討論問題

October 10^th, 2004

Gospel According To Matthew 4:1---9:17

Question 1: Chapter 4: 1-11 & 8:2—9:8

Why was Jesus led up by the Spirit to be tempted?

Why was Jesus led up by the Spirit to be tempted right after his Baptism and Epiphany?

(Please try not to speculate God’s motive. In stead, use examples from the Bible to find out what lessons God is trying to teach us.) With what did Jesus respond to this test? In Jesus’ ministry, with what did He heal sickness, demon possessed and calm the storm?

 Question 2: Chapter 4:18-22 & 9:9

When we are told: “Follow me!”, our normal response is usually: “Where to?” or “ What for?” How did Peter, Andrew, James, John and Matthew response to Jesus’ calling? How have we responded to God’s calling?

 Chapter 5---7 Sermon on the Mount

There are so many precious teachings from Jesus in this Sermon, that we encourage you to read it together with your family or friends and share everything. I suggest the modulator just go around and ask everyone to pick just one of his/her favorite verse from 5-7, and a short one minute statement regarding why you choose this verse.

 Question 3: There is one important lesson here: many of Jesus’ teachings seemed to conflict with one another if we read the text literally and out of its context.

Example A: 7:1-5, Jesus stressed the importance of not judging others while ignoring our own faults. Then in 7:6, He immediately taught about “Do not throw your pearls before swine…”. In our human logic thinking, if we do not do some mental calculation and judge accordingly, we will not know if the recipient is worthy of a precious gift.

Example B: compare 5:14-16 with 6:5-8. How are we to show our light before men if we shall not even pray in the synagogues and on street corners?

How do we reconcile these seemingly conflicting teachings and receive the true message?

 Question 4: Chapter 5:48 & 5:20

We as parents or teachers know how impossible it is to ask our children/students, or ourselves to be perfect. Surely Jesus knows we all have human weakness. What does Jesus mean by being perfect? What did he mean righteous when he said: “Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the scribes of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”

 Question 5: Chapter 8:21-22

Does it bother you that Jesus said to one of His disciples whose father just died, “ Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” (The Jewish tradition is to bury the dead before sunset, so it is not because of time constrain that Jesus said it.)

2004年10月10日

問題1: 4:1-11 與8:2—9:8

為什麼耶穌要受試探? 我們可以耶穌受試探的例子學習到什麼功課?

(請用聖經上的例子來推敲剛耶穌受洗就被聖靈引到曠野受試探事件的意義.) 耶穌以什麼力量來通過諸件試探? 在八與九章耶穌用什麼力量來治病,醫好被鬼附的人,並在暴風中平靜風浪?

問題2:  4:18-22; 9:9

若有人對我們說: “跟我來!” 我們通常一定問: “到哪去?” 請討論彼得等五人如何反應耶穌的呼召. 我們自己又是如何反應上帝的呼召?

請每人輪流選一句最心愛的山頂寶訓與大家分享; 並且告訴我們您選這一句的原因.

問題 3:

山頂寶訓中有一些乍看之下有衝突的教訓; 您如何來向慕道友解釋?

例一 7:1-5 與7:6 勿斷論 vs豬狗踐踏珍珠問題

例二 5:14-16 與 6:5-8 關門禱告vs光照在人前叫他們看見你們的好行為

問題 4: 5:48 與5:20

當過父母或老師的人都知道:要求孩子, 學生或者自己完全完美是不可能的, 是過份的. 那為什麼耶穌說 : “你們要完全, 像你們的天父完全一樣.”?

祂說的完全到底是什麼意思?

問題5: 8:21-22

耶穌為什麼要求祂的一個門徒: 放下埋葬亡父的責任來跟從祂? 是耶穌不進人情嗎?