SEARCH Lesson 145 – THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT

Key Verse

The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
— Proverbs 11:17

Mercy

Matthew 5:6-9,38-48; 18:23-35

Matthew 5:6-9,38-48; 18:23-35

Mercy is an attribute essential to Christian living, and unless we extend mercy, we will not receive it. Mercy shows compassion and forbears punishment, even when justice demands it. Mercy extends help to the lowly and even the undeserving.

QUESTIONS

  1. In your own words, describe mercy. Give an example, either from the Bible or from personal knowledge, of one who has practiced this attribute.
  2. God requires mercy in the lives of His children (Micah 6:8). What are the rewards for possessing this attribute?
  3. Why is it that our own acts of mercy cannot save us, if the merciful shall obtain mercy? See Titus 3:5.
  4. The parable of the Good Samaritan is a well-known example in the Bible of one who showed mercy. Read Luke 10:33-37, then write what specific actions the Good Samaritan did in order to offer mercy. In what ways might being merciful require our time, money, or personal effort?
  5. In our text, what was the servant’s attitude when the king demanded payment of the debt?
  6. How did the king react when the servant had nothing with which to pay the debt? Contrast his reaction to God’s forgiveness of the debt of sin.
  7. After the servant had been forgiven his debt, he put a fellow servant into prison for a small debt. This was obviously an unmerciful act. Name some ways in which a person might be unmerciful, though not necessarily outwardly so.
  8. If you had been the king, what would your attitude have been toward the unmerciful servant? What are some ways you might be able to show mercy?
THEME THOUGHTS
The teachings of Jesus comprise the fundamental basis of our Christian beliefs. One of the most familiar accounts of those teachings is known as the Sermon on the Mount. It is recorded in chapters five through seven of the Book of Matthew. Shortly after choosing the twelve disciples, who would be His closest followers, Jesus led them to a hillside not far from Capernaum. There, just as God had given the Law to Moses on Mount Sinai to guide His people’s conduct and service, Jesus gave His disciples the Sermon on the Mount to guide their conduct and service to Him and His Father.The purpose of this quarter is to give an overall view of the Sermon on the Mount. There are many different topics mentioned in these three chapters, so the lessons you study will be considered highlights of these chapters.As you go through these lessons, you will notice other Scriptures are given in the text in addition to the portion of Scripture from the Sermon on the Mount. These will reinforce the subject that is being taught, which is also indicated by the lesson title. For example, the first lesson deals with humility and its spiritual value. The first five verses of Matthew 5 deal with more subjects than humility, but other portions of the text will zero in on that topic. May God bless you as you study these lessons, and help you apply what you learn to your own life.

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