Matthew 5:1-12 Questions and Answers

Day 1

1. Read Matthew 5:1-2. Where did Jesus choose to teach? Who was he teaching? Why did He start teaching?


2. What is the theme of Matthew 5:3-12?

We often call this section the Beatitudes. What 2 words does it look like it comes from?


3. What does the word "blessed" mean?


4. What does the world think will make a person happy? Does it? What makes you happy?

5. Fill in the chart

What are the qualities God blesses? What is their reward?
Mt 5:3 Poor in Spirit vs. pride Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven
Mt 5:4 Mourning vs. bragging about your sin, indifferent They will be comforted
Mt 5:5 Meekness vs taking control, being manipulative Will inherit the earth
Mt 5:6 Hungering and thirsting for Righteousness Will be filled
Mt 5:7 Mercy Receive mercy
Mt 5:8 Pure in heart Will see God
Mt 5:9 Peacemaker Will be called the sons of God
Mt 5:10 Persecuted for righteousness sake Theirs is the Kingdom of God
Mt 5:11,12 Because of loyalty to Jesus are insulted, persecuted and falsely accused Will have a great reward in Heaven

6. Read Matthew 5:3. What does it mean to be poor in spirit?

If I am poor in Spirit
a) What will my focus be on?

b) What will be my attitude towards God?

c) How will I view others?

Why is understanding our spiritual inadequacy so liberating?

What is the opposite of being poor in spirit?

7. What is a Biblical example of being poor in spirit?


8. What does "for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" mean? What will the Kingdom of Heaven be like? ( Romans 14:17)

Day 2

9. Read Matthew 5:4. What does the word "mourn" refer to? What kind of mourning is it talking about? ( 2 Corinthians 7:10; Jeremiah 9:1)

What is the opposite of mourning?

The mourning in this verse is not human sorrow which may be caused by the conditions of life.

10. What are some Biblical examples of the kind of mourning talked about in Matthew 5:4?

What are some things that hinder us from mourning?


11. What/who comforts us? In what way? ( John 14:26; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4)


12. Read Matthew 5:5. What does the world think is meekness?


What does the Bible say about those who are meek? ( Numbers 12:1-14; Matthew 11:28-30)

Moses Jesus

In both examples meekness is power under control.

Other Biblical examples of meekness? How did they show meekness? Paul - Philippians 3:3 Paul was a meek man because he put no confidence in himself but had great confidence in Christ.

13. What qualities are evident in people who are meek? Are you this kind of person?

Are you this kind of person?

What is the opposite of meekness?


14. What are the rewards God has for those who are meek?

15. What does it mean that we will inherit the earth?


Day 3

16. Read Matthew 5:6. What does it mean to hunger & thirst for righteousness?

What am I hungry for? Do I seek power, praise, possessions, pleasure or righteousness?



17. What are some Biblical examples of hungering and thirsting for righteousness ?

1. Moses

2. David

3. Paul

18. What will characterize a person's life or my life if I am hungering and thirsting for righteousness?

What happens if we don't hunger and thirst for righteousness? Eg. Rich man(Luke 16:24)



19. What is the result of hungering and thirsting for righteousness? What are we filled with?


20 Read Matthew 5:7. What is the meaning of being merciful? What is a merciful person like?

(Read also Matthew 25:41-45)

What is the opposite of being merciful?



21. What are some Biblical examples of mercy?

God Samaritan man Christ

Abraham - He mercifully helped deliver his nephew Lot (Gen. 14:8- 16) after Abraham had been wronged by him (Gen. 13:5-11).

Joseph - showed mercy toward his brothers and met their needs (Gen. 42:25; 44:1) even after they had treated him badly (Gen. 37:20-28).

Moses - When Moses' sister Miriam had rebelled against him (Num. 12:1) God afflicted her with leprosy (v. 10). In mercy Moses asked the Lord to heal her (v. 13).

David - spared Saul's life twice (1 Sam. 24, 26). A merciful person reaches out to forgive, care for, and help others.


22. If I am a merciful person, what are some of the things I would be doing?

23. What promise is made to the merciful and what does that mean?


Day 4

24. Read Matthew 5:8. What is the prerequisite to seeing God?



25. What is the meaning of the word "heart" in Scripture? ( Mark 7:20-23)

26. What is the Meaning of the word "Pure"? ( Jeremiah 32:39)

27. What are some Biblical examples of a pure heart? ( Leviticus 19:2; Acts 13:22)

God David

28. How can I be pure in heart? ( I John 1:7, 9; James 4:4, 8)

29. What promise is made to the pure in heart?

30. Have you seen God or the glory of God with your spiritual eyes? Where? When? In what way?


Day 5
Intro to peace

31. Read Matthew 5:9. What is the meaning of peace? Where is real peace found? ( John 16:33)

What it isn't Did Jesus birth bring a peaceful existence to this world? Explain.

32. Why don't we have peace in this world? ( James 4:1)

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? James 4:1 We are selfish, don't have peace with God, we aren't at peace with ourselves or with others.

33. How can we experience God's peace? ( Philippians 4:6-7)


34. What is meant by being a "peacemaker"? What would a peacemaker do?


35. What are some Biblical examples of peacemakers?

God

Christ

Holy Spirit

Christians


36. What is God's promise to peacemakers?


37. How does God view His children? What privileges do we have as His children?


Day 6

38. Read Matthew 5:10-12. What are some Biblical examples of godly people who were persecuted, insulted or falsely accused for righteousness sake?

Paul

Jeremiah

39. What kinds of persecution may Christians in Canada or around the world face today? Are you experiencing any kinds of persecution?


40. Who will be persecuted?


41. If becoming a follower of Jesus makes us better people, then why are we persecuted?


42. What should be our attitude if we are faced with persecution? Why? ( Hebrews 11:32-40)

Where did most of the persecution come from against Jesus?

Should we present the Gospel just as a life of happiness, peace and joy?


43. What is the promise Christ made to the persecuted?


44. Do you think the world understands, accepts or respects Christ's definition of happiness or those who live by the beatitudes? Why or why not?


45. How about you...are you experiencing true happiness and blessings God's way or do you feel the standards are too high? God doesn't lower His standards to accommodate us but we can ask Christ to enable us to meet God's standards. Now that you understand what each of the beatitudes means, let's go to the chart on the first page and do a personal checklist to see how we are doing. My prayer is that you are or will experience each of the blessings that God has to offer us in the beatitudes!

My prayer is that you are or will experience each of the blessings that God has to offer us in the beatitudes!