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Bible Study WELCOME TO AN IN DEPTH STUDY OF MATTHEW'S GOSPEL.

When I was first called to teach and started with the Primaries Class (1st, 2nd and 3rd Grade) that Church had no Flannel Graph. The only way I consented to teach the Little People was if my wife (a Deacon's Daughter) was my coteacher and she would not teach Little People without the Flannel Graph... uh... that church has that Flannel Graph to this day because when God moved us we left it there.

I'm not sure I need it but I do miss it also... crazy old folks, huh Reba.
 
th1b.taylor said:
When I was first called to teach and started with the Primaries Class (1st, 2nd and 3rd Grade) that Church had no Flannel Graph. The only way I consented to teach the Little People was if my wife (a Deacon's Daughter) was my coteacher and she would not teach Little People without the Flannel Graph... uh... that church has that Flannel Graph to this day because when God moved us we left it there.

I'm not sure I need it but I do miss it also... crazy old folks, huh Reba.
Click to expand...

That is such a cute, loving story Bill. Thank you for sharing it. You have so many stories from time past that I see is needed today. It seems old Buddy, that with the advancements of society, comes a decline in spiritual matters. If you try the methods that worked yesterday, today people would think of you as strange. A flannel graph??
 
Day 38 Monday 10/20/14 Matthew 5:10 - 12 Persecuted.

Matthew 5:10 "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

To start off this study today, I'd like to share a teaching on Matthew 5:39. "But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also."
So many times, we have heard this "turn the other cheek" phrase repeated. I have found, over the years, that few people really understand the teaching here. The following is my opinion because I've not read it any where else.

There is a little known fact about being a left handed Jew in the Hebrew Scriptures (O.T.). Remember Ehud, the left handed judge? It was so rare back then for a Jew to be left handed, that Ehud easily killed his opponent with a knife in his left hand. It seems that since God always used His "right hand" so did the Jews.

Ok, now we come to a scene being played out here. We have two fellows. Bill Taylor (good Christian) and Joe Schmukface, (worldly bully). Joe is tired of Bill's Christian ways. He calls Bill a "goody two shoes" in elementary school, In High school, he calls Bill a weirdo Bible thumper. Now, they work together, and Joe has had it with Bill Taylor and slaps Bill on his "right" cheek. So, in order for right handed Joe, to smite Bill on his "right cheek", he must have "back handed" Bill. So if you picture Bill facing Joe, Bills right cheek would be on Joe's left side as he faces Bill. In order for Joe, who is right handed to smite Bill hard on his right cheek, he can't do it, all he can do is slap Bill "back handed" with his right hand.

The word "smite" according to Strongs definition is;
ῥαπίζω
rhapizō
hrap-id'-zo
From a derivative of ῥέπω rhepō, a primary word, (to let fall, “rap”); to slap (with the palm of the hand): - smite (with the palm of the hand).

Ok, now for "the rest of the story." Lets look at 1 Peter 4:14. "If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified." You see, we are not talking about someone who has smashed down your door in a "house invasion" with the intent to kill and abuse physically, we are simply talking about an insult of some kind because you are a "Christ one" and this criminal hates you.

Luke 6:22 & 23 sum up this topic, "Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake."
23. "Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets."

"For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven." As Reba once said, "Again we have this in the Kingdom..." This, IMO, is either in the beginnings of the Kingdom which is where Jesus is presently ministering, or the future, completed Kingdom. We are reminded in Vs. 11 & 12, that If the Prophets of old were treated in this fashion, so will we.The Kingdom of God will be all those who for the advance of the Kingdom of God have been involved! Life here on this earth and time, is not for our pleasure. Although there is nothing wrong with us having a good time as God brings those events into our lives. Pleasure in this world cannot be the main focus of the dedicated Christian who desires for the Kingdom to be completed and the Bridegroom to come for His Bride....even so Lord, come!
 
Chopper said:
If you try the methods that worked yesterday, today people would think of you as strange. A flannel graph??
Click to expand...
Many little children's Sunday school's use a flannel story board still today. They can be ordered online and they are easy to make as well. :)

Good post on Matthew. :nod

I think there is something to be said about being insulted by someone who is not a believer. We need to be careful when we judge that their insults are directed towards our belief in the Lord. It could be that their insult is not direct at Christ at all but at our own arrogant attitude or our hypocrisy in judging them when we ourselves are not perfect.
I always liked the statements, "I am not perfect but I am forgiven." and "God is not finished with me yet."
 
Chopper said:
Day 38 Monday 10/20/14 Matthew 5:10 - 12 Persecuted.

Matthew 5:10 "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

To start off this study today, I'd like to share a teaching on Matthew 5:39. "But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also."
So many times, we have heard this "turn the other cheek" phrase repeated. I have found, over the years, that few people really understand the teaching here. The following is my opinion because I've not read it any where else.

There is a little known fact about being a left handed Jew in the Hebrew Scriptures (O.T.). Remember Ehud, the left handed judge? It was so rare back then for a Jew to be left handed, that Ehud easily killed his opponent with a knife in his left hand. It seems that since God always used His "right hand" so did the Jews.

Ok, now we come to a scene being played out here. We have two fellows. Bill Taylor (good Christian) and Joe Schmukface, (worldly bully). Joe is tired of Bill's Christian ways. He calls Bill a "goody two shoes" in elementary school, In High school, he calls Bill a weirdo Bible thumper. Now, they work together, and Joe has had it with Bill Taylor and slaps Bill on his "right" cheek. So, in order for right handed Joe, to smite Bill on his "right cheek", he must have "back handed" Bill. So if you picture Bill facing Joe, Bills right cheek would be on Joe's left side as he faces Bill. In order for Joe, who is right handed to smite Bill hard on his right cheek, he can't do it, all he can do is slap Bill "back handed" with his right hand.

The word "smite" according to Strongs definition is;
ῥαπίζω
rhapizō
hrap-id'-zo
From a derivative of ῥέπω rhepō, a primary word, (to let fall, “rap”); to slap (with the palm of the hand): - smite (with the palm of the hand).

Ok, now for "the rest of the story." Lets look at 1 Peter 4:14. "If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified." You see, we are not talking about someone who has smashed down your door in a "house invasion" with the intent to kill and abuse physically, we are simply talking about an insult of some kind because you are a "Christ one" and this criminal hates you.

Luke 6:22 & 23 sum up this topic, "Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake."
23. "Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets."

"For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven." As Reba once said, "Again we have this in the Kingdom..." This, IMO, is either in the beginnings of the Kingdom which is where Jesus is presently ministering, or the future, completed Kingdom. We are reminded in Vs. 11 & 12, that If the Prophets of old were treated in this fashion, so will we.The Kingdom of God will be all those who for the advance of the Kingdom of God have been involved! Life here on this earth and time, is not for our pleasure. Although there is nothing wrong with us having a good time as God brings those events into our lives. Pleasure in this world cannot be the main focus of the dedicated Christian who desires for the Kingdom to be completed and the Bridegroom to come for His Bride....even so Lord, come!
Click to expand...
Hard to see in the avatar shot but the decoration on my Stingy Brim are four of my medals and my Crew Wings. On the front is a small 1st Cavalry pin and, often, at the VA I am asked a simple question, "What Battalion or what Company?" When I get to "the Killer Spades," I often receive a "GARY OWEN" shout.

Away from friends that know me or the VA I am frequently awarded some form of, misstated, Bible Lesson on these passages. I will sometimes fail here but that, actually, a great time to turn the other cheek. This scripture is a great lesson but it is not all inclusive, as Chopper has tried to demonstrate with his metaphor about the mythical Bill Taylor.

Because I and many good brave young men did not have the good sense to refuse to fly into the line of fire there are a greater number of men, young then, that award us the coveted Gary Owen Shout because we pulled their bacon out of the fire.

These verses in the Sermon on the Mount are a very good example of why we, Christians, need never try to isolate verses but, rather, always let the light of all other scripture shine their light of God's knowledge on them.

In the, present day, dreaded Old Testament we find King David and we find that God has recorded David as being a man after God's own heart. And this in spite of the truth that David married to many women, killed men in combat and often, just, fell short of what God expected.

David sinned but unlike the old man, Bill Taylor, David did not plan to sin, he fell into sin but he did not plan to go to the joint to stir the girls wants and the "cash" in on them. The new Bill Taylor is not ashamed of his recorded and decorated past adventures but neither do I carry a half gallon of 151 proof Rum with me.

It is a good thing to be abused for the sake of the Christ but it is also a good thing to protect our loved and cherished. Christians are not called to be cowards, just the opposite.

Because of time and MS I do not recall Preacher's real name but he is one of the best examples I know of this principal in real life.

Preacher had just graduated from seminary in Dallas when he was drafted and sent tp Aviation School at Ft. Rucker, Alabama. When He received his orders he was to be a Killer Spade. Preacher was a year younger that I was but he was still a kid at heart. During his one year tour with the Spades He was shot down 13 times and 13 times He prayed to thank God for his safety and crawled into another Chopper to go out and to help others survive the mess we found ourselves in because we loved our county-men enough to die for them.

Please, always remember, the whole Bible has one unchanging (Mal. 3:6a) author and thus, we need all of it.
 
Deborah13 said:
Many little children's Sunday school's use a flannel story board still today. They can be ordered online and they are easy to make as well. :)

Good post on Matthew. :nod

I think there is something to be said about being insulted by someone who is not a believer. We need to be careful when we judge that their insults are directed towards our belief in the Lord. It could be that their insult is not direct at Christ at all but at our own arrogant attitude or our hypocrisy in judging them when we ourselves are not perfect.
I always liked the statements, "I am not perfect but I am forgiven." and "God is not finished with me yet."
Click to expand...

Ha Ha, I didn't know that you can still purchase those flannel boards. They do have a great appeal for the little ones. In one of the churches that I was the pastor, I had a 20 year old Down Syndrome girl who loved those flannel stories. She learned more Bible truth from those stories than any other method of teaching.

You are right in being careful. I used to wear a T shirt that said, "Pastor, under construction."
 
Some of us can learn/remember reading words some form a story being told.... I learn best from pictures... in my mind i see Joshua and Caleb.. i see the good report they came back with.... I see the grapes as big as apples on the pole supported on their shoulders... i see more then just the paper picture i see the whole story ... I can see Peter walking on the water...... the nets bursting with fish...the multitudes on the hill side...
One of the coolest Bibles was one made like a comic book ...
Not everyone needs pictures..
 
Matthew 5:1 "And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him."
Matthew 5:2 "And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying."
Matthew 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

There are many Ideas as to the meaning of these verses, 1. unsaved having no Spirit, 2 saved but having little Spirit to use and grow with, 3 Poor in money and resources because it was given up for the service of GOD.

In my past writings I have taken the 3 choice.

Matthew 5:1 When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. 5:2 He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,

Matthew 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

But here the explanatory words, “in spirit,” fix the sense to “those who in their deepest consciousness realize their entire need” This self-emptying conviction, that “before God we are void of everything,” lies at the foundation of all spiritual excellence, BNTC

James, Peter, and Paul referred to this kind of emptying and living in the spirit as being a bond slave of Christ. By choice giving up all of self and choosing to be servant, poor, in Christ. The real question for a Christian is not “what do I owe Jesus?” But, what in the deepest recesses of myself, would I KEEP FROM HIM?”
 
RevSRE said:
Matthew 5:1 "And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him."
Matthew 5:2 "And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying."
Matthew 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

There are many Ideas as to the meaning of these verses, 1. unsaved having no Spirit, 2 saved but having little Spirit to use and grow with, 3 Poor in money and resources because it was given up for the service of GOD.

In my past writings I have taken the 3 choice.

Matthew 5:1 When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. 5:2 He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,

Matthew 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

But here the explanatory words, “in spirit,” fix the sense to “those who in their deepest consciousness realize their entire need” This self-emptying conviction, that “before God we are void of everything,” lies at the foundation of all spiritual excellence, BNTC

James, Peter, and Paul referred to this kind of emptying and living in the spirit as being a bond slave of Christ. By choice giving up all of self and choosing to be servant, poor, in Christ. The real question for a Christian is not “what do I owe Jesus?” But, what in the deepest recesses of myself, would I KEEP FROM HIM?”
Click to expand...
We have progressed a good deal beyond these verses but Having been in the Spirit for the past 24+ years of my study and having had so many differant lessons taught to me by the Spirit, I find your point to be valid but not, of necessity complete. I, to this day, find it tough to boil any part of the Sermon on the Mount down to a simple, single point.

If you back up and read the comments on the first three verses of Chapter five I think you'll see what I speak of.
 
James, Peter, and Paul referred to this kind of emptying and living in the spirit as being a bond slave of Christ. By choice giving up all of self and choosing to be servant, poor, in Christ. The real question for a Christian is not “what do I owe Jesus?” But, what in the deepest recesses of myself, would I KEEP FROM HIM?”

Being a little nuts is always good in the forums :)
 
RevSRE said:
Interesting thoughts RevSRE

Which ones, I would like some help knowing where I am on track and where I sound nuts.
Click to expand...
Rev,
You're certainly not off track and if I sounded that brash, I did not mean to. My wife accuses me of still having those stripes sewn onto the flesh of my arms sometimes and, often, when I read what I posted, I think she might be right. I was just struck with the single minded line you appeared to be taking because as I have reread the Bible through aq few times the Holy Spirit has taught me a new Life Application of the same scriptures time after time.

You might notice that I did not, even, disagree with what you said and as most here know I am fanatical about context and whole Bible context in particular. I don't know, you might disagree with me but I see the Christian Bible as being of one context from, "In the beginning..." through thde very last Amen of Revelation 22. At the same time, the Christian Bible, being penned by, more or less, forty men, has only one author, God! And then I hold a position that often shakes preachers when they first hear it but, to this point, none have disagreed with my point as to try to sake me loose from it. The Bible Jesus used, the first 39 books of the Christian versions, is the Bible and the remaining 27, including the Gospels, are the only God inspired, God authored Life Application Commentary ever written.

My 24+ years of Bible study and 22+ years of teaching have resulted in one stuck in the mud Christian I've been told but, then, I am flat footed from my years in the service making it, rather, easy to stand flat-footed on the Word of God. You, undoubtedly, will need to call me from time to time because God still has work going on here.

May God bless you in this study as much as He has many others here.
 
Thinking of this verse i googled the use of salt 2000 years ago... the article is interesting but long for a post....here is the link
 
reba said:
Some of us can learn/remember reading words some form a story being told.... I learn best from pictures... in my mind i see Joshua and Caleb.. i see the good report they came back with.... I see the grapes as big as apples on the pole supported on their shoulders... i see more then just the paper picture i see the whole story ... I can see Peter walking on the water...... the nets bursting with fish...the multitudes on the hill side...
One of the coolest Bibles was one made like a comic book ...
Not everyone needs pictures..
Click to expand...

I'm with you Reba. Now, this is a funny story, but it struck my heart as important. I had never really considered the "picture" method of teaching as all that important except to little ones. One day, in the church that was my first full time ministry, I was visiting a couple who had two children. Their little boy was about 5 years old. When I had come into their living room, the little guy said, "god, come sit beside me." In that little mind, because I taught the Bible, and God wrote the Bible, he thought I was God. I could not convince him that I was His servant.

He had a wonderful picture book of the Bible. It was quite large and he just loved it. His mom and dad Jim & Cecile Rogers held "family devotions" almost every evening. This little guy, Jimmy, held his picture Bible on his lap and mine and progressed to tell me about a bush that talked to a man. All of a sudden, it's like a hammer hit me on my head, Hey! pictures have always been a fantastic way to teach! duh!

Ever since that time, I have integrated pictures of some sort in my messages to the people....Thanks for the reminder Reba.
 
th1b.taylor said:
Rev,
You're certainly not off track and if I sounded that brash, I did not mean to. My wife accuses me of still having those stripes sewn onto the flesh of my arms sometimes and, often, when I read what I posted, I think she might be right. I was just struck with the single minded line you appeared to be taking because as I have reread the Bible through aq few times the Holy Spirit has taught me a new Life Application of the same scriptures time after time.

You might notice that I did not, even, disagree with what you said and as most here know I am fanatical about context and whole Bible context in particular. I don't know, you might disagree with me but I see the Christian Bible as being of one context from, "In the beginning..." through thde very last Amen of Revelation 22. At the same time, the Christian Bible, being penned by, more or less, forty men, has only one author, God! And then I hold a position that often shakes preachers when they first hear it but, to this point, none have disagreed with my point as to try to sake me loose from it. The Bible Jesus used, the first 39 books of the Christian versions, is the Bible and the remaining 27, including the Gospels, are the only God inspired, God authored Life Application Commentary ever written.

My 24+ years of Bible study and 22+ years of teaching have resulted in one stuck in the mud Christian I've been told but, then, I am flat footed from my years in the service making it, rather, easy to stand flat-footed on the Word of God. You, undoubtedly, will need to call me from time to time because God still has work going on here.

May God bless you in this study as much as He has many others here.
Click to expand...

Well Brother I do not think you sounded "brash" I am a tough skinned old truck driver, I don't they would allow language here that would upset me.
You do have a fellow servant that agrees with you, IT IS ONE BOOK ONE AUTHOR, and I with all my heart I teach it presents ONE SALVATION. Every one of all time is saved by God's wonderful GRACE. OT looking forward to the Cross, NT we are looking back to the same Cross. ( I get some flack from this idea too)
I have 55+ years of Bible study, and am a minister, Now with Truck stops for Christ, I will preach any where some one will listen. AND PRAISE GOD HE'S STILL WORKING ON ME! I learn a little as I go along, Thanks for the answers. Agree or not I like to know how I fit in with others.
 
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