10 Weeks in the Word

Week 4: Matthew 5:33-42

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Lydia Pentecost | About the passage

In a world that tends to be autotuned and photoshopped, honesty is incredibly important. As believers, Jesus calls us to be honest. Everything we say should be able to be taken as the truth, we shouldn’t have to ‘pinky promise.’ In this time, the religious leaders had come up with some loopholes to keep them from this requirement of honesty, saying that only oaths to the Lord had to be kept. Oaths with other people didn’t need to be kept. This is not what Jesus calls us to, so we need to make honesty a priority. Jesus calls his followers to be different from the world and the religious leaders of his day, to be known by their honesty. Jesus also calls us to live differently from the world in addressing their slights against us. He calls us to “turn to him the other one [cheek] also.” This means showing neighborly love to all, not just the people we like. We are called to love even those who annoy us, or directly come against us. This requires an incredible amount of unselfishness and compassion. To love others, we need to see them as humans created in the image of God deserving of dignity. This should also inspire us to be generous, to help others when we can. Because Jesus was generous to us, we should be generous to others as well, pouring out the kindness we once received.
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Lydia Pentecost

Chapel Coordinator

Week 4: Matthew 5:33-42

Oaths

33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ 34 But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.

Retaliation

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

Questions:

  1. What are some loopholes that you use to allow yourself to not tell the whole truth? How can you avoid using these to justify your sin?
  2. How are we upholding the call to be known for our honesty? What can I individually do to affect this reputation?
  3. What are some ways you can be generous to others? These don’t have to be large, but can be small ways you can bless others.

Revelation 7:9

ESV: 9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,

NIV: 9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.

NKJV: 9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,

Matthew 5:23-24

ESV: 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

NIV: 23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

NKJV: 23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Matthew 18:15-17

ESV: 15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

NIV: 15 “If your brother or sister[a] sins,[b] go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’[c] 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

NKJV: 15 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ 17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.

 

Micah 6:8

ESV: He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,[a]
and to walk humbly with your God?

NIV: He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly[a] with your God.

NKJV: He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?

Genesis 1:27

ESV: So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

NIV: So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

NKJV: So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

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