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Biblical Studies Degree Course

Semester 1

Unit 3 Independent research project

The assesment of what you've considered in the first two units will be in the form of a research project. You've learnt how to approach Bible study, and something about the importance of Bible study. Now you have the chance to 'have a go' yourself.

Reading List
One of the Bible study approaches recommended was to consider the expositions of others upon a given Bible section. The following provide ample examples for this:

A useful survey of commentaries on the Sermon on the Mount is at http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=851 ; a summary of the various approaches to it is at http://www.directionjournal.org/article/?397

A general outline is at http://www.careydillinger.com/sotm/sotmint.htm

Other good expositions are at http://www.jesuswalk.com/manifesto/ and

http://www.preachtheword.co.uk/studies/sssotm.html .

The full text of A.W.Pink's lengthy exposition is at  http://www.pbministries.org/books/pink/Sermon/sermon.htm

St. Augustine's exposition of it is at http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/16011.htm

What you're asked to do is to go through Matthew chapter 5 and try to find all the allusions to other parts of Scripture which you can for each verse. The first few verses have been done for you:

The Words Of Jesus

Old Testament Allusions

Mt. 3:15 Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness.

Ez. 18:19,21 fulfill righteousness

Mt. 4:4 It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God

Dt. 8:3 direct quote

Mt. 4:7 It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Dt. 6:16 direct quote

Mt. 4:10 Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Dt. 6:13 direct quote

Mt. 5:3  Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Ps. 40:17; Is. 41:17; 61:1

Mt. 5:4  Blessed are they that mourn:

Is. 61:1-3; 66:2

for they shall be comforted.

Is. 40:1

Mt. 5:5  Blessed are the meek:

Ps. 37:11,20; Is. 60:21; Prov. 22:24,25; 25:8,15

for they shall inherit the earth.

Gen. 15:7,8; Ex. 32:13

Mt. 5:6  Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Gen. 49:18; Ps. 17:15; 119:20; Jer. 23:6; Is. 45:24; 51:1; 55:1; 65:13

Mt. 5:7  Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

2 Sam. 22:26,27; Ps. 18:25,26

Mat 5:8  Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Ex. 33:20; Job 19:25-27; Ps. 17:15; Is. 6:5; 38:3,11

The Lord Jesus was "the word made flesh" in the sense that He was the living fulfilment of every part of the Old Testament Scriptures. His teaching was studded with allusions back to them. We suggest you read OldTestamentAllusions to get the idea clear in your mind. On the business of allusions to Scripture, you may like to also skim read

Paul's Use Of The Gospels 

Paul's Quotations From The Gospels: Statistics

Paul's Quotations From The Gospels: Analysis And Implications

Paul's Use Of The Gospels: Further Observations

Assignment 1

So, for Matthew 5 verses 9 to 35, you need to produce a column like the one above. You can email it to your tutor, perhaps copying and pasting the outline below as a template:

Matthew 5 Old Testament Allusions
Mat 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called sons of God.  
Mat 5:10 Blessed are they that have been persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  
Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye when men shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.  
Mat 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets that were before you.  
Mat 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men.  
Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid.  
Mat 5:15 Neither do men light a lamp, and put it under the bushel, but on the stand; and it shineth unto all that are in the house.  
Mat 5:16 Even so let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.  
Mat 5:17 Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfil.  
Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished.  
Mat 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.  
Mat 5:20 For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.  
Mat 5:21 Ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:  
Mat 5:22 but I say unto you, that every one who is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgment; and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council; and whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of the hell of fire.  
Mat 5:23 If therefore thou art offering thy gift at the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee,  
Mat 5:24 leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way, first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.  
Mat 5:25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, while thou art with him in the way; lest haply the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.  
Mat 5:26 Verily I say unto thee, thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou have paid the last farthing.  
Mat 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt not commit adultery:  
Mat 5:28 but I say unto you, that every one that looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.  
Mat 5:29 And if thy right eye causeth thee to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not thy whole body be cast into hell.  
Mat 5:30 And if thy right hand causeth thee to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not thy whole body go into hell.  
Mat 5:31 It was said also, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:  
Mat 5:32 but I say unto you, that every one that putteth away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, maketh her an adulteress: and whosoever shall marry her when she is put away committeth adultery.  
Mat 5:33 Again, ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: Mat 5:34 but I say unto you, swear not at all; neither by the heaven, for it is the throne of God;  
Mat 5:35 nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.  

Assignment 2

The second part of the assignment is to chose ONE verse you have analyzed out of Matthew 5:9-35. Explain:

- The devotional points you could bring out of it for a group of new Christians

- How in practice you might do this in a home group setting of say 10 people. We're aware we've not yet discussed such practical pastoral issues, but this is to get you thinking at this stage!
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