In the first section of The Cost of Discipleship laid out his ideological understanding of discipleship, namely the requirement of costly grace. In the next section, he moves into the practical application of discipleship. According to Bonhoeffer:
“...the Sermon on the Mount is there for the purpose of being done.”
These three chapters from the Gospel of Matthew are not just theological discourses. They are in effect the disciples instruction manual. Jesus calls disciples to do His will. Matthew 5-7 gives a clear picture of what that “doing” involves.
Chapter 6 - The Beatitudes
Mat 5:1-12 ESV
(1) Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.
(2) And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
(3) "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
(4) "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
(5) "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
(6) "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
(7) "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
(8) "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
(9) "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
(10) "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
(11) "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
(12) Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Here we have, according to John Wesley, “the Son of God who came from Heaven...revealing to us the way to heaven.” (Sermon 21, Upon the Lord’s Sermon on the Mount: Discourse 1).
Who is Jesus addressing?
Is the Sermon on the Mount intended just for the disciples? Or for everyone?
According to John Wesley, that “either the entire sermon is to be applied to everyone, or else to no one.”
Bonhoeffer:
But disciples and people are one, for they are members of the Church which is called of God. Hence the aim of this beatitude is to bring all who hear it to decision and salvation. All are called to be what in the reality of God they are already. The disciples are called blessed because they have obeyed the call of Jesus, and the people as a whole because they are heirs of the promise. But will they now claim their heritage by believing in Jesus Christ and his word? Or will they fall into apostasy by refusing to accept him? That is the question which still remains to be answered?
What is the meaning of “blessed”?
Blessed means blissfully happy or contented. Beatitude means supreme blessedness or happiness. Beatus = Latin for blessed.
Why, according to Bonhoeffer, are disciples blessed?
Disciples are blessed because they obeyed Jesus’ call. It is the call itself that made them poor, afflicted, and hungry.
What is the difference between being peaceful and being a peacemaker?
How does one move from the point of seeing a need for mercy to actually being “merciful”?
Who is “pure in heart”?
John Wesley:
“…in Matthew chapter 5 our Lord lays down the sum of all true religion in eight points. (I count nine)…
Some people have theorized that Christ lays out these eight points as successive steps which Christians are to take in their journey to the promised land. Others assume that the eight points that Christ sets down apply to all Christians at all times.”
Which theory do you agree with? Or both?
Chapter 7 – The Visible Community
Mat 5:13-16 ESV "You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. (14) "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. (15) Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. (16) In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
What does this passage tell us about discipleship?
Bonhoeffer:
“The disciples…must not only think of heaven; they have an earthly task as well.”
What is the “earthly task” of the disciples?
Disciples are the only hope the earth has.
Can a believer be a disciple in thought only?
What purpose does the “salt” and “light” serve?
The works of believers must be seen so as to speak out and draw all men to Jesus.
Can a disciple make a choice whether they will be “salt” and “light”?
What are those who “put their lamp under a basket” doing?
They are denying the call to discipleship. Jesus does not say, “You ought to be salt and light” or “After you’ve practiced being a Christian for a while, you may be salt and light”. Jesus says. “You are salt and light.”
What are some of the bushel baskets in our lives?
Is it the disciples themselves that are “salt” and “light”?
It is not them but their works that are to be seen. The salt and light are to point to Christ and never to self.
Chapter 8 – The Righteousness of Christ
Mat 5:17-20 ESV "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. (18) For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. (19) Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (20) For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Does this passage void the Law?
Where does obedience to the Old Testament Law fit into the picture of discipleship?
Are disciples bound to the Old Testament Law?
Bonhoeffer:
“The question inevitably arises, Which is our final authority, Christ or the law? To which are we bound? Christ had said that no law was to come between him and his disciples. Now he tells us that to abandon the law would be to separate ourselves from him. What exactly does he mean?”
Jesus clearly requires disciples to obey the Old Testament Law. In fact, this obedience to the Law is the distinguishing mark of the better righteousness. Why is the disciples righteousness better than the Pharisees?
The disciple’s righteousness is better than the Pharisees because the disciple can obey the Law perfectly? How is that?
The disciple is able to perfectly fulfill the Law because between the disciple and the Law stands Jesus, the one who has perfectly fulfilled it. “Better righteousness” means following Christ in a real and active faith in Jesus’ righteousness. Jesus has given us a new law, the law of Christ.
Chapter 9 – The Brother
Mat 5:21-26 ESV "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.' (22) But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire. (23) So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, (24) leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. (25) Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. (26) Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
What does the modifier “but I say to you” indicate?
It indicates that the previous statement is either being changed or made obsolete. In this instance, Jesus, the author and giver of the Law “You shall not murder” sums up the whole meaning of the Law.
Who is a “brother”?
“Brother” does not mean only family and it does not mean only other Christians. For the Christian, there can be no one who does not qualify as brother or neighbor.
How does anger equate with murder?
Even anger is a violation of the boundary of a “brothers” life.
In what way is anger an attack on a brother’s life?
Anger is an attack on the brother’s life because it interferes with that life, and, by it’s very nature, aims at or seeks the brother’s destruction. A barrier is erected between the angry person and his brother and also between the angry person and God. We must be reconciled with our brother to follow Jesus and follow God.
What component of the “extraordinary” life of the disciple is uncovered in this passage?
This component is reconciliation. The disciple exhibits his “extraordinariness” by resolving anger through reconciliation. The barriers between a man and his brother and a man and God, which are erected in anger, are torn down throught reconciliation.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment