Week 6 Teaching – The New Law (March 27)
STUDY
Matthew’s Gospel begins with a genealogy beginning with Abraham and ending with Jesus. The story continues with Jesus and His parents fleeing to Egypt and then returning later. Jesus is then led out into the desert where He is tested. After this He preaches the famous “Sermon on the Mount.” These beginning chapters of Matthew parallel the beginning of the Old Testament in so many ways:
Genealogy – Israel getting help from Egypt – Israelites tested in the dessert – The law given at Mount Sinai
Is this just a coincidence, or is Matthew telling us, in a subtle way, that what is happening in the ministry of Jesus is as significant, or more, than the giving of the law a very long time ago? Is this teaching from Jesus another set of rules, or is it a fulfillment of the law that was delivered so long ago?
In verses 17 and 18, Jesus makes it clear that He is not replacing the law, but accomplishing its purpose.
Read Matthew 5:17-48.
IMMERSE
How does Jesus take the examples He uses from the Law and turn them from a requirement of doing the commandment to being the type of person Jesus wants His followers to be?
- Teaching about vows: Possible Answer… The Law required that people fulfill their vows, but Jesus commands us to be the type of people who do not need to make vows, since He wants us to be honest in everything we say and do everything we say, whether we make an oath or not.
- Teaching about anger: The Law says we should not murder, but Jesus teaches that we should be the kind of people who…
- Teaching about adultery: The Law says we should not commit adultery, but Jesus teaches that we should be the kind of people who…
- Teaching about divorce: The Law outlines a procedure for how divorce should happen, but Jesus teaches that we should be the kind of people who…
- Teaching about revenge: The Law says that the punishment should fit the crime, but Jesus says that if you are wronged you should be the kind of person who…
- Teaching about love for enemies: The Law says that we should love our neighbour, but Jesus challenges us to go a step further and actually…