Day 11-Sermon on the Mount-Part 3

The popularity of Jesus continues to grow. After His "Sermon on the Mount", delivered on a nearby hillside of Capernaum, He returns to traveling town to town and preaching the good news of the Kingdom and healing the sick all throughout Galilee. In the town of Nain, he raises a dead boy to life right out of his coffin. He has power over death itself? News of this impossible miracle travels far and fast.

READ: Matthew 7:7-29; 8:5-13; 11:1-19; Luke 6:43-49; 7:1-35

Major Events

Jesus concludes His Sermon on the Mount
- Ask, Seek, Knock (Matt 7:7-12)
- The Narrow and Wide Gates (Matt 7:13-14)
- A Tree and Its Fruit (Matt 7:15-23; Luke 6)
- The Wise and Foolish Builders (Matt 7:24-29; Luke 6)
Jesus heals the centurion's slave in Capernaum (Matt 8, Luke 7)
John the Baptist wavers in his faith and Jesus teaches about his significance (Matt 11, Luke 7)
Jesus raises a widow's son at Nain (Luke 7)

Major Topics

Prayer
Life (eternal)
False prophets
Doing the will of God
Obedience
Kingdom of heaven
Faith for healing
Faith in God
Doubt
Authority
Miracles
Son of Man
John the Baptist
Prophecy

Video

Matthew 7

Matthew 8

Matthew 10-11:12

Luke 7

Key Verses & Words

The Story

Matthew 7:28-29 When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; 29 for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.
Matthew 8:5-7 And when Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, imploring Him, (6) and saying, "Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, fearfully tormented." (7) Jesus *said to him, "I will come and heal him."
Matthew 8:13 "Go; it shall be done for you as you have believed." And the servant was healed that very moment."
Luke 7:21 At that very time He cured many people of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits; and He gave sight to many who were blind.

The Teachings of Jesus

Matthew 7:7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."
Matthew 7:12 "In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets."
Matthew 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter."
Luke 6:44 "For each tree is known by its own fruit..."

Questions for Reflection

Ask, Seek, Knock (Matt 7:7-12)

What do you tend to pray about?
For what are you reluctant to pray?
How would the world be different if we all lived by the Golden Rule?

The Narrow and Wide Gates (Matt 7:13-14)

What broad roads did you travel before you met Christ?
How did you find Christ?
What was your entry through the narrow gate like?
Why is it difficult to stay on the narrow road?
How should we fit or not fit into the world?
How might you respond to the charge that Christians are narrow-minded and arrogant?

A Tree and Its Fruit (Matt 7:15-23; Luke 6)

Why do we continue to sin if we have Christ in our heart and the Holy Spirit in our lives?
How do good works and salvation fit together?
How can people be "religious" yet not follow Christ?
What evidence in your life points to your relationship with Jesus?

The Wise and Foolish Builders (Matt 7:24-29; Luke 6)

What foundation are you building your life on?
How can you build your life on Christ?

The Faith of the Centurion (Matt 8, Luke 7)

What keeps you from having the faith that God can do anything?
How do you personally handle doubts when they come?
What have you seen and heard about Jesus that you could tell others?
Why is it difficult for us to be as dependent on God as the centurion was?
What are some of the ways in which Jesus is Lord of your life?
What can you do this week to be on guard against faltering faith?
How can we have greater faith in God?

Digging Deeper

Chuck Smith commentary Matthew 7
David Guzik commentary Matthew 8, Matthew 11, Luke 7
Precept Austin commentary Sermon on the Mount
Bible Maps of Jesus Ministry Here is an excellent site with detailed maps that track the ministry of Jesus.

Curious Christians

What was a Centurion?

A centurion was a Roman officer in command of a hundred men ( Mark 15:39 Mark 15:44 Mark 15:45 ). Cornelius, the first Gentile convert, was a centurion ( Acts 10:1 Acts 10:22 ). Other centurions are mentioned in Matthew 8:5 Matthew 8:8 Matthew 8:13 ; Luke 7:2 Luke 7:6 ; Acts 21:32 ; Acts 22:25 Acts 22:26 ; Acts 23:17 Acts 23:23 ; 24:23 ; Acts 27:1 Acts 27:6 Acts 27:11 Acts 27:31 Acts 27:43 ; 28:16 . A centurion watched the crucifixion of our Lord ( Matthew 27:54 ; Luke 23:47 ), and when he saw the wonders attending it, exclaimed, "Truly this man was the Son of God." "The centurions mentioned in the New Testament are uniformly spoken of in terms of praise, whether in the Gospels or in the Acts. It is interesting to compare this with the statement of Polybius (vi. 24), that the centurions were chosen by merit, and so were men remarkable not so much for their daring courage as for their deliberation, constancy, and strength of mind.", Dr. Maclear's N. T. Hist. https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/centurion/

Living the Lesson

Here is where the Holy Spirit has opportunity to bring great revelation and transformation in your life--in reflection and obedience to what you have been reading and studying in God's Word today. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you how you can respond in obedience to the devotion today. Use the following questions to prompt you.

Is there a...

SIN to confess?
PROMISE to claim?
ATTITUDE to change?
COMMAND to obey?
EXAMPLE to follow?
PRAYER to pray?
ERROR to avoid?
TRUTH to believe?
SOMETHING for which to praise God?