The first disciples had no idea what they were about to hear. Do we? What will we learn from Jesus’s words in Matthew 5?
Welcome to Week 1 of our Scripture Memory Challenge!
We’re breaking our challenge into three sections:
- Matthew 5:1-10, six weeks (April 2-May 13)
- Matthew 5:11-16, six weeks (May 21-Jul 1)
- Matthew 5:17-19, three weeks (Jul 9-Jul 29)
Today, April 2, begins the first section. It includes the Beatitudes, the statements of blessedness that Jesus spoke over the crowd, “Blessed are….”
Read the text here. Read it often. We’ll stay here for 6 weeks.
Although this section is the longest of the three—we’ll learn 10 verses—it’s also likely the most familiar. I pray we’ll be amazed at how easily these verses will stick in our memories.
And more so, be amazed at how they’ll work themselves into our hearts, and out through our actions.
Memorize This Week
Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.
Matthew 5:1 (ESV)
This verse shows that the crowds wanted to hear what Jesus had to say.
- Maybe some were looking for His leadership to take over the physical government.
- Others may have suspected He could be the Messiah and they wanted a healing.
- Others may have just been curious about the hoopla surrounding Him and wanted to see for themselves.
But whatever their reason for coming, Jesus saw each of them. On this hill or mountain near the ancient site of Capernaum, Jesus sat down (as was the custom of the Jews) and He gave them His full attention with a deep message.
What did they learn from His words? What will you learn? Let’s begin this journey!
Have You Signed Up?
If you haven’t signed up yet for our emails, please sign up now. You will receive a short email reminder of the verse each Monday, its first letters, and additional thoughts and actions to consider. Join the Hide His Word Facebook group for more community as we learn the verses.
Here at the blog we’ll also be sharing about the Beatitudes during the month of April. We hope you’ll share your own insights as well.
Please share your thoughts here.
I am memorizing Matthew 5:1-2 because of the comma between the twe verses!
That makes good sense, Pam. Keep the sentence together! :)
Thanks for these good thoughts, Lisa. I love that we are seen and known. So often we feel as if we are just an invisible part of the crowd.
Yes, it is comforting to know that Jesus sees us and loves us despite being only one person in a sea of billions.
I found out about this challenge through your personal blog, and I only found that because of visiting a link party. I am excited about memorizing this passage. It would be fun to interact with others who are also memorizing; however, I deactivated my Facebook account over 2 years ago, so I can’t be part of the group there.
Hi Patti,
So glad you found out about the challenge and are going to join us! It’s totally fine that you aren’t on Facebook; that’s only one option for extra community. May the Lord bless you as you memorize these words.