International Bible Lessons
“Teaching the Truth In Love”
Sending International Sunday School Lessons and Bible Studies Around the World
L.G. Parkhurst, Jr.

Use These Psalms and Prayers for Private Devotions or Worship Before Class

About Us

Books By
L.G. Parkhurst

A Psalm
and
A Prayer

Easy Bible Lessons

Stonegate Church

Serenity Groups

How Should We Work for Peace?

Parkhurst Bible Lesson
Matthew 5:1-16
Sunday, September 21, 2008

Printable PDF With Questions
Bulletin Size With Questions Printable PDF
Bulletin Size Without Questions Printable PDF

Simple audio podcast version also available here!

International Sunday School Lesson
Sunday September 21, 2008
Matthew 5:1-16

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9—NRSV).

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God”  (Matthew 5:9—KJV).

The Apostle John wrote that grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17). In His “Sermon on the Mount,” found in Matthew 5-7, Jesus explained the grace and truth upon which we can build happy lives with God and others. When we study the Beatitudes in His sermon, the way to happiness that Jesus taught in Matthew 5:3–12, we discover that all the character traits Jesus described work together.

For example, Jesus promised that peacemakers would find blessedness or happiness when they heard God calling them His children. The children of God who are also peacemakers work for true peace based on righteousness. They peacefully seek to establish right relationships between God and others, and among all people. In the Bible, God reveals the right principles upon which to build peace; principles summarized for us in the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount.

Lest anyone think they might be commended for compromising godly principles to achieve or maintain peace, Jesus underscored the importance of hungering for righteousness, and also warned that His followers would be persecuted for the sake of righteousness (Matthew 5:6, 10). In spite of suffering persecution, however, they could rejoice and be glad for their reward would be great in the kingdom of heaven.

In our quest for lasting peace based on righteousness, we might become hard and harsh toward others. Therefore, Jesus promised that the meek and merciful would inherit the earth and receive mercy (Matthew 5:5, 7). Jesus did this too, when He humbly forgave and extended mercy toward repentant sinners, while always speaking the truth graciously when giving solemn warnings to those who continued to ignore God’s will.

© Copyright 2008 by L.G. Parkhurst, Jr.

You may be reprint or reproduce this Parkhurst Bible Lesson for not-for-profit use.

Questions for Further Thought
or Class Discussion

International Sunday School Lesson
Sunday September 21, 2008
Matthew 5:1-16

Printable PDF With Questions
Bulletin Size With Questions Printable PDF
Bulletin Size Without Questions Printable PDF

          Think about your answers to the questions below before your Sunday school class meets, discuss in class, or use for further study. In some cases, I do not always write the questions to have a definitive right or wrong answer. In most cases, the questions should encourage everyone to think about how to apply biblical truths to their daily lives. Before beginning to answer the questions below, read the entire Scripture lesson in your favorite translation or compare translations. Write your thoughts in the space provided and take them to your Sunday school class for discussion.

Available in the "Religion Section" of The Oklahoman newspaper every Saturday, please do not remove the copyright notice or publish these lessons for profit if you reprint them. To download these Bible Studies as an audio file or podcast to listen to, go to ParkhurstBibleLessons.com.

For newspapers, reprints, or other for profit use, contact:
L.G. Parkhurst, Jr. - lgp@InternationalBibleLessons.com.

Contact Us

Recommended
Books

Prayer Steps

Francis and Edith Schaeffer Biographies

Free Book Offer

Finney's Principles

Agion Press