Article 20

CHRIST’S MORAL PREACHING

• Christians tend to struggle with Christ’s moral teachings more than with other aspects of the faith.

• WHY?• Jesus challenges us to go beyond the letter of

the Old Law• He reveals the deeper moral truths that the

Law intended to teach us• He perfectly fulfills the Old Law and ushers in

the New Law• Living the New Law, with the grace given by

the Holy Spirit, helps us to return to original holiness and justice

THE STRUGGLE

• …based on what truly brings us into full communion with God and with one another

• We go beyond legalistic morality to show love of God and love of neighbor in all we do

• Our WELL-FORMED consciences help us to do good and avoid evil

OUR MORAL CHOICES ARE MADE…

“Teacher, which Commandment in the law is the greatest?”

IT’S A TRICK!!Wisely, Jesus responds:

“You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.

This is the greatest and first commandment. The second is like it: you shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and

prophets depend on these two commandments.” (MT 22:36-40)

JESUS IS CHALLENGED

• Matthew 5-7 (a “mini-Gospel”)• The Beatitudes• Salt of the Earth, Light of the World• Teaching about the Law• Teaching about Anger, Adultery, Divorce, and Oaths• Teaching about Retaliation and Love of Enemies• Teaching about Almsgiving, Prayer, and Fasting• Teaching about Poverty of Heart• Teaching about Judging Others, Relying on God, and The

Golden Rule• Teaching about Discipleship• The Result of Acting on Jesus’ Teachings

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT

1. Read your portion of the Sermon on the Mount.2. Summarize your reading in a way your

classmates will understand.3. Explain how Jesus is teaching us the full

meaning of the Old Law in this passage.4. Why might this be even more difficult to follow

than the Old Law?5. What is one specific action that you (as

students at NDCL today) can take to live out this teaching of Christ?

YOUR TASK:

The Beatitudes

MATTHEW 5: 1-12

Salt of the Earth,

Light of the World

MATTHEW 5: 13-16

Teaching about the Law

MATTHEW 5: 17-20

Teachings aboutAnger,

Adultery, Divorce,

andOaths

MATTHEW 5: 21-37

Teachings aboutRetaliation

and Love of Enemies

MATTHEW 5: 38-48

Teachings about Almsgiving,

Prayer, and

Fasting

MATTHEW 6: 1-18

Teachings about

Poverty of Heart

MATTHEW 6: 19-34

Teachings aboutJudging Others,Relying on God,

andThe Golden Rule

MATTHEW 7: 1-12

Teachings on Discipleship

MATTHEW 7: 13-23

Those who hear these words and act on them will be like a wise man who built his house on a

rock.

Those who hear these words but do not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand.

MATTHEW 7: 24-29