CSSA 1-4-09 - JESUS TEACHES HIS DISCIPLES

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84. JESUS TEACHES HIS DISCIPLES

"Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness"

Aim

To show how Jesus taught the disciples to show by their actions that they love God.

"Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people" (Matt. 4:23). News of these things spread quickly throughout the land and many crowds followed him, keen to hear his gracious words and to see the wonderful miracles he performed. This time when Jesus saw the multitudes who flocked to him, he went up into a mountain followed by his disciples. Here, as they gathered around him on the mount, he taught them many things and showed them the great blessings that will come to all those who follow him.

Matthew 5, 6 and 7

YE ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD: Matthew 5:14

Jesus first told them how blessed all true disciples are because of the happiness that comes from knowing the Truth. What a glorious hope we have of being in God's kingdom vv2-12). No matter what troubles may come upon us, God in heaven has set aside a great reward for us if we remain faithful to Him. "Rejoice, and be exceeding glad", said Jesus, "for great is your reward in heaven" (v12)

The Truth is like a lamp that gives light in a dark place. It shows us a safe way for our feet to walk in. In Psalm 119:105 we read: "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path". All followers of Christ who know the Truth, must themselves shine as a light in this dark and evil world. This is what Jesus told his disciples: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (v16). Other people must see that we know and love God. By our words and actions we must show the light of the Truth to the rest of the world, for, said Jesus to the disciples, "Ye are the light of the world"(v14).

"BUT I SAY UNTO YOU..."

Jesus spent a lot of time showing his disciples how they must act if they wanted to please God. He took their minds back to the commandments God had given Israel many years before at Mt. Sinai. Those commandments became known as the Law of Moses, for it was Moses who taught the people. To many Israelites the Law of Moses seemed to be a long list of things to do and things not to do. God did indeed insist that they obey His laws, but there were lessons in each of these laws that He wanted them to learn.

The Lord Jesus Christ was the great teacher who could show them exactly what God expected of them. When he spoke to them about the Law, he said: "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil" (v17). He was not teaching them anything different from what God had always taught through Moses and the prophets. Indeed, he himself kept the law perfectly every day of his life. Unlike any other man, he never sinned against God or broke any of His commandments. What better teacher could they have.

THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES: Matthew 5:19-20

The rulers in Israel, the Scribes and the Pharisees, had led the people astray from God. They were so anxious to make sure that people noticed how righteous they were, that they forgot all about God. They acted so that men might see and praise them. Jesus said, "They have their reward" (6:2). They were all outward show, but their hearts were far from God. So Jesus used them as a warning to his disciples. Unless their righteousness was better than the Pharisees' they would not enter into the kingdom of God (v20).

What a terrible warning! How were they to know the right way to behave? Jesus showed them the way. He reminded them of some of the commandments of God and taught them that what God wanted to see were obedient hearts. If our hearts are right with God, we will not break His laws but obey them willingly.

BE NOT ANGRY: Matthew 5:21-22

In the Law of Moses the sixth commandment said: "Thou shalt not kill" (Exod. 20:13). Murder is very evil in God's sight. Under the Law of Moses the murderer himself was put to death.

When Jesus was speaking about this to his disciples, he went on to say: "But I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment" (v22). Now a man may not even commit a murder because he is afraid of the punishment, yet in his heart he may be thinking evil and angry thoughts against his brother. Those angry thoughts and feelings are just as bad in God's sight. Such a person, the Lord Jesus said, is not fit for the kingdom of God.

So Jesus was showing his disciples how they ought to understand God's commandments. It is not just the act of killing which is wrong, but all the thoughts that make a man feel like killing.

LOVE YOUR ENEMIES: Matthew 5:43-48

Once again, Jesus showed that it had been said in the Law, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour and hate thine enemy" (v43. See Lev. 19:18). It is easy to love those who love us and are kind to us, but we find it easy to hate those who are unkind to us. Jesus said that the true disciple must be different. "But I say unto you", Jesus said, "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you" (v44). This is much harder, yet if we love God we will try to be like Him for he is always ready to show kindness to all men. "He maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust" (v45).

LAY UP FOR YOURSELVES TREASURE IN HEAVEN: Matthew 6:19-21

Everyone wants to be rich. It was the same in Jesus' day. He told his disciples to store up heavenly treasure instead. "Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal" (v20).

Earthly treasure - our money, our possessions, and the things we spend a lot of time saving for - can be stolen or ruined in a moment. Heavenly treasure, on the other hand, is found in the storehouse of God's Word, the Bible. In that storehouse we find wisdom, which is more precious than rubies; instruction and knowledge of the Truth which are far more valuable than silver and gold (see Prov. 8:10-11). This treasure will last forever and will never be ruined by moths or rust. No-one will ever be able to take it from us. God has chosen for His kingdom those who are poor in this world, but rich in faith (Jas 2:5). Jesus said, "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (v21).

NO MAN CAN SERVE TWO MASTERS: Matthew 6:24

A disciple must follow his master. When Jesus said, "Follow me", his disciples left all and followed him (see Matt. 4:18-22; 9:9). Jesus reminded them of this as he taught them on the mountain. "Ye cannot serve God and mammon", said Jesus. ("Mammon" is a word meaning the riches of this world). A disciple cannot love God and the world. If he puts his trust in money or the things of this world, he is showing that he does not really trust God to care for him. If he trusts God, God will provide everything he needs and more besides.

GOD KNOWS WHAT WE NEED: Matthew 6:25-34

Jesus taught his disciples by simple examples how wonderfully God cares for all His creation. Just think how He cares for the birds. "Are ye not much better than they?" Jesus said (v26). How beautifully He clothes the flowers of the field and "shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?" (v30). People spend too much time thinking about food and clothes. "After all these things do the Gentiles seek", said Jesus, but "your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things" (v32).

What a wonderful teacher Jesus was. His message was simple and easy to understand: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (v33).

BE DOERS OF THE WORD AND NOT HEARERS ONLY: Matthew 7:24-27

Jesus ended with a parable which taught them what he wanted them to do now that they had heard his words.

Some who heard him would be wise. They would hear his words and do them - like a wise man who built his house upon a rock. "The rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock'* (v25).

Others who heard him would go away and do nothing about it - like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand. "The rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house; and it fell; and great was the fall of it" (v27).

The words of the Lord Jesus are like a strong foundation. We must listen carefully to them and build our lives on them. Then, when troubles arise, as they often do, we will not be swept away from the Truth. We will see that God is still with us, guiding us through those difficult times. After the rain and the flood and the storm, the sun shines again giving us new hope. So the Word of God, which helps us in our troubles, will guide us safely all our lives till we gain the kingdom.

LESSON FOR US

The parable of the wise man who built his house upon the rock teaches us the most important lesson - we must hear God's word and do it. His word can change us, for none of us are fit to enter into the kingdom of God as we are. We must all change our ways. That was John the Baptist's message and the message of Jesus himself. We must not look at others to find out their faults, but keep looking at the character of Jesus and try to be like him.

QUESTIONS

Short Answers

What makes the disciples of God happy?
Did Jesus keep the Law of Moses?
What reward did the Scribes and Pharisees have?
What is, in God's sight, just as bad as murder?
How does God show His love to evil and unjust men?
What sort of treasure did Jesus tell us to store up?
What is "mammon"?
Why should we not worry too much about food and clothes?
What did Jesus tell us to "seek first"?
What sort of people are like the wise man who built his house upon a rock?

Detailed Answers

What did Jesus mean when he said to his disciples, "Ye are the light of the world"?
Jesus taught his disciples that they must have obedient hearts.