Children love to receive Christmas presents, birthday presents, gifts at the end of school, and any other time. Most all of us like to receive good presents, don’t we? Jesus talked about the gift of blessing in His Sermon on the Mount.
What kind of blessings would you like to receive from the Lord? Have you thought of blessings that you could give or share with others? Before beginning an exploration of the Beatitudes that introduce Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, let’s consider briefly their background.
1. Matthew 3:1–4:25. What major events took place in the life and ministry of Jesus immediately before the Sermon on the Mount?
2. Matthew 5:1–2. Gleaning from the previous verses, about how many people heard the Sermon on the Mount? Where was Jesus at the time? What did Jesus do as He started to teach? Why do you think He did so?
3. Matthew 5:3. Who are the poor in spirit that Jesus speaks of? Are they proud and haughty or spiritually empty and destitute? Describe what you think it means. What is their reward?
4. Matthew 5:4. Those who mourn may refer to those who have sorrow over their spiritually bankrupt condition. How are they continually comforted?
5. Matthew 5:5. Who are the meek? Jesus taught that meekness is submission to God, not weakness. What do the meek inherit? (See 1 Corinthians 3:21–22.)
6. Matthew 5:6. What does it mean to hunger and thirst for righteousness? What does it mean to be filled? Why do some love backsliding more than right living?
7. Matthew 5:7. Who are the merciful? How can we show kindness and mercy toward those who are downcast or miserable? Why do we want God to be merciful to us?
8. Matthew 5:8. Who are the pure in heart? Is this righteousness self-attained or is it the result of being rightly related to Jesus? What does it mean to see God?
9. Matthew 5:9. Do you think most people are in the peace-breakers or peacemakers camp? How can nations become peacemakers? What are peacemakers called?
10. Matthew 5:10–12. Name some Bible people who were persecuted for believing in God (Hebrews 11). Can you name some contemporary people who have been persecuted? What are some rewards of persecution?
What kind of blessings would you like to receive from the Lord? Have you thought of blessings that you could give or share with others? Before beginning an exploration of the Beatitudes that introduce Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, let’s consider briefly their background.
1. Matthew 3:1–4:25. What major events took place in the life and ministry of Jesus immediately before the Sermon on the Mount?
2. Matthew 5:1–2. Gleaning from the previous verses, about how many people heard the Sermon on the Mount? Where was Jesus at the time? What did Jesus do as He started to teach? Why do you think He did so?
3. Matthew 5:3. Who are the poor in spirit that Jesus speaks of? Are they proud and haughty or spiritually empty and destitute? Describe what you think it means. What is their reward?
4. Matthew 5:4. Those who mourn may refer to those who have sorrow over their spiritually bankrupt condition. How are they continually comforted?
5. Matthew 5:5. Who are the meek? Jesus taught that meekness is submission to God, not weakness. What do the meek inherit? (See 1 Corinthians 3:21–22.)
6. Matthew 5:6. What does it mean to hunger and thirst for righteousness? What does it mean to be filled? Why do some love backsliding more than right living?
7. Matthew 5:7. Who are the merciful? How can we show kindness and mercy toward those who are downcast or miserable? Why do we want God to be merciful to us?
8. Matthew 5:8. Who are the pure in heart? Is this righteousness self-attained or is it the result of being rightly related to Jesus? What does it mean to see God?
9. Matthew 5:9. Do you think most people are in the peace-breakers or peacemakers camp? How can nations become peacemakers? What are peacemakers called?
10. Matthew 5:10–12. Name some Bible people who were persecuted for believing in God (Hebrews 11). Can you name some contemporary people who have been persecuted? What are some rewards of persecution?