If you haven’t started, it’s not too late!
Just sit down, read these passages through and jot down your thoughts,
impressions and questions, doing so as a prayer, relating the scriptures and
thoughts to your life, your loved ones, and the world around you. (see last two
blogs for the Bible app that makes this work for me!)
You
may have noticed that the Sermon on the Mount is Jesus, in depth explanation of
the Old Testament Law. A
really good exercise is to compare the 10 commandments in general to Matthew
5:17-20. If
you’re paying close attention you will notice that this passage is challenging
to say the least.
What is Jesus saying about the Old Testament?
It’s huge!
When I read these lines it sounds like Jesus is dead serious, does it
not? The
Pharisees were overall “good people” who get a really bad rap.
I’m not all that sure how different they were from many of us church
goers today, me included!
Today
is a good day to go to the scholars who can help us to understand this passage
better. If
you are not using the app I suggested previously, you can use your own or you
can check out good commentaries (the comments written by scholars about various
passages) for free in Bible Gateway online or as an app.
Jot down what you find.
How is God teaching you? In
what way are the scriptures speaking to your everyday thoughts, attitudes and
actions?
One
hint I offer is to compare Jesus’ admittedly scary words in Matt. 4:17-49 with
Romans 7:14-8:49, maybe the best explanation of God’s Grace anywhere in the
world. Doing
this will take you beyond moralistic religion to something bigger, that God will
do in believers (check out 1 Cor. 15:50-54.
Then read (Colossians 3:1-4) as a good explanation of how
to live out Matt 5:17-20.
When
you do any of the above you have studied the Bible!!!!
Congratulations!
You get a big “Way to go!!!!”
For
more:
follow on Twitter @jefflampl
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