Sermon-based Study Guide Sermon: Everyday Disciple (Matthew 5:13-16) Sermon Series: Portrait of a Follower

Transcription

1 SERMON SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY Sermon-based Study Guide Sermon: Everyday Disciple (Matthew 5:13-16) Sermon Series: Portrait of a Follower Question: When does a disciple fulfill their purpose? Be in among people and stand out. for God s glory. Every day. LET S REVIEW 1. What are 1 or 2 key truths you take away from this sermon? DIGGING DEEPER 1. To better understand the study of our passage, I highly recommend you read Matthew 5: Understanding good works. Read Matthew 5:17-20; 6:1-4. a. What could Jesus mean by 5:20? How can 6:1-4 be compatible with Matthew 5:16? Romans 10:3 and Philippians 3:9 may be of some additional insight for you. Jesus clearly establishes a comparison in 5:20. He is differentiating the behavior His disciples are purposed to convey from those of the Pharisees. The Pharisees are self-righteous. Matthew 6:1-4 makes it even clearer. The actions of the Pharisees are motivated by self-aggrandizement. They wish to be noticed. Both outward actions and the motives of our hearts are important to the Lord. Jesus says it is what comes out of our hearts which defiles a person, not what goes in. So, actions coming from a self-centered motivation are not good works but rather a defilement. Page 1 of 5

2 3. Understanding the light. a. Read Isaiah 2:5; 42:6 and 49:6; Matthew 4: Who does this describe? Old Testament prophets, especially Isaiah foretell of a coming One who will be a light to the nations. Matthew picks up this theme in his gospel, making the connection from the prophets to Jesus. b. Read John 1:4,5,9; 8:12; 9:5; 12:35. How is the metaphor of light used? What is light being likened to? It will be interesting to hear people s interpretations of the word light as a metaphor. Certainly, Jesus uses light as a means for describing; the way to live and conduct one s life; it is also used to describe enlightenment (coming to understanding); it also conveys purity or moral goodness in contrast to evil (darkness). There seems to be both an internal and external meaning and application. IN MY LIFE 1. How does this description of a disciple effect, change, or alter your view of being a follower of Jesus? What have you been taught growing up regarding being a disciple or Christian? Does this even mean going to places like the bar? 2. What are some challenges or difficulties you can imagine with being an everyday disciple? Challenges could include being consistent. Actually having the strength to maintain one s values and beliefs. Other challenges could include persecution or ridicule. Other challenges could include not knowing what to do or say in a given situation. 3. Based on this description how will your life change? How will you teach and describe discipleship to someone else? Who is someone you will talk to about this particular aspect of being a follower of Jesus? Page 2 of 5

3 Text Study Here are various Bible translations of the passage. English Standard Version New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update The New International Version salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people s feet. light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the 16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. New Living Translation salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. light of the world like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. The Message 13 Let me tell you why you are here. You re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the Godflavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage. 14 Here s another way to put it: You re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. 15 If I make you light-bearers, you don t think I m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I m putting you on a light stand. 16 Now that I ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. Page 3 of 5

4 Word Study Salt: (x8 used only in parallel passages) Since salt is a universal condiment, there is no difficulty involved in finding an adequate expression for it, but there is a difficulty in Mt. 5.13, since pure salt cannot lose its taste. In the ancient world, however, what was often sold as salt was highly adulterated and the sodium chloride could leach out in humid weather, in which case the residue (normally a form of lime) would be useless. It may, therefore, be important in some languages to provide a marginal note explaining the basis for the biblical statement concerning salt losing its flavor; otherwise, the parable may appear to be either meaningless or misleading. i ; (I) Natural salt which purifies, cleanses, and preserves from corruption (Luke 14:34; Septuagint: Lev. 2:13; Judges 9:45). In Matt. 5:13 and Mark 9:50 applied spiritually to the disciples of Christ who were to circulate among and purify the corrupted mass of mankind by their heavenly doctrines and holy examples. ii Earth: people, inhabitants of the earth, mankind (Mt 5:13) iii ; (figurative extensions of meaning of οἰκουµένη a inhabited earth, 1.39, and of γῆ a earth, 1.39, respectively) all people who dwell on the earth people, all mankind. iv Lost its taste: to become insipid or tasteless in sip id adj 1609 ; 1 : lacking taste or savor : TASTELESS insipid food ; 2 : lacking in qualities that interest, stimulate, or challenge : DULL, FLAT insipid prose ; syn INSIPID, VAPID, FLAT, JEJUNE, BANAL, INANE mean devoid of qualities that make for spirit and character. INSIPID implies a lack of sufficient taste or savor to please or interest v Light: φῶς (phōs), φωτός (phōtos); Metonymically, a light, the author or dispenser of moral and spiritual light, a moral teacher; generally (Rom. 2:19). Of disciplers (Matt. 5:14; Acts 13:47 quoted from Is. 49:6; see also Septuagint: Is. 42:6). Especially of Jesus as the great Teacher and Savior of the world who brought life and immortality to light in His gospel (see Luke 2:32; John 1:4, 5, 7 9; 3:19; 8:12; 9:5; 12:35, 36, 46). vi World: Metonymically, the world meaning the inhabitants of the earth, men, mankind vii Shine: λάµπω (lampō) Good works: (C) Of the works of men in reference to right and wrong as judged by the moral law, the precepts of the gospel viii ; constitutionally good, but not necessarily agathón, beneficent, doing somebody else good, and in the pl. érga kalá, a good deed or good deeds, i.e., a pious act, well doing, virtue (Matt. 5:16; Mark 14:6; 1 Tim. 6:18; Titus 2:7; Heb. 10:24; 1 Pet. 2:12). ix Glory (to the Father): praise, speak words of glory; to speak of something [or someone] as being unusually fine and deserving honor to praise, to glorify, praise. x ; To glorify. The consequential meaning from the opinion which one forms is to recognize, honor, praise, invest with dignity, give anyone esteem or honor by putting him into an honorable position. xi To glorify God, meaning to render glory to Him, recognize Him for Who and What He is, to celebrate with praises, worship, adoration xii Page 4 of 5

5 i Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996, c1989). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament : Based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition.) (1:51). New York: United Bible societies. ii Zodhiates, S. (2000, c1992, c1993). The complete word study dictionary : New Testament (electronic ed.) (G217). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers. iii Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Greek (New Testament) (electronic ed.) (DBLG 1178, #5). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc. iv Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996, c1989). adj adjective v Merriam-Webster, I. (2003). Merriam-Webster's collegiate dictionary. Includes index. (Eleventh ed.). Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, Inc. vi Zodhiates, S. (2000, c1992, c1993). vii Ibid. viii Ibid. ix Ibid. x Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996, c1989). xi Zodhiates, S. (2000, c1992, c1993). xii Ibid. Page 5 of 5