INVESTING IN WHAT MATTERS MOST

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Investing in What Matters Most

GETTING STARTED

VIDEO NOTES/QUESTIONS

INDUCTIVE BIBLE STUDY / OBSERVATION:

INTERPRETATION: APPLICATION QUESTIONS: Read Matthew 6:19-21 There are some treasures not worth treasuring! 1) What are treasures that last forever? When you think about this text, Pastor Daniel started by saying it’s not about rules or requirements. Matthew 6:19-21 is more about an invitation from Jesus to live life to the full. How does that change the way you read this passage?

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2) This is a story about a man who has TOO MUCH; we may not think we have that problem but compared to the rest of the world we have TOO MUCH. Why is it so easy to become overcome by greed? And how much is enough?

3) Pastor Daniel asked this question: Are we really living like Jesus is who he says he is? Like there is life beyond this? Or are we living like he doesn’t exist and this life is all there is? Do you think most Christians live like He exists? If not, what do you need to change?

4) Notice that Jesus doesn’t just say: Don’t store up treasures. He says: Don’t store up earthly treasures. Instead, store up treasures that will last. Let’s make a list of those treasures in Heaven:

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5) If the earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it, what were the three truths Pastor Daniel shared that the Bible repeatedly points out to us?

6) If everything is the LORD’s, how do I need to think differently? Jesus talks about money more than heaven and hell combined. Why do you think that is?

SUMMARY (My Take-Away for This Week)

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WORK OUT (This Week’s Assignments)   

Read Matthew chapter 6 this week Work on your Scripture memory How can our LIFEgroup serve together (on campus / off campus)?

MY NEXT STEPS FROM THE WEEKEND WORSHIP 1. Today, I will participate in our church-wide survey using the FFC app or this link: bit.ly/Fishhawkchurch6 2. This week, I will check out Financial Peace University online or Iwasbrokenowimnot.com to help my family move towards greater financial freedom. 3. This week, I will pray about how my family can invest in this church through the Ministry Action Plan and Bridge to the Future campaign. 4. This week, I will memorize Matthew 6:21: For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. HOW MY GROUP CAN PRAY FOR ME THIS WEEK

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COMMENTARY Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount: Matthew 5: 17-20 serves as the interpretive key to the rest of the Sermon on the Mount. Therefore, understanding this particular section of the sermon is critical for understanding the sermon as a whole. Jesus says in verse 17, “Don’t assume that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.” “the Law and the Prophets” is Jesus’ way of referring to the entire Old Testament (7:12; 22:40), and He says that He didn’t come to abolish the Old Testament, but to fulfill it. And the fulfillment Jesus has in mind here in relation to the Old Testament is not simply external conformity to its commands, but rather a heart alive to God. This is what the law was calling for all along. (Deut 30:6) (David Platt, Christ-Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Matthew [Nashville, Tn: B&H Publishing Group, 2013]) Question 1 Matthew 6:19-21 Verses 19 and 20 are almost exact parallels, designed for easy understanding and easy memorization. This is a critical passage. Here the king drew an ultimate contrast between on earth and in heaven. He urged his followers to forget earth and think of heaven. We must not waste our time trying to get ahead in this world. It is the same idea he expounded in 16:24–27. What does it profit a person “if he gains the whole world”? Jesus was demanding that his disciples look up and ahead—“for the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory … and then he will reward each person according to what he has done” (Matt. 16:27). Jesus was summarizing why the kingdom servant is motivated to practice righteous acts. It is not for temporary honor among men on earth, but for eternal reward before the Father in heaven. You cannot take your treasure with you into the next world, but you can send it on ahead through kingdom-oriented stewardship. Jesus not only saw nothing wrong with his followers working for reward; he went so far as to command it. The New Testament clearly encourages it (e.g., 1 Cor. 3:10–15; 9:24–27). Jesus’ words in the last few verses of the Bible emphasize it: “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done” (Rev. 22:12). This concept of storing up heavenly treasure by doing good works was common in rabbinic tradition, and so it would have been easily understood by Jesus’ audience and Matthew’s readers. (New Testament passages that expand on this concept, including specific examples of behaviors that have eternal significance, include Matt. 5:12, 30, 46; 6:6, 15; 10:42; 16:24–27; 19:21, 27–29; 25:40; Luke 12:16–21; 2 Cor. 4:17; 1 Tim. 6:13–19 (Stuart K. Weber, Matthew, vol. 1, Holman New Testament Commentary [Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000]) Jesus commands his followers not to accumulate possessions they do not use for his work. Wealth in the ancient world, as often still today, regularly consisted of precious metals and cloth. Owners thus worried about attacks of moth and rust. Both were common in the hot, sandy Palestinian climate. Rather than accumulating material wealth, people should work for spiritual riches invulnerable to loss and death (cf. Luke 12:15–21). Even if people succeed in safeguarding all their earthly riches, they cannot control how long they will live. Spiritual treasure should be defined as broadly as possible—as everything that believers can take with them beyond the grave—e.g., holiness of character, obedience to all of God’s commandments, souls won for Christ, and disciples nurtured in the faith. In this context, however, storing up treasures focuses particularly on the compassionate use of material resources to meet others’ physical and spiritual needs, in keeping with the priorities of God’s kingdom (vv. 25–34; cf. Luke 16:8–13) (Craig Blomberg, Matthew, vol. 22, The New American Commentary [Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992]) Question 2. Luke 12:15-21 Greed is an insatiable desire and lust for more and more. It is all-consuming, so that all of life becomes focused on the accumulation of wealth. There is no room for anything else, not even God. This is why it is so hard for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom (18:25) (Robert H. Stein, Luke, vol. 24, The New American Commentary [Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992]) This parable is about the danger of greed, measured by the abundance of possessions (v. 15). The rich man was infatuated with hoarding his goods. In his self-centered perspective (there are at least ten selfreferences in vv. 17–19), he thought this was an effective strategy for a long life of leisure and pleasure. But God views such an outlook as foolish and shortsighted. (Craig A. Evans, “Messianic Expectations,” in CSB Study Bible: Notes, ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax [Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017])

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COMMENTARY Peter gave the call to repentance (v. 19) with two expressions: “repent” (metanoeō) and “turn to God” (epistrephō). The Jerusalem Jews were to have a complete change of mind, turning from their rejection of Christ and turning, or “returning,” to God. In rejecting God’s Messiah they had rejected God’s purpose for them. Accepting the Messiah would thus be a return to God. In vv. 19b–20 Peter gave the threefold result of their repentance: (1) their sins would be forgiven, (2) the “times of refreshing” would come upon them, and (3) God would send the Messiah whom he had appointed for them. The forgiveness of sins is clear enough. Throughout Acts repentance is closely connected with forgiveness; indeed it is the basis for forgiveness (cf. 2:38). (John B. Polhill, Acts, vol. 26, The New American Commentary [Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992]) The God of Israel is not merely a God of the family, tribe and nation, but He is rather the Lord and Creator of the entire world; and He would not have this obscured or suppressed, after He has entered into a special relation with Israel by gracious condescension in behalf of the historical execution of His eternal counsels of salvation and thoughts of peace; but He would have it recognized and praised. A writer of the Talmud derives from ver. 1 the duty of asking the blessing at the table, and Basil answered the Emperor Valens with it when threatened with banishment. Because all things belong to God the Lord as His work, we ought to consecrate them to Him as His property and sanctify ourselves particularly as His people. (John Peter Lange, Philip Schaff, et al., A Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Psalms [Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2008]) : Against the potential objection that material prosperity has no effect on one’s spiritual condition, v. 21 adds that one’s affections are inherently drawn to one’s treasure. This does not imply that rich people cannot be Christians, although the first centuries of Christianity knew only a small number of them. It does imply that riches bring grave dangers, not least of which is the extra anxiety of having to protect one’s possessions. To avoid those dangers, rich Christians must be characterized by generosity in giving and meticulous stewardship in using money for the Lord’s work. Nevertheless, most all people who are able to save and invest experience the temptation drastically to overestimate their genuine needs and/or to try to secure their futures against all calamity. Meanwhile, the truly destitute of the world continue to grow poorer (Craig Blomberg, Matthew, vol. 22, The New American Commentary [Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992]) The Temple: The account of Isaiah’s experience makes it clear that the earthly temple was viewed as a microcosm of the heavenly temple where the King of the universe really dwelt. (Isa. 6:4). Israel understood that it was only by God’s grace that He consented to dwell with His people. Obviously, no one can house God: “But will God really live on earth? Indeed, heaven, even the highest heaven, cannot contain You, much less this temple I have built!” (1 Kings 8:27 HCSB) (M. Pierce Matheney, “Temple of Jerusalem,” ed. Chad Brand et al., Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary [Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003]) 1 Chronicles 29:11: The presentation of such a wealth of gifts to the Lord called forth David’s praise and thanksgiving to the Lord, who is the giver of every good and perfect gift in the first place. It ascribes to Yahweh the possession of everything in heaven and earth. His is the kingdom, and he is exalted as head over all (cf. 2 Chr 20:6). Wealth and honor come from him. He is ruler over all things, and in his hands are the strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. David and the people had brought their gifts and had given generously. But they had only given back what had come from God’s hand. David is recorded as asking, “Who am I?” twice elsewhere—once of Saul (1 Sam 18:18) and once more of the Lord (2 Sam 7:18; 1 Chr 17:16) (J. A. Thompson, 1, 2 Chronicles, vol. 9, The New American Commentary [Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1994]) As David continued to focus on God, he acknowledged some important truths. It is not possible to give anything to God because God owns everything. David also declared that it is not possible to deceive God. He knows exactly who is giving willingly out of true devotion to him and who is giving just to be seen by others. The key is a heart that wants to please God. (Winfried Corduan, “1 Chronicles,” in CSB Study Bible: Notes, ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax [Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017])

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