Please read Chapters 1-14 of the Gospel of Matthew. Concentrate especially on Chapters 5-7, the Sermon on the Mount. Please pick a key verse from the assigned chapters and do one of the following:1. Explain why you think this verse the key to understanding what the selection is about.
2. Explain why you think this verse is the best/most memorable in the assigned reading.
3. Explain why you think this verse is the most difficult/hard to understand in the assigned chapters.
4. Reply to any other student comment on this post.
"For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few."
ReplyDelete1. I think this verse is key because Jesus is telling the people that the road that leads to eternal life is hard and not very many people find it.
2. I think this verse is memorable because it stood out to me the most. The life that Jesus wants people to live is hard because its not the same life as the people who don't follow Jesus.
3. I think this verse is the hardest to understand because I think its difficult to imagine so few people entering the kingdom of God.
- Eathen Erck
Hi Eathen! I really like the verse that you picked out. I recently listened to a podcast where this verse is one of the main topics and it was very eye opening! I agree with you on that this is a hard verse to understand and come to terms with because it is entirely in opposition to the teachings of our society and culture as a whole and the teachings of many protestant religions, both teaching that everyone goes to Heaven as long as you are just a good person.
Delete“The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light; but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness. And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be.” (6:22-23)
ReplyDelete3. I have read this passage before, and I’m really not entirely sure what to think about it. I think that it is getting at, that if what little bit of the human soul that is supposed to be good isn’t, then that person is filled with darkness. Like if a bad or evil person has no flicker of goodness in them, then they are completely turned away from God. I think the most difficult line to understand is the ending: “if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be.”
-Bridget Fuhrmann
"But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing" Matthew 6:3 NKJV
ReplyDelete1. Here Jesus is saying that do not do charity or good works for the recognition. This is showing that it is an easy way to get prideful He goes into further details on 6:1-4 calling out the Pharisees which do it just for the recognition and pride. aka to be seen doing it.
2. I think this memorable because it shows how prideful we can be. It kinda reminds about even today when there is a building or other type of project. Usually the donor or donors get recognition in terms of a plaque or the building named after them. Which im not saying that is bad because it isn't. But i always thought it was weird when someone donated a large amount of money or did a big thing for a school or organization. But then wanted no recognition or wanted to be left anonymous. I kinda see what Jesus is saying in this and these verses in that. - Austin Dreyer
2.
I also liked this verse. I think it's a good reminder that being prideful and boasting about all your good deeds kind of defeats the whole purpose of said deed. If your ultimate goal was to help someone in need, then you should have no reason to boast about it. Those who are prideful and full of themselves after donating a large sum of money or doing something for someone else really show their true colors, proving that they don't care about the person or organization in need. They just want that ego boost.
Delete- Lauren Bland
"Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil." Matthew 6:10-13
ReplyDelete1. I believe this(these) to be the key verse(s) to understanding this section because Jesus lays out the path to eternal life in Heaven with him here. Each phrase is easily translated and applicable. Throughout this section of Matthew, Jesus tells his disciples many different ways to live out his word through the beatitudes and different parables. We also get to be witnesses to God’s word as Jesus goes throughout healing the sick and driving out demons.
"Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name." -> Our Father who is in Heaven, great is your name.
"Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven." -> Let Your kingdom reign and Your will (as opposed to my will) be done on Earth as in Heaven.
"Give us this day our daily bread" -> this has many different meanings according to which christian church we are looking at, it could mean just our daily dose of God and his grace or it could be fully Jesus in the sacrament of Holy Communion of the Eucharist
"Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." -> forgive us of our sins but only if we forgive those who have sinned against and wronged us.
"Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil." -> lead us not into darkness and evil but light and grace. By you alone can we hope to achieve the glory of Heaven.
Hey Becca! I really liked the verse you picked out from the first reading. I think this verse is very important as its also the lords prayer in many churches across the world. The fact that it is used in so many places across the world just shows its importance in that alone. If something can stick with generations of people for this long it holds a decent amount of significance. Great choice.
Delete-Dawson Pfister
"Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?" Matthew 6:26-27
ReplyDelete2. These verses are the best and most memorable because of the comfort they provide. Anyone who reads this, Christian or not, can see how comforting and relieving these verses are. They explain how God takes care of the birds everyday, so why should we have to worry--we are far more valuable than the animals of the earth. Verse 27 really puts things into perspective. Worrying and being anxious all the time will add absolutely no time to your life--why waste it?
- Lauren Bland
Hey Lauren! I really like your verse selection because it tells us that we shouldn't be worried about our needs because the Lord will provide for us in the end. I tend to remember this verse when it comes to my daily life as I struggle with generalized anxiety disorder. I have to remember that anxiety doesn't control me, nor does it add time to the day/my life and I don't want to waste it.
Delete7:30 am reply was mine.
Delete-Kristin Johnson
Matthew 5: 14-16 You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see the good works and give glory to your father who is in heaven.
ReplyDelete1. These verses are what i believe captivates this whole chapter, Jesus teaches the great crowds of people by telling them how their hearts and spirits should be for their heavenly father. This verse sticks out because many people in today's time are afraid to do what is right. Here Jesus encourages us to stand for righteousness and to not hide our light from others.
Hey, Kenneth I really like what you posted here for your blog post. I think that you chose a great section from Matthew to write on. The reason is because I also agree that this message given here does embodies a lot of what Christ teaches. Jesus so often talks about going out and speaking to the people. Not only that but being of the light and holy people in the lives they live. So, these lines right here do a great job of portraying what Jesus is calling us to do in our own lives.
DeleteTanner Simon
1. "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets." Mathew 7:12 ESV
ReplyDelete2. This verse encapsulates Jesus' message. He takes all the elaborate rules and traditions of the jews, and breaks them into one verse. Jesus throws al the rules out. Then he tells people it's just as easy as treating people how you want to be treated.
3. This verse is probably the most difficult to understand, not because it's a hard one to learn, but because it's a hard one to practice. If someone wrongs you, don't wrong them back. Treat people how you want to be treated. It goes against how we all normally would react to being mistreated.
-Walker Larson
"You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those that persecute you." Matthew 5:43-44
ReplyDeleteThis verse is the best one out of the reading because it directs us to think about the people in our lives that have wronged us in anyway and to pray that they receive the guidance that they need in life so that they can change their ways hopefully for the betterment of themselves and for the people they surround themselves with so that they do not hurt anyone anymore. It will also help us to have the motivation to help people, even if we do not get along with, or don't particularity like the person.
Good to remember, as we should let God lead us in how to handle people like this and to be patient with people if something is a misunderstanding. Also, I have learned it is possible to pray for God's leading on situations where we have been continually wronged about justice, but forgiveness is ALWAYS crucial to have in mind, which I have come to learn is a form of healing. Forgiveness is healing your heart, not an excuse is one of the most important things I have learned, not allowing wrong, but putting throwing away poisons. Really profound.
DeleteMatthew 5:3 NIV
ReplyDeleteBlessed are the poor of spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
1.Matthew 5:3 is a verse critical to understanding what this section is about and what the whole new testament is about. This verse lays the groundwork for the life of Jesus and what he has come to do. He recognizes we live in a broken world due to the fall of man and knows we cannot be genuinely saved on our own. So he came to strengthen the poor of spirit so they can go to the kingdom of heaven. Later on, it is said in the bible in Matthew 18:12-14, let the ninety-nine that walks faithfully go on alone to search for the one that walks astray. He cares about everyone and fights with all his heart for those who do not know him.
2.This verse is the most memorable from what I read because; it is an acceptance at the start of Jesuses new law, or some may say a new covenant, that we are not okay where we are. So right away here, before I read the rest of the laws. I am called to a higher standard than others because I'm called to be a child of God. I have also come to understand even in my brokenness; there is a place for me in heaven.
3.This verse is not really difficult to understand compared to the rest of the reading. However, I think it is easy to skip over before you get into the rest of the sermon on the mount. The reason is that sometimes we must remember to accept where we are currently and what we are called to uphold and follow.
Tanner Simon
"And Jesus said to him, 'Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.'" - Matthew 8:22
ReplyDeleteIn my own way, I am going to answer this with a response to this verse... I do believe that what Jesus is saying here is to not only let bygones be bygones, but leave behind your past troubles and create a new future ahead with Him, letting Him handle the wicked and moving into a new future. God creates all good things and he alone handles the wicked and unrepentant.