Jesus Teaching the Crowds

As a family, read Matthew 5:1-16.  Afterwards, share the following discussion.

What happened?

Jesus gathered his disciples on a hillside in Galilee, where Jesus was just beginning to become known as a healer and great teacher. Jesus wanted to help his disciples understand what it means to be a follower of Christ.  We call these the “beatitudes” because these are the characteristics that true disciples are to have.  Jesus said:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are those who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek,

for they will inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart,

for they will see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called children of God.

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus would go on to say that His disciples are to be the salt and light of the world so that those around them can see the truth of God and follow after Jesus as new believers. By the time Jesus finished His Sermon on the Mount, many people had gathered, and they were all amazed by the words of love, truth, and life that Jesus shared.  Many people that day would give their lives to Christ and would follow Him.

Why is this important to us today?

Have you and your family ever had a family meeting?  You know, one of those meetings called by a parent to talk about a family issue that needs to be addressed.  Mom or Dad, you might tell the kids, “Ok, everyone to the dining room table!”  And here you might need to share some news or make an announcement, or you might just need to let the family know of some new rules or a new chore list that everyone is going to need to participate in.

Well, this passage shows Jesus having a family meeting of sorts. He needed the disciples to know what family they belonged to and what being in that family meant.

If we desire to be followers of Jesus, we must know what He has done for us, what He desires for us, and how He wants us to live.  Jesus’ sermon to His disciples is an incredible message that gives us a look at how we are to follow Jesus.  We have lots of people telling us how we should act and behave, but wouldn’t it be much better if we heard from God on the subject?  That is exactly what Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount is – it is a message from God that is designed to help us follow Jesus closer every day.

Spend a few minutes talking about what you just read by answering these questions together:

1. Look back over verses 3-10; discuss what you think each of these attitudes means. For example, what does it mean to be “meek” or “pure in heart”?

2. Have each family member choose one of the beatitudes that Jesus mentioned. Why is that particular attitude important for a follower of Christ?

How can we better follow God this week?

Many people are only concerned with outward appearance and popularity. But God looks at your heart attitudes.  All the things Jesus talked about in this meeting are inward qualities, not outward actions. But, as you know, heart attitudes affect your actions. Have a quick family meeting right now. Ask each person to identify a personal strength and weakness from today’s passage. Then ask God to help you strengthen the attitudes where you are weak. Remember you’re not in this alone. God has given you His Holy Spirit to help you change to be more like your Savior.