Reading Over Jesus’ Shoulder: The Law 1

Matthew 5:17-20

May 22, 2022

NEXT WEEK: The Law of God (2 of 2)

Questions for the Community

Personal Reflection
1.  Review 4 results we can expect as we discipline ourselves to think Biblically? Which of these motivate you most? What would you add to the list?
2.  What comes to mind when you think “law”?

Group Discussion
1.  How do you respond to someone who thinks of Christianity as a bunch of rules and the Bible as a rule book?
2.  Laws are always a reflection of the lawmaker. How do you see this in laws of our country/state and the laws of God?
3.  What is Jesus teaching us in our passage today (Matt. 5:17-20)? How does this fit with the rest of the Sermon on the Mount?
4.  Giving ourselves to learning and living the Law promotes all kinds of worship. How so?

Plan of Action
1.  Read and meditate on Psalm 19:7-11. Revel in your relationship with the Lawgiver. Ask Him to give you a heart that delights in all his words and values them as they should. Pray for a discerning mind and a will to follow what is right.
2.  Consider a journal or note on your phone that lists all ethical actions or prohibitions that you come across in your Bible reading. Ask of a passage: Is there a command to obey or a warning to heed? THEN write in the answer “How did Jesus fulfill this?”