Bible Study “New Ways for a New Kingdom” (Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany)
Share: Your highs (something that made you happy) and lows (something that made you sad) this week with others around you or write them down.
Accept the light we have received and shine it forth! It is not about shining the light in other’s faces, blinding them, but holding the light in open hands.
God is growing us beyond rules established in previous times. We can not only forego murder but even our rage. The kingdom of heaven is here now, and we can access the power to choose self-control.
Opening Prayer: Help us, God, to hear what you want us to hear in the passage we have today. Help us to live in your ways. Amen.
Please open your Bibles to Matthew 5:21-37 and read or read the scriptures below.
Matthew 5:21-37
Murder
21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder,[a] and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister[b][c] will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’[d] is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
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.
25 “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.
Adultery
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’[e] 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
Divorce
31 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’[f] 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Oaths
33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 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 swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.[g]
Questions: (Answers at the bottom of the page)
Verses 21-26
- Why do you think the people listening to Jesus would have known that it was not okay to murder people?
- Is there a difference between getting angry and staying angry?
- Is it possible NEVER to have anything make you angry?
- Do you think there are things that it is okay to get angry about?
- What kind of anger do we think Jesus is talking about here?
- How do you thinks friends might help two people who are angry with one another?
- Have you heard the saying: “Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me?” Do you think that it is correct that words can never hurt? What can we do when we notice that we have hurt someone with our words? Do you think it is possible to hurt someone with our words – and not even notice we have done it? How can friends help here?
- Try to imagine a situation where a person would “remember that a friend has something against him or her” and how they could patch up that situation. What if the person did not even know he or she had hurt the other? What is the responsibility of the person who was hurt?
- What is Jesus telling us in verse 25?
Verses 33 – 37
- Which of the commandments is Jesus amplifying here?
- What kinds of things have we heard people say when they are making a vow?
- How might we paraphrase Verse 37?
Click here for the young learner’s lesson
Videos (Click on url)
Epiphany 6A Matthew 5:21-37 LUMO - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLoqHjyd72E
HiBible E.252 “Reconcile and Worship” Matthew 5:21-24 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQb00Xrwv-M
Overview: Matthew 1-13- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Dv4-n6OYGI&t=90s
Activities:
Journal: Previously we had noticed that the kingdom of heaven includes adding healthy habits to our lives. What would we add from today’s scripture? (forgiveness, being a person of our word, etc.)
Forgiven Heart: Trace a heart, cut it out and glue it onto another piece of paper. Cut out a cross and glue it in the middle of the heart. Write FORGIVEN on the cross and decorate it. Use it as a book marker or a wall picture.
“Jesus Loves You” Valentine and DIY Necklace – Make them for Valentine gifts - https://faithgateway.com/blogs/christian-books/valentine-free-printable-diy-necklace/
Forgiving And Forgiven – Crossword Puzzle: https://sermons4kids.com/forgiving_and_forgiven_crossword.htm?fromSermonId=407
Forgiving And Forgiven – Decoder: https://sermons4kids.com/forgiving_and_forgiven_decoder.htm?fromSermonId=407
Forgiving And Forgiven Word Search: https://sermons4kids.com/forgiving_and_forgiven_wordsearch.htm?fromSermonId=407
Prayer: Thank you, God, for showing us how to choose the kingdom of heaven. Amen.
Answers to the Questions:
Verses 21-26
- Why do you think the people listening to Jesus would have known that it was not okay to murder people? (The Ten Commandments.)
- Is there a difference between getting angry and staying angry?
- Is it possible NEVER to have anything make you angry?
- Do you think there are things that it is okay to get angry about? (Someone is being discriminated against or otherwise being treated unfairly.)
- What kind of anger do we think Jesus is talking about here? (Refusing to give a friend another chance; holding a grudge after it is time to give up the anger, etc.)
- How do you thinks friends might help two people who are angry with one another? (Listen, first. Ask if you can help, etc.)
- Have you heard the saying: “Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me?” Do you think that it is correct that words can never hurt? What can we do when we notice that we have hurt someone with our words? Do you think it is possible to hurt someone with our words – and not even notice we have done it? How can friends help here?
- Try to imagine a situation where a person would “remember that a friend has something against him or her” and how they could patch up that situation. What if the person did not even know he or she had hurt the other? What is the responsibility of the person who was hurt?
- What is Jesus telling us in verse 25? (Instead of suing each other, what if we tried to work things out?)
Verses 33 – 37
- Which of the commandments is Jesus amplifying here? (Number 9: No lies.)
- What kinds of things have we heard people say when they are making a vow? “I swear by…” (A stack of Bibles, is often heard. What else have you heard?”)
- How might we paraphrase Verse 37? (An option would be: If I say yes, I mean yes. If I say no, I mean no.)
