SUPPLEMENTAL SCRIPTURES
- Matthew 13:44-46
Matthew 6:19-21; Luke 12:13-21
Solomon in his wisdom sought for “that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the Heaven all the days of their life.” He proved that earthly treasures did not satisfy (Ecclesiastes 2:3-11). Jesus Christ teaches us about the true investment: “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven . . . for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:20-21). In a comparison of these two values, the person who is honest will recognize the need to choose the heavenly investment.
QUESTIONS
- Name several things that in your consideration would be counted as earthly treasures. Then go back through your list and underline the items which are absolutely necessary to sustain physical life.
- In the course of time, what could happen to each of the treasures you listed?
- Earthly treasures are expected to bring happiness to the one who has them. While they may seem to bring contentment for a time, why does this eventually not work out? See Ecclesiastes 5:10.
- What are some of the items you would include in a list of heavenly treasures?
- If money cannot buy heavenly treasures (1 Peter 1:18), how does one invest in these important things? See Malachi 3:16-17; John 14:1-3; 1 Peter 1:19.
- In Luke 12:17, what did the rich man think was his problem? How did the rich man propose to solve his problem?
- What was the rich man’s real problem?
- Jesus drew a parallel between the rich man and the one who is not rich toward God. He said the rich man was a fool, and “So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” Why do you think Jesus said that?
- Explain the meaning of our key verse.
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.