Building On The Rock
A
Bible Study On the Sermon on the Mount
Who is the rock?
Wherefore also it is contained in the
scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that
believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious:
but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is
made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them
which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 1 Peter
2:6-8
What does it mean to
build one’s house on a rock?
What does it mean to your
salvation if you do not build your house on a rock?
Not every one that saith unto me,
Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my
Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not
prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many
wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye
that work iniquity.
Therefore whosoever heareth these
sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house
upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat
upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that
heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man,
which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the
winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. Matthew
7:21-27
To what sayings of His were
Jesus referring?
And seeing the multitudes, he went up
into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his
mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:1-3
And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings,
the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority,
and not as the scribes. Matthew 7:28-29
What six things are
we encouraged to do in building our house of faith in the first 12 verses of Christ’s
Sermon?
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger
and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful:
for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed
are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all
manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad:
for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before
you. Matthew 5:1-12
What next are we told to do in building our house?
Let your light so shine before men, that
they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16
What next are we told to do in building our house?
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or
the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. Matthew
5:17
What is to be the quality of the work in building our house if it
will stand in the Judgement?
For I say unto you, That except your
righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall
in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew
5:20
Jesus next begins to contrast the poor workmanship of the scribes
and Pharisees with that which is required to enter the kingdom of heaven. What is the
first way in which the quality of our acts of righteousness must exceed that of the
scribes and Pharisees? How serious is
name-calling considered by God?
Ye have heard that it was said by them of old
time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in
danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca1, shall be
in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool2, shall be in
danger of hell fire. Matthew 5:21-22
1. rhaka, Greek 4469, Strong’s rhaka, rhak-ah'; of Chaldee or [compare Hebrew 7386
(reyq)]; O empty one, i.e. thou worthless (as a term of utter vilification)
:- Raca.
2. moros, Greek 3474, Strong’s mo-ros'; probably from the base of Greek 3466
(musterion); dull or stupid (as if shut up), i.e. heedless,
(moral) blockhead, (apparently) absurd :- fool (-ish, × -ishness).
Jesus then expands a description of the kind of actions comprise
acceptable righteousness. What kind of act
does he use to illustrate the kind of peacemakers the law of love performs?
Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the
altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy
gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come
and offer thy gift. Matthew 5:23-24
What substandard material
acceptable to the scribes &Pharisees will receive unequivocal condemnation by the
building inspectors of the kingdom of heaven?
What does the
standard of Heaven call divorce and remarriage if the innocent party has not been sexually
unfaithful?
Ye
have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say
unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with
her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it
from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that
thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut if off,
and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should
perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. It hath been said,
Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: But I say
unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication,
causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth
adultery. Matthew 5:27-32
Can a righteousness that allows for swearing pass the
inspection of the heavenly inspectors? E.g.,
by “jo” (jov), by “gollie”, “by God”?
Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by
them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine
oaths: But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:
Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the
great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair
white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more
than these cometh of evil. Matthew 5:33-37
How must our righteousness treat our enemies if we are to enter
the kingdom of heaven? To what does Christ
equate perfection? Are we to actually strive
to be perfect in loving those who teat us unfairly?
Who use us? Who persecute us?
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou
shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies,
bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which
despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which
is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain
on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do
not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than
others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father
which is in heaven is perfect. Matthew 5:43-48
How does heaven view a righteousness that makes sure others
know the good deeds and acts of charity we have done?
What kind of reward will we receive if we seek recognition for our gifts of
charity?
Take heed that ye do not your alms before
men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the
hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men.
Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left
hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father
which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. Matthew
6:1-4
What does God think of personal prayers being prayed publicly so
as to display just how righteous we are? What
does heaven think of repeating memorized prayers over and over again? What about “the lord’s prayer”?
And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the
hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners
of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their
reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy
door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall
reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do:
for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like
unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. Matthew 6:5-8
What about reciting “the lord’s prayer”?
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father
which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as
it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we
forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine
is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. Matthew 6:9-13
If we withhold forgiveness from someone who has hurt us what
forgiveness can we expect from God?
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your
heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither
will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew
6:14-15
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