Further Study: Ellen G. White, The Sermon on the Mount, pp. 298-314 in The Desire of Ages. Jesus takes up the commandments separately, and explains the depth and breadth of their requirement. Instead of removing one jot of their force, He shows how far reaching their principles are, and exposes the fatal mistake of the … Continue reading –>
[Thought questions for Christ and the Law in the Sermon on the Mount April 23, 2014] 1. Destroy or fulfill? If you make a promise and keep it, does the promise still exist? Or has it vanished? Since the law points to our errors and mistakes, what is there to love about it? Do you love … Continue reading –>
(Matt. 5:38-48) It appears that the common theme here (Matt. 5:38-48) is revenge. This first theme concerns the many commandments in the Mosaic law that are built on the principle of repaying a crime with an equal punishment, an idea called lex talionis, a Latin term meaning law of retaliation. As we see in a … Continue reading –>
Informal discussion regarding this week’s Sabbath School lesson with author Dr. Keith Burton on Vimeo in less than 30 minutes: [weaver_vimeo http://vimeo.com/92377854 autoplay=0 loop=0 portrait=1 start=0:10] You can view the same video on Youtube if you prefer. (13)
Continue reading -->It was another Red Sea moment. To retreat would be catastrophic. To advance would be humanly impossible. And Jesus was instructing them to do the impossible. This week as we focus on Christ and the Law in the Sermon on the Mount we find Him burrowing beyond the letter of the law into the motives … Continue reading –>
(Matt. 5:33-37) The first two antitheses (murder and adultery) are based on the Decalogue. The antithesis regarding divorce and the ones that follow are taken from other sections of the Mosaic law, including the one about swearing falsely and performing oaths to the Lord. Read Leviticus 19:11-13. What specific points do we find here? See also … Continue reading –>
There was a time, when heaven was the murder capital of the universe. A lot of people have the idea, that once we get to heaven God is going to wave some magic wand, or flip some switch in the back of our heads and presto! We won’t sin anymore. After all it will be … Continue reading –>
Key Thought : Jesus tells us that He did not come to do away with the law, but to magnify it and show the need of the Holy Spirit in order to keep it. [Lesson plan for Christ and the Law in the Sermon on the Mount April 21, 2014] 1. Have a volunteer read … Continue reading –>
(Matt 5:27-32) Jesus’ next example involves commandments concerning adultery. He first cites the seventh commandment, You shall not commit adultery. In the context of the law of Moses, adultery took place when a married person was sexually involved with someone other than a spouse. The law was very clear that both parties found guilty of … Continue reading –>
(Matt 5:21-26) After He clarified His intention to uphold the law, Jesus started to explain a righteousness that exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees. He begins by citing the sixth commandment (Exod. 20:13) and summarizing, from the law of Moses, the penalty for violation (Exod. 21:12, Lev. 24:17). The sixth commandment does not include … Continue reading –>
“It is finished” John 19:30 When Jesus cried out these last words, He gave up His breath, and rested in the tomb on Sabbath. Four thousand years earlier, He had finished creating the world and rested on the Sabbath. Adam and Eve rested too on that very first Sabbath, though I don’t think they were … Continue reading –>
Read again Matthew 5:17-20. How interesting that Jesus would greatly emphasize the law here, while at the same time making the statement that He did about the scribes and Pharisees, who so greatly emphasized the law, as well. What important lesson does this passage teach about true obedience to the law? Jesus begins this section … Continue reading –>
