Week 4: The Heart of it All – Matt 5:17-20
Jesus said that He didn’t come to abolish the law as if it doesn’t matter. He came to fulfill the law. What does that mean? And how do we respond to that?
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DISCUSSION/REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
- What is something you are thankful for right now?
- Aside from the Bible, “What’s a book that affected you so profoundly it still affects you?
- Which book of the Bible do you read the most and why?
READ: Matthew 5:17-20.
Spend some time SOAPing this passage. You can either spend time SOAPing individually and documenting for a several minutes and then spend time sharing with each -OR- SOAP in real time with each other. Either way make as many observations as you can.
- Observations: What are the things that stand out to you about this passage?
- How would you summarize this passage in one phrase?
- What does it mean for Jesus to “fulfill” the Law and the Prophets, as opposed to “abolish” them?
- Why might someone have thought that Jesus came to abolish the Law? What are some possible misunderstandings about Jesus’ message that could lead to this conclusion?
- How does Jesus’ teaching on fulfilling the law impact our understanding of Old Testament scripture?
Read the following verses that might shed light on Jesus’ statements in Matthew 5:17-20 and discuss each one and what it means:
Galatians 3:13 – Jeremiah 31:31-34 – Hebrews 10:1-18
- What does it mean to have a righteousness that exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees?
- How does Jesus’ fulfillment of the Law impact our understanding of salvation and our relationship with God?
- How can we better understand the Old Testament in light of Jesus’ teaching and his role as the fulfillment of God’s promises?
Jesus pointed to the enduring and eternal importance of God’s Word. Read the following verses and talk about how they support this and how we should respond to God’s Word:
Hebrews 4:12 – Isaiah 40:8 – Matthew 24:35
- What comfort can we draw from the enduring nature of God’s word, even as the world around us changes?
- In what ways can we be tempted to “relax” the commandments or find ways to avoid fully obeying God’s word?
- How will you engage in God’s Word this week?
- How will you live out of your identity as a forgiven and free child of God living in the Kingdom of God this week?
- What else stood out from this week’s sermon?
- APPLICATION: What is your big takeaway from this week’s sermon? Be specific.
NEXT STEPS:
Everyone has a next step to apply what we have learned. What is your next step? Be specific.
MEMORY VERSE: *Challenge yourself or your group to commit this verse to memory:
Hebrews 10:16 “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.”
PRAYER:
Spend some time praying for each other.
Scripture References:
Matthew 4:17; Matthew 5:17 -32; Galatians 3:13; Hebrews 4:15; Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 24:35; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 10:1-18
