I  Introduction

Briefly cover the context of Jesus’ sermon/what has been seen previously so as to make sure that the final section of his sermon is interpreted correctly. In particular, you can mention the following:

- Jesus is not teaching about the way into the kingdom, but the lifestyle of those who belong to the kingdom. Just like the Ten Commandments come in response to God’s rescue from Egypt, so the laws outlined by Jesus specify our response to his grace. He has come to do us good. He brings the kingdom near. He fulfills the law on our behalf.

- Jesus has come to fulfill God’s law and the prophets. As a result of Jesus’ work, the application of God’s law is going to look different for people living in the new covenant than what it looked for those who lived in the old covenant. One example of such a change is the fact that there is no longer a link between earthly prosperity and blessing as there was in the past (old covenant).

- Jesus’ teaching and illustrations make use of rhetorical overstatement. For the sake of memorisation and emphasis he is teaching truth in such a way that his main point will be clear. He does not expect us to follow the detail of the examples, but to look for the principle that they seek to apply.

II The need for oaths

• Explain: What links the last two sections of Matthew 5 together? What topic do they cover?

• Explain: What is the fundamental message/principle that Jesus seeks to convey? How do his examples illustrate/confirm this?

• Explain:  What is the attitude that ought to mark kingdom citizens? What are some of the mistaken interpretations that people have historically made from Jesus’ teaching?

• Explain/Apply: How did the Jews reduce/abuse God’s law of an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth?

• Explain/Apply: How did the Jews reduce/abuse God’s law regarding love for a neighbour?

• Explain/Apply: How is Jesus’ teaching consistent with what we find taught elsewhere in Scripture?

III Discipline, persecution, and God’s example

• Explain: What are the implications of Jesus’ teaching on turning the other cheek/not resisting an evil person for church discipline? How is this different from life under the old covenant?

• Explain: What are the implications of Jesus’ teaching on loving your enemy and praying for persecutors for the relationships between Christians and civil authorities? How is this different from life under the old covenant? 

• Explain/Apply: Why must Christians seek the welfare of others even if they are persecuted/receive evil from other people?

• Explain: What is the example of the Father? What is the standard he requires? What is the example of the Son? What has he done in our place to meet the standard that the Father requires?

• Apply: What will it mean practically to do good for all people? Think of specific examples: The person who insulted you. The person who makes unfair demands. The person who asks for money, the person who takes credit for your work, the person who looks and speaks differently than you do. The person who seeks to harm you and take your life. Everyone must be treated better than they deserve.

IV Concluding prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for making sun rise on the evil and the good, for sending rain on the just and unjust. Thank you for being patient with us, with this world; for giving time for the gospel message to be proclaimed and heard by many people, giving time for sinners to come to repentance. Thank you that such time has been extended to us, thank you for graciously ensuring that the good news of Jesus Christ was proclaimed in our hearing, and that your Spirit worked powerfully in our hearts to produce a true faith and unite us to your Son Jesus Christ so that we may share in all the benefits he has won for us.

We praise you for our Lord Jesus, for his life of love, his atoning death in our place. Thank you that he is such a good king, that he is our King, that we can learn from him. Please help us submit to what he has taught us here in Matthew 5. May your Spirit help us to let go of vengeance, confident that you will bring justice in your time. Please soften our hearts where they have been hardened toward others, please make us quick to be generous with the resources you have given to us, please change our attitudes so that we more and more consider others to be better than ourselves.

We ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.