1.1 Beginning the Journey
and “commandments.” On a third reading, circle the phrases that introduce what Jesus said He came to do. For
What speech or lesson do you find most memorable?
example, “I have come” and “I tell you.” These phrases
One that not only gave you new information, but also
point to Jesus’ intentions for His ministry and His
inspired you to live differently. Matthew 5–7 records
instructions about His relationship to the Old Testament.
one of Jesus’ most famous speeches. In this message Jesus described what a life lived under His leadership
In the space below, write your first impression of what
would look like. His words help to answer the question,
Jesus taught about His relationship to the Old
Why study the whole Bible?
Testament and its importance in following Him.
Read Matthew 5:1–2. What was the setting of Jesus’
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message? Who was His audience? ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________
1—Why Study the Whole Bible? (Jesus and the Old Testament)
To know the Old Testament from Jesus’ perspective is Jesus saw “the crowds” following Him, and He took the
to have the kind of journey God desires for you as you
opportunity to teach His disciples their first lesson on
experience Him every day on the pages of His written
what it looks like to live with Him as the Leader.
Word. The journey is similar to climbing a mountain.
When you were in the first grade you learned your
To live in the Old Testament alone is to miss why it was
ABC’s. You learned them by singing a song or writing
preserved and who God wanted you to meet because of
them many times. After you learned the letters you
it. On the other hand, to read only the New Testament
Matthew 5:3–12 is known as “the Beatitudes.” Read the
in the ranger’s station by learning from the park ranger,
began to put them together to create words, and then
is to miss the work of God in His-story which His Son,
passage and highlight the blessing that seems to be Jesus’
who has climbed the mountain 50 times before. His
sentences, paragraphs, and ultimately stories or essays.
Jesus, came to redeem and fulfill. This week’s look into
word for you. Put a star by the phrase that describes
experience, knowledge, and skill will help you to make
Those 26 letters lay the foundation for everything you
the words of Jesus will answer the question, Why study
your current spiritual or emotional condition.
the trip safely and you will experience all of the beauty
do with words as a literate person. You will never discard
the whole Bible?
them, and hopefully you will continue to use them in more complex and meaningful ways as you mature. The Old Testament is like the ABC’s. It lays the
Climbing a mountain requires effort. The climb begins
God’s creation has to offer. In this journey Jesus is our After Jesus’ initial blessings and promises to His
Leader and Guide. Jesus created the mountain you are
Our Memory Verse for this chapter is Matthew 5:17.
followers, He gave them two pictures of how their
about to climb! You begin the journey here with Jesus.
Begin your time with God each day by reading this
lives would impact others. Read Matthew 5:13–16
verse. You may want to write it once or twice.
and circle the two word pictures Jesus used to describe His followers.
1.2 Does the Old Testament Matter?
Read Matthew 5:17–20 slowly without making any
The difference between a rebel and a revolutionary is
the most important person in the Old Testament.
marks in order to grow familiar with Jesus’ words.
that a rebel tears down things without an alternative way
While the Old Testament does not mention His name,
Read the passage a second time. On this reading
to live. A revolutionary confronts a current reality in
it gives numerous prophecies about His coming.
underline the words or phrases that relate to the Old
order to instill a new way of life. Both create conflict,
Testament. For example, words like “Law,” “Prophets,”
but only the revolutionary brings new options.
rudimentary foundation for your faith in God, but it is not complete. The story of Jesus alone reveals the
Our question to consider this week is: Are the words
full meaning of your relationship with God. Jesus is
of Jesus more important than the rest of the Bible?
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Yahweh—Divine Encounters in the Old Testament
1—Why Study the Whole Bible? (Jesus and the Old Testament)
13
1.3 The Seed of Greatness
Take a moment to evaluate Jesus’ words for your life.
Jesus lived as a revolutionary. He brought a new way of
the Prophets. He came to _____________________
life to those who put their trust in Him. Jesus’ disciples
them. (Fill in the blank.) Jesus said His purpose was to
and a crowd of mostly Jewish people made up the
complete and embody all God revealed of His coming
We all know of people we would call great. We also
call yourself based on your respect and practice of God’s
audience at The Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:1).
and His intentions for the Law and the Prophets. Jesus
know of people that some would consider the “least.”
commands in the Old Testament? Why?
When Jesus turned His message from the pictures of salt
went so far as to say that neither “the smallest letter”
Jesus told us not to judge others as a way of making
and light (5:13–16), He addressed a major concern of
(the iota in the Greek alphabet, which was the smallest
ourselves feel superior to them (Matt. 7:1) because
those who listened to Him that day.
letter in that language) or the “least stroke of the pen,”
He judges every area of our lives.
Which of the two terms, “great” or “least,” would you
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(the part of a Hebrew letter that protruded from it, like Read Matthew 5:17. Underline the object of Jesus’
crossing a “t” in English) would not pass away “until
Read Matthew 5:19. Underline what Jesus said about
revolutionary statement.
everything is accomplished” (Matt. 5:18). Both marks
those who break the “least of these commandments.”
Read the second part of verse 19 again. Highlight the
represented what may seem like an insignificant part of
Go back to the beginning of the verse and underline
two verbs that form the basis of greatness in Jesus’
Jesus said He did not come to abolish “the Law and the
the Law. But Jesus made clear none of that will
what He said about those who practice and teach “these
Kingdom. To practice and teach, or to lead others to do
Prophets.” These two things made up the core message
“disappear” until “everything is accomplished.”
commands.” Summarize your own interpretation of
the same, equals greatness in the Kingdom of God.
verse 19.
of God to the Jewish people. “The Law” referred to the first five books of the Old Testament, known among the
Jesus validated the Old Testament. He affirmed its
Jews as the Torah. Write the names of these five books.
importance and its purpose. As you go through your
Read Matthew 4:17. What was Jesus’ central message as ______________________________________________________________
change the way they live because the Kingdom of
day, consider the value Jesus placed on the Old ______________________________________________________________
Testament and ask God to create a desire in you to
He began His public ministry? Jesus insisted people
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Heaven was near. This concept carries both present and future implications.
know Him more. _____________________________________________________________
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Jesus warned against discarding the Old Testament, and ______________________________________________________________
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He called those great who respected and kept its teachings. Every follower of Jesus desires to please his or
Read Psalm 119:105–109. Circle the word “law” where
Jesus said that whoever breaks, literally, destroys, the
her Leader; to be called great and to live out His wishes.
it occurs in the passage. This entire psalm celebrates the
smallest commandment would be called least in the
Write one thing you can do today to exhibit your
importance of the Law among God’s people. The Law
Kingdom of Heaven. He taught that whoever practiced
respect for “the Law and the Prophets.” For example,
was the Jewish way of life. To abolish it would mean to
the Law would be known as great in the Kingdom of
you may keep the Ten Commandments (Ex. 20:1–17)
destroy how God had commanded them to live.
Heaven. The word for “least” means “insignificant.”
for a day or do something for the poor around you to
Jesus used it in His Parable of the Sheep and the Goats
follow the command in Leviticus 19:10. Write your
“The Prophets” include the books of the Old Testament
to describe the “least of ” in society (Matt. 25:40).
action below and pray that will God open the door for
that record God’s message to Israel through His chosen
Our English prefix mega comes from the Greek
your action today.
messengers. Isaiah, for example, is known as a “major
word translated “great” here. Abolish the Law, and you
prophet,” and Amos, a “minor prophet.” Both the Law
will be known as the least of His followers, Jesus said.
and the Prophets gave God’s message to His people.
Observe and teach it, and you will be a mega-disciple
Jesus said He did not come to abolish the Law and
in His eyes.
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Yahweh—Divine Encounters in the Old Testament
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1—Why Study the Whole Bible? (Jesus and the Old Testament)
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1.4 Getting God’s Righteousness How do you know if you have done something well?
Read Matthew 5:20. Highlight those to whom Jesus
surpassed the religious leaders’ interpretation of how to
Read 2 Timothy 3:16. Circle the word that describes the
compared righteousness. Why do you think He chose
gain righteousness in order to stand in right relationship
nature of Scripture. Then, underline the word that tells
those two groups?
with God. That way is Jesus (John 14:6; Rom.
what part of Scripture that word describes. Put a square
3:21–24). He is the righteousness from God. Jesus’
around each of the uses of Scripture.
For example, how do you know if you have run a race well? How do you measure your performance at work?
Return to Matthew 5:20 and underline the word that
message at the beginning of His ministry showed His
What are the standards for good parenting? Read the list
describes the level of righteousness Jesus said we must
relationship to the old covenant. It also played an
The Old and New Testaments are God-breathed. God
below. Match the measurement with the act(ivity) that
have. “Surpass” in the verse means to “have more than
important part in knowing Him as the Way. Through
inspired all of Scripture to reveal His righteousness in
helps you know how well you have done in that area.
enough” and to “excel, or exceed” (Newman). This set a
Jesus, God declares people right before Him.
Jesus. All of Scripture is necessary for people to know
high standard, given that the Pharisees and teachers of
the heart and purposes of God. An important part of
sports
number of sick days from work
the Law were considered the most righteous among the
Jesus introduced a new kind of righteousness. This
your relationship with God is your trust in Scripture as
school
performance Review
Jewish people. What could Jesus have meant by such a
righteousness would come through Him in a new
God’s revelation of Himself and His purposes. Based on
job
grades
statement? Write your thoughts here:
covenant. We need to read the Old Testament with this
this week’s study, write a brief personal statement of
friendship
authenticity level of conversations
reality in mind and seek to know the heart of God. Jesus
faith about the Bible. (Share it with one person today
health
number of points scored in a game
came to earth to fulfill every requirement for righteous-
and get his or her response.)
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ness so we can have an eternal relationship with Him. Consider this topic: How do you measure your
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relationship with God and how well you are doing? ______________________________________________________________
1.5 Stating Your Faith
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Taking the message at face value without hearing what
Our question to consider this week was: Are the words
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Jesus said before or after would mean one must know
of Jesus more important than the rest of the Bible?
and keep the rules of the Old Testament Law better
After looking at Jesus’ teaching about the Law and the
You are about to embark on a journey through the Old
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than the religious leaders of the day!
Prophets in Matthew 5:17–20, how do you answer this
Testament. As you do so, keep Jesus’ teachings in mind.
question? Explain your yes or no response.
God has inspired everything you are about to read and
Some people use the number of good acts they do to
The third part of verse 20 gives the consequence of not
measure whether or not they are doing well with God.
having a righteousness that surpassed the religious
Others feel that learning more information about God
leaders’. What is that consequence?
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or figuring out some of the mysteries about God means they are doing OK. Others accept the grace God has
study so that you can know Him and His ways and so ______________________________________________________________
that you can have eternal life through His Son, Jesus. Let the journey begin.
______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________
shown them in Jesus as their spiritual measurement. ______________________________________________________________ The Bible teaches that the benchmark for our
For further study: Regardless of how you answered this question, Jesus
• Psalm 19:7–14; 119:1–176
affirmed the importance of the Old Testament Scripture.
• Hebrews 4:12–13; James 1:19–25
We cannot ignore the Old Testament if we truly commit
relationship with God is righteousness. The concept
Jesus said that not to surpass the righteousness of these
means being considered righteous before God.
religious leaders meant a person would not enter the
to following Christ.
Kingdom of Heaven. So, there had to be a way that 16
Yahweh—Divine Encounters in the Old Testament
1—Why Study the Whole Bible? (Jesus and the Old Testament)
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