RJ Hamster
Bible Study
Hello All,
Please join us, our Zoom Link is below for this Saturday’ssession at 8:00 AM PST 01/24/2026. I am blessed by the presence of each one of you in my life. We show gratitude to God by “giving thanks in all circumstances …” [1Thess. 5:18a]
We will continue our regular study of Matthew this morning. The study of [Matthew 5, 6, 7] is so dense we will take each study in smaller increments so in our rush, we do not miss important elements of Jesus’ teachings. In this study session we will review [Matthew Chapter 5]. It is here that Jesus lays out His entire ministry. This is a brief transitional portion of Jesus’ message as He shifts from the Beatitudes to the Similitudes.
It is my prayer that you are able to join us.
Love, hank
Zoom Link:
For Study, Prayer and Fellowship – 8:00 AM PST 01/24/2026:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82968961343?pwd=LzcwVjJKcWVESDRURlhDcXlNV0JUdz09
Meeting ID: 829 6896 1343
Passcode: 77299ere:
Bible Study Notes:
01/24/2025 – Prologue – As we reach these verses, I am more deeply reminded of my debt to Jesus. On a winding, back country road, in the early 1980s, filled with God’s beauty and solitude, it was a warm, sunny afternoon. He spoke to me saying, “Without Me, America is doomed.” At that time, I was in the depths of my dark period. My immediate response was, “Lord, I am not worthy to come under your roof, but say the word and my soul will be healed.” This is a paraphrase of [Matt. 8:8] “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But say the word and my servant will be healed.” Read [Matt.8:5-13] in its entirety. From that moment, though the journey was still long, taking a dozen or so years; Satan’s lock on my heart was broken and the process of reconciliation and commitment had begun. The lesson here is not to question God’s timing within yourself or within others.
In reality, at that moment in my life I was living the implications of the STM which was significant. Without the blessings of Jesus, nor without the strength and power and hope that the Beatitudes provide to each of us – no one can receive and live within the calling that Jesus provides for us. Though we may intrinsically follow Jesus’ teachings as iterated in the Beatitudes we do so because that is what is demanded of us, as humans, made in the image and likeness of God. That intrinsic understanding should be enhanced by deeper study of the programmatic lesson Jesus is teaching us in [Matt. 5, 6, 7]. Now, 40 plus years later I realize I was simply part of the ‘crowd’. (Discussed below) I also realize, metaphorically, that Jesus was offering me the opportunity to stand in the doorway. Unless the hearer, receives for himself, i.e. integrates into his thoughts/actions processes the Lord’s teachings through the blessings of [5:3-12] then the remainder of the Sermon’s teachings will not be accessible. For it is by faith that the hearer can and does claim the Beatitudes blessings, which Jesus first offers to “them” – and as offered to “you.” All who receive those gifts are disciples. Thus, as one receives the gifts of the Beatitudes, the disciples will then hear the calling of Jesus which follows in the main body of the Sermon’s teaching. Every disciple of Jesus lives his life aware of the sober warning about life that has both come and not yet fully come, lives with an eye of the final goal [7:13-27]. To the majority of the crowds, TSM is about them in the third person for they do not believe in Jesus’ authority. For those to whom faith and understanding begin to be granted, however, the blessing and calling of Jesus become their own; Jesus speaks to “you.” Just a brief aside about timing. It is beyond our ability to comprehend. Think – Paul. The time from Jesus’ resurrection to Paul’s conversion (road to Damascus) was 6 – 8 years plus studies in Arabia 3 years [Gal.1:17-18]
Two final points: The first pertains to the authority with which Jesus speaks TSM in its entirety. The crowds remain “third” person observers. In fact, all who hear the words of Jesus’ ministry within TSM marvel at Jesus’ claim to authority [7:28-29]. None of their other teachers dared to speak divine blessing and call simply out of their own authority the way Jesus had done. In fact, Jesus had claimed that His words are the unshakeable foundation on which a person may and must build his hope for salvation [7:24-27]! And second: Matthew portrays Jesus using unparalleled authority. It expresses itself as authority for the needy; and that expresses itself in healings and exorcisms [8:1-16]; saving those in danger [8:23-27]; and forgiving sins [9:1-8]. Matthew portrays Jesus as gracious, reaching out to those in need and manifesting the grace-giving rule of God as He drives back the power of Satan and calls people to be disciples. Jesus has brought the reign of heaven into human history. AMEN
Hank Hohenstein, OFS
Land Steward
161 Osprey Vista
Shady Cove, OR 97539
Cell: 541-973-5442
