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Matthew 5:38-47 (MSG)

27/2/2017

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38-42 “Here’s another old saying that deserves a second look: ‘Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.’ Is that going to get us anywhere? Here’s what I propose: ‘Don’t hit back at all.’ If someone strikes you, stand there and take it. If someone drags you into court and sues for the shirt off your back, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. And if someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.

43-47 “You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.
Matthew 5:38-47 (MSG)
General Context Questions
  • Who wrote this? Who is or which groups of people are involved?
  • Was this written before, during, or after Jesus’ lifetime?
  • Is this a narrative, a parable, a praise, a suggestion, a command, an instruction, or something else?
  • Is there anything that stands out to you?
  • Did anything confuse you? Were there words or phrases that didn’t make sense?
Specific Questions
  • Does this passage tell us that we should become weak or allow ourselves to be abused? How should a person respond that is in an abusive relationship?
  • Can you think of a time in your life when you responded with kindness to someone that was taking advantage of you? What happened?
  • Who are your enemies? What can you do to love them and to “let them bring out the best in you”?
  • How should you pray for your enemy? What should you ask God for regarding them?
1 Comment

Matthew 5:33-37 (MSG)

20/2/2017

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33-37 “And don’t say anything you don’t mean. This counsel is embedded deep in our traditions. You only make things worse when you lay down a smoke screen of pious talk, saying, ‘I’ll pray for you,’ and never doing it, or saying, ‘God be with you,’ and not meaning it. You don’t make your words true by embellishing them with religious lace. In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less true. Just say ‘yes’ and ‘no.’ When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong.
Matthew 5:33-37 (MSG)
General Context Questions
  • Who wrote this? Who is or which groups of people are involved?
  • Was this written before, during, or after Jesus’ lifetime?
  • Is this a narrative, a parable, a praise, a suggestion, a command, an instruction, or something else?
  • Is there anything that stands out to you?
  • Did anything confuse you? Were there words or phrases that didn’t make sense?
Specific Questions
  • What sort of conversations does this passage apply to? Is it advice for talking with other people or is it also applicable in prayer?
  • Do you follow through when you say, “I’ll pray for you”? How do you stay disciplined to do that?
  • Which words or phrases do you consider to be “religious lace”?
  • Is this passage giving us permission to be blunt with other people?
  • What is the difference between manipulating words and carefully selecting words in a conversation?
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Matthew 5:21-26 (NLT)

13/2/2017

1 Comment

 
21 “You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ 22 But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.

23 “So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, 24 leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.

25 “When you are on the way to court with your adversary, settle your differences quickly. Otherwise, your accuser may hand you over to the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, and you will be thrown into prison. 26 And if that happens, you surely won’t be free again until you have paid the last penny.
Matthew 5:21-26 (NLT)
General Context Questions
  • Who wrote this? Who is or which groups of people are involved?
  • Was this written before, during, or after Jesus’ lifetime?
  • Is this a narrative, a parable, a praise, a suggestion, a command, an instruction, or something else?
  • Is there anything that stands out to you?
  • Did anything confuse you? Were there words or phrases that didn’t make sense?
Specific Questions
  • Some translations of the Bible use the word “murder” and others use the word “kill”. What is the difference between these words?
  • Which court might you be brought before if you call someone an idiot? Does this still apply in modern society? What does calling someone an idiot indicate about what you think of them?
  • What does it mean to “curse someone”? Why does cursing someone carry a more significant consequence than simply calling someone an idiot?
  • Is this passage advising that you give in to your opponent's demands rather than go before a judge? What would it look like to “settle your differences quickly”?
1 Comment

Ezekiel 33:11-20 (MSG)

6/2/2017

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11 “Tell them, ‘As sure as I am the living God, I take no pleasure from the death of the wicked. I want the wicked to change their ways and live. Turn your life around! Reverse your evil ways! Why die, Israel?’

12-13 “There’s more, son of man. Tell your people, ‘A good person’s good life won’t save him when he decides to rebel, and a bad person’s bad life won’t prevent him from repenting of his rebellion. A good person who sins can’t expect to live when he chooses to sin. It’s true that I tell good people, “Live! Be alive!” But if they trust in their good deeds and turn to evil, that good life won’t amount to a hill of beans. They’ll die for their evil life.

14-16 “‘On the other hand, if I tell a wicked person, “You’ll die for your wicked life,” and he repents of his sin and starts living a righteous and just life—being generous to the down-and-out, restoring what he had stolen, cultivating life-nourishing ways that don’t hurt others—he’ll live. He won’t die. None of his sins will be kept on the books. He’s doing what’s right, living a good life. He’ll live.

17-19 “‘Your people say, “The Master’s way isn’t fair.” But it’s the way they’re living that isn’t fair. When good people turn back from living good lives and plunge into sin, they’ll die for it. And when a wicked person turns away from his wicked life and starts living a just and righteous life, he’ll come alive.

20 “‘Still, you keep on saying, “The Master’s way isn’t fair.” We’ll see, Israel. I’ll decide on each of you exactly according to how you live.’”
Ezekiel 33:11-20 (MSG)
General Context Questions
  • Who wrote this? Who is or which groups of people are involved?
  • Was this written before, during, or after Jesus’ lifetime?
  • Is this a narrative, a parable, a praise, a suggestion, a command, an instruction, or something else?
  • Is there anything that stands out to you?
  • Did anything confuse you? Were there words or phrases that didn’t make sense?
Specific Questions
  • Have or do you ever rejoiced at the death of the wicked? Hitler? Bin Laden?
  • If being a “good person” isn’t what overcomes sin, why bother?
  • What does it say about God’s priorities if you can live a good life, but end up being condemned by choosing to sin and you can lead a bad life, but be saved by choosing to repent?
  • Is it possible to be both a good and a wicked person? How can you tell if you’re being good or wicked?
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