother, and then come back and offer your gift to God. 25 “If someone brings a lawsuit against you and takes you to court, settle the dispute while there is time, before you get to court. Once you are there, you will be turned over to the judge, who will hand you over to the police, and you will be put in jail. 26 There you will stay, I tell you, until you pay the last penny of your fine.
It is important to understand that Jesus is not defining a legal system, but a way of relating to one another. The emphasis is not on penalties and courts of law, but what matters to God is how we behave to one another. In fact it can be argued that by suggesting such extreme and unworkable legalism, and by the contradiction in v21 (anyone who does will be brought to trial.) and v25 (settle the dispute while there is time, before you get to court), Jesus is pointing out the futility of Law as a way of making us good.
God gets angry so we know there is a place for anger. We can be angry about the wrong things, and we can be angry about the right things in the wrong way. We can be angry about the right things in the right way to the wrong people. All are destructive.
What are the wrong things you get angry at?
What are the right things you should be angry about?
What are the wrong ways in which you express anger at the right things?
Who are the wrong people you are angry with?
What things, people, or situations trigger/provoke an angry response from you?
1. Of those, which would make Jesus angry too? What would he do with that anger?
2. When is your angry reaction not shared by Jesus? How can you seek to bring God’s love and grace into those situations/people’s lives? What, if anything, might your reaction say about any personal insecurities or guilt?
What/who should you be more patient with? and what/who should you be impatient with?
(23-24) When you get angry, do you tend to let it fester/brew, or do you deal with it promptly?
How might these verses challenge that in future?
Is there someone you need to make your peace with?
(25) Have you been accused of something? Putting aside your own sense of justification, how might God want you to respond to your accusers?
‘A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.’ (Proverbs 15:1)
How do you tend to react/respond to annoying or provoking or hurtful or unkind or unfair comments?
…With gentleness, grace, love, sarcasm, unkindness, rudeness?
How does your usual reaction/response affect the consequences/outcome?
J John writes: ‘When you squeeze a tube of toothpaste, what comes out is what’s in there. So it is with us. When we are squeezed, what comes out is what’s inside. If we are full of God, there will be evidence of that when we’re squeezed…we need to be changed from the inside out. Jesus does that by transforming us’